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noseweek218 DECEMBER 2017 The spy at Nkosazana’s side Paedophile thief mining the Waterberg 00218 Makhosi Khoza sinks her claws into Zuma’s ANC 104042 771025 9 GB NoseWeek MCC Ad_02.indd 1 2016/12/12 2:03 PM Your favourite magazine is now ISSUE 218 • DECEMBER 2017 available on your iPad and PC

4 Letters 6 Editorial 31 Smalls Books Page 26 AVAILABLE ON YOUR COLUMNS TABLET 7 Facebook defaces Noseweek 28 Not rocket Social media monolith blocks our ad because it includes mugshot of its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg science Download your 30 Last Word 8 How Lowe can you go? What sort of man wants to strip-mine coal from digital edition today the Waterberg? A paedophile and thief, it turns out both single issues and 10 The spy who got Zuma off the hook Tapes used to quash charges against President may subscriptions available have been engineered by Number One’s cronies. Who was ‘Luciano’ and what’s he up to now? PLUS never miss a copy – with back issues available to 16 Robbing the poor to make the rich richer Billionaire Douw Steyn’s palaces get bigger as he download and store pockets a cut of poor clients’ social grant money DOWNLOAD YOUR DIGITAL 20 Long walk to the DA ANC member said he would EDITION AT never join DA. Now he’s one of its provincial leaders www.noseweek.co.za or % 021 686 0570 24 Polokwane public transport’s rocky road There’s more to rapid transit systems than buses and roads – as several cities are discovering

Noseweek December 2017 3 Letters

a pity other media outlets are so Wayne, luck and keep up your dependent on mobile network opera- good work holding this corrupt and tors’ ad revenues that they will not incompetent government to account. expose this abhorrent practice for Nick McConnell what it really is. Whilst I can probably The Kendal Group , Howick, KZN afford a fraudulent R100pm charge, I reel when I think that this may also Scrambled eggs be happening to impoverished South Africans for whom such a fraudulent I agree that major media is infected collection will probably mean the by vested interests, but Noseweek is difference between having and not not always completely objective either. having bread at home for the second Sometimes reporting on a story soon half of the month. leaves you with egg on your face – your Mauritz Robertson reporting on the KPMG debacle being 4C Group, a case in point. When that story ends, the real truths will emerge and you will We have forwarded your letter and find you were quite wrong in some of contact details to Mr Douglas. –Ed. your assertions. Right now, you need some sensationalism to sell your rag. n Just sent Vodacom a Stop All to Lance Hurly 30050. The sms cost me nothing. Back Namutoni Gate, Oshikoto, Namibia Thank you so much came the immediate response: I was not subscribed to any WASPS! So We’ve reported on KPMG’s shady deal- I am lactose intolerant and for many Noseweek’s advice works. (Oct 2017). ings for over a decade and they have years suffered from painful allergic I’m also sending the “Big Pharma is yet to challenge us. Their handling reactions to dairy products – but no making us sick” article to my doctor, of the Gupta account is a clear indi- longer! Having learned from your dentist, opthalmologist, etc, advising cation that there exists a culture of exposé (“Bad Milk”, nose212) that cows them to subscribe to Noseweek. lawlessness within the organisation. carry either the A1 or A2 protein, I did I’ve just done my dance with death If anything this “rag” has been vindi- some research and discovered Gay’s because of antibiotics that cost me cated. KPMG has been exposed as Guernsey Dairy in Prince Albert that around R700! Threw most of them out nothing more than a hired gun that produces A2 milk, yoghurt and prize when I realised why I was so ill. knowingly takes part in criminal winning cheeses – which are now Pam activity along with their high rolling Cape Town delivered to us in Rondebosch every customers. The only egg on anyone’s Friday by Doorbell Deli. After decades face right now is on theirs (and maybe of abstinence, I am once again able to Wayne be praised a little on yours?). – Ed. enjoy dairy products. I recommend that anyone with lactose intolerance make Wayne Duvenage’s comment (in the this change for the better. profile “Action Man” by Sue Segar, Research before you write Carol Henshilwood nose217) that business and the corpo- Cape Town rate world are reluctant to challenge Your journalism in “jse investigators the State, is 100% correct. assess Bonamour’s offshore frolics” Vodacom’s thievery It’s high time that large corporates (nose217 online edition) is terrible. and their leaders grew a backbone, Research before you write. Even when As luck would have it, like Wiliam along with some balls, and challenged statements are factual the context is Douglas (nose217), I too have the State whenever the latter steps so derived it amounts to misrepresen- discovered that I am being billed out of line, because as fellow taxpayers tation. Perhaps the author can share by Vodacom at R100 per month, in this country, it’s up to all of us, big the secrets of his investment success including VAT, for “content” from and small, to pull errant and wayward (considering his clearly superior MobiTeacher – for which I never politicians into line. understanding of company valuations subscribed. I also feel a simple refund Regarding the various charges and concert parties and share swops). does not appreciate the fact that I had which OUTA has laid at various Consider how many TMG shares the been defrauded to begin with. Police Stations against certain corrupt PIC still owned before swopping into I am very keen to get in touch with individuals mentioned in the above Tiso Blackstar and how many they Mr Douglas to see where he stands article, can Wayne please give us some must have sold thereafter before with regards to the class action law feedback on what’s happened with making statements about its holding. suit he proposed. these cases and how far they have WTF? Thanks for your good work. It is progressed? Sandton 4 Jack Lundin replies: I note that you in revealing the real facts and for month and expend data that I could fail to mention that your firm, the bringing the sordid goings-on at Tiso use to download “adult content”? The “boutique” corporate advisory company Blackstar to the attention of the otherwise quandary of it all!! One Capital, acted as sole corporate public. One wonders what WTF?’s Raymond Murray advisor and transaction sponsor to connection is with the evil empire. Springs Blackstar SE on its acquisition of the Is this yet another public relations And here we were thinking Noseweek remainder of Times Media’s share exercise? only publishes adult content! Except, capital in February 2015. And as sole Jimmy Mould it now transpires, occasionally on its corporate advisor to Tiso Investment Diep River, Cape Town letters pages. – Ed. Holdings and the Tiso Foundation Charitable Trust on their disposal of their 22.9% interest in Kagiso Tiso Fishy business Bidvest still to support e-tolls? Holdings to Blackstar Group SE in Richard Goudvis (nose217): Bloody I must ask: are Bidvest and other hire December 2014. So it’s easy to see where hell – you’d have to be a halfwit to car companies going to continue to your misplaced loyalty lies. invest with this bloke. He screams charge clients e-toll fees? E-toll fees are con-artist! unconstitutional and therefore illegal, so the companies are charging clients n Given Andrew Bonamour’s personal Adrian Stevens illegal fees. If it weren’t for hire car history (as quite brilliantly revealed by Cape Town companies and some other companies Noseweek) I am simply amazed that and a handful of individuals e-tolls WTF? (whose response first appeared Hobson’s choice I really like this magazine, especially would have been scrapped. It’s only in the nose217 online edition) dares when I was able to read it at my through them that e-tolls survive. to come to his defence. Jack Lundin mate’s, who bought it religiously. Noel Brady deserves a medal for his persistence Now I have to spend over R20 a Johannesburg Stent

Noseweek December 2017 5 C

Editor Editorial Martin Welz [email protected] Assistant Editor Jonathan Erasmus Zuma: the tipping point Special Correspondent Jack Lundin acques Pauw’s The President’s Keepers provide the ultimate cover for the criminal Designer and Adriaan Basson and Pieter du Toit’s subversion of legitimate intelligence gathering Tony Pinchuck Enemy of the People – have had media and and law enforcement by Zuma and his allies. Sub-editor citizens riveted for weeks. Deservedly so. Several paragraphs from that Noseweek Chas Unwin Much of what they contain is not report deserve repeating: news; they have simply loaded the scale to “The Crime Intelligence Division of the Contributors J tipping point with an agglomeration of stories, police performs a highly sophisticated func- Len Ashton, Warren Blunt, Sibusiso Biyela, contextualised and catalogued in shocking tion, collecting often sensitive information Paul Kirk, Sue Segar, Anne Susskind, detail, one event after another. They each about high-level crime and criminals. But Harold Strachan provide a perfect demonstration of what a book a secret report that has been buried in the Cartoonists – or a long-form magazine such as Noseweek – files of the National Intelligence Service since Stacey Stent, Dr Jack can achieve, that, with rare exception, other November [2011], shows that the SAPS Crime Accounts media cannot. Intelligence Division is too busy defrauding Nicci van Doesburgh The addictive rush of social and other online and stealing from the public to be much both- [email protected] media offers you your daily/hourly dose of ered with other people’s criminal activities. Subscriptions shock-horror – which is quickly forgotten or “The criminal network operating within the Maud August obliterated by the irresistible drive to imbibe division is headed by no less than Divisional [email protected] the next quick dose. Commissioner of Crime Intelligence Lieu- Advertising Noseweek readers will have found them- tenant General himself – and 021 686 0570 selves familiar with many of the subjects a mysterious, unnamed person, whom the [email protected] tackled in these two important books. Some author of the report dares refer to only as ‘the examples: Prominent Individual in KwaZulu-Natal’.

