DOCSLIB.ORG

Which Way, SA?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Which Way, SA? 2021 - ISSUE 80 www.ifaaza.org NEWAGENDA SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POLICY Which way, SA? Parliament must lead the way to a fully functional democracy Danger! Failed State Ahead Take nearest turn Also inside: IFAA report lists concrete proposals to change Parliament Kgalema Motlanthe calls on Parliament to get its house in order US hampering peace efforts in Ethiopia ISSN: 1607-2820 credits EDITORIAL BOARD NEWAGENDA SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POLICY HON MR KGALEMA MOTLANTHE New Agenda is a publication of the Institute for African (Chairperson), former President and former Alternatives (IFAA) Deputy President of South Africa CONTACT US Email: [email protected] Website: www.ifaaza.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/newagendaonline MR ZUNAID MOOLLA Twitter: @IFAACT or @NEWAGENDAZA Director, Institute for African Alternatives Instagram: @newagenda_ifaa (IFAA) Tel: +27 21 461 2340 Address: Community House, 41 Salt River Road, Salt River Cape Town 7925 MR tony EHRENREICH IFAA STAFF Director Parliamentary liaison officer Zunaid Moolla for COSATU Guest Editor Martin Nicol Project Manager Christine Leibach Production Manager MR pallo Jordan Moira Levy Senior Researcher Former Cabinet Minister and member of the Hibist Kassa Research and Events National Executive Committee of the ANC Bruce Kadalie Administration, Finance and Subscriptions Shamielah Booley PROF EVANCE KALULA Assistant Researcher Rachel Nyirongo Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Project Assistant Cape Town, Phethani Madzivhandila Chair, ILO Committee of Freedom of Publisher Association Institute for African Alternatives (IFAA) Layout The Media Chilli PROF STEVEN robins Professor in the Department of Sociology Sponsored by the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung and Social Anthropology, University of with funds of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Stellenbosch of the Federal Republic of Germany. This publication or parts of it can be used by others for free as long as they provide a proper reference to the original PROF ARI sitas publication. Former head of the Sociology Department, University of Cape Town, and writer, dramatist and poet MS BUYELWA SONJICA New Agenda is accredited with the Department of Higher Education and Training. Former Minister of Minerals and Energy ISSN: 1607-2820 Copyright: Institute for African Alternatives (IFAA) unless used with permission of any third party and referenced accordingly. The publishers are not responsible for unsolicited material. New Agenda is published quarterly by PROF VIVIENE TAYLOR IFAA. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those Former Head of Department of Social of IFAA. All advertisements/advertorials and promotions Development, UCT have been paid for and therefore do not carry any endorsement by IFAA. Contents Issue 80 22 ETHIOPIA’S impact ON Editorial Comment SECURITY AND peace IN Education in SA 3 DERELICTION OF THE HORN OF HOPE: 44 NO HIGHER education, Democratic DUTY FRAMING SIX SALIENT GOOD JOBS WITHOUT By Martin Nicol ISSUES ‘NORMAL’ UNIVERSITY By Iqbal Jhazbhay matric pass Checks and Balances By Seamus Needham 26 Washington’S Project ETHIOPIA 49 TVET COLLEGES: A POLICY – HYBRID LIFELINE FOR YOUTH at 4 ‘FILL PARLIAMENT’S seats warfare IN THE RISK WITH strong, MORAL MAKING (again) By Seamus Needham LEADERS’ By Rob Prince 51 WITH political WILL AND By Kgalema Motlanthe POLICY CHANGE, AN Commemorating 31 alternative can BE A victorY FOR ‘TRUST DEFICIT’ IN FOUND 6 ETHIOPIANISM AND PARLIAMENT HAMPERS By Enver Motala ITS EFFECTIVENESS PAN Africanism By Lawson Naidoo By the Embassy of Ethiopia in Pretoria 55 ‘I LIKE THE word “COMIC” because LIFE IS 9 ACTING ON THE Gender-Based Violence RIDICULOUS:’ EVIDENCE Teaching THE GRAPHIC By Moira Levy and Femicide novel, AN INTERVIEW WITH Nathan 13 Broken BRANCH 34 What HAS HAPPENED TRANTRAAL STRUCTURE IS ANC’S SINCE THE GENDER By Koni Benson ACHILLES HEEL SUMMIT? By Keith Gottschalk Book Review Farmers’ Protests in COVID-19 India 5 Crossroads: I LIVE 8 WHERE I LIKE 16 Mitigating THE impact 37 AGRARIAN REFORMS A GRAPHIC HistorY OF COVID-19 AND AND farmers’ protests Review by Gertrude Fester OPTIONS FOR ECONOMIC IN INDIA: A POLICY revival IN SA PERSPECTIVE THE LIE OF 1652: A By Busani Ngcaweni and By Debottam Saha, Kranthi Nanduri and 60 DECOLONISED historY Jacqueline Nkate Raya Das OF LAND Review by Desiree Lewis Ethiopia Transforming Eskom 21 Towards THE MODERN 42 