DOCSLIB.ORG

Womxn's Work and Income Inequality in South Africa

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Womxn's Work and Income Inequality in South Africa A - Dimensions of structural inequality South Africa Reclaiming Power: Womxn’s Work and Income Inequality in South Africa November 2020 Inequality Report 2020 1 Abstract CEO takes home as much as 461 black women from the bottom ten percent of earners. Labour market inequality is a key driver to stubborn gender, race, income and wealth inequality in South Africa Existing government policies have failed to reduce inequality because macroeconomic policies have entrenched rather than reduced the dominance of a handful of conglomerates based in finance, extractives and energy. This skewed industrial structure, established during apartheid, has led to a decline of manufacturing, jobless growth, asset price inflation and investment volatility in the era of financialisation, while crowding out the informal sector’s ability to absorb unemployment. Addressing the crisis of inequality in South Africa therefore needs to go much further than the labour market reforms, skills development policies and micro support for the informal sector that have been advocated by mainstream economists. Long-term, socially sustainable distributions of income would require radical transformation of the economy towards more labour intensive, linked to sectors that serve the needs of the population - for example via a developmental welfare state across health, education and other social needs - rather than the imperatives of profit and capital expatriation. Specific policies to reduce labour market inequality - such as a living wage, a maximum income cap no higher than 10% of the income of the lowest paid worker in firm, social protection for all and making workplaces safe for women - must be rooted in macroeconomic policy that reorients away from the ‘Minerals Energy Complex’ and expansion of the financial sector in and of itself, towards industrial policy aimed at promoting sustainable and equitable economic development. Inequality Report 2020 3 CONTENTS Page 3 Page 6 Page 8 Page 9 Contents Acknowledgements Foreword Glossary Page 11 Page 12 Page 17 Page 23 Acronyms What is this What we do is Johann Rupert’s report about? important too entrepreneurial secrets 4Inequality Report 2020 Inequality Report 20204 Introduction A B Dimensions Women of structural inequality at the margin 1. Social inequality 32 1. Unpaid care work 56 2. Income inequality and wealth inequality 39 2. Precarious work 60 3. Labour market inequality 45 3. Informal work 70 C D E What is behind classist, gendered How the state’s microeconomic What could we do instead? & racialised labour inequality in policy and practice maintains OZA’s recommendations South Africa? the status quo? 1. What is the Minerals Energy Complex? 76 1. At work in the formalised sector 109 1. Policy recommendations for reducing labour 2. The Financialised Minerals and Energy Complex 80 2. At work in the informal sector 114 market inequality 135 3. The Historical Origins of the Financialised MEC 87 3. Industrial policy 116 2 .Build your own campaign 142 4. Economic Reform since 1994 94 4. Political and Corporate capture as a driver of inequality 120 3. How to use this report 144 5. Other Social Impacts of Financialised MEC 101 5. Taking the fight into the future 127 5Inequality Report 2020 Inequality Report 20205 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This report is an outcome of a Nomonde (JITP); Paulos Selibana (JITP); participatory research with Oxfam Project and Research Coordinator: Social Movement Reviewers: Ntakuseni Tshikosi (JITP); Lebogang South Africa’s (OZA’s) social Dr Basani Baloyi (Oxfam South Africa, OZA) Pumza Vitshima (National African Phanyelo (South African Federation movements partners and academic Farmers Union); Micheal Mokgoja (South of Trade Unions; SAFTU); Mosa Nkoko researchers that spanned a two year Africa Informal Trader Association, (SAFTU); Bonisile B Malati (JITP); Othusitse process from the conceptualisation Editors: SAITA); Thozama Gwente (SAITA); Agnes Jackals (SAITA); Gladys Thlame (Simunye of the research to its development. Claire Cerruti, Dr Basani Baloyi (OZA). Motlhokoa (Tiyisetsang); Julekha Latib Workers Forum) (One Voice Of All Hawkers Association); Dade Hlatshwayo (Johannesburg Copy Editor: Informal Traders Platform, JITP); Jane Reviewers: Lorraine Shabangu (University of the Nonyane (JITP); Zodumo Chitwayo Ms Sipokazi Mthathi (OZA), Rukia Witwatersrand, Wits). (JITP); Sibulele Poswayo (Inequality Cornelius (OZA), Asanda Ngoasheng Movement); Zipho Xego (Transkei Land (OZA), Prof Ben Fine (School of Oriental Researchers: Service Organisation), Olwethu Kota and African Studies), Dr Gilad Isaacs Ms Baba Tamanda Gqubule (Trade and (Unemployed Peoples Movement, UPM); (Wits University), Ms Caroline Skinner Industrial Strategies, TIPS), Dr Mondli Sinovuyo Ngubo (UPM); Salphy Nkoana (UCT), Mr Duma Gqubule, Max Lawson Hlatshwayo (UJ), Prof Chris Malikane (Matshupatsela Cooperative, MC); Ruth (Oxfam International, OI), Cristina Rovira (Wits), Prof Susan Newman (The Open Mkari (Matshupatsela Cooperative); Izquierdo (Oxfam Intermon), Prof. Mike University), Dr Ben Scully (Wits), and Mr Lulama Mali (JITP); Ruth Makari Rogan (Makanda University), Dr Seeraj Ryan Brunette, Nokwanda Maseko (TIPS). (MC); Ziwelile Florah Mnisi (Minenhle Mohamed, Mr David Francis (Southern Cooperative); Shereza Sibanda (Rivoningo Centre for Inequality Studies), Dr Kate Research Assistance: Women’s Forum); Persely Msibi Philips (Government Technical Advisory Ms Akona Zibonti (OZA), Ms Kwezilomso (Iketsetse); Lebogang Malewa(Young Centre), Dr Carin Rancin (UJ), Dr Malehoko Mbandazayo (OZA), Ms Vuyokazi Futshane Nurses Indaba Trade Union, YNITU); Tshoaeli (UJ), Mthandazo Ndlovu (OZA), Mr (OZA), Mr Sameer Dossani (Oxfam Great Catherine Modise (YNITU); Choaro Dibate Obi Gadziwa, Dr Chiara Mariotti (OGB); Mr Britain, OGB), Dr Basani Baloyi (OZA) (YNITU); Kelebogile Mokabe (YNITU); Sameer Dossani (OGB). Thomas Mathebula (YNITU); Patience 6 Inequality Report 2020 Grassroots Social Media Popular Education Campaign Roadshow INEQUALITY 1 year of REPORT mobilising SOUTH AFRICA State of the Political nation address Influencing DRAFT 2 Developmental phase 2: Once the reports were final. we then produced a synthesised version of the report, which had two rounds of comments from social movement and reference group. There was a further round of refinement before it was sent to graphic design. We also Informal Domestic Academics Care Oxfam Technical Labour Young held a campaign design workshop to identify Workers Workers Workers People Unions People campaign areas. DRAFT 1 Developmental phase: We then contracted Section A Section B Section C researchers to produce the research Meeting 1 Meeting 2 Meeting 3 papers. and then then they were sent to social movement reviewers as well as the reference group for comments. there were two workshops held with social movements to take TIME AND ENERGY comments. COLLECTIVE CONCEPT Conceptualisation phase: We met with social movements and academics to have discussions which helped to develop a proposal. That was turned into a set of proposals. Inequality Report 2020 7 FOREWORD SIPHOKAZI MTHATHI This report is one important step towards a better dynamics that make it unlikely to have what is written OXFAM SOUTH AFRICA understanding of inequality and what we should do to about embody a full representation of the lived experience EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR reduce it. I would humbly suggest that you take your time of the womxn and men impacted by inequality. with it. While to some extent these issues are inescapable, the A lot is said about inequality in South Africa, but how Taking time may be a challenge, but it can be very first step to any solution is to be aware of the problem. much is understood? When we hear time and again that rewarding. If you were to take your time to understand We at Oxfam South Africa are aware of the many problems South Africa ranks among the most unequal countries in the South African story of inequality, you might find that regarding whose stories are told and how they are told. the world, what does that mean to us? After hearing this a it is a story that is still being written. Its first act is set in We have done our best to ensure that this report reflects few times, still, does it even register? Or make much of a the desperation and brutality of the colonial era, when the voices of those whose stories are often not included difference in our lives? Europeans came here seeking wealth and saw different in the larger narrative around inequality. We have worked There is a difference between information and knowledge. forms of slavery and coercion as a means to obtaining that closely with several social movements including feminist Information is what we receive from the television or radio wealth. The second act takes place as black people resist movements, youth movements, unemployed people’s news, or from our phones which ping us with information that oppression, even while the oppression entrenches movements, labour unions, LGBTQ+ movements, and from social media feeds that may or may not even be itself through the formalizing of the apartheid system. movements of people who work in the informal sector. They accurate. In order to turn that information into knowledge The third act, which is where we are now, begins with the tell their own stories through these pages, stories that we need time. That is, time to verify whether or not the promises of a constitution that offered hope of a new kind have too often been overlooked by those who would claim information is accurate or useful.