All material in this issue is copyright, and belongs In March 2012 Noseweek began a series “Mdluli was hand-picked by Minister of to Chaucer Publications (Pty) Ltd, unless otherwise of reports exposing the campaign by corrupt Police and a committee of ­indicated. No part of the material may be quoted, Zuma cadres to close down the KZN unit of ANC ministers. Normally heads of police photocopied, reproduced or be stored by any the and get rid of its head, Gen. Johan divisions are selected by the Commissioner of electronic system without prior ­written permission. Disclaimer: While every reasonable effort is taken to Booysen. At the time, most media stayed away Police, advised by senior policemen. Former ensure the accuracy and soundness of the contents of from this politically dangerous subject. Police Commissioner Tim Williams declared it this publication,­ neither the authors nor the publisher From March 2015 we followed the unraveling a political hijacking. will bear any responsibility for the consequences of “The damning report, dated 4 November any actions based on information contained. Printed of the criminal political machinations used to and Published by Chaucer ­Publications (Pty) Ltd. install and protect Advocate 2011 and marked ‘secret’ on every one of as head of the NPA. its 13 pages, was written by the Head: In August 2015 we ran two long articles Intelligence Analysis, Co-ordination and exposing how the Sunday Times was Surveillance, Major General Mark Hankel, manipulated by agents of the State Security and countersigned by the Acting Divisional Agency (SSA) to assist them in the criminal Commissioner: Crime Intelligence, Major capture of SARS. The first was headlined General C P Kock. “It was addressed to the “Sex, drugs, lies and blackmail”, the second Inspector General of Intelligence and the headlined: “SARS spies, damned spies and National Commissioner of Police. more lies”. While Noseweek did not know “In July 2011 a case of corruption and fraud SUBSCRIPTION RATES about SARS’s plans to tax Zuma, and how was registered by the Hawks at Silverton Print those plans were thwarted, we did know that Police Station, as Silverton CAS 155/07/2011. dishonest political agendas were being served. The accused was Lieutenant General Richard SA only R410 But then we also knew that such things were Mdluli, head of police Crime Intelligence. Neighbouring states ­(airmail) R600 not unheard of at SARS, even under Gordhan’s “Informed sources have confirmed that, , Americas and Australasia R740 efficient rule. (He and his deputy, Pillay were, within three months, extensive evidence of Internet edition corruption involving Mdluli, senior police 1 year R298 after all, themselves political deployees. They had seen fit to condone Brett Kebble, a major officers and even journalists had been Combined tax defaulter, being let off the hook with token uncovered. However once the investigation Print+Internet (SA only) R510 taxation – as a reward for his support of the began to look at renovations carried out at To subscribe ANC. See nose63, December 2005.) Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa’s home, and By phone (021) 686 0570 Mirroring a chapter in Pauw’s book, five a Mercedes Benz ML350 bought by Mthethwa Online (pay by credit card): and a half years ago (in nose150) Noseweek with secret police funds, it did not take too www.noseweek.co.za reported – quoting an official document classi- long for the Inspector General of Intelligence Email [email protected] fied ‘secret’ – how the Police Crime Intelligence to become involved. Unit had been captured by criminals allied to “Hankel was ordered to submit a report (Note: cheques no longer accepted) the President. And that the Inspector General to the Inspector General of Intelligence, of Intelligence, too, had been ‘captured’ to detailing exactly what it was that the probe Further information Call (021) 686 0570; fax 021 686 0573 or email [email protected] Notes & Updates had uncovered so far. “In the concluding paragraphs of his report, Hankel found it necessary to state the following: ‘It is submitted Facebook defaces Noseweek that the Intelligence Services Oversight Act does not negate the statutory duty to report corruption to the police for purposes of criminal investigation.’ very month Noseweek advertises By Jonathan Erasmus “Which suggests it had been proposed its current issue on Facebook. that the intelligence service take over It’s an entirely automated within 24 hours of the advert going the investigation to the exclusion of the affair and every advert is live, Facebook canned it. Why? Because police. “reviewed” by an algorithm, and Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg is one “Shortly afterwards Mthethwa Eeither approved or disapproved within of the eight. ordered that all the investigation minutes of its creation. Their official explanation: “We don’t dockets be sent to the Inspector General In nose217 the magazine featured an allow adverts to use the image of Mark of Intelligence. They were not seen extract from a recently published book Zuckerberg when promoting a product again – and all charges were ‘provision- titled Done by eminent BBC journalist or service”. Does that include a serious ally’ withdrawn against Mdluli. Jacques Peretti. In it Peretti describes news story published in the public “The situation echoed that of the case how the world’s ultra-rich actually iden- interest? Their reply: Noseweek was free registered at the Berea police station tified global inequality as a business to appeal against their decision. in Durban by DA MP Diane Kohler- opportunity that they planned to exploit We appealed – and got no response. Barnard against ’s lawyer, – and widen. To them, he reported, it In any event, appealing for the right Michael Hulley, after it emerged that was a gift-horse like no other. to advertise a news story so obviously Hulley had obtained recordings of Peretti revealed that in 2006, a in the public interest just telephone interceptions between senior Citigroup consultant had seemed daft. So we changed prosecutors involved in the case against the advert and instead Zuma. [Now see our report on page 10 of of using Zuckerberg’s this issue for the latest developments on image we replaced it with that front.] “censored”. The Facebook “Since this complaint made its way police appeared to be to the Inspector General of Intelligence happy with this. there has only been one development: We have since learnt the Inspector General confirmed that that Facebook is awash the phone interceptions were legally with “do-nots” in its undertaken. But Kohler-Barnard has attempt to occupy the never been told whether Hulley legally moral high ground. has possession of the tapes – a key part For instance you of her complaint. cannot advertise “‘I suspect the Inspector General is tobacco related a whole new way for those in power to products, weapons defeat the ends of justice,’ she said.” or “sensational Noseweek’s report concluded with the content” defined as following editorial comment: imagery that may “The extraordinary and damning “shock or scare report, exposed here, is an example viewers”. You can’t Censored of the sort that we may not in the have “controversial content” that future be able to publish, for fear of “exploits controversial political or social facing a stiff jail sentence – should the issues for commercial purposes” – the Protection of State Information Bill predicted that by 2015 the 100 mainstay of newspapers – and you can’t before Parliament become law. richest people would own the same as ask a person “Are you a Christian?” or “We publish it here not to be half the world’s population. In fact by have a leading sentence such as “Meet provocative, or to make sensational 2015 just eight men owned as much as other Buddhists”. headlines, but because publication is the poorest half of the world’s popula- Yet you can advertise alcohol, dating, so clearly and urgently in the public tion: 3.7 billion people. Peretti named gambling, natural remedies and online interest. When our police service is run these extremely well-known and vastly pharmacies, although these must have by criminals, where are honest citizens wealthy eight men; Noseweek published prior written approval. to turn for protection against crime and their portraits to illustrate this remark- They do have one quirky rule corruption?” able must-read story. Noseweek approves of: “Adverts must Yes, Dear Reader, that appeared in The story was the obvious one to not contain … bad grammar and punc- Noseweek five years ago! feature in a Facebook ad announcing tuation. Symbols, numbers and letters The Editor the publication of the November issue must be used properly.” l For your Christmas subscription to of Noseweek – accompanied by the Absolutely! Apostrophe abusers Noseweek call 021 686 0570. portraits of the eight richest men. But should be banned from the internet! n

Noseweek December 2017 7 How Lowe can you go? The dirty business of the CEO of mining company Resgen includes environmental pillage, theft and paedophilia. By Martin Welz

esource Generation Ltd sort of man would determinedly set (Resgen), a company listed about promoting for personal profit both in Australia and on the a mining operation which threatens JSE, is currently seeking to such huge potential cost to nature and raise funds to develop the the country? controversialR Boikarabelo open-cast This is what Noseweek has discov- coal mine in the Waterberg region. ered: The project is to be undertaken by In November 1994 police in the its BEE-compliant local subsidiary, county of Dorset in England raided Ledjadja Coal. the home of a Bournemouth solic- Various NGOs have been desper- itor (attorney) named Robert David ately campaigning to stop coal mining Norman Lowe. There they seized there, as it threatens to permanently 164 video cassettes, 362 magazines, poison the water supply to huge 271 photographs and nine camcorder swathes of already drought-stricken tapes, all of a paedophile nature. The South . Besides its impact on following day Lowe was arrested on human settlements and agriculture, his return to the UK from a business it could destroy the Kruger National trip abroad – in all probability, to Park. Thailand. No surprise: in keeping with the In February 1995 Robert Lowe was culture of the Zuma era, Resgen’s Resgen CEO Rob Lowe sentenced by the Bournemouth Crown single biggest shareholder is the Court to seven months imprisonment government-controlled Public Invest­­ extend the employment contract of its for having illegally imported indecent ment Corporation. CEO, Rob Lowe, for at least a further and obscene material. In October the Resgen Board issued 12 months. His contract provides for a In November of that year an a statement announcing that, “given large salary and a very good success application was brought before the the current state of negotiations with bonus. Solicitors Tribunal in to have proposed financiers”, it has deemed it Who is Rob Lowe? Where have we him struck off the roll of solicitors for in the best interests of the company to come across his name before? What having brought the profession into disrepute. Lowe did not appear and was not represented. He had, however, written a letter to the UK Solicitors’ Complaints Bureau six months earlier in which he made “certain admissions”. In the letter, which he wrote from a hotel room in Zimbabwe, Lowe said he would shortly be leaving for the Far East and would not have a permanent address in the foreseeable future. He accepted that his conduct had brought the solicitors’ profession into disrepute and assured them that he had no intention to ever again practice law. He suggested that the Tribunal might find the psychiatric report prepared for his criminal trial of some assistance – which it did.

8 The Tribunal expressed considerable R20,962,624.70. tried to have him committed to prison sympathy for Lowe, having taken into For example, one of the debits was for being in contempt of a court order account the report of the psychiatrist described on the bank’s records (kept restraining him from communicating who was in no doubt that his problems hidden by Lowe) as a payment to with anyone regarding his case. had their roots in his own unfortunate a company called African Capital. At the end of the day, seven years childhood. It nevertheless remained a A Cipro search reveals that Robert after the sorry saga began, the final serious criminal offence, and he was David Norman Lowe registered the and only defence, offered by Mercantile struck from the roll of solicitors. company African Capital Group, and to Carlisle’s claims was Prescription – In nose49 Noseweek revealed how, became its first director in October a legal rule that after a certain time in 1998, Dr Frank Carlisle, a well- 1997 – at about the time Carlisle (usually three years) a debt falls away. respected educationalist, had been approached Mercantile Bank to open A year or two after his disappearance defrauded by Mercantile Bank and an account. The company was said to to an unknown address in Thailand, its crooked head of corporate banking, be based at an address in Edenvale, Robert Lowe quietly returned – to Rob Lowe. Yes, the same Robert Lowe Johannesburg Cape Town. In 2002 he is recorded had joined the bank in Johannesburg Mercantile, rather than disclose as a director of various Cape Town in 1997 and down the line arranged who benefited by the transactions, and based companies, with his residential a dozen unauthorised withdrawals showing what authorisation they had addresses in the Greenpoint area. By from Carlisle’s bank account, into his – or did not have – took to the trenches 2013 he had moved up a notch: to an own, before fleeing the country – for with their lawyers. It was well known apartment on the sparkling waters of Thailand. that their counsel’s instructions were the V&A Marina on the Waterfront. Carlisle had first discovered there to “drag the matter out till Carlisle That, dear reader, is the sort of man was something seriously up (or down) runs out of money or dies”. who wants to rip up the coal beds with his Mercantile bank account They succeeded. Carlisle ran out of of the Waterberg, regardless of the when, on holiday in Durban he money, and in March 2006 he died aged consequences for the environment attempted to draw some cash, and 68. This was not before Mercantile had and the people of . Coal was informed there were insufficient funds in an account that, when he last heard, held more than R25m. He set up a meeting with his bank You will find your manager, Lowe, for 18 January 1999. PERFECT In 1995 Lowe was PARTNER here... sentenced to seven months imprisonment for having illegally imported indecent Your EXPERT & PROFESSIONAL matchmaker is waiting to hear from you! and obscene material Please read our website and submit the personal profile www.perfectpartners.org.za But by then Lowe had disappeared. On 21 January, Carlisle received, by We will contact you for a heart to heart discussion on your fax, a handwritten note from Lowe on needs and criteria the stationery of the Meridien Park • Guaranteed personal attention from our accredited life coaches hotel in Frankfurt. “Dear Frank,” • Expert screening, safe environment, social recruitment for singles the fax began, “After careful reflec- • We specialise in corporate, professional and executive matches tion I have decided to absent myself ....”. Alan Greenstein, Mercantile’s • Leading private agency, multi- cultural, accurate, confidential and head of operations too received, a few dedicated days later, a fax from Lowe, this one • We will get you “Date-Ready” in no time at all! Your own stunning from Thailand. In it Lowe revealed profile experts! that he had left his company BMW at • Our Perfect Partners are committed- no fly by nights- no chancers Johannesburg International Airport. Experienced forensic accountant GENTLEMEN: Ages 25-70 welcome, your genuine interest appreciated! Frik Botha, upon examining the entire LADIES: Ages 25-60 Our awesome guys are standing by! record, found that the unauthorised Standard membership fees apply and unexplained debits from Carlisle’s 083 235 5845 [email protected] Open 9AM-6PM weekdays bank account totalled a staggering

