Zuma's Cabinet Inc.

Even if these Government officials step down from running these companies, there will still be a conflict of interests! Will the decisions they make be influenced by what's best for our country or their own selfish motives. I feel that now more than ever the government needs to restore confidence and trust in politics, most especially after the corruption charges debacle!

I am also apalled at the fact that these government officials own and run up to TWENTY companies, there seems to be a flaw in our economic system! How on earth is there going to be an even distribution of wealth and resources throughout our country!

I'm just not comfortable with the fact that a vast majority of South Africans live in absolute poverty, while an affluent minority continue to hoard everything to themselves! It's rediculous...

you know, in the countries to which south africa wishes to compare itself, if you know that you are going to be named to a cabinet position, you put your assets in a blind trust before the nomination even happens.

but that said, in many of these same countries, the parliament assesses your suitability to hold the office before you even start the job.

neither of those things are true in the case of south africa. hm.

Maybe the people in high places don't quite understand what "conflict of interest" realy means. Merely resigning as a director is no good - they must shed their shareholding. Shareholdres are the ones who really benefit from business.

Jay Jay

The President has to insist that none of ministers have private interests. They are in a responsible position as public servents and should not have accepted this role if they were preoccupied with accumalating wealth.

Thank you Mr Sexwale - you are obviously a man of substance!

A blind trust fund is a good idea, and I am surprised you dont have it in SA already.

In the UK, we have a lot of MPs fiddling their expenses, but we also have an audit, and when discovered they are ordered to pay it back, and so far seem to be doing so.

Compare what happened with yout "Travelgate" expenses.

Corruption and Greed is always going to present but their seems to be a difference in enforcement and moral obligations when caught in SA who seem to be of the impression that they just deny everything and then wait for the authorities to give up trying to get them to pay it back.

People!, please let us have historical information on these issues, i.e. did former president appoint clean people without any business interests in South Africa? Otherwize, president Zuma must applaud and appreciate the media for keeping him popular. It assisted the ANC in winning this year's elections. I mean writing about him all time, sometimes, unncessarily.

This is a clear picture of things to happen. A recipe of disaster. Government kick backs has to be muzzled as soon as now. My advice to this coming administration is to put in place tough laws that will protect tax payers from all evils that is waiting to happen. In fact everybody got to be on the look out, because deploying this business men and women in government affairs simply does not mean that their ties with business world is done. They will all lie low and wait for a cut from the national cake. We all know that most of them have been cashing in on tenders and bribes. That has to stop completely or else we are all going down. It is time to wake up and do the right thing. Trust but verify at all times.

"How on earth is there going to be an even distribution of wealth and resources throughout our country!"

Mo Mo, Affirmative Action and Black Economic Empowerment were never designed to create even distribution.

Why are you resigning? I dont see any problem as long as you're not involved in the adjudication of tenders.

I believe you all know that politics have no future...ask Niehaus. We dont wanna see our former leaders eating in the bins.

Look on the bright side, the people running the country will do their best to make more money. They will at least attempt to keep the economy stable/growing and hopefully prevent us from becomming another corrupt banana republic.

10 out of 10 for our 'people's president' Zuma for his contribution to Black Elite Enrichment.

What other countries do and what past corrupt regimes in South Africa did about potentially compromised politicians is totally immaterial to this situation. The whole of Africa needs to set its own standards for integrity which help us get over a really poor legacy of bribery, corruption and self-seekind politicians, it can't just afford to commit itself to some 'minimal' standards. We have set the stage with our consitution, our new legislation etc to be a leader, not just a follower. Our politicians need to be squeaky clean, not just run-of-the-mill! We also have huge inequalities in wealth and power which cannot be resolved by politicians who are able to be manipulated easily.

Can someone please tell me how the previous head of SANDF, Nyanda got away with having interests in an Arms brokerage firm Ngwane? There's a major conflict of interest right there. "Ooooh we need lots of weapons.. Let's buy it from MY company at THIS price." It was during his tenure that the controversial arms deal was signed. He was among those most vocal in calling for the Scorpions’ demise. Now we know why... And does the man even know what ADSL is? Yes, lots of little piggies at the trough!

Note that some of these people don't even seem to know much about the companies to which their names are attached. This all makes a thorough mockery of the concept of work. A huge percentage of South safricans do not have even the most basic employment. Another point is that the 'crony money' is unproductive money. It contributes nothing to the production factor in the economy. Compare this with a panel-beater's wages, or the wages of a brick-layer. That money is hard-earned through productivity, and it both remunerates the worker and contributes to the production factor. These cozy BEE directorships dished out to cronies in government are nothing but economic top-hamper. We'll only see real growth again when this dross is all shaken out (if it ever is).

Your People are blinded by emotions that you fail to see the naked truth. Only in South Africa is this an issue. Is there any fradulence in having personal interests in businesses if you work for Government? i challenge you to research it first prior to stirring the pot with your weak unfounded accusations. the problem only arrises when one does not "declare" their business interest. it seems to me that with very little knowledge we are quick to pull the the trigger without a firm understanding of politics, business & the law. no wonder we all can't be leaders. take a look at former USA President George Bush & his administration, did they step down from their respetive seats in business? i think not. i'm not in any way shape or form promoting that only a certain bunch prosper while others don't however this is the crab in the barrel concept.one comes up & rest pull it back down. these men & women have to go through ceratin procedures & protocal prior to anything else,there are systems in place to detect,remedy & deal with this sort of thing.have faith in our systems or rather then YOU create job opportunities & expand our economy.all these years prior you've been quiet & yet now all of a sudden it's wrong. what are you saying? Are you saying Blacks are incompetent to run the country???????????Mayibuye