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Guptas, the Public Protector's Report and Capital Accumulation In
    The Guptas, the Public Protector’s Report and Capital Accumulation in South Africa Ashwin Desai Goolam Vahed Abstract The relationship between South African President Jacob Zuma and his family, and the Guptas, possibly the richest family of Indian origin at present in South Africa, has made persistent national and increasingly international headlines in the media over the past few years. The Gupta family, who arrived in South Africa from India just prior to the country’s first non-racial democratic elec- tions in 1994, are accused of colluding with Zuma in the removal and appoint- ment of government ministers, as well as the directors of State-Owned Enter- prises (SOEs) in order to secure lucrative state contracts. This article examines the allegedly corrupt relationship between the Zumas and the Guptas to probe key issues in post-apartheid South African society: corruption, state capture, inequality, class formation, Black Economic Empowerment, and White Mono- poly Capital. It argues that corruption has negative consequences such as creat- ing despondency amongst the populace leading to capital flight and creating the possibilities for state capture as well as further deepening inequality. Keywords: Apartheid, Gupta, Zuma, Black Economic Empowerment, White Monopoly Capital, Social Cohesion The lexicon of South African English has been constantly transformed by the inclusion of words from the Afrikaans language, and phrases from the Indian sub- continent, as well as by some words and phrases from local African languages. When this potpourri of ‘English’ is spoken at a rapid pace, even an English Alternation 24,1 (2017) 26 - 49 26 Electronic ISSN: 2519-5476; DOI: https://doi.org/10.29086/2519-5476/2017/v24n1a3 The Guptas, the Public Protector’s Report and Capital Accumulation speaking foreigner could easily get lost as sentences are trespassed with local inflections (Mesthrie 2010).
    [Show full text]
  • Remgro at a Glance
    OVERVIEW I II CONTENTS 2 14 Group profi le Remgro's values 4 16 Remgro's unlisted investments Directorate and ownership structure Originally established in the 1940s by 6 20 A strong family legacy Tomorrow matters the late Dr Anton Rupert, Remgro aims to be the trusted investment company 8 23 Investment strategy Doing business ethically of choice that consistently creates 10 24 sustainable stakeholder value. Remgro's approach to capital allocation Consolidated results at year-end 12 26 Remgro’s profi t at holding company level Investment portfolio analysis 1 GROUP PROFILE DIVERSIFIED CONSUMER FINANCIAL PORTFOLIO SOCIAL IMPACT HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT MEDIA Our interests PRODUCTS SERVICES INVESTMENTS INVESTMENTS VEHICLES consist mainly of investments (2) in the following industries 44.6% 77.1% 30.6% 54.7% 50.0% 36.3% 32.3% 4.0% 50.0% (3) (1) 31.8% 44.1% 23.3% 24.9% 28.1% 0.1% 100% (3) 100% 22.8% 100% 44.1% 100% Equity accounted investment Subsidiary Investment at fair value through other comprehensive income 30.0% 37.7% 100% Listed entity Number of Remgro nominated director/s; alternates excluded (3) infrastructure fund (1) Voting rights in Distell equal 56.4%. (2) Voting rights in Blue Bulls equal 36.7%. 33% 16.2% (3) Limited Partners in Pembani Remgro, Milestone Capital and Prescient – therefore limited (or no) voting rights. 2 3 REMGRO’S INDUSTRIAL INFRASTRUCTURE Why does UNLISTED PGSI holds an interest in PG Group Remgro invest Holdings, South Africa’s leading infrastructure fund INVESTMENTS integrated fl at glass business. in certain CIVH’s key operating PRIF is a fund Air Products produces oxygen, companies are Dark focused on private nitrogen, argon, hydrogen and carbon sectors? CONSUMER PRODUCTS Fibre Africa and Vumatel, sector investment in dioxide for sale to major industrial which construct and own infrastructure across users.