Noseweek December 2017 9 The spy who got Zuma off the hook Notorious tapes used to quash 783 charges against President may have been enginereed by Number One’s cronies. By Paul Kirk

nternational man of mystery, According to an AU document, the codenamed “Luciano” – the star African Union Foundation was regis- actor on the so called “Spy Tapes” tered in Mauritius in January 2014. which got President Jacob Zuma But, curiously, a not-for-profit off 783 charges of fraud, rack- company called African Union eteeringI and money laundering – Foundation was registered in South has popped up again, this time as a Africa in September 2015. It’s opera- “Council Member” of the mysterious tions are, in fact, directed from an African Union Foundation headed by office in Midrand. Official records Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. show that Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Over the past several years, resigned as a director on 15 May this numerous sources, from former year – around the time her candidacy colleagues to South African law to succeed her ex-husband as presi- enforcement agencies, have confirmed dent became publicly known. that “Luciano” is one Andries “André” The foundation website appears Pienaar – a mysterious and some say designed to boost the president’s dangerous free-lance intelligence oper- ex-wife’s image and lists many ator who spins a supremely plausible worthies, including Cheryl Carolus tale. and the former president of Jamaica, He started his career with interna- as “Council Members”. Since first tional investigators, Kroll and soon being tipped as a presidential hopeful, André Pienaar (aka ‘Luciano’) became head of their South African Dlamini-Zuma’s campaign has made operation where, in the early years of much of the allegedly sterling work ANC rule they got themselves signed she did while head of the AU. (Many AU has the website https://au.int/. up as secret advisors to any number of beg to differ, describing her perfor- Calls to the AU revealed that nobody government departments. mance as, at best, lacklustre.) The answering the switchboard in Addis In 2004 Pienaar decided to break African Union Foundation pushes Ababa had heard of an African Union with Kroll and started up his own the line that her time at the AU was Foundation. Nor is it mentioned on the private investigations company in extremely productive and that she is a AU website where all the AU’s agen- London called Good Governance great statesperson. cies and divisions are listed. Group, “G3” for short. (See box story The foundation’s website boasts The sudden appearance of André for its fascinating history.) Picking thus: “Launched in January 2015 Pienaar – the real name of “Luciano” up on old connections and his claims following approval at the 21st – as a key figure in the African Union to have been a long-standing member Ordinary Assembly of Heads of States Foundation, and by implication in the of the ANC, Pienaar soon established and Government in May 2013, the NDZ election campaign, is certain to a branch of G3 in South Africa and, AU Foundation raises funds from raise eyebrows. within a few years, was a multi- the private sector and individuals on Ever since Zuma escaped his many millionaire. the continent and beyond towards corruption charges the well-informed Fast-forward to the present: The the financing of African development have speculated how on earth veteran African Union Foundation is a free- priorities”. prosecutor Leonard McCarthy and flying satellite of the African Union, The foundation uses the website “Luciano” – an astute private intel- operating with little or no supervision www.africaunionfoundation.org and ligence agent – could have let them- from AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. email address @africaunion.org. The selves be recorded plotting against

10 Zuma using infantile “codenames” on phones they had every reason to suspect were monitored. And, having been caught at it, after Zuma’s ascent Luciano’s charmed circle to power, they could have expected his wrath and revenge to be visited upon them by his loyal cronies. It hasn’t happened. ndries “André” Pienaar is a that Iku Capital did once have a At the time, Pienaar was said to director of only one company website which claimed: be acting as a proxy for Thabo Mbeki Aregistered in South Africa, “We interface between govern- in colluding with McCarthy to bring called ParcelNinja. ments, multi-lateral institutions, down Zuma. However, more recent Other directors and former direc- developmental institutes, equity developments – and closer scrutiny tors include Arno Robbertse and partners and businesses across the of company records from that time Pieter Bernardus “Bernard” Pienaar globe. The breadth and depth of our – suggest that Pienaar was far more (André’s brother). service offering is unparalleled …” likely a proxy of Jacob Zuma than Robbertse is a cyber security A June 2016 article in Business of Thabo Mbeki. In which case the expert, and is currently also a Day linked Iku Capital to some recorded conversations may well have Managing Partner of G3 Good potentially suspicious business been a deliberate set-up. Governance Group. Bernard dealings in Mozambique. That story In early April 2009 Mokotedi Pienaar was also a director of Iku named Nhlanhla Magubane as the Mpshe, then head of the National Investments, which was deregis- founder of Iku Capital. Magubane Prosecuting Authority called a press tered in 2013. A co-director of Iku has been described as the “Secretary conference to announce he would be Investments was Wandile Nxele General of South Africa-China withdrawing all 783 charges against (sole director of G3 Good Governance People’s Friendship Association” on Jacob Zuma. Mpshe claimed that he Group South Africa.) a website of the South Africa-China was forced to withdraw the charges as Still more intriguing: previous Economy and Trade Association. he had found “devastating evidence of directors of Iku Investments include Other news stories named Ellen collusion” between former prosecuting Hlula Msimang and Thembekile Tshabalala – notorious for having authority officials – mainly Leonard Kunene. Msimang is a former head forged her CV when applying for McCarthy – and President Thabo of the Johannesburg Metro Police the position of chairman of the Mbeki. McCarthy was at the time and is presently standing trial SABC board – as chairperson of the head of the Directorate of Special for two murders. He is the son of Iku Capital (as also asserted in that Operations – the Scorpions. former ANC Treasurer General notorious CV). The collusion, which has since been Mendi Msimang and former ANC True or not, Ms Tshabalala clearly rubbished by the Supreme Court of cabinet minister Manto Tshabalala thought it would be seen as a recom- Appeal, supposedly involved proxies Msimang. mendation in presidential circles. of Mbeki colluding with McCarthy Kunene is a director of the IDC. More credibly, Tshabalala has and others to abuse the prosecutorial Wandile Nxele’s Twitter account been named in the media as being process in order to wreck Zuma’s polit- includes a link to a company called a girlfriend of Jacob Zuma. She ical ambitions. Mpshe released some Iku Capital, but Noseweek could serves on the board of a number of intercepted conversations between find no trace of a company of that state owned companies and is the McCarthy and others, including a name ever being registered in SA. president’s official advisor on black particularly damning one with a It could be established however, economic empowerment. n mystery man named “Luciano”, about whom Mpshe said: “As far as can be established, ‘Luciano’ is a private intelligence operative.” then presidential hopeful Jacob Zuma. political solutions to NPA cases: When the NPA released transcripts McCarthy complains to then still 18. Date 16.12.07 SMS exchange of some of these conversations, notes mysterious “Luciano” that he has been between Luciano and LM: were appended to them pointing out advised to give Selebi and Zuma “a LM: I have been advised to give that “Luciano” was “believed to be break” in the interests of South Africa Ouboet & Oujan a break in the interest close to Mbeki”. – in other words to let them escape of SA. Tenous times. QV Among the conversations were prosecution. L: What did Jesus say? Give to the a series between “Luciano” and In the first conversation McCarthy emperor what is due to him and to the McCarthy where code names were mentions that Selebi and Zuma’s church what is due to her. You serve at used for for prominent politicians and legal teams are asking for a review of the pleasure of the emperor. Any other “Luciano” showed off his knowledge their cases, and threatening to expose choice would mean not serving at the of Latin. Mpshe identified the man “number one” – at the time meaning pleasure of the emperor. referred to as “Ouboet” as disgraced Mbeki. To quote the transcript: LM: I hear you emperor sir. They’re former police commissioner Jackie Discussion with person in private asking for a review. What ... Selebi, while “Oujan” was code for intelligence industry about seemingly L: Primus salus amicus et familia.

Noseweek December 2017 11 (Honour first your friends and family) If carefully selected will support objec- and security. Do not take sole respon- That’s the motto. tive. sibility. Yr current line management LM: Yea. Threatening to expose no. 1. 3. In Ouboet’s case need interna- structure will result in sole responsi- The second intercepted conversation tional component to deal decisively bility. 6.2 Recommend you come to clear has Luciano discussing how he can help with O’Sullivan factor. Matter also agreement about SAG support for the McCarthy by organizing international high profile given K allegations, media next phase of yr career including a date. lawyers who are “sympathetic”, to sit interest and focus on crime in lead up 6.3 You are going to need resources on the review panels and would also, in to 2010. incl special budget because, above all, the case of Selebi, “deal decisively” with 4. I.r.o Oujan recommend a compre- the media will have to be managed Paul O’Sullivan – the maverick private hensive review is done of ALL MLA and locally and globally. End. investigator who hounded Selebi and prosecution cases flowing from arms An aside: Luciano’s was the name of produced much of the evidence used to deal, not just his by review panel with an Italian restaurant near the offices convict him. international lawyers as you originally of British investigations company G3, 19. Date 17.12.07 SMS exchange recommended. The Good Governance Group, where between Luciano and LM. 5. You can then deal with Oujan in Leonard McCarthy and G3’s control- L: Thought overnight 1. Recommend context of broader review. ling member – André Pienaar – could we help you find two sympathetic and 6. If you are going to do this in interest often be spotted lunching. André credible international lawyers that can of SA, recommended you request Pienaar appears to have adopted the join each of the two reviews. 6.1 [That] You submit review report to name of their favourite eatery. 2. International component impor- Special Committee of four ministers – Despite what Mpshe alleged at his tant for SA’s reputation and your own. justice, intel, foreign affairs and safety press conference, there is a fair amount Luciano abroad o, just how did André Pienaar by setting up a bogus charity which council. Mr Tantum’s daughter Laura manage to persuade the likes of claimed to benefit Sri Lankan recon- operates Universal Exports, G3’s SChester Crocker, the famed US struction but was used to channel charitable foundation. This is also the diplomat to serve on his company’s money to Werritty. resigned name of the fictitious company used board? soon after this became public. as a cover by James Bond. For a start, it helped to have the In October 2011 The UK Daily “ Watch,” an NGO and right clients. In London one of the Telegraph wrote: “André Pienaar, a website that monitors the kingdom first Pienaar signed up was the Duke multi-millionaire who keeps out of of Bahrain, appears to have been the of Westminster, Gerald Grosvenor, the the public limelight, runs G3 Good first to blow the whistle on Lt Gen largest landowner in that great city. Governance Group, a corporate secu- Lamb, writing: “G3 was hired by the The dear old Duke had a bad reputa- rity and intelligence company whose Bahrain government’s Information tion for chasing high class call girls clients include defence contractor Affairs Authority in July 2011 for a – and the fortune to be among the BAE Systems. sum of £1.5 million. G3 was tasked wealthiest men in Britain. “In a lucrative industry reliant on with developing a “media campaign When the Duke was involved insider information and expertise, Mr to support Bahrain’s position in the in a blackmail scandal involving Pienaar has made it his business to international community”. a gorgeous young Russian lady of be well-connected. The chairman of Lamb has been particularly dubious reputation, André stepped G3’s advisory board is the Duke of outspoken in the media about his in and solved the problem by inves- Westminster. As a result, Mr Pienaar views on the political unrest in tigating, then threatening to expose, received an invite to the wedding Bahrain – without clarifying that the call girl and her associates. The ceremony as a guest of Buckingham his company has been contracted to Duke, since deceased, was apparently Palace.” do PR for the government. Lamb has ever so grateful – and got Pienaar an Lieutenant General Sir Graeme followed Pienaar to C5 Capital. invitation to the wedding of Prince Lamb (KBE, CMG, DSO etc etc) a Pienaar left G3 in 2014 – apparently William and Kate Middleton. It also former director of UK Special Forces, to the relief of some former colleagues. earned him the company of men who is also listed as a G3 special advisor, “He has no training or proper experi- were close to the British crown and while Lord Macdonald, a former ence as a spy or an investigator – and aristocracy – and to British Minister director of public prosecutions, is a yet for decades he has managed to of Defence Liam Fox. non-executive director of Proven, an fool and convince even the most expe- In October 2011 it was revealed investigatory arm of G3. rienced spies, investigative journal- that Pienaar had been bankrolling Geoffrey Tantum, a former MI6 ists and detectives,” one of his former Adam Werritty – the travelling director with wide- associates told Noseweek. “Someone companion and special friend of Fox, ranging connections, is on the advisory should write a book about him.” n

