History Waiting To Be Written
Finweek English|29 August 2019

David McKay sat down with former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas to discuss his book, After Dawn: Hope after State Capture – and the immediate challenges facing President Cyril Ramaphosa and the governing party.

David McKay
History Waiting To Be Written

Mcebisi Jonas looks a tad frazzled by the media regimen his publisher is putting him through. He’s already done the rounds on radio and TV to publicise his book, After Dawn. Now it’s the turn of the press.

Naturally, the attention is on Jonas’ much poured-over narrative from 2016 when he finally spilled the beans on the R600m bribe offered to him by the Gupta brothers. The book, though, hardly touches on the matter: It dispenses with the fact in its very first sentence as if to rouse the reader from the nightmare.

Hence the title, which recognises the passing of the moment while turning to the latent future; the history waiting to be written. After Dawn takes its cue from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s New Dawn declaration following his appointment as ANC president, later given the imprimatur of the nation in the May national elections the ANC won.

It wasn’t a comfortable victory though, and as pointed out by Jonas in his book, the continued failure to address the fault lines in the ANC will lead to a realignment of politics in the next election, currently presaged by the wave of populism, as well as an apathy among the youth.

The antidote to the populist voice, Jonas argues, is to be clear about the problem, and articulate about its solutions. “I guess that’s just one of the reasons I was thinking of when I was writing.”

The other idea that comes through is that South Africa is running short of options.

“I’m cautiously optimistic because in one part I think the ANC has no choice. If the ANC fails to deal with some of these issues in the next five years, we’re getting into a complete political realignment. Look at all the political parties now: They are actually racially based at the moment and historical as a movement.”

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der 29 August 2019-Ausgabe von Finweek English.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der 29 August 2019-Ausgabe von Finweek English.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS FINWEEK ENGLISHAlle anzeigen
THE HEALTH OF SA'S MEDICAL SCHEMES
Finweek English

THE HEALTH OF SA'S MEDICAL SCHEMES

As the Covid-19 pandemic abates, finweek takes a look at the financial performance of some of the largest players.

time-read
7 Minuten  |
5 November 2021
The effect of Gilbertson's departure
Finweek English

The effect of Gilbertson's departure

With Ntsimbintle Holdings now the major shareholder of Jupiter Mines, it could change SA’s manganese industry.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
5 November 2021
Making money from music
Finweek English

Making money from music

Why investors are increasingly drawn to the music industry.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
5 November 2021
Conviction is key
Finweek English

Conviction is key

Sandy Rheeder plays a critical role in Mukuru’s mission to open up financial services to the emerging consumer market in Africa through tailor-made technology solutions and platforms.

time-read
5 Minuten  |
5 November 2021
The post-pandemic toolkit
Finweek English

The post-pandemic toolkit

How CFOs can use technology to support growth.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
5 November 2021
Big city living exodus
Finweek English

Big city living exodus

Mini cities like Waterfall City and Steyn City are redefining city-style apartment living.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
5 November 2021
Big compact, big value
Finweek English

Big compact, big value

Handsome, with a hefty level of standard specification, the roomy Haval Jolion compact crossover is a great value proposition.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
5 November 2021
On barriers to entry
Finweek English

On barriers to entry

There are various ways in which a company or sector can achieve competitive dominance. They usually make for good investments.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
5 November 2021
Fear and greed in one index
Finweek English

Fear and greed in one index

To buck the trend, when markets are hot or cold, is a tough thing to do. However, it can deliver solid returns.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
5 November 2021
Africa's largest data centre facility coming soon
Finweek English

Africa's largest data centre facility coming soon

Vantage Data Centers plans to invest over R15bn for its first African data centre facility in Attacq’s Waterfall City.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
5 November 2021