    [Show full text]
  • Social Justice in South Africa Justiça Social Na África Do Sul Jayanathan Govender*
    http://dx.doi.org/10.15448/1984-7289.2016.2.23076 Dossiê: Desigualdades, estratificação e justiça social Social justice in South Africa Justiça social na África do Sul Jayanathan Govender* Abstract: South Africa is the world’s most unequal country. Poverty and inequality, exacerbated by unemployment are the country’s foremost challenges. The present government has made significant progress regarding the provision of basic services and broadening the social wage. However, the unfortunate reality is that inequality grew since the advent of democracy over twenty years ago. This development runs contrary to the commitments of the South African Constitution and social policy provisions, thereby raising more serious questions of rights and social justice. The continuity, depth and breadth of inequality, including the extraordinary financial and social costs is linked to the legacy of apartheid. Inequality is structurally embedded spatially and economically. Crucially, inequality is also a function of access to opportunities and human development outcomes. The paper attempts a theoretical discussion of the relationship between inequality, poverty and unemployment, which requires greater input; identifies some barriers to transformation; and presents tentative approaches towards lowering inequality. Keywords: Social justice. Inequality. Unemployment. Development. Policy. Resumo: A África do Sul é o país mais desigual do mundo. A pobreza e a desigualdade, agravadas pelo desemprego, são os desafios mais importante do país. O atual governo tem feito progressos significativos em relação à prestação de serviços básicos e ampliação dos benefícios sociais. No entanto, a triste realidade é que a desigualdade cresceu desde o advento da democracia, mais de vinte anos atrás. Esta evolução é contrária aos compromissos da Constituição Sul-Africana e a provisão de políticas sociais, tornando assim mais graves as questões de direitos e justiça social.
    [Show full text]
  • Revisiting South African Utopias a Collaborative Ethnography And
    4 OGIE, BAND Soph Petzelberger Universität zuUniversität Berlin - Free Decolonized Education – Revisiting South African Utopias EUROPÄISCHEN ETHNOL EUROPÄISCHEN A Collaborative Ethnography and Activist FilM Project BEITEN DER BEITEN Berlin, 2019 BERLINER ABSCHLUSSAR BERLINER Herausgeber: Europäischeder Ethnologie für Institut Humboldt DOI: 10.18452/20442 ImpressuM BERLINER ABSCHLUSSARBEITEN DER EUROPÄISCHEN ETHNOLOGIE, BAND 4 Herausgegeben vom Institut für Europäische Ethnologie der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin DOI: 10.18452/20442 FREE DECOLONIZED EDUCATION Masterarbeit am Institut für Europäische Ethnologie der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Betreut durch: Regina Römhild Redaktionelle Bearbeitung: Manuel Liebig Institut für Europäische Ethnologie Mohrenstraße 40/41 10117 Berlin Dieses Werk ist unter einer Creative Commons Lizenz vom Typ Namensnennung - Nicht-kommerziell - Weitergabe unter gleichen Bedingungen 3.0 Deutschland zugänglich. Diese Lizenz erlaubt es, das Werk zu verbreiten, zu remixen, zu verbessern und darauf aufzubauen, allerdings nur nicht-kommerziell und solange der Urheber des Originals genannt wird und die auf diesem Werk basierenden neuen Werke unter denselben Bedingungen veröffentlicht werden. Um eine Kopie dieser Lizenz einzusehen, konsultieren Sie http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/de/ AcknowledgeMents My deepest gratitude to Kagiso Mogotsi for patience and partnership, as well as to Milis'uthando Mbete, Reabetswe Matsena, Nobungcwele Mbem, Karabo Sekhukhuni, Marcus Mashini, Tholithembelihle Ngwenya, Sylvia Graham, Bam Hadebe, and Anna Mogotsi, for the bravery of believing in and fighting for utopia and for entrusting me with your friendship. Special thanks to Regina Römhild, Nisa Paleker, Beate Binder, and Andries Bezuidenhout for countless inspirations and strong academic support. Thank you Zolani Nkomo, for teaching me about South Africa, mutual meditations and for making me read Steve Biko.