Climate CHANGE ETHIOPIAN state DEMANDS Eskom REFORM By Moira Levy Editorial comment Dereliction of democratic duty No one needs more bad news, at this time. But it keeps coming. By Martin Nicol Auditor-General for Parliament to act on n April, the DM168 newspaper’s recommendations to stop the theft and front page revealed “the abuse of public funds. dangerously disgusting state The research pointed to steps of South Africa’s rivers which Parliament could take to improve its Iare being polluted by failing sewage performance. But IFAA concluded that treatment works.” It’s research found the main source of the problem with that “more than half of all South our democracy is the poor quality of Africa’s sewage treatment works are our public representatives. Former not functioning as they should.” President and chairperson of the IFFA Our municipalities are run by Board Kgalema Motlanthe has called on democratically elected councils. The Parliament to get its house in order and councillors have been singularly inept fill its seats with effective, efficient and controversies. All the issues raised will at holding to account the executive ethical representatives. be hampered and conditioned by our mayors and municipal managers who We do not have a way of choosing COVID-19 responses. are responsible for sanitation and the best people as MPs, municipal Despite COVID-19, violence has re- water infrastructure. councillors or members of provincial ignited across Africa, from Mozambique The job of councillors – and our legislatures. Democracy does not to Nigeria and from Chad to Somalia. elected representatives in provincial work to the general benefit when the New Agenda includes a reflection on governments and Parliament – is to majority of elected representatives lack the present crisis in Ethiopia, which decide how funds collected from the backbones, capability and dedication to has returned to war to settle political public should best be spent and to the public good. disagreements. We also recognise the ensure that the executive authorities 125-year anniversary of the defeat of deliver services in line with budgets. PERMANENT COVID an Italian colonial army at the Battle The public sector spends R5-billion Even with vaccines, COVID-19 is of Adwa in 1896 by a united force of a year on expert monitors who check going to remain part of our future. Ethiopian defenders. on spending, and where problems COVID-19 issues add a new dimension to At a time in which we gasp in exist. The Auditor-General even gives bad news and long-existing challenges. amazement at the destruction of the advice on where controls are weak and Busani Ngcaweni and Jacqueline African Studies Library at UCT, we need improvement. Nkate, reflect on research on the include an interview and book review Our representatives swear oaths harmful impacts of COVID-19 on dealing with an innovative effort to tell and accept remuneration, but, by and the economy and on poverty and our history using comics and the format large, they do not play the roles they inequality. As Operation Vulindlela, the of the graphic novel. are assigned as checks and balances on government’s infrastructure plan gets Desiree Lewis, applies a lens of de- executive action. underway, they argue that bureaucratic colonial analysis to her review of Patric In early 2021, IFAA reported on its and other systemic and institutional Tariq Mellet’s book The Lie of 1652. Bad ongoing “Checks and Balances” project. inefficiencies have to be addressed if the news – now better understood. This started life in 2019 with a focus on recovery plan is to succeed. Parliament and the Auditor-General. Other articles, on education, the just REFERENCE The aim was to help Parliament perform transition and action against gender- Kretzmann, S., Luhanga, P. & Damba, N. 2021. ‘Up better, after repeated calls from the based violence, deal with standing Sh*t’s Creek With No Paddle’. DM168. Issue 80 - New Agenda 3 The Institute for African Alternatives has released Checks and Balances: The Auditor-General Project Report on Parliament’s failure to conduct effective oversight of government spending and call the executive to account. The result is fruitless and wasteful expenditure, theft of national funds and, in turn, ongoing and worsening poverty, inequality and corruption. The report lists concrete proposals to make the changes that South Africa urgently needs. ‘Fill Parliament’s seats with strong, moral leaders’ By Kgalema Motlanthe Kgalema Motlanthe served as South Africa’s President from 25 September 2008 to 9 May 2009, following the resignation of Thabo