Newspaper columns, arguments and ideas
ANTHONY BUTLER: Predictions not rosy about SA in a post-Covid world Economic crisis will weaken Cyril Ramaphosa’s position ahead of ANC 2022 elective conference BL PREMIUM 30 JULY 2020 - 15:59 ANTHONY BUTLER Predicting the future is a hazardous business at the best of times. However, a growing number of futurologists see the IMF playing a …
Continue reading "A full IMF bailout before the 2024 elections?"
ANTHONY BUTLER: A BIG mistake to save an unaffordable minister’s job? Estimates of the proposed grant’s cost are about R200bn a year BL PREMIUM 16 JULY 2020 The basic income grant, sometimes referred to as BIG, is a superficially attractive idea, but one that obviously won’t be realised any time soon. How should we interpret urgent …
Continue reading "Basic income grant rises from the political grave"
ANTHONY BUTLER: If the cuts start, praise will stop, and blame begin The finance minister’s chances of implementing reform are small, as shrinking the public sector will hit resistance Business Day 02 JULY 2020 In a democracy, the survival of political parties and their leaders turns on praise and blame. When times are good, politicians …
Continue reading "Politics of blame will scupper Mboweni reforms"
ANTHONY BUTLER: Are judges ignoring dangers so eccentrics can rule? The Constitutional Court’s ruling in favour of unaffiliated individuals fails to understand our electoral system Business Day 18 JUNE 2020 Picture: 123RF/EVGENYI LASTOCHKIN On occasion, the highest court in the land can deliver a judgment that is truly baffling to simple-minded folk. Last …
ANTHONY BUTLER: Is the government sloppy or is it indifferent to judicial scrutiny? Constitutional crisis beckons if the executive wilfully violates the law and ignores judicial instructions 04 JUNE 2020 President Cyril Ramaphosa chairing a virtual meeting of the National Command Council from his official residency Mahlamba Ndlopfu. Picture: GCIS/JARIUS MMUTLE The …
ETC 22 May 2020 draft
ANTHONY BUTLER: The faithful outnumber the whingers, as the ANC well knows SA is an overwhelmingly God-fearing nation, which is why reopening places of worship may play to the ANC’s conservative base BL PREMIUM 28 MAY 2020 - 16:53 The good citizens of the suburbs have struggled in recent weeks to understand the government’s Covid-19 …
Continue reading "The political rationale for lockdown regulations"
ANTHONY BUTLER:Don’t bet on too radical change after Covid-19 Business Day 21 MAY 2020 Health workers fill out documents before performing tests for Covid-19 at the screening and testing tents set up at the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg. Picture: MICHELE SPATARI / AFP Politically speaking, what comes next? Credible analysis of “post-Covid …
ANTHONY BUTLER: Replace Year Zero fantasies with healthy pragmatism Instead of imagining a brand new economy, the government should allow more businesses to operate to avert a total destruction Business Day PREMIUM 07 MAY 2020 - ANTHONY BUTLER Picture: ALON SKUY The Covid-19 crisis is stress testing all of our political leaders. Ministers …