    [Show full text]
  • Restructuring of the Rembrandt Group Circular to Shareholders and Notices of Annual General Meetings 30 August 2000
    Rembrandt Group Limited Rembrandt Controlling Investments Limited Technical Investment Corporation Limited Technical and Industrial Investments Limited Restructuring of the Rembrandt Group Circular to shareholders and notices of annual general meetings 30 August 2000 Attorneys Joint sponsoring brokers Deutsche Bank Securities Deutsche Bank Securities (SA) (Pty) Ltd Hofmeyr Herbstein & Gihwala Inc. (Registration number 1995/011798/07) Reporting accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. Chartered Accountants (SA) Registered Accountants and Auditors (Registration no 1998/012055/21) Indien u ’n Afrikaanse vertaling van hierdie dokument wil hê, skakel asseblief 0800 996 164 If you have any questions regarding the restructuring of the Rembrandt Group, call the Information Agents on 0800 996 164 (or + 44 20 7335 7278 if you are phoning from outside South Africa) are acting as Information Agents to answer your questions about the restructuring. Corporate information Directors of Rembrandt Group Limited (Registration number 1948/031037/06) Johann Rupert (Chairman) P J Erasmus* E de la H Hertzog (Co-Deputy Chairman) D M Falck M H Visser (Co-Deputy Chairman and Managing Director) J Malherbe P E Beyers E Molobi* W E Bührmann J A Preller G D de Jager* P G Steyn* J W Dreyer T van Wyk * non-executive Directors of Rembrandt Controlling Investments Limited (Registration number 1952/000002/06) Johann Rupert (Chairman) D M Falck E de la H Hertzog (Co-Deputy Chairman) J Malherbe M H Visser (Co-Deputy Chairman and Managing Director) E Molobi* P E Beyers J A
    [Show full text]
  • AGM QUESTIONS and ANSWERS 2020 Disclaimer
    AGM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2020 Disclaimer Please note that the answers recorded herein are not a transcript of the AGM. The responses recorded convey the key messages that were communicated. QUESTIONS RECEIVED AT THE WEBCAST AGM AND ANSWERS – 30 NOVEMBER 2020 Questions regarding driving value creation through share ownership and “employee capitalism”: Q:At the 2019 AGM the Chairman spoke powerfully on share ownership inter alia “if the directors all owned a lot of shares they would watch the management and make sure that they get performance”. Numerous great companies practice what the Chairman preaches e.g. Amazon directors receive no cash compensation only stock based awards, Ball Corp, John Deere and Diageo expect their directors to own hefty multiples of their annual remuneration in shares and locally FirstRand as per page 108 of the FirstRand Integrated Report has “minimum shareholding requirements to ensure longer term alignment’. In the light of the above can the Chairman please advise why Remgro does not make minimum shareholding requirements another strategic priority at investee companies? – Chris Logan Mr Rupert noted that it was a very good question that Mr Durand should investigate further, as he is fully aligned with A: Mr Logan. Mr Durand also agreed with the principle and noted that Remgro would investigate this further as it is a pertinent point. The Chairman also endorsed aligned incentives/EVA and Remgro has led and adopted aligned incentives for managers Q:as a strategic priority at investee companies. To enhance performance further and to promote “employee capitalism” why does Remgro not try and ensure that this incentivisation goes all the way down to the shop floor on a commercial basis as is an integral part of EVA theory and is successfully practiced at great companies like Ball Corp (unions included) and top performing local chicken producer Astral as per page 90 of the Astral Integrated Report? – Chris Logan Mr Rupert noted that in his experience, the trade unions generally preferred to receive cash instead of shares.
    [Show full text]
  • 2014 Country Progress Report Published by the Department of Basic Education
    South Africa Education for All 2015 National Review This report was prepared by the relevant national authorities in view of the World Education Forum (Incheon, Republic of Korea, 19‐22 May 2015). It was submitted in response to UNESCO’s invitation to its Member States to assess progress made since 2000 towards achieving Education for All (EFA). The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not commit UNESCO. The designations employed and the presentation of material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The paper can be cited with the following reference: “Education for All 2015 National Review Report: South Africa”. For further information, please contact: [email protected] Department of Basic Education Education for All (EFA) 2014 Country Progress Report Published by the Department of Basic Education 222 Struben Street, Pretoria Private Bag X895, Pretoria, 0001 Telephone: 012 357 3000 Fax: 012 323 0601 Website: http://www.education.gov.za ISBN: © Department of Basic Education, 2014 Table of Contents 1. BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION. .7 1.1 EDUCATION FOR ALL GOALS . 7 1.2 EDUCATION LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK . 8 1.3 THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (NDP) . 9 1.4 ACTION PLAN TO 2019: TOWARDS THE REALISATION OF SCHOOLING 2030 . 9 1.5 EXPENDITURE IN EDUCATION. 10 2. ACCESS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT (ECD) PROGRAMMES . .11 2.1 PARTICIPATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT (ECD) PROGRAMMES .