Mbeki, whereafter he filled the post of Deputy President. During his many years of political service, he has been Deputy President and has also at different times been Secretary-General and Deputy President of the ANC. He is the current chairperson of the board of the Institute for African Alternatives (IFAA) and is patron of the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation. KGALEMA MOTLANTHE, political consciousness, dialogue and constructive analysis of South African in his opening remarks at and African socioeconomic and the launch of Checks and political issues. As an independent Balances: The Auditor-General Pan-African institute, the broad policy research and advocacy that IFAA Project Report called on generates and facilitates is a clarion call Parliament to get its house to leaders from every sector of society and government to pause, think, in order and fill its seats with reconsider and then decide which path effective, efficient and ethical to take. It is in the dissemination of representatives. such progressive views and alternative solutions that change-agents can be empowered, and positive, equitable he Institute for African and inclusive change can be made.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Jacob Zuma: the Man of the Moment Or the Man for the Moment? Alex Michael & James Montagu
    Research & Assessment Branch African Series Jacob Zuma: The Man of the Moment or the Man for the Moment? Alex Michael & James Montagu 09/08 Jacob Zuma: The Man of the Moment or the Man for the Moment? Alex Michael & James Montagu Key Findings • Zuma is a pragmatist, forging alliances based on necessity rather than ideology. His enlarged but inclusive cabinet, rewards key allies with significant positions, giving minor roles to the leftist SACP and COSATU. • Long-term ANC allies now hold key Justice, Police and State Security ministerial positions, reducing the likelihood of legal charges against him resurfacing. • The blurring of party and state to the detriment of public institutions, which began under Mbeki, looks set to continue under Zuma. • Zuma realises that South Africa relies too heavily on foreign investment, but no real change in economic policy could well alienate much of his populist support base and be decisive in the longer term. 09/08 Jacob Zuma: The Man of the Moment or the Man for the Moment? Alex Michael & James Montagu INTRODUCTION Jacob Zuma, the new President of the Republic of South Africa and the African National Congress (ANC), is a man who divides opinion. He has been described by different groups as the next Mandela and the next Mugabe. He is a former goatherd from what is now called KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) with no formal education and a long career in the ANC, which included a 10 year spell at Robben Island and 14 years of exile in Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia. Like most ANC leaders, his record is not a clean one and his role in identifying and eliminating government spies within the ranks of the ANC is well documented.
    [Show full text]
  • Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) Is Primarily Responsible for Facilitating Communi- Cation Between Government and the People
    04.Government 3/30/06 11:43 AM Page 29 Government The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa took effect in February 1997. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. No other law or government action may supersede its provisions. South Africa’s Constitution is one of the most progressive in the world and has been acclaimed internationally. The Preamble to the Constitution states that its aims are to: • heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and funda- mental human rights • improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person • lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law • build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations. Government Government consists of national, provincial and local spheres. The powers of the legislature, executive and courts are separate. Parliament Parliament consists of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). Parliamentary 29 04.Government 3/30/06 11:43 AM Page 30 Pocket Guide to South Africa 2005/06 sittings are open to the public. Several measures have been implemented to make Parliament more accessible and accountable. The National Assembly consists of no fewer than 350 and no more than 400 members elected through a system of proportional representation for a term of five years. It elects the President and scrutinises the executive.
