20 October 2019
While it is unclear what the nature of the relationship Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has with a university student whom he advanced cash to, it is, to the extent that it has now degenerated into claims of extortions, very concerning.
It is concerning that he is not forthcoming about whether there was any hanky-panky. Granted, Mboweni is not married and who he interacts with in his private time is his own business for as long as it does not impact the fiscus.
But, when there are shady business characters in the background who allegedly sought to manipulate the student, then it must concern all of us. That the minister attempted last weekend and failed to water down our story through what looked like strategic – though pathetic – leaks to News24, suggests there is more that the minister and the young woman have to hide.
It is also concerning that Mboweni, as he states in this edition, seems to be a target of corrupt forces each time he prepares to deliver a budget speech.
Our economy is in a precarious fix. Ratings agencies are watching our every move, with Moody’s expected to either confirm our rating or condemn us to junk status in about three weeks. The country could ill-afford a finance minister distracted by students and slimy businessmen. The level of unemployment and hopelessness afflicting men and women, young and old, in our country requires all hands to be on deck, much more so the person in charge of our national till.
DA’s hypocrisy blindingly obvious
A decision by the DA to block its candidates contesting for the position of federal council chairperson from debating publicly on e.tv smacks of hypocrisy.
It is an open secret that the DA is in the grip of a race war that would have played itself out during the debate. This must have, for obvious reasons, been the main consideration in stopping the debate from happening.
The party explained that the election was internal, and that public debates among candidates were not in line with its policy.
What the troubled official opposition party doesn’t fully appreciate is that the move has undermined their claim to transparency.
Party leader Mmusi Maimane has on more than one occasion argued that President Cyril Ramaphosa must come clean on the R500 000 Bosasa donation for his ANC presidential campaign. Ramaphosa had argued that the campaign was an internal matter, an answer that the DA rejected, arguing that the ANC was a governing party.
It follows that the DA, which governs the Western Cape, Gauteng metros, Midvaal municipality and others, also has the responsibility to be transparent when it comes to their internal leadership contests. It is this transparency that is required from both parties charged with matters of state to varying degrees. The DA was, therefore, hypocritical.