12 of circumstantial evidence to suggest nology. He is a founder of C5 Capital Pienaar was more likely to be close Limited. He is a trustee of several to Zuma than to Mbeki. His company African charities.” All the foundation’s employed a close relative of Nkosazana council members are pictured – except Zuma as their South African represent- To practise law in SA for Pienaar. ative, while one of Zuma’s nephews was The website of Pienaar’s latest corpo- on the payroll of G3 in London. Pienaar would need an rate adventure, C5 Capital, has photo- Good Governance Group UK (G3) graphs of each of the senior managers was established in London on 27 and directors of the firm, but has a February 2004. Its first listed director LLB law degree from an company logo standing in for André – was Mungo Soggot (son of human who is described as a “founder”. There rights lawyer David Soggot SC, famous SA university, and no is no indication as to whether he is a for having defended both Steve Biko director or a shareholder in the firm. and Winnie Mandela), for several years trace could be found of Some of the personalities on the prior an investigative journalist on the C5 website were also once directors of Mail&Guardian. G3 Good Governance Group – notably Within weeks, Andries Daniel Andries Pienaar on any Graeme Lamb and Jamie Lowther Faber Pienaar – the true owner – also Pinkerton, both ex-senior British army signed on as a director, and another LLB graduate list officers with long experience in the Mail&Guardian luminary, former British special forces. The pair are editor Phillip van Niekerk, was signed listed as “strategic partners” of C5. up as a member of the team. G3 also featured some security As former head of the Africa branch The members and directors of G3 and public service heavyweights on of international investigators, Kroll, (UK) were all well-known businessmen its board. Curiously, while Chester Pienaar was by then supremely well- and investigators but almost nothing Crocker is widely reported in the media connected – to the point that he could can be found about Pienaar on the as having been chairman of the board get heavyweights like former US internet – and none of his companies of G3, all references to him have been Assistant Secretary of State for African show his photograph. The African removed from the G3 website. Crocker Affairs, to serve on his Union Foundation website says only remains a senior executive at the company’s board. this: “André Pienaar is a private World Bank. (As a member of President Ronald investor in specialist areas of tech- The small biographical précis for Reagan’s cabinet in the 1980s, Crocker was famous for promoting a policy of “constructive engagement” with the apartheid government. See box story on how Pienaar managed to access UK high-society.) Mungo Soggot, too, was no mean asset when it came to connections in the right places, both in ANC South Africa and in Conservative Britain: he had his schooling in London at Westminster, the school most favoured by England’s urban aristocracy. One of his class- mates was George Osborne, who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Cameron cabinet from 2010-2016. On 15 December 2004 Good Tasting room open Governance Group launched its South Monday - Friday 09:00 - 17:00 African operation. Described as a & Saturday 09:30 - 15:30 “political risk and business intelligence consultancy”, G3(SA) had only one director at the time – Wandile Nxele. While he had no experience as an Cnr of R44 & Winery road, investigator, Nxele was excellently between Somerset West & Stellenbosch placed for a political risk consultancy GPS: 34° 1’ 39.06 “ S 18° 49’ 12.83” E job: he is a nephew of President Jacob Tel +27 (0)21 855 2374 Zuma, is close to many businessmen in the BEE sphere, and was involved in a [email protected] number of business ventures in mining www.kenforresterwines.com and resources.

Noseweek December 2017 13 Your ticket * can build a future for the talented young artists in our André Pienaar on the C5 Capital interest in G3 to a Swedish bank in website reads: 2012 – allegedly for more than £20m – “André is an entrepreneur and but stayed on until 2014. private investor with a record of A competitor tells Noseweek that green-and-gold team building and leading fast-growing Pienaar earned a major part of his businesses. He is the founder of the Nxele had no experience considerable fortune acting for “oil Good Governance Group, a leading interests” and, latterly, for Russian international strategic advisory firm. as an investigator, but clients. Previously he built and led Kroll’s Private investigator Paul O’Sullivan, Africa & Natural Resources Division was excellently placed among the first to work out the true out of London. André is an advocate of identity of “Luciano”, says of Pienaar: the Supreme Court of South Africa.” “He’s a bloody crook and an intelli- Former colleagues claim that for a political risk gence player of note.” Pienaar studied law at the University Since leaving G3 Pienaar has been of Aberystwyth in Wales, but to prac- consultancy job: he is active in at least one business start-up tice law in South Africa he would in South Africa – the aforementioned need an LLB law degree from a South a nephew of President C5 Capital – and is said to be very African university, and no trace could close to the Zuma presidency. be found of an Andries Pienaar on any There has been no attempt by the LLB graduate list. The High Court roll Jacob Zuma and is close South African authorities to ques- of admitted advocates shows no André tion McCarthy – not even after Jacob or Andries Pienaar. to many businessmen Zuma, the alleged victim of the Almost as intriguing: in September recorded conspiracy, came to power 2007 when the ANC resolved to and appointed his trusted allies to the close down the Scorpions – and, as it National Prosecuting Authority. The happens, not long before the conversa- fact that “Luciano” is now associated tions between McCarthy and “Luciano” and then also still the chair of G3 Good with Jacob Zuma’s anointed successor were recorded – McCarthy told Governance Group. – and proxy – suggests there may be colleagues he was considering taking McCarthy has never publicly a lot more to the spy tapes story than up a job abroad. Ironically, crime boss commented on the “Luciano” tapes, and anyone previously imagined. * Glenn Agliotti was the first to reveal as far as can be ascertained the World l In March this year the African Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 that McCarthy wanted to leave South Bank has neither investigated him nor Union Foundation launched its African Africa and move his family to France. passed any comment. Economic Platform at a conference in McCarthy told associates at work that What of erstwhile reporter and Mauritius. Among honoured guests at Stravinsky Pulcinella Suite he had received job offers from the G3 founder-director Mungo Soggot? the conference were President Robert World Bank and from “risk consulting” Approached for comment, Soggot sent Mugabe, Dr Kelvin Kemm (long- firm Kroll in France. Noseweek the following email: “I can’t time promoter of nuclear interests NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA In March 2008 he announced that comment about specific clients or work and Zuma appointee as chairman of he was leaving to take up a job at the at G3. André was the driving force at Necsa), and Vuyani Jarana, CO of the Conducted by Sarah Ioannides (USA) World Bank in the USA. His lucra- G3, which grew rapidly. Within the Vodacom Group. tive position there, as vice president company, there was a range of expe- l In July, at the 25th AU Summit in charge of combatting corruption, riences, and on some matters we had in Johannesburg, Robert Mugabe, Pretoria Fri 15 December 19:00 saw him reporting directly to Pienaar’s differing views. I decided to leave in presented the foundation with a friend Chester Crocker, chairman of 2010.” cheque for US$1m. the advisory board of the World Bank – Pienaar is said to have sold his Anyone for tennis? n Johannesburg Sat 16 December 15:00 www.sanyo.org.za for more info

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TCHAIKOVSKY - Ad October 2017.indd 1 2017/10/11 2:20 PM Robbing the poor to make the rich richer Billionaire Douw Steyn’s 1Life Insurance is tricking pensioners into paying their social grant money into policies they neither need, want, nor can afford. By Jack Lundin

very month insurance billionaire Douw Steyn’s 1Life snatches R110 in funeral insurance premiums from the social grants of each of 190,300 – mostly impoverishedE – South Africans. This captured monthly revenue delivers a guaranteed R250m-plus annual income, that pours, year after year, into the magnate’s corporate coffers. Pensioner Mrs Sanna Marinana 73, and her disabled 40-year-old daughter Latitia never wanted their funeral poli- cies with 1Life in the first place. For six years they’d been paying R65 per month each into perfectly good ones with Doves. But 1Life’s agent would brook no argument: “She said she’d been sent by SASSA and all people who get social grants and pensions must take the policy,” recalls Mrs Marinana. “We thought all the people on grants had to do it and we didn’t want to get into trouble by refusing.” It was in November 2013 that 1Life’s bluntly demanding agent knocked at their door in Khayalethu South, part of Nekkies township outside the Garden Route tourist town of Knysna. And ever since 1Life has been drawing R110 per month from each of the mother and Latitia Marinana (left) and her mother, Sanna daughter’s SASSA grants. In the last four years Douw Steyn’s long term life insurer has made deductions totalling African interests that include Auto is a respected elder at Pastor Vubu’s R10,560 for funeral policies that Mrs & General, Budget Insurance, Dial church and lives a quiet life with Latitia Marinana and Latitia hadn’t asked for, Direct and Hippo, as well as his prop- in their trim RDP house in Khayalethu didn’t want – and couldn’t stop. erty holdings: Steyn City, The Saxon South. Since Latitia was a baby she has 1Life lies within the long term insur- boutique hotel in Joburg’s Sandhurst suffered from hydrocephalus – water ance arm of Steyn’s Telesure Group, and Steyn’s Shambala private game on the brain – and following neuro- whose chairman is Douw Steyn’s long- reserve in the Waterberg. surgery at Groote Schuur hospital in serving second in command Stephen Mrs Marinana, a widow since her Cape Town when she was 19 she has Klinkert. Telesure houses Steyn’s South gardener husband died 11 years ago, received a permanent disability grant.

