No country for hustlers: why unleashing the informal sector is South Africa's missing revolution

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Bushiri Likely to Avoid Extradition as Documents Go Missing in Malawi — Accountant Faces Perjury Claims
Sifiso Mahlangu | Updated 6 hours ago Controversial Prophet Shepherd Bushiri may never face justice in South Africa after key extradition documents mysteriously vanished in Malawi. The development has cast serious doubt over the upcoming September hearing, raising fears that the prophet — who fled the country while out on bail in 2020 — could permanently escape prosecution. At the same time, his former accountant, Landiwe Ntlokwana, is at the centre of a legal storm of her own. Once a trusted insider in Bushiri's financial operations, she now faces possible charges of perjury and defeating the ends of justice. South African authorities have been trying to extradite Bushiri and his wife Mary since they violated their bail conditions and escaped the country under murky circumstances. They face multiple charges, including fraud and money laundering. The extradition case was due to be heard in Lilongwe's High Court in September. But reports suggest the documents required to proceed with the case have gone missing from court files — a development some legal observers believe is no coincidence. Bushiri's lawyers have argued in court that the disappearance of the papers is not just a bureaucratic mishap but a deliberate obstruction that could halt the entire extradition process. Meanwhile, Bushiri has continued to enjoy warm relations with Malawi's political elite. He has received praise from senior government officials, including the Minister of Civic Education and National Unity, who also recently honoured Bushiri's wife for her 'positive role in national development.' While the extradition effort stalls, new controversy has erupted in South Africa involving Bushiri's former financial officer, Landiwe Ntlokwana. The 42-year-old chartered accountant was once closely involved in managing the finances of the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church and Bushiri's now-infamous Commodities Trading Platform, which prosecutors allege was used to defraud investors of millions. Initially arrested alongside Bushiri in 2021, Ntlokwana maintained her innocence and kept a low profile for years. But in a sudden turn, she has now submitted an affidavit indicating she intends to cooperate with the prosecution. The detailed statement outlines how she joined Bushiri's organisation, believing in his mission, and became part of the administration team behind the church's financial schemes. The civil society group Right to Justice has called on prosecutors to formally charge Ntlokwana with perjury and obstruction. The group says her decision to come forward now — after remaining silent for four years — is both suspicious and potentially damaging to the integrity of the legal process. 'It is deeply concerning that she remained silent all this time,' said Siphesihle Jele, the group's chairperson. 'Now, she wants to flip the script. We believe she withheld crucial information, and only revealed it now when it suits her.' Jele added that if Ntlokwana is using her testimony as a way to escape prosecution while implicating others, she should be investigated thoroughly. Legal experts point out that under Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Act, an accused person can be granted immunity if their testimony significantly contributes to a conviction. But Right to Justice argues that Ntlokwana's sudden cooperation could be a calculated move to avoid jail. Her credibility will now be under intense scrutiny. Prosecutors will need to weigh the value of her insider knowledge against the risk of relying on someone who, until recently, was also under criminal investigation. Meanwhile, Bushiri remains defiant. In recent social media posts, he dismissed his critics as 'jealous politicians' and claimed that his church had created thousands of jobs while uplifting the poor. With extradition efforts faltering and a key former insider now under fire, the case surrounding Bushiri continues to grow more complex and more political.


eNCA
7 hours ago
- eNCA
Citrus exports juice up SA ports
TSHWANE - The clock is ticking for South Africa to strike a deal with the United States. READ: USA Moves To Possibly Sanction ANC Leaders, SA Government If not, on 1 August South African goods entering the US will be taxed at 30 percent. Donald Mackay, a Trade Analyst, discussed the impact of this on citrus exports with eNCA.

IOL News
11 hours ago
- IOL News
South African intellectuals propose new strategies for economic empowerment
Christo Van der Rheede hosted the FW De Klerk Foundation conference. Image: File A recent conference hosted by the FW de Klerk Foundation in collaboration with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung brought together prominent South African intellectuals to discuss alternative ways to empower South Africans and stimulate economic growth. The Constitutional Rights conference, titled "Achieving an Inclusive Economy", featured panellists including Moeletsi Mbeki, Ashor Sarupen, Dr Celeste Campher, Ismail Joosub, and Professor William Gumede. One of the key topics discussed at the conference, hosted by its Executive Director Christo van der Rheede, was the need to rethink the current Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policy. Mbeki, a prominent economist and businessman, argued that BEE has failed to achieve its intended goals and has instead created a culture of dependency among black professionals. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ "We have to repeal Black Economic Empowerment legislation," Mbeki said. "One of the most important consequences of the BEE combined with public sector salaries is that it disincentivises, especially young black professionals, to become entrepreneurs. It incentivises them to become public sector employees, and this is why South Africa is not building new companies." Gumede, a leading expert on economic development, proposed alternative empowerment strategies that focus on pragmatism and inclusivity. Gumede argued that the current BEE policy has benefited only a small elite group of black individuals, while leaving the majority of South Africans behind. "We need to shift to alternative optics of empowerment," he said. "The way empowerment is structured now is based on giving politically connected ANC leaders and trade union leaders benefits in existing companies. We need to bring small companies into supply chains and manufacturing so that the supply chains are in manufacturing. Secondly, we need to reward skills training and reward employment so that empowerment becomes that if you employ young people.' Gumede said pragmatism was a philosophy that must be implemented in South Africa. 'From South Africa's point of view, we need to focus all our state, economic, and nation-building initiatives on pragmatism… We need to look at what works and what is in the interest of everyone. We need to remove anti-growth policies,' he said. The conference also discussed the need to reduce the public sector wage bill, which is seen as unsustainable and detrimental to economic growth. Campher, an economist and policy analyst, argued that the government should prioritise infrastructure development and job creation over social interventions. "The current public sector wage bill must be reduced drastically to afford the building of public infrastructure," Campher said. "Our roads, harbours, and railway system are in a dilapidated state and must be fixed." Sarupen, a businessman and entrepreneur, proposed a Basic Employment Grant scheme that would provide individuals with a grant in exchange for rendering basic services at the municipal level. Sarupen argued that this approach would not only provide a safety net for the poor but also promote entrepreneurship and skills development. "A Basic Employment Grant should also be integrated with a skills and entrepreneurial development programme," Sarupen said. "Continuing to hand out grants for free perpetuates and has entrenched a dependency culture." One of the attendees of the conference, which was held in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, said that it highlighted the need for alternative empowerment strategies that prioritise inclusivity, pragmatism, and entrepreneurship. "If we rethink the current BEE policy and promote small businesses and job creation, South Africa can stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty and inequality," he said.