    [Show full text]
  • A History of the First Decade of Water Service Delivery in South Africa 1994
    A history of the first decade of Water Services delivery in South Africa 1994 to 2004 content 1. Foreword : Minister Buyelwa Sonjica 1 Minister Ronnie Kasrils 2 Minister Kadar Asmal 3 2. The Challenge at the Dawn of Democracy, 1993 - 1994 4 3.White Paper on Water Supply and Sanitation 5 4. The Presidential Lead Projects, 1994 6 5. RDP Project Cycles 2,3 and 4, 1995 -1998 7 6. The One Millionth Person Milestone 8 7. The Water Services Act, 1997 9 8. Initiating the Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme (CMIP), 1997 10 9. Build, Operate, Train and Transfer (BOTT), 1997 - 2001 11 10. Development Regulation: Supporting Local Government, 1998 - 2000 12 11. Support for Water Services Development Plans, 1998 13 12 Masibambane, 2001 - 2004 14 13. Free Basic Services Policy, 2000 15 14. Restructuring of Local Government, 2000 - 2003 16 15. Preparing for the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG), 2003 - 2004 17 16. Strategic Framework, 2003 18 17. Delivering over the last 10 years 19 18. Lessons from 10 years of experience: learning by doing 20 19. Challenges for the future 20 A decade of Water Services in South Africa 1994 - 2004 Message from Buyelwa Sonjica, MP, Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry outh Africa’s democracy is now ten years old. This first decade has shown government’s Scommitment and intention to improve the lives of South Africans, especially of the poor. During this time 13,4 million people have been provided with a basic water supply, including over 10 million served by the rural focused programs of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF).
    [Show full text]
  • Zuma's Cabinet Reshuffles
    Zuma's cabinet reshuffles... The Star - 14 Feb 2018 Switch View: Text | Image | PDF Zuma's cabinet reshuffles... Musical chairs reach a climax with midnight shakeup LOYISO SIDIMBA [email protected] HIS FIRST CABINET OCTOBER 2010 Communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda replaced by Roy Padayachie. His deputy would be Obed Bapela. Public works minister Geoff Doidge replaced by Gwen MahlanguNkabinde. Women, children and people with disabilities minister Noluthando MayendeSibiya replaced by Lulu Xingwana. Labour minister Membathisi Mdladlana replaced by Mildred Oliphant. Water and environmental affairs minister Buyelwa Sonjica replaced by Edna Molewa. Public service and administration minister Richard Baloyi replaced by Ayanda Dlodlo. Public enterprises minister Barbara Hogan replaced by Malusi Gigaba. His deputy became Ben Martins. Sport and recreation minister Makhenkesi Stofile replaced by Fikile Mbalula. Arts and culture minister Lulu Xingwana replaced by Paul Mashatile. Social development minister Edna Molewa replaced by Bathabile Dlamini. OCTOBER 2011 Public works minister Gwen MahlanguNkabinde and her cooperative governance and traditional affairs counterpart Sicelo Shiceka are axed while national police commissioner Bheki Cele is suspended. JUNE 2012 Sbu Ndebele and Jeremy Cronin are moved from their portfolios as minister and deputy minister of transport respectively Deputy higher education and training minister Hlengiwe Mkhize becomes deputy economic development minister, replacing Enoch Godongwana. Defence minister Lindiwe Sisulu moves to the Public Service and Administration Department, replacing the late Roy Padayachie, while Nosiviwe MapisaNqakula moves to defence. Sindisiwe Chikunga appointed deputy transport minister, with Mduduzi Manana becoming deputy higher education and training minister. JULY 2013 Communications minister Dina Pule is fired and replaced with former cooperative government and traditional affairs deputy minister Yunus Carrim.