16 Mother and disabled daughter pool West: “I was given a policy by 1Life their R1,610pm grants, which just without my consent in 2016. I tried to about meets their food costs. They have cancel it but it never stopped. It’s still no other source of income, so main- deducting from my SASSA card.” taining payments of R110pm apiece John Petrus Campell, aged 81, of to 1Life for four years to keep SASSA Mossel Bay: “An agent from 1Life happy, as they thought, has been a came to my house and said she was major sacrifice. from SASSA and told me I must take a The Marinanas are not alone. Colleen policy. When I asked her who pays for Ryan, Black Sash’s regional manager this policy she said it’s the state. I then in the , tells Noseweek noticed the money coming off from my that on her visits to advice centres SASSA card. I went to Child Welfare in across the province she is besieged by Mossel Bay to ask for help. They asked pensioners battling unsuccessfully to Black Sash to assist and on 19 March cancel unwanted 1Life funeral policies. 2016 it was cancelled. To date I have Many of these, like the Marinanas, not received my refunds.” were hooked by 1Life’s commission- Mona Brinkhuis, aged 76, from hungry agents with the line that they Mossel Bay: “Two agents from 1Life were from SASSA and the policies came to my house and said they were were compulsory. from SASSA and that I must take a Black Sash took up the cudgels for policy. I went to Child Welfare in Mossel 18 1Life victims in Franschhoek. “Then Bay and tried to cancel it. I signed an we had 45 cases which took over a year affidavit on 3 March 2016. The policy is to cancel,” says Colleen Ryan. “Since still being deducted.” then I’ve been working on 10 more. It’s Somza Norman Tsolo, aged 68, of disgraceful. When you see the poverty Wellington: “Since January 2015 they on the ground, when you know how are deducting money from my SASSA these people could use that R110 to card. I didn’t apply for this policy. I buy 11 loaves of bread. The pensioners never signed any policy with 1Life. I we’re helping in Mossel Bay already need my money back.” had funeral polices with funeral Novakalisa Kahlana, aged 64, of brokers they knew.” Paarl: “I want to cancel the stop order The Financial Services Board is for a 1Life funeral policy which is investigating Black Sash’s claims of deducting R130 from my SASSA card misrepresentation by 1Life’s agents. every month. I never joined any policy. The board has called for affidavits for I need my money.” the 10 latest cases, which are in Mossel As for Mrs Marinana and Latitia Bay, Beaufort West, Oudtshoorn and in Khayalethu South, at their request Paarl. Highlights from these: Noseweek entered the fray and on May Cylia Nteyi, aged 90, from Beaufort 25 this year we sent a letter by regis- tered post, on their behalf, to 1Life’s compliance officer, terminating both policies with immediate effect and The Financial withdrawing mother and daughter’s authority allowing 1Life to deduct premiums from their social grants. Services Board is This letter was not even acknowledged. For five months the R110 deductions IF YOU RENT PROPERTY continued, until Noseweek escalated investigating Black the complaint to the office of Laurence KEEP THIS NUMBER Hillman, chief executive of Telesure’s Sash’s claims of long-term insurance business. I CAN HELP YOU WITH Within days Hillman was assuring PROBLEM TENANTS us that both Mrs Marinana’s and misrepresentation Latitia’s funeral polices had now been I CAN ASSIST YOU WITH THE cancelled “and we have refunded all RENTAL HOUSING TRIBUNAL premiums received since the cancella- by 1Life’s agents tion request of 25 May, and compen- IF YOU DON’T NEED ME NOW, sated them for interest lost and bank YOU WILL LATER charges incurred due to this incident”. This grand gesture came to R700.40 JOHN: 082 901 0824

Noseweek December 2017 17 each for mother and daughter. process failed in this instance, and why squarely on the shoulder of those Hillman added: “It is important the policy was not cancelled when the agents, independent financial service to note that we are committed to instruction was received.” providers Emerald Wealth. “They are processing all cancellation requests in Well, it is clear from the complaints not part of 1Life and are liable for less than two working days of being gathered by Black Sash that 1Life the advice that they offer as well as received. With regard to Mrs Marinana policies are not all processed within the manner in which they sell their and her daughter’s policy, we can two working days. As for their agents’ products,” maintains Hillman. He confirm that this was an administra- lies, claiming to represent SASSA adds: “Emerald Wealth are no longer tive oversight and we are undertaking and that 1Life’s funeral policies were contracted to enter into any new policy a full review to determine why the compulsory, Hillman places the blame sales on behalf of 1Life.” n UK empire running on R7bn debt facilities

he other day a vuvuzela-blasting convoy of trucks rolled into the sprawling Midrand township of Diepsloot bearing Santa Claus and Yuletide gifts for 12,000 Tprimary school children. Each child received a schoolbag, stuffed with toys, sweets and stationery, a Yuletide gesture from their billionaire neigh- bour Douw Steyn, who’s building his very own state-of-the-art Steyn City next door. So far the Auto & General founder has pumped more than R6.5bn into his Steyn City dream, shrugging off criti- cism that it perpetuates an apartheid notion and undermines Johannesburg’s “spatial fabric”. Property and site sales, launched in March 2015, have reached R1.7bn, and 400 residents are now installed in easy-living apartments and Giuseppe Plumari helps to hand out school bags to the children in Diepsloot luxurious clusters. The idea is that the mogul’s private city, which could cost a staggering R50bn, will be self-financing on the horizon. The massive dividend award, though, through sales over the next 12-15 years. On the face of it, the insurance is surprising. For although BGL’s The annual schoolbag distribution mogul’s pockets are bottomless despite consolidated revenue for the year to is a useful image-polisher for the oft- his legendary squanderings. In May he June was 12% up at £585.2m, with a controversial Steyn, who shared the was ranked 152nd in the latest Sunday pre-tax profit of £122m, current group R3m cost of the Christmas spectacular Times Rich List of Britain’s wealth- net liabilities at year end were running with sponsors who supplied most of iest, with a UK net worth of £850m at £65.1m and liquidity was only the bags’ contents. And the PR pays (R15.7bn). preserved by going into hock for £410m off. When Economic Freedom Fighter His home in Steyn City, the sump- (around R7bn) with the bank through leader urged the town- tuous Palazzo Steyn, is valued at an unsecured £210m revolving credit ship residents to march in protest R250m. His 10-bedroomed mansion in facility (£117m of which was swallowed at this white man’s invasion of 800 London’s Belgravia cost £62m (R1.1bn). up by June) and a £200m securitisation African hectares, they flatly refused, In September he picked up the lion’s facility (£35m already drawn). Both saying: “Not this man, he’s part of us.” share of a £138m (R2.5bn) dividend facilities mature in March 2019. Steyn City Properties chief executive from his UK insurance and financial Steyn’s board planned to resolve Giuseppe Plumari tells Noseweek that services BGL Group (Steyn and the the liquidity problem – and in the after a bumper first year property and Enthoven family, who own Nando’s, process give BGL’s founder and prin- site sales have slowed due to political hold 92% of the stock between them). cipal shareholder Douw Steyn another instability and dwindling consumer Their previous year’s payout was a dollop of millions to complete Steyn confidence. So may Douw Steyn have to more modest £59.3m (R1bn-plus). City – by floating BGL Group on the pay a big chunk of the R50bn final cost These jaw-dropping numbers just go on London Stock Exchange. Scheduled for himself? Well, there are some shadows and on. 2017, the listing has now been put on

18 hotel. (She was found guilty of assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm and fined R3,000 or 12 months imprisonment suspended for three years). But in court it was Steyn who commanded attention. After a vodka- fuelled display of incoherence in the witness box he stepped down to take a wild swing at Bianca’s attorney Ian Levitt; on court premises he slashed the legs off the trousers of his Armani suit at the knee; he abandoned socks and shoes and mesmerised magistrate Renier Boshoff and prosecutor Adele Barnard by enveloping them in a bear- hug, pleading: “Can I give you some money?” The charade ended with a bodyguard racing Fawlty Towers-style through the court with an armful of pink champagne bottles to cheer up the boss with a courtroom party. These days, Carolyn Steyn is a Aerial view of Steyn City (above) and bedrock to the mercurial Steyn. Their Palazzo Steyn (right), Douw Steyn’s first marriage in 2003 lasted just five 3,000m2 residence in the luxury months and they remarried in 2013. development “He’s a very difficult man, not easy,” admitted Carolyn in a radio interview several months ago. “I could never get the back burner after the UK media him out of my system – and I tried revealed that the group’s best earner, so hard! He’s a fascinating man, a its price comparison website compa- visionary. Douw has taught me a lot of rethemarket.com, is under investiga- things, and one is: go big or go home.” tion by the Competition and Markets Mrs Steyn is a full-time charity Authority, the UK’s competition birthday on December 19, is the worker, prison visitor and founder watchdog. ongoing high court battle initiated by of 67 Blankets for Mandela Day, and The authority’s probe follows his former fiancée Donné Botha, who in the past three years has distrib- concerns that comparethemarket.com seeks the court’s ruling that she and uted 30,000 blankets, hand-crocheted website, first choice for 5.1m customers Steyn were legally married in London by volunteers, from prisoners to in the UK thanks to its famous talking in 2007. Steyn claims there was only school children, to the needy. So meerkats TV ads, may have done deals a “blessing ceremony”. Donné, who has this remarkable woman calmed with insurers that forced up customers’ has already sought R30m in settle- Douw Steyn down a bit? “We do not premiums and could be in breach of ment of her claim, has been described comment on personal matters relating competition law. by Steyn’s attorney as gold-digger. to Mr Steyn, nor shall we comment on Disturbing though the listing hold-up However, should she be successful in commercially confidential matters or is, Douw Steyn’s perennial cash cow Durban High Court, Steyn could lose business affairs of Mr Steyn,” replies remains BGL’s Guernsey-registered up to half his fortune – and his subse- Steyn’s PA, Jonathan Butt. parent company BHL Holdings, whose quent remarriage to actress Carolyn Steyn City chief executive Giuseppe own offshore ownership trail winds Steyn would be declared invalid. Plumari tells Noseweek: “Steyn City is through Reef Holdings to something Donné’s turbulent relationship with running independent of Mr Steyn by called The Concrete Trust, for whom Douw Steyn has been exhaustively a board which oversees its operations the Reef Foundation acts as trustee. chronicled in Noseweek (noses106,107, and fiscal policy.” Latest initiative to go It’s BHL Holdings that’s pumping all 109,111,114) including a memorable on stream, says Plumari, is the Steyn these billions into Steyn City, through account (nose111) of Steyn’s 2009 City Foundation, a multi-million rand its local Telesure Investment Holdings. subpoened appearance at Wynberg upliftment project with as-yet unde- The financial statements of BHL regional court (Gauteng). Donné was in fined priorities. Although the founda- Holdings and the offshore daisy chain, the dock, facing an attempted murder tion will carry Douw Steyn’s name, naturally, are not for public consump- charge for her attack on Sicilian the canny billionaire won’t be contrib- tion. Bianca Ferrante with a champagne uting a cent – funding will come from An irritant that continues to plague bottle, after surprising the beauty in a 0.5% levy on the price of incoming Douw Steyn, who celebrates his 65th bed with Steyn at his Saxon boutique residents’ property purchases. n

Noseweek December 2017 19 Long walk to the DA Committed ANC member Bonginkosi Madikizela told he would never join her party. Now he’s the DA leader in the Western Cape. Sue Segar traces an extraordinary political journey

