Editorial: Crazy leadership carousel
/ 17 January 2020

Editorial: Crazy leadership carousel

Eskom appointed a new interim chairperson this week — board member Professor Malegapuru Makgoba. Makgoba is not a new face. He was the health ombudsman tasked with investigating the Life Esidimeni tragedy. He was also deputy chair of the national planning committee. He is also a leading immunologist, physician and public health advocate. But for […]

Why the Gambia’s plea for the Rohingya matters for international justice
/ 16 January 2020

Why the Gambia’s plea for the Rohingya matters for international justice

In early December, the International Court of Justice heard arguments filed by the Gambia against Myanmar for violations of the Genocide Convention. This included a request for “provisional measures”, asking that the UN court immediately order Myanmar to cease genocidal activities and to report to it within four months. Under the 1948 Genocide Convention any […]

Reserve bank unanimously decides to cut the repo rate
/ 16 January 2020

Reserve bank unanimously decides to cut the repo rate

The South African Reserve Bank’s monetary policy committee has unanimously decided to reduce the repo rate by 25 basis points, to 6.25%. This is the rate at which the bank lends money to other banks, which then lend it to people for things such as mortgages. The central bank revised the forecasted GDP growth for […]

Despite tweet, Zuma keeps silent about providing his taxpayer information
/ 16 January 2020

Despite tweet, Zuma keeps silent about providing his taxpayer information

The Public Protector has still not received confirmation from former president Jacob Zuma that she may access his tax records — despite a tweet from Zuma’s twitter account in November. Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane and the commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (Sars), Edward Kieswetter, are in a court battle after Kieswetter refused to […]

Angola’s dos Santos family empire in the firing line
/ 16 January 2020

Angola’s dos Santos family empire in the firing line

Law enforcement agencies are cracking down on the high profile family of former Angolan president José Eduardo dos Santos, accused of plundering revenues from the country’s vast oil wealth. During dos Santos’ 38-year rule from 1979, his offspring occupied top positions in the government and in lucrative sectors ranging from banking, telecoms and media to […]