    [Show full text]
  • South Africa South Africa at a Glance: 2006-07
    Country Report South Africa South Africa at a glance: 2006-07 OVERVIEW The ruling African National Congress (ANC) is expected to maintain its overwhelming hegemony during the forecast period. However, the party and its leadership will be preoccupied with maintaining party unity and an orderly process of electing a successor to Thabo Mbeki as ANC president at the party!s national congress in December 2007. Economic policy will continue to focus on increasing economic growth and investment in order to create employment. Assuming a sound mix of fiscal and monetary policy combined with public- sector wage moderation, weaker administered prices and lower private-sector unit labour costs (owing to productivity gains), inflation is expected to remain within the target range of 3-6% in 2006-07. The rand is forecast to average R6.85:US$1 in 2006, and to continue to depreciate gently in the medium term. A sharper fall is possible, however: risk factors continue to be the high price of crude oil, US interest-rate movements, South Africa!s widening current-account deficit and the role of short-term speculative inflows in the capital account. Further growth in construction and continued expansion in total domestic demand is expected to support real GDP growth of 4.7% in 2006 and 4.5% in 2007. Fairly strong global demand and high commodity prices will help to boost exports, but rising imports mean that the current account is forecast to remain in deficit, at 5% of GDP in 2006, although the deficit should narrow to 4.7% of GDP in 2007.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Project Name
    Project name: Alternative History Project Date of interview: 2008-02-25 Location of interview: Maandagshoek, Limpopo Language of interview: English Name of Interviewer/s: Dale McKinley & Ahmed Veriava Name of Interviewee/s: Emmanuel Mokgoga Name of transcriber: Moses Moremi Audio file name: AHP_MAA_MokgogaEmmanuel_20080225b SECOND INTERVIEW WITH EMMANUEL MAGOKGA - Part 2 START OF AHP_MAA_MokgogaEmmanuel_20080225b Dale McKinley (DM): Ok we are just into the second session of our interview with Emmanuel and we are speaking out from where we left off yesterday. Emmanuel we had asked you a question I think the last time that we asked, which it’s a very involved question so feel free to discuss. To say, responding in whatever way that you want …how do you think the recent development of the ANC and the Polokwane changing of leadership …how do feel about that? How do you feel in particular about how it has affected not only what you think of it but also in terms of the work that you are doing in this community and the possibilities for changes? Emmanuel Mogogi (EM): Ja, Dale I feel and I see that way that it can be the changes after the leadership, the new leadership of the African National Congress (ANC). So I do believe that the leadership of comrades JZ they will make a big difference in South Africa. So I believe that because especially where I’m staying in Mandaagshoek or let me say in Limpopo where different communities from Mokopane where PPL Mining is mining and then where Twinkling in Mogobading is mining and other communities including Mandaagshoek and others, many more who are fighting or who are complaining about the mining that are talking place without consulting them at the place that they are using their own things that they are using them to be grown better.
    [Show full text]
  • Discussion Paper the Scope for Domestic Value Addition
    16th Floor Plein Park Building Email: [email protected] 69 Plein Street Website: www.newagenda.org Cape Town 8001 Tel: +27 21 461 2340 South Africa Admin: Ms Aneesah Reynolds Director: Prof. Ben Turok Ref C122 28 October 2014 DISCUSSION PAPER THE SCOPE FOR DOMESTIC VALUE ADDITION IN A MINING ECONOMY: THE SOUTH AFRICAN CASE by Ben Turok ABSTRACT South Africa has the profile of a modern economy with well-developed financial, commercial and industrial sectors, yet mining remains an important base of the economy. Mining is dependent on physical infrastructure, such as rail, energy and water, that is provided by the state. Ideally, this is where the idea of a “joined-up economy” functions optimally, since it includes all the relevant state institutions and the private sector. It must also be sensitive to the interests of labour and the views of civil society. However, the mining companies assert that administrative prices set by state entities and the uncertainties of supply have a heavy impact on their pricing. While they cannot influence prices in the global markets, they can do so in the domestic market, due to their monopoly power. Hence they choose to sell to local customers at international prices, to raise their profit margins. This has a serious impact on the viability of downstream manufacturing industry. If South Africa is to industrialise further, this impasse has to be resolved. It requires a negotiated compromise on domestic prices, perhaps for a fixed period, with suitable provisions for improved infrastructure services, and step-by-step measures to enhance local value addition and beneficiation by local manufacturers and suppliers.
