The year 2016 had its fair share of drama with many memorable events and incidents that left both a bitter and sweet taste on many South Africans’ mouths.
Former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s State of Capture report was a talking point as it implicated‚ among others‚ president Jacob Zuma‚ Eskom chief executive Brian Molefe‚ Cooporative Governance Minister Des van Rooyen‚ the Gupta family and Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane.
The report found that Zuma may have breached his executive code of ethics and may be conflicted over his son‚ Duduzane’s relationship with the Gupta family.
According to the report‚ Eskom was a source of lucrative contracts for the Gupta family and Duduzane Zuma through a company called Tegeta.
The report published a diagram showing a “distinct line of communication between Molefe‚ the Gupta family and directors of their companies in the form of Ms (Ronica) Ragavan and Mr Howa. These links cannot be ignored as Mr Molefe did not declare his relationship with the Gupta family”.
Molefe resigned after defending his relationship with the Guptas and his frequent visits to the Gupta compound in Saxonwold. He got the country talking when he broke down as he explained his movements in the area‚ sparking the Saxonwold Shebeen internet and social media meme.
The National Prosecuting Authority made headlines when he announced that Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan‚ former SARS commissioner Oupa Magashule and deputy commissioner Ivan Pillay would be prosecuted for fraud. He later made a u-turn and announced that he would be dropping the charges. This resulted to calls for him to be fired.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC’s) former chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng was another newsmaker — for all the wrong reasons. His “unusual” appointments as chief executive‚ chief operations officer and group executive for corporate affairs came under the spotlight.
The exodus of the public broadcaster’s board’s members leaving Mbulaheni Maguvhe as the only holdout was another talking point.
Last month the portfolio committee on communications resolved to institute an inquiry into the fitness of the board after a meeting at which the board was meant to explain the circumstances surrounding the appointment of controversial former chief executive officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng.
Maguvhe made headlines when he refused to take part in the inquiry saying it was “poisoned”. He eventually testified when he was summoned before it.
Finally‚ on Monday he made yet another u-turn when he followed the example of the other former board members and tendered his resignation.
The year 2016 was also plagued by a myriad people making racist comments on social media sparking outrage and debates on whether racism should be criminalised.
Penny Sparrow‚ Vicky Momberg‚ Judge Mabel Jansen and Ben Sasonof‚ were at the centre of a race row that sparked public outrage.
On a lighter‚ more positive note‚ the country had plenty to be proud about.
Athletes Caster Semenya and Wayde van Niekerk flew the South African map high when they both scooped gold medals at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Van Niekerk broke a 17 year-old record to win the 400 metre final‚ while Semenya won the 800m.
By contrast‚ 2016 will go down as an annus horribilis for the national rugby team‚ the Springboks‚ who notched up a string of defeats‚ including a particularly humiliating 20-18 loss to Italy. — TMG Digital
The good‚ the bad and the ugly of 2016
The year 2016 had its fair share of drama with many memorable events and incidents that left both a bitter and sweet taste on many South Africans’ mouths.
Former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s State of Capture report was a talking point as it implicated‚ among others‚ president Jacob Zuma‚ Eskom chief executive Brian Molefe‚ Cooporative Governance Minister Des van Rooyen‚ the Gupta family and Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane.
The report found that Zuma may have breached his executive code of ethics and may be conflicted over his son‚ Duduzane’s relationship with the Gupta family.
According to the report‚ Eskom was a source of lucrative contracts for the Gupta family and Duduzane Zuma through a company called Tegeta.
The report published a diagram showing a “distinct line of communication between Molefe‚ the Gupta family and directors of their companies in the form of Ms (Ronica) Ragavan and Mr Howa. These links cannot be ignored as Mr Molefe did not declare his relationship with the Gupta family”.
Molefe resigned after defending his relationship with the Guptas and his frequent visits to the Gupta compound in Saxonwold. He got the country talking when he broke down as he explained his movements in the area‚ sparking the Saxonwold Shebeen internet and social media meme.
The National Prosecuting Authority made headlines when he announced that Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan‚ former SARS commissioner Oupa Magashule and deputy commissioner Ivan Pillay would be prosecuted for fraud. He later made a u-turn and announced that he would be dropping the charges. This resulted to calls for him to be fired.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC’s) former chief operations officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng was another newsmaker — for all the wrong reasons. His “unusual” appointments as chief executive‚ chief operations officer and group executive for corporate affairs came under the spotlight.
The exodus of the public broadcaster’s board’s members leaving Mbulaheni Maguvhe as the only holdout was another talking point.
Last month the portfolio committee on communications resolved to institute an inquiry into the fitness of the board after a meeting at which the board was meant to explain the circumstances surrounding the appointment of controversial former chief executive officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng.
Maguvhe made headlines when he refused to take part in the inquiry saying it was “poisoned”. He eventually testified when he was summoned before it.
Finally‚ on Monday he made yet another u-turn when he followed the example of the other former board members and tendered his resignation.
The year 2016 was also plagued by a myriad people making racist comments on social media sparking outrage and debates on whether racism should be criminalised.
Penny Sparrow‚ Vicky Momberg‚ Judge Mabel Jansen and Ben Sasonof‚ were at the centre of a race row that sparked public outrage.
On a lighter‚ more positive note‚ the country had plenty to be proud about.
Athletes Caster Semenya and Wayde van Niekerk flew the South African map high when they both scooped gold medals at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Van Niekerk broke a 17 year-old record to win the 400 metre final‚ while Semenya won the 800m.
By contrast‚ 2016 will go down as an annus horribilis for the national rugby team‚ the Springboks‚ who notched up a string of defeats‚ including a particularly humiliating 20-18 loss to Italy. — TMG Digital
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