ome time back in the mid-2000s, A long-time ANC member, former Western Cape police commis- bruised by his internal battles Madikizela’s political turning point sioner, and DA member of the provin- with the ANC – his political home came in 2005 when he led a group cial legislature, , in a since childhood – Bonginkosi of disgruntled ANC contest for the DA Western Cape lead- Madikizela, spent a couple of members who supported Ebrahim ership, by 16 votes. There’s no love lost hoursS with DA stalwart Helen Zille. Rasool in his leadership struggle with between the two and Max’s supporters He came out of that meeting convinced for the position of claimed there had been irregularities the DA was the party for him. ANC chairperson in the Western Cape. in the elections. “She shared with me the DA’s prin- The ANC in the province was divided Madikizela believes he’s in a prime ciples and vision. That conversation, between the two, with Skwatsha as political position to assist DA growth. and seeing how seriously the DA took provincial secretary challenging the “Firstly, I understand the political service delivery, and the freedom to incumbent, Rasool. (See Box story.) dynamics of the country better than express your views without censure, Skwatsha won the battle – and the many. I understand the importance of was important for me, as I speak my group’s support for Rasool led to them growing into new markets, particularly mind,” Madikizela told Noseweek in an being sidelined and overlooked as ANC the opposition stronghold. interview. candidates in the 2006 local govern- “The biggest issue we face in the Today, the DA’s newly-elected leader ment elections. Madikizela and a few opposition market is trust. My under- in the Western Cape stands in pole others decided to contest the local standing of this market, because of my position to become the province’s new government elections as independent background, puts me in a good position in 2019. As leader in the candidates. When the results of the to convince them to come over to this only province which the DA currently local government elections came out, blue machine. I understand their fears governs, he’s highly aware of the crit- the ANC got just over 39 percent of the and am able to break that barrier.” ical role he plays in the party and in votes and the DA over 42 percent. The Madikizela believes SA is “still grap- the greater political landscape. DA formed a coalition government, the pling with colonialism and apartheid. Naturally, Madikizela’s key focus ANC lost the and As a South African who was affected will be on getting the DA to knock Zille became mayor of Cape Town. by apartheid, I understand where most the ANC’s national support to below After a short stint with Bantu South Africans come from. The country 50 percent in the 2019 poll, and he’s Holomisa’s UDM as the party’s Cape is very racially polarized because many determined to grow the party’s black Town Metro secretary, Madikizela got South Africans are still marginalized, support base in the Western Cape. a call from Zille asking him to work and are uneducated, poor and not part “The DA will lead South Africa. in her office as stakeholder relations of the mainstream economy. We need to It’s not a question of whether it can,” manager “in her capacity as mayor unite South Africa across racial lines, Madikizela said. “As leader of the only and not as a leader of the DA”. It was to grow our economy, create jobs and DA-governed province, I’m required to while working in this position that create political stability. lead a team that makes the maximum Zille convinced him to join the party. “While it’s important to acknowledge contribution to our target to be the He later became MEC for Human the past, we also need people preaching government in 2019.” Settlements under Zille’s premiership. the message of progress and the future Sitting in the Wale Street office “It didn’t take me long to realize that – it’s not going to help us as a country which he occupies as MEC for Housing, Helen and I had the same agenda to to dwell in the past. I bring a message the single father in his early 40s improve the lives or our people. Our of hope, a message of unity, a message spoke openly about his childhood in hearts were in the same place,” said that talks more about the future than KwaZulu-Natal, during which he lost Madikizela. We didn’t have time to play the past. That message resonates with two brothers to political violence, his politics. I gave my job my all and that’s many people.” own inevitable involvement in politics, what I saw in her as well, I realised I As the new DA leader in the Western his ambitions – and some of the contro- could work with a person like this.” Cape, his four-point plan, besides versies linked to his name. In October this year, Madikizela beat growing the party in opposition strong-

20 15 years ago. “But if you go to any DA ANC is now doing. We need to tread gathering you’ll see it is no longer the carefully and strike a balance between case. We currently have only one white those soft issues and what we need to provincial leader out of nine provinces do as a country to move forward.” and that is Jacques Smalle in . What disturbs him the most about In the four metros where we are in SA today is “the rate of corruption, the government, we only have one white lack of accountability of some leaders mayor, Athol Trollip. We have black and the fact that SA is so poor despite mayors in Joburg and Tshwane and a its massive potential. coloured mayor in Cape Town. “We are rich in mineral resources, “Also, in this province we are in and should be able to provide for our government in 29 municipalities where citizens. The good thing coming out of only ten mayors are white. The percep- this political instability and the rate tion that the DA is a white party is not of looting is that South Africans are true.” becoming mature voters. What fascinates Madikizela is the “The quicker we can get people to way South African voters are maturing. understand that they are the bosses of “In countries like the USA, it took politicians and not the other way round them years. In 23 years, if you look at the quicker we get to a situation where the changes in patterns of how people people understand the power of ‘if you in SA are voting, who would have don’t deliver, I vote you out’.” thought we’d progress to where we are Madikizela believes the biggest chal- now – that people would be in a posi- lenges facing the Western Cape today tion to now vote for a different political are gangsterism, alcohol abuse, and party on the basis of issues and poli- abuse of children and women. cies. In many countries, the soft issues “These have become a permanent lock people into perpetual loyalty to feature of this province, and keep me liberation movements, but in SA we awake. There are no easy solutions. It are breaking that barrier and moving will take us time to restore the moral to real issues. People are voting on the fibre of our province and our country basis of ‘what a party is going to do for … and to restore the most importance me to change my life’.” values of society. Most of these things This political maturity, he believes, happen because parents have abdi- can be ascribed in no small measure, to cated responsibility. “the things SA did right” by ensuring Madikizela said the highlight of his a progressive constitution, a number tenure as Human Settlements MEC is Bonginkosi Madikizela of chapter nine institutions and struc- the impact he has made in improving tures that put checks and balances in many people’s lives. “The most holds, includes rebuilding trust with place to avoid abuse of power. rewarding thing is when I give a house loyal supporters, building the DA’s “The more people realise their power and a title deed to the most deserving auxiliary structures and building trust as individuals because of these checks individual, like an elderly person who with farm workers. and balances, the more they under- was directly affected by apartheid, or Farmworkers hold a special place stand they can exercise their demo- to people living with disabilities and in his heart “because I was born on a cratic right. We South Africans can pat child-headed households.” farm and we’re not doing very well in ourselves on the back for this.” On the negative side: “We some- the farming communities. The percep- Madikizela says the DA is making times raise unrealistic expectations. tion is that the DA is more for farmers a mistake by ignoring “soft issues” Many people who qualify for free than farmworkers. Farmworkers must affecting ordinary South Africans. “Yes subsidized state houses are not the feel that we care for them, that we’re a we focus on growing the economy and most deserving. The sooner we change party for all”. creating jobs, but we must never under- that the better. We are entrenching a Madikizela told Noseweek he believes estimate the emotional connection that culture of dependency and entitlement one of the biggest challenges facing many blacks have with parties like the in a country with a shrinking fiscus and the DA is the perception that it is a ANC. We miss that point completely. growing demand. We need to unleash white party. “Perception in politics is We have to understand that it’s not the potential of our people by creating reality. We must avoid doing or saying just about hard and visible issues. a conducive environment for them to be anything that feeds into that percep- Many South Africans vote with hearts, active participants in housing delivery, tion. To grow, we must walk the talk not their heads, and our message must instead of passive recipients.” and be seen to be doing what we say resonate with that. Madikizela has been criticized we are.” “We mustn’t under-estimate the for being overly close to Premier Madikizela conceded the DA might scars that were caused by apartheid Helen Zille, and for being a lackey of have been a party just for white people and focus on everything wrong that the a conservative group in the DA. He

Noseweek December 2017 21 supported Zille during the aftermath of the ANC called on Zille to fire him – for That’s why it’s disintegrated in the her contentious tweets on the virtues comments, in September 2010, that Western Cape.” of colonialism, and lodged a complaint “unfortunately” there was no influx On accusations by the Mandela against former DA Youth leader Mbali control to regulate the movement of Park Backyarders that he broke his Ntuli for posting ‘like’ when somebody people into the Western Cape. promise to give residents houses in called Zille a racist on Facebook. “This comment was taken out of new Mandela Park developments, he But, during our interview, he scoffed context. I was not born in the Western says: “This was another twisted story at this perception, saying “I am my own Cape and here I am, so why would I by people who wanted to hold me to man”, and that the ANC is on a mission suggest migration of people from other ransom by forcing me to give them to tarnish the image of black DA areas should be controlled? Comments houses without following due processes leaders. His track record in working like that from the ANC don’t deserve a and the principle of first come, first for poor communities, he says, should serious response. This is a party that served. speak for itself. has lost its moral compass. It uses “I met them several times and they Madikizela was also criticized – and every opportunity to play the race card. made these unreasonable demands, From township to leadership

onginkosi Madikizela was young Madikizela went to live with and active in the ANC, and was soon born in 1975 in Murchison, his second eldest brother, Amos, who elected as secretary of the ANC’s Port Shepstone. His father, was killed in similar circumstances in Macassar branch. In 2003, while Magabishane Madikizela, a 1991, when Madikizela was 16. working in HR at the Ravensmead farm worker and chief, hailed “Then they came after me,” he says. police station, he was elected as secre- Bfrom Mbizana in the Eastern Cape. After Amos’s death, Madikizela tary of the Khayelitsha Development Bonginkosi’s mother, Nyabuzana, was moved to Durban to live with a sister, Forum (KDF). A year later he became Magabishane’s first of eight wives and a domestic worker, in the Welbedacht an executive member of the KDF. Bonginkosi the last of eight children squatter camp near Chatsworth. In the election year of 2004, – four sons and four daughters. His “That shack, made from neighbours’ Madikizela was at the forefront of mother died when he was seven; his discarded materials, was our home for campaigns for the ANC in his ward. father when he was 11. years. The holes in the walls were so The ANC did well and Bonginkosi’s grandfather and big you could count the stars.” became premier of the Western Cape. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s father When political tensions worsened, Then Madikizela became embroiled and were brothers, but while Winnie he moved to Mbizana, Eastern Cape, in the debate about who to support in was part of the family, he did not see to live with an aunt and uncle, and the next elections, between Rasool and her much. matriculated with university exemp- Mcebisi Skwatsha, who was provincial Madikizela began his schooling in tion from the Ntabezulu High School, secretary. “Rasool had not done a bad Murchison aged ten and, after his before returning to Durban. There he job but some believed the ANC must father’s death, was left in the care of worked for an RDP housing company be led by black people. I had always his older siblings. This was during the and studied housing policy for a year known the ANC as a non-racial party. mid-1980s, at the height of the war on at the University of Natal. That was when I started seeing their the ground in KZN between the ANC Madikizela moved to Cape Town true colours. There was a big split and the . in 1994, living in Khayelitsha while among ANC members, Rasool lost and It was inevitable that the teenage working for a construction company a witchhunt began against those who Madikizela would became involved. “I and studying at computer school. He had supported Rasool. didn’t join the ANC, the ANC joined also enrolled for a B.Comm in Human “Unbelievable things were going on me! We were Madikizelas in KZN, so Resource Management with Unisa. In in our ward conferences. People were by association we were ANC. I knew I 2000, he moved to Durban to be with imposed on us. A close friend, a coun- had to fight Inkatha.” his third brother Mdu who had become cillor who supported Rasool, was hit He became part of a group of young ill, and who later died. There he on the head with a brick and was in boys who went to camps and slept in worked for Stats SA, continued with hospital for weeks. It left a bad taste. the bush, returning home in the early his IT studies and became involved You’d go to a meeting, but be given a hours to go to school. “Then, at school, with NGOs and youth organisations. brief to toe a certain line, and told that we’d hear gun shots and run away. He returned to Cape Town in 2002 you couldn’t speak your mind. I said I That was our life.” to work as a computer teacher. Now couldn’t be part of that. I decided I was In 1988 when Madikizela was 13 back in Khayelitsha, he became not going to take that nonsense.” he and his oldest brother Moses involved in fighting corruption around Madikizela became the face of a were attacked by IFP supporters a new mall development in Macassar. campaign to stand as independents and Moses was hacked to death. The He found himself back in politics to contest the ANC in the elections,