    [Show full text]
  • (IFAA) 9 December 2019 a Tribute to Professor Ben Turok from the Staff
    INSTITUTE FOR AFRICAN ALTERNATIVES – (IFAA) Section 21 Co. No. 199202072/08 PUBLISHER OF NEW AGENDA Community House Chair: Hon. Kgalema Motlanthe 41 Salt River Road Director: Prof. Ben Turok Salt River 7925 Email:. admin@ifaaza org Cape Town Tel: +27 21 461 2340 South Africa 9 December 2019 A tribute to Professor Ben Turok from the staff of the Institute for African Alternatives The Institute for African Alternatives deeply regrets the passing away early today of its Director, Professor Ben Turok. He will be remembered as an icon of the struggle for justice and democracy, a man who throughout his life remained determinedly committed to equality, nonracialism and full human rights and he demanded dignity for all the people of South Africa. Above all he fought to the very end, demanding transformation for all in South Africa. Never one to fear making his voice heard, he sounded strong criticism of the corruption and abuse of power in South Africa and was especially concerned at how the raiding of the fiscus by criminal elements in power hurt the poorest and the most vulnerable in our society most of all. He died still fighting; in his very last written statement he asked “Is there a way out of this mess” and demanded “what has happened to all the aspirations for creating a society which benefits all, including the poor and unemployed?” He had angry words for those riding high and disregarding their responsibility of providing benefits for the rest. This characterises the more than seventy years he dedicated to fighting, first apartheid and after that any relics of apartheid, discrimination and exploitation that he encountered.
    [Show full text]
  • A Tale of Two Continents Ecosystem Services in Latin America and East and Southern Africa
    EM Market Insights :: Communities and Developing Countries A Tale of Two Continents Ecosystem Services in Latin America and East and Southern Africa 2006 Environmental Benefits • Mohawk Paper 1,730 pounds of paper used • FSC-certified • 100% post-consumer • manufactured with windpower Savings derived from using post-consumer recycled fiber in lieu of virgin fiber: 16.37 trees not cut down 47.26 lbs waterborne waste not created 6,953 gallons water/wastewater flow saved 769 lbs solid waste not generated 1,514 lbs atmospheric emissions eliminated 11,594,000 BTUs energy not consumed Savings derived from using windpower: 799 lbs air emissions (C02, SO2 and NOX) not generated This amount of wind energy is equivalent to: planting 54 trees not traveling 865 miles in an average automobile Environmental benefits determined by Mohawk Paper Environmental Savings Calculator EM Market Insights :: Communities and Developing Countries A Tale of Two Continents Ecosystem Services in Latin America and East and Southern Africa For the past two years, the Ecosystem Marketplace has been delivering the latest information about market mechanisms and payments for ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water quality, and biodiversity. To get a better sense of how the concepts of environmental markets, market-like mechanisms and payments for ecosystem services are likely to impact com- munities in developing countries, the Ecosystem Marketplace has collected stories from two regions: Latin America and East and Southern Africa. In these stories we see the new and innovative ways that the value of nature’s services is being accounted for—all emphasizing the strengths of each region’s diverse ecosystems and the challenges that face the people who live among them.
    [Show full text]
  • The Diplomat It’S Your Voice
    International Relations the diplomat it’s your voice Internal Newsletter of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation September 2009 President Jacob Zuma meeting United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon inside: 4 5 11 September 2009 the diplomat 1 Editorial Note International RelationsRelations DEAR COLLEAGUES elcome to another edition of the Diplomat. PRESIDENT ZUMA It will be unwise not to appreciate the positive comments we have received from LED SOUTH AFRICAN Wcolleagues here at Head Office and at Missions for the special photographic insert of the new Head DELEGATION TO THE Office building included in last month’s edition. Your comments are highly appreciated and 64TH SESSION motivate us to continue working harder to improve this newsletter to keep you well informed at all OF THE UNITED NATIONS times. GENERAL ASSEMBLY In this edition we bring you the following: President Jacob Zuma at the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly; President Jacob President Jacob Zuma, supported by Zuma at the 2nd Africa-South America Summit; Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane’s Imbizo International Relations and outreach programme; celebrating and remembering the life of Zakes Mokae; our embassy in Thailand Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana participates in expo, courtesy call by Ambassador Mashabane, Water and Environmental Affairs Anil Sooklal to Minister-President Kris Peeters; Batho Pele - 2010 style; our embassy in Bulgaria’s Minister, Buyelwa Sonjica, Health Minister, credentials ceremony; our Philippines embassy’s Aaron Motsoaledi and Home Affairs Minister, calabash of cape wine, cuisine and culture in Cebu. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Senior Happy reading! Government officials represented South Af- rica at the 64th Session of the United Nations the diplomat is an internal newsletter of the General Assembly ( UNGA) Department of International Relations and Cooperation published by the Directorate: scheduled in New York from Content Development.