    [Show full text]
  • Integrated Annual Report 2019 2019 INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT Website At
    Remgro Limited | Integrated Annual Report 2019 2019 INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT CREATING SHAREHOLDER VALUE SINCE 1948 Originally established in the 1940s by the late Dr Anton Rupert, Remgro’s investment portfolio has evolved substantially and currently includes more than 30 investee companies. MORE INFORMATION This Integrated Annual Report is published as part of a set of reports in respect of the financial year ended 30 June 2019, all of which are available on the Company’s website at www.remgro.com. INVESTOR TOOLS Cross-reference to relevant sections within this report Download from our website: www.remgro.com View more information on our website: www.remgro.com CONTENTS www.remgro.com | Remgro Limited | Integrated Annual Report 2019 1 OVERVIEW 1OF BUSINESS 4 REMGRO’S APPROACH TO REPORTING 7 SALIENT FEATURES 8 GROUP PROFILE REPORTS TO 10 COMPANY HISTORY SHAREHOLDERS 12 OUR BUSINESS MODEL 2 24 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 14 UNDERSTANDING THE BUSINESS OF AN INVESTMENT HOLDING COMPANY 25 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT 16 KEY OBJECTIVES AND 32 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REPORT PRINCIPAL INTEGRATED RISKS 40 INVESTMENT REVIEWS 18 DIRECTORATE AND MEMBERS OF COMMITTEES 20 EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE 21 SHAREHOLDERS’ DIARY AND COMPANY INFORMATION FINANCIAL 4 REPORT 118 AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE REPORT GOVERNANCE AND 121 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SUSTAINABILITY 126 REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR 3 127 SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 66 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT 79 RISK AND OPPORTUNITIES MANAGEMENT REPORT 86 REMUNERATION REPORT 104 SOCIAL AND ETHICS COMMITTEE REPORT 106 ABRIDGED SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT REPORT ADDITIONAL 5 INFORMATION 146 FIVE-YEAR REVIEW AND SHARE STATISTICS 148 SHAREHOLDERS’ INFORMATION 151 NOTICE TO SHAREHOLDERS ATTACHED FORM OF PROXY Remgro invests in businesses that can deliver superior earnings, cash flow generation and dividends over the long term.
    [Show full text]
  • Blowing the Lid Off the Stellenbosch 'Mafia'
    Legalbrief | your legal news hub Thursday 23 September 2021 Blowing the lid off the Stellenbosch 'Mafia' Like most South African urban hubs, Stellenbosch has desperate poverty and fabulous wealth. What makes the City of Oaks (Eikestad) different is that there is a common thread among its ultra elite – they are mostly male Afrikaners riding high in the heart of Afrikanerdom. Legalbrief reports that author Pieter du Toit has blown the lid off this secretive club with his book The Stellenbosch Mafia: Inside the Billionaire’s Club and, not surprisingly, the backlash has been formidable. The author says Stellenbosch became the spiritual home of the resistance against British domination after the Boer War and the current club includes Johann Rupert, Jannie Mouton, Markus Jooste and Christo Wiese. Julius Malema refers to them scathingly as 'The Stellenbosch Mafia', the very worst example of white monopoly capital, but his own party has close ties. In a 702 interview, Du Toit says Jooste 'desperately wanted to be part of that group (but) 'it didn’t turn out so well … it is a closed society'. Case-in-point: In 2006, the name of Steinhoff International started to appear on rugby jerseys in Stellenbosch. Business Insider reports that other companies found themselves pushed out, and Steinhoff was sponsoring rugby at the international level – even though that holding company had no direct exposure to consumers. For some, this seemed to be more about Jooste's ego than business, writes Du Toit. He said Remgro had earlier wanted to get involved with Stellenbosch Rugby Club, the largest of its kind in the world and a jewel in the university’s crown but they were elbowed out by Jooste and Steinhoff.