22 until it was no longer necessary to that experts did not make the right help us deal with the problem. The meet them.” predictions about the amount of rain DA didn’t mess up. Water is a national On what his role in the Western we were going to get. government competence. The DA has Cape’s pending water crisis is, he said: “Perhaps people have a right to blame been asking for necessary assistance “As the leader of the ruling party in the government, but if you are faced from national government but unfortu- the province, I have an important role. with a choice to either deal with imme- nately without luck.” There were different choices and deci- diate social challenges or with long-term His long-term ambitions, he said, sions to make based on the information perceived challenges, and you have very are “to grow the party in the Western at our disposal at the time. Drought is a limited resources – the obvious choice Cape, break the barriers in opposition global phenomenon which has affected becomes the first one. We are now doing strongholds and contribute to our goal 130 mega cities in the last seven years, everything to deal with this problem, of becoming the national government. due to climate change. Government is from water recycling, aquifers, water- I believe in doing the work first – only always faced with difficult choices in saving and desalination plants. after achieving those goals will I decide these situations. It’s also unfortunate ”This multi-pronged approach will on the next step for me personally.” n starting in January 2006. He received working with her in June 2006. She “I said, ‘are you insane?’ I accepted numerous threats as well as phone put me on probation and I soon real- reluctantly and hardly slept for six calls from ANC leaders telling him to ised we were both in politics to improve months, learning everything about stop what he was doing. A week before peoples lives”. In 2007 they had a this department.” He was reappointed the elections (2006) he even had a call conversation that changed things. “It minister in 2014. from Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. was about the political environment “It has become my passion and I “She shouted at me, saying she would and the role of the DA and the role she don’t believe I have done a bad job.” send a delegation to talk some sense saw me playing as part of the DA. Of Zille he says: “I don’t think there’s into me. And she did. Mandela's own “She described why it was important anybody who challenges her as I do, praise singer, Zolani Mkiva, came to to have people like me in the DA to get yet I don’t think there’s anyone who deliver a message from my family and political realignment in SA. has shown as much faith in me as she the royal family, to stop what I was “I called my sisters who said they’d has. She engages and is prepared to doing because it was hurting the ANC. support whatever decision I made.” change her mind. She doesn’t pretend Madikizela had first met Helen Zille Two days later, Madikizela joined the to know everything and gives you the in 2003 in Khayelitsha and, while DA, and became part of the provincial space to do your job. She only inter- meeting with people to raise funds for election team. “We were crisscrossing venes if you mess up. You don’t find his cause, he went to visit her. “In poli- the province, campaigning, and we that in many leaders – most lead with tics there are trade-offs. I said, ‘Helen, got more than 51 percent of the votes their egos.” you’re leader of the DA and we are in 2009. Madikizela became an MPL Another woman he admires is now campaigning against the ANC … for the first time. “I was very nervous, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. “I’m and this will hurt them. Help us.’ there was a lot to learn.” A day before not suggesting she’s a saint, but to “She said, ‘what’s in it for me,’ and Zille announced her cabinet, she called go through what she did and stay we said we would take a lot of support him and asked him to be Minister of standing inspires me. I didn’t have an from the ANC, and she said, ‘how do Housing. easy life growing up. People like her I know I can trust you’ and I said, made me realise it’s a jungle out there ‘you just have to take my word for it’. and only the fittest survive. Those I think she appreciated that kind of traits and values have got me where honesty. We went to campaign and we ‘I didn’t have an I am today.” hurt the ANC big time.” Madikizela is a single father to a The ANC lost the city of Cape son Sihle (17) and daughter Mihle Town and the DA formed a coalition easy life growing up. (7). “There are values I’m determined government in the city. According to to instil in my kids. When I compare Madikizela, the last thing on his mind People like [Winnie their lives with how I grew up, I can was to join the DA. He spent a short say I am rich, but my kids don’t get stint with the UDM after the elections everything they want. I’d like them “because I needed a political home but Mandela] made me to experience some of the difficulty I it was not for me. went through so they appreciate what “The rest is history. Not long after realise it’s a jungle they have.” Helen was inaugurated I got a call from Other people he deeply admires and her, asking me to work in her office as out there and only who helped shape him are his four stakeholder relations manager. sisters, Agnes, Princess, Flora and the “I said you must understand I will late Mildred. “My sisters made me who never join your party. She said she the fittest survive’ I am by showing me love and compas- wanted me to work with her as mayor sion, and I’ll be indebted to them till and not as DA leader and I began the day I die.” n

Noseweek December 2017 23 Polokwane’s rocky road to better public transport There’s more to a rapid transit system than buying buses and building roads – as Limpopo’s capital, and several other South African cities, are discovering. By Warren Blunt

oburg has its Rea Vaya Bus Rapid the city. Failure to reach agreement and underhand tender practices. Transit System and Tshwane could lead to community protests and One only has to look at the recent its A Re Yeng ‘Connecting the disruptions to Leeto la Polokwane. railway locomotive corruption scandal Capital’ version – and so far City residents are also questioning involving the Passenger Rail Agency of neither system is quite meeting the need for the new transport system South Africa (Prasa), the Department expectations.J as there are already three provincial of Transport and Swifambo, a dodgy While Rea Vaya has been plagued government-subsidised bus operators company meant to supply the locomo- by bus driver strikes, issues of punctu- transporting commuters. Great North tives. ality and failure to adhere to routes, A Transport, Bahwaduba Bus Service Leeto la Polokwane will be the Re Yeng is proving significantly more and Madodi Bus Company will all be fifth bus rapid transport system to expensive than originally projected. affected in some way or another by the be implemented, joining, besides Current opinion is that by the time it new system. Communities are saying Johannesburg and Tshwane, Cape becomes fully operational the new bus the municipality should rather focus Town and Nelson Mandela Bay. Of the system will have cost Tshwane double on upgrading the water infrastructure four systems currently in operation, the amount originally projected. This and the ageing sewage system, neither only Cape Town’s MyCiti is operating will largely be due to an agreement of which were designed to cope with efficiently, although it only caters for with taxi operators made by the then the rapidly-growing population of a 12% of commuters using public trans- ANC municipality (it is now DA-led) city with more than 600,000 residents. port in the ‘Mother City’. to compensate them for loss of earn- The Economic Freedom Fighters The R2bn Nelson Mandela Bay ings on routes designated for A Re (EFF), official opposition in the system has been plagued by delays Yeng. So far the system has cost the Polokwane municipal council, have over the past six years, with 60 buses taxpayer more than R2.6bn. expressed dissatisfaction with the gathering dust while five engineering Now the ANC-led Polokwane timing of Leeto la Polokwane. “Our companies and four project managers municipality is moving to set in place people need housing and job oppor- came and went before the first phase Leeto la Polokwane to provide faster, tunities, not an elaborate transport was finally launched toward the end cheaper transport to communities system with dedicated cycle lanes of last year. Buying the wrong buses living within a 30km radius of the – most of our people are too poor to and having to negotiate a way out of capital of Limpopo. This is in line afford bicycles let alone an expensive that was a major reason for delay. with the municipality’s Polokwane public transport system,” said EFF In Polokwane, simply naming the 2030 Smart City Vision, that envis- municipal councillor, Ronnie Malema. bus system took over 18 months ages a vibrant up-to-date inner city The idea for Integrated Rapid Public – and cost R2.8m. When Leeto la infrastructure to encourage economic Transport Networks (IRPTNs) stems Polokwane (Journey of Polokwane) growth and investment. from the approval by Parliament in was finally decided on in August 2016, When plans for the system were March 2007 for the improvement then minister of transport Dipuo unveiled to the media toward the end and overhaul of public transport Peters, Polokwane Mayor Thembi of 2014, the projected cost was R1.8bn. across the country. This has led to the Nkadimeng and Limpopo Premier At that point the municipality had yet implementation of ‘accelerated modal Stan Mathabatha celebrated to much to decide on the type of buses to be upgrading’ projects and IRPTNs, as fanfare and jubilation. used, and had not engaged with the part of a public transport action plan Peters, congratulating the Limpopo various transport operators presently overseen by the national Department provincial government and the ferrying passengers on the designated of Transport. Polokwane municipality, declared: “We routes. Phase one of the IRPTN introduced are pleased to see that the Polokwane Taxi associations are now rail-priority and bus transit corridors new system penetrates through the demanding compensation for loss in twelve cities, costing huge amounts heart of the CBD, with a transit mall of earnings as they presently carry of taxpayer money and providing planned. You have done South Africa around 70% of commuters to and from perfect ground for corrupt activities proud. Together we move South Africa

24 People in Limpopo have wondered quite how he got to be made trans- port minister, but Maswanganyi must surely be licking his lips, having climbed the ladder from being in charge of a couple of hundred million rand as an MEC to now being custo- dian of many billions. The Department of Transport will also foot the bill for the buses – each to cost around R12m. Asked about progress on purchasing the buses and the number needed, Sebaka replied that a service provider has not yet been appointed: “The spec- ifications and negotiations with the industry are nearing completion and the municipality should have clear indications of how many buses will be required.” Sebaka also said the municipality is currently negotiating with the four operators affected by Phase 1 and 2 – the Flora Park Pietersburg, Moletjie, Seshego Polokwane and Westenburg taxi associations. “The municipality is further engaging the bus operator, Great North Transport. Polokwane Mayor Thembi Nkadimeng and Limpopo Premier Stanley Mathabatha Determination of what should happen unveiling the name of the city’s integrated public transport system in 2016 with operators in these four affected minibus taxi associations, and the bus operator and their vehicles, will be a forward.” . This is the man negotiated agreement as the system Whether Leeto la Polokwane will who was fired in 2006 from his post goes live in October 2018,” Sebaka indeed move the people of Polokwane of Limpopo MEC for Sport, Arts and explained. Not much to go on there forward or not – or in any direction Culture by then premier Sello Moloto, about what’s actually going on. Failure at all – remains to seen. Proof of the for being unable to account for funds to reach satisfactory agreements with pudding will come when the first allocated for the annual Mapungubwe taxi operators could put the brakes on commuters climb onto the first bus Festival. the entire project. in October 2018 – or whenever they Chairperson for Seshego Polokwane do, as not much is certain except Taxi Association, Solly Ledwaba, said that costs will escalate and it is way they have been talking to the munici- behind schedule. So far – as confirmed Proof of the pudding pality for three years about Leeto la by Mantlako Sebaka, communica- Polokwane, describing discussions tion officer for Leeto la Polokwane – with the four affected taxi associa- R876m has been spent on 3.85kms of will come when tions and the municipality as “fair and bus lanes and the infrastructure and transparent”, with market research planning for Phase 1 and 2, but this commuters climb onto currently underway to determine the does not include procurement of buses. number of commuters presently using Phase 1 will integrate the system the route. within a 20km radius and carry as the first bus as not He said no agreement had been many as 50,000 passengers a day. The reached with the municipality to date route links outlying Seshego to the much is certain except but a memorandum of understanding CBD via Nelson Mandela Drive, with on the rules of engagement had been designated bus lanes in both direc- issued to taxi associations. Discussions tions and separate cycling and pedes- that costs will escalate will resume after the current recess trian lanes on one side of the busy of council in preparation for the new carriageway. and that it is way 2017/18 financial year. Funding comes from the National Will Leeto la Polokwane roll out as Treasury and is disbursed through envisaged by October 2018? the Department of Transport, under behind schedule The people of the North will ‘wait the leadership of its new minister, and see’. n