    [Show full text]
  • Government Communication and Information
    33 Pocket Guide to South Africa 2008/09 GOVERNMENT of the injustices of the country’s non-democratic past. of theinjusticescountry’s mined –that werecarriedoutwithanacuteawareness negotiations –difficultbutdeter- detailed andinclusive Constitutionwastheresultofremarkably Africa’s South Pocket Guide to South Africa 2008/09 GOVERNMENT The Constitution is the supreme law of the country. No other law or government action may supersede its provisions. The Preamble to the Constitution states that its aims are to: sHEALTHEDIVISIONSOFTHEPASTANDESTABLISHASOCIETYBASEDON democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights sIMPROVETHEQUALITYOFLIFEOFALLCITIZENSANDFREETHEPOTENTIAL of each person sLAYTHEFOUNDATIONSFORADEMOCRATICANDOPENSOCIETYINWHICH GOVERNMENTISBASEDONTHEWILLOFTHEPEOPLEANDEVERYCITIZEN ISEQUALLYPROTECTEDBYLAW sBUILDAUNITEDANDDEMOCRATIC3OUTH!FRICAABLETOTAKEITSRIGHT- ful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations. Government Government consists of national, provincial and local spheres. The powers of the legislature, executive and courts are separate. Parliament Parliament consists of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). Parliamentary sittings are open to the public. Several measures have been implemented to make Parliament more accessible and accountable. The National Assembly consists of no fewer than 350 and no more than 400 members, elected through a system of proportional representa- tion for a five-year term. It elects the President and scrutinises the executive. National Council of Provinces The NCOP consists of 54 permanent members and 36 special delegates, and aims to represent provincial interests in the national sphere of government. The Presidency The President is the head of state and leads the Cabinet. He or she is elected by the National Assembly from among its members, and leads the country in the interest of national unity, in accord- ance with the Constitution and the law.
    [Show full text]
  • Mining and Tax in South Africa
    Mining and tax in South Africa: Costs and benefits Mark Curtis www.curtisresearch.org February 2009 1 SUMMARY The South African economy overall continues to benefit greatly from mining, but it is not benefiting as much as it could, and the costs of mining are increasingly borne by communities in rural areas. Mining accounted for 7 per cent of GDP, $20.7b worth of primary exports and employed 459,000 people in 2006. The mining sector’s total contribution to the South African economy is estimated at $25.9b in 2006, including all taxes, procurement and wages. However, South African mining companies enjoy generous tax treatment: they are able to deduct 100 per cent of much of their capital expenditures against tax while gold mining companies pay a corporation tax rate according to a formula that keeps remittances to government low. Moreover, the government is introducing a new mineral royalty system after caving in to many of the mining industry’s demands: this will impose very low royalty rates that this report estimates will cost the country $359m - $499m a year compared to previous proposals made by the government. Mining companies paid taxes of $2.01b in 2006 – equivalent to 9.9 per cent of exports: a low figure. At the same time, many companies are making large profits. Gold mining companies collectively made pre-tax profits of $672m in 2007, of which only $127m went to the state in taxation. Platinum companies did better: Anglo Platinum, the world’s largest platinum producer based in South Africa, made $1.6b after tax in 2006; Impala Platinum, the country’s second producer, made a massive $2.2b.
    [Show full text]