ANTHONY BUTLER: Paranoia in the cabinet signals a reshuffle is on the cards With ministers resorting to self-promotion and backstabbing, Cyril Ramaphosa needs to enrol competent recruits First published in BusinessLive 08 OCTOBER 2020 A cabinet reshuffle is an important political instrument for any national leader. In a fully presidential system the head of state …
Keeping the president healthy
ANTHONY BUTLER: Ramaphosa getting into the pound seats, in kilograms too The president is steadfastly accumulating power, but concern over his health is not misplaced BL PREMIUM24 SEPTEMBER 2020 - 17:13 ANTHONY BUTLER In the middle of an unprecedented economic and public health crisis, it is prudent to worry about your president’s health. This week …
Mashaba’s ActionSA and the DA are natural coalition partners
ANTHONY BUTLER: The DA and Action SA: unnatural born partners First published in Business Day. 10 SEPTEMBER 2020 The rebirth of the DA was not a natural event. It was a caesarean section, in which the scalpels were wielded by the “independent review panel” that diagnosed the DA’s 2019 election debacle. The panellists — party strategist Ryan …
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Ramaphosa’s empty letter to ANC cadres
ANTHONY BUTLER: Ramaphosa extends theme of Good ANC v Bad ANC Party’s national executive committee meets this week to discuss president’s recent comments on corruption BusinessLive 28 AUGUST 2020 ANTHONY BUTLER The ANC’s national executive committee will convene this weekend to solemnly contemplate President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent lamentations about the scourge of corruption. This latest …
Blaming Ace Magashule
ANTHONY BUTLER: After his rise, Ace Magashule is unlikely to fall too far Businesslive 24 August 2020 South Africans should be feeling quite sorry for ANC secretary-general Elias Sekgobelo Magashule. The Tumahole schoolboy earned the nickname “Ace” for his skills on the soccer pitch, where he was reportedly a midfield terrier. This brave young man risked his …
A full IMF bailout before the 2024 elections?
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 …
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Basic income grant rises from the political grave
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 …
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Politics of blame will scupper Mboweni reforms
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 …
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Judicial dreamers
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 …
Thinking about constitutional crises
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 …