Noseweek December 2017 25 Books LEN ASHTON

Hidden depths. Light – and dark – reading

o, what gifts are you planning to lavish on which deserving parties this year? What about a little light reading for our beloved President? Perhaps Jacques Pauw’s The President’sS Keepers would be appreciated. Mind you, El Presidente’s keepers are so anxious to hamper distribution of this wildly popular tome that we may be reduced to paying black market prices for the privi- lege. Perhaps Decline and Fall would be more appropriate for this recipient. In any case, holiday reading is generally an escapist activity, so it’s probably wise to focus on entertaining Christmas gifts, rather than realistic Gottedammerung treatises on the agonies of our time. And what could be more amusing than Anthony Horowitz’s Magpie Murders (Orion Books), a (British) Sunday Times best-seller, awash with praise from thriller fans internationally. It’s constructed like those sets of Russian dolls, plot within plot, and cunningly scattered with scores of clues to tantalise amateur sleuths. Cruciverbalists and other would-be gumshoes will savour the challenges posed to alert readers. What is it that attracts us to murder mysteries? Is it the crime or the solution? Horowitz shamelessly sends up the Agatha Christie lala land of stock characters (the vicar, the local magnate preening in his stately home, and the Miss Marples of the world), but he does so tenderly. And he rhapsodises about our very own Meyer. teases with shoals of clues. This period stuff Fever is a departure for Meyer. His is presented within a second, contemporary, familiar, disillusioned detective character murder mystery set in latter-day London, Bennie Griessel does not figure in Fever to so it’s a case of Pay Attention Children! beguile the reader with his world-wearily Otherwise you will have to retrace your atmospheric tales. This is survival in steps to sort out the various dark doings. another dimension entirely – a hunt for Perhaps the killer actually WAS the butler refuge in a blighted world, where survivors in the drawing room. of a killer virus fight feral dogs, motorcycle If readers’ lust for mayhem remains gangs and nuclear contamination. Just like unslaked after reading Magpie, try Fever Camps Bay on New Year’s Day. Faced with (Hodder and Stoughton), the latest Deon such ghastliness, Bennie would probably Meyer, who rises and rises in critical esteem have glugged a bottle or two and floated with each offering. South Africa’s leading into nowheresville. Again. crime writer, he is even admired by creepy The cover notes say Fever is “the epic Stephen King of horror tales notoriety, who story of a group of people determined to

26 carve a city out of chaos”. Sounds familiar. that? Maytham says many would have South African readers will quail at the answered: a woman. But the bite can cause depiction of familiar landscapes in post- severe prolonged erection in men, which apocalyptic ruination. can lead to impotence. The venom is being Winston Churchill and Jan Smuts were, studied for possible use in erectile dysfunc- of course, jointly attempting to salvage tion treatments. humanity on a global scale. Author/ What common anatomical trait is shared historian Richard Steyn has produced a only between humans and elephants? The sequel to his lucid Jan Smuts: Unafraid of chin, apparently. But no less an expert than Greatness. Now Churchill & Smuts – The James Pampush of Duke University in Friendship (Jonathan Ball Publishers) North Carolina doesn’t know why humans studies the mutual respect of two vividly have one. Anyone who has been unfortu- contrasted figures. nate enough to suffer a blow to that bit of On Smuts’ death, Churchill’s letter of the anatomy could enlighten the learned condolence to Mrs Issie Smuts said: “He academic as to the relief arising from the was probably more fitted to guide strug- fact that a sturdy jaw provides a shield of gling and blundering humanity through some kind against damage to oral struc- its sufferings and perils towards a better tures, dentistry etc. day than anyone who lived in any country Readers of modest and retiring nature during his epoch”. Not too many of that ilk should not read aloud the definition of a around these days. They make contempo- tompion. But it’s perfectly acceptable to rary leaders look like vertically challenged give mixed company a reading on the most persons. ticklish part of the human body. And even If holiday languor palls, a dose of reality to discuss the vital issue of the body part might be forthcoming in Destined for added to Barbie dolls in the momentous War: Can America and China Escape year AD 2000. Thucydides’s Trap? (Scribe) by Graham On a superficial reading (what else?), Allison. He chides the West for lagging Rapid Fire does not offer an answer as to dangerously behind China. the meaning of life. n Allison says Chinese President Xi is formidable because he has known real suffering, so is very different “from Western leaders obsessed with the frivolous spin- cycles of domestic politics”. He believes Xi sees his responsibility is to ensure that China’s renaissance returns the country to its position as the richest, strongest and most advanced culture on earth. China has invested in weapons with powerful “asymmetrical’’ advantages: cheap missiles can sink an aircraft carrier costing billions. China is more serious than Europe, because it invests growth gains in educa- tion and technology, for example in genetic engineering and artificial intelligence. Well, if that lot doesn’t scare you out of your deckchair, nothing will. Why not, instead, something soothing? Rapid Fire – Remarkable Miscellany by broadcaster/actor John Maytham (Tafelberg). Rather than fulminating about the desperate state of the world, the author reminds us of its infinite wonders, and answers many questions that puzzle humankind. And some that you might prefer not to know. Consider, at random, the matter of whether it is better to be a man or a woman, if one is bitten by a Brazilian wandering spider. Who has not tossed and turned in the night, agonising about

Noseweek December 2017 27 Not rocket science SIBUSISO BIYELA

Grim picture. Think of the children

ur president is embroiled in yet another scandal, some nostalgic folk have been flying the ol’ flag, and very disgruntled students have been throwing poo at the police.O There’s a large share of anger going around in South Africa – but who has any left to express on behalf of the country’s hungry children? South Africa has an overwhelming number of families that go hungry each and every day, yet the statistics in full view of the public seem to produce little more than a whimper in the social discourse out there of people going on and on about what supposedly really matters. How bad is it, this seemingly Cape and University of Pretoria), not be forgotten. entrenched situation of poverty and where he shows that social grants have For Devereux, food security goes hunger? failed to stop malnutrition. Devereux beyond issues of food production. He Marianne Merten recently did a and co-author Jennifer Waidler ponder writes that poor food access, poor child- stellar analysis of the state of poverty the seeming paradox that although care, and poor health services hamper in South Africa, in an article published food security has improved malnutri- efforts to fight malnutrition. Social in Daily Maverick. She paints a grim tion has not been defeated. Instead it’s grants on their own are not enough to picture of the country reversing what getting worse deal with these issues. gains we might have made in the fight Social grants in South Africa are Now, there is plenty of research being against poverty. relatively generous compared to other done and plenty of meetings being held The way Merten frames it, while countries, but they fall short because where experts are doing their best to more and more South Africans starve, they are diluted among several family find solutions to these problems. For government stubbornly sticks to poli- members. According to Devereux, poor instance, in November 2017 experts cies which aren’t functional, finding it families will spend between one-third will have gathered to investigate the easier to blame the country’s woes on and two-thirds of their social grant effectiveness of school-feeding interven- a global economic crisis – as we have on food; in the case of a child-support tions, at a symposium aptly named You seen the honourable President do so grant that amounts to between R130 to can’t teach a hungry child – another many times in Parliament (when he is R224 of the R360 they get every month. event by the Centre of Excellence in not laughing at his critics). Many publications in the country, Food Security. According to the latest Stats SA report including Noseweek, have revealed There is so much anger being on poverty trends in South Africa, while unscrupulous actions by grant payment expressed and circulated online about poverty decreased overall between 2006 providers such as CPS (and company), a myriad of things, and I am not one to and 2015, by 2015 a distinct rise in that unecessarily and unjustly erode make light of whatever issues people poverty was visible compared to 2011. this measly amount. Unethical service are angry about. But clearly this Stats SA defines poverty as having less providers are exploiting loopholes in particular issue isn’t as important to than R992 (per person per month), and the system – and ordinary people’s as many people as I believe it should in 2015, by that standard, one in two trust – to turn the convenience and be. South Africans were poor. supposed safety of everyday banking Here I am anyway, angry enough to Consider a working paper by Dr. into a perfect storm (See story pg 14). be bending your ear to spare a thought Stephen Devereux, written for the That is nothing short of monstrous and for the fellow citizens our country fails Centre of Excellence in Food Security (a much anger has been aired around it, every day – the increasing number of joint venture of University of Western but the bigger picture of poverty must children going hungry across the land. n

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Eel technique. Liquor on the road to ruin

suppose only a townie could become romantic little sylvan grove which so enthused about fishing. constitutes the camping area and a I suppose it’s a reasonable habit, merry braai is sizzling away in the taking fishing tackle on a moun- stone grilling place. We’ve cut some tain trip, but come on, man, I grass for a mattress inside the little mean….I Well, Polly did. She always mountain tent; the sleeping-bags cosily had such tackle in her boot, trout rods invite us. for two, always found her way to some An old pal called Woolly suddenly piece of water, anywhere would do, if hails me from a biggish group just only for an hour, and it didn’t really come down the mountain. I suggest have to be much water either, come to a chop and egg with toast, but he’s think of it. Polly, said I, I am a rock and already eaten. I suggest whisky, to keep surf angler, I don’t really have the skill us company while we eat. I have some one could use in dam or river, though myself to keep him company while he’s I suppose I might manage some phutu drinking. We have a good old laugh, on a trout stick with a fixed spool reel. remembering the time we thought Splendid, splendid, said she in her we’d found a corpse in a cave, which strange Pommy way of speaking. So now we’re off to the escarpment, a sharp haul up the Drakensberg. And what’s it going to be, then? I ask – a short stern clamber up Gray’s Pass, and hang around there looking at the view, the whole lot three days, how about that, hey? Aah yes! she exclaims in her ladylike manner. In that case, I declare in an unpolished sort of way, we should take along some whisky for enhancing the sensibilities as the sun turned out to be bedsheets somebody tinct in the dark to be sure and a little sets over old Natal. True, she murmurs, had nicked from the Cathedral Peak cloudy with silt from the rains, but eels a bottle of something nice. Two bottles, Hotel. We remember being snowed in don’t mind that, they hunt by smell, say I. Two bottles are a party, says she. somewhere for two days. We are jolly says Woolly. Not at all, say I, two people for three company. We drink more whisky. We bait up with No.2 surf hooks days means a sixth of one bottle per And more. Suddenly he spies the and a good lump of fat, eels are greedy day per person, which is ridiculous, rods. Fishing! he cries. Have you got a feeders, he declares, and their mouths and in any case it would be unfair if rod for me? There’s no water here, says are BIG, hey! We put sinkers on a swivel only one of us had to carry the weight Polly, but very politely. Yes there is, says about 25cms up the line, to anchor the of a bottle. I take your point, says she, Woolly, the Mlambonja River. That’s a bait against the current, and wait. in her genteel way, so we’re off to the tiny little stream, says Polly. Not at this After a bit Woolly says I think some- Bottlestore Galactica for the Vat 69 and time of the year, says Woolly, it’s full of thing has stripped my bait, and reels the Spar for dehydrated and dry provi- eels, delicious, and we’ll catch some and in. The bait is intact, but he profession- dence, you know, soya protein, Smash grill them right away! You may borrow ally feels the sinker for temperature. potatoes, sundried tomatoes, powdered my rod, says Polly. So we cut up some Well the water’s quite nice and warm, milk, sweeteners, all things light and left-over mutton fat for bait and put he declares. Polly has been unusually airy, except the two bottles of whisky of the ailing bottle of Vat 69 to a merciful silent. Wotcher think, hey Polly? says course, for humping up the escarpment death and jauntily set out in the pitch- he cheerfully. I think it’s not a river, it’s like a pair of mules. dark of the moonless clouded night a road, says Polly, but very politely. We pull in at an Estcourt super- for the rain-swollen Mlambonja full of Distant headlights rapidly advance. market for heavy grub for tonight in eels. We stumble all about, searching, One million candlepower. As the bakkie the campsite below Mike’s Pass: lamb searching, before Woolly suddenly cries squashes our mutton fat the driver chops, eggs, the like, and by sunset Ha! The Mlambonja! and there indeed hoots at us: peep peepeepeepeep peep we’re all rigged up in that really down a small bank is the river, indis- peep. n

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