    [Show full text]
  • Halving Poverty in South Africa
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Apollo DISTRIBUTIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF HALVING POVERTY IN SOUTH AFRICA FIONA TREGENNA † Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge. ABSTRACT The South African government has set as a policy objective the halving of poverty by 2014, although the meaning of this goal has not yet been defined. This article frames government’s stated target of halving poverty by 2014 in terms of specific measures of the poverty gap and poverty headcount ratio, using newly released income and expenditure survey data. With the poverty line as defined here, approximately half the South African population falls below the poverty line. Despite this, the aggregate poverty gap is surprisingly only about 3% of GDP. Projections of poverty in 2014 under various growth scenarios indicate that growth alone will be insufficient to halve poverty by that time, and that any worsening of distribution will put the target of halving poverty by 2014 beyond reach. However, projecting the effects of a range of growth and distributional scenarios indicate that halving poverty appears feasible with moderate growth rates and fairly mild pro-poor distributional change. The results are indicative as to the scale of distributional changes necessary to halve poverty under various growth scenarios. Keywords: income distribution, poverty, inequality, South Africa. JEL codes: D30, D31, I32. † August 2008. Contact: [email protected] . This research was commissioned by Trade and Industry Policy Strategies, on behalf of the Second Economy Strategy Project of the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa, and this financial support is gratefully acknowledged.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Working Paper 11/2017 GROWTH and STRATEGIES of LARGE, LEAD FIRMS
    Working Paper 11/2017 GROWTH AND STRATEGIES OF LARGE, LEAD FIRMS - REMGRO LIMITED COMPANY ASSESSMENT Pamela Mondliwa, Nicholas Nhundu, Anthea Paelo, Mmamoletji Thosago and Thando Vilakazi Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development, University of Johannesburg [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] Abstract The orientation and investment strategies of large firms are at the heart of how countries develop and industrialize. In South Africa, big businesses are now highly internationalised and the investments of lead firms can shape patterns of industrial development and subsequently its ability to embark on an inclusive, labour-absorptive growth trajectory. For industrial policy to be effective there is a critical need to understand the investment trends, strategies and decision-making of large firms, as the policy levers designed to influence the firms’ decisions are unlikely to be effective in the absence of such an understanding. This study focuses on analysing the behaviour and strategies of Remgro Limited over the period 2010 – 2015 as a case study for developing a system for tracking the behaviour of large, lead and dynamic firms across the economy, and abroad. The company is chosen as a large conglomerate group (controlled by the Rupert family) with substantial long-term investments held across several sectors in the South African economy, and abroad. The study uses publically available information from annual reports and announcements to assess whether investments made are largely local or abroad, in which sectors investments are focused and possible reasons why, the interaction of the company with government policies including BBBEE, and how influence exerted over investee companies, including through strategic board members and profit retention, can affect investment outcomes.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction Contents
    Information and analysis bulletin on animal poaching and smuggling n°5 / 1st April - 30th June 2014 Contents Introduction The Following Vessels Are Wanted by Interpol 3 Numerous messages have been sent to Robin Sea Cucumbers 4 des Bois from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Corals 5 American continent. They come from Custom officers, CITES delegates, governmental insti- Marine Mollusks 5 tutions, Non-Governmental Organizations and Fishes 6 from the general public. They all testify to the Marine Mammals 10 usefulness of “A la Trace” and the English ver- The ex-Japanese Sea Lion 11 sion “On the Trail”. Multi Marine Species 13 The closer that species bearing marketable Saltwater Crocodile 13 substances come to global or local extinction, Marine Turtles 14 the more the means to attack and to defend Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises 17 them turn murderous. The human death toll in Snakes 22 this war on wildlife is increasing. Sauria 24 Thefts of seizures, including from governmental The Long Haul of San Salvador Rock Iguanas 25 safety vaults, are multiplying. These hold-ups Crocodilians 26 yield, for those who organize them, more money Multi-Species Reptiles 29 than bank and cash transportation robberies. Amphibians 32 Smuggling of live felines and monkeys are Birds 33 increasing as well as the smuggling of skulls and Holy Week 44 bones, notably of gorillas and elephants. Pangolins 46 There is a general tendency to more severe Primates 52 sentences on traffickers, as well as harder judg- Felines 59 ments but release on bail is still common. Bears 67 Rhinoceroses 68 Archaic practices such as the use of poiso- Unicorns, Unicornis, Bicornis 77 ned arrows and trap jaws clash with modern techniques used by criminal police.
    [Show full text]