South Africa News
State Capture Inquiry: I endorsed Molefe as Eskom CEO but did not know of his Gupta ties – Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa said he was the one who recommended out of favour former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe.
He said he had no clue that Molefe would eventually be linked to state capture and the Gupta family.
Ramaphosa was giving Eskom-related evidence during his appearance before the state capture commission on Wednesday.
He was asked about his frustrations at not being told about suspensions of four executives at Eskom while he was charged with leading its war room.
He was also asked about Brian Molefe, who had earlier blamed Ramaphosa for Eskom’s woes.
But Ramaphosa told the commission that he was the one who recommended Molefe, and he had no idea he was close with the Guptas.
“I should say that surprised me because I had never really connected Mr Molefe in that way with the Gupta family. I had no inkling or knowledge or suspicion that there was that linkage or connection.”
Ramaphosa defended the party’s deployment policy despite the risk of recruiting someone incompetent.
“Where the deployment has resulted in people who are incompetent, I will concede that was an error.”
Meanwhile, ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte has supported Ramaphosa’s assertion that he was the one who recommended Molefe’s appointment as Eskom CEO.
She has told Eyewitness News on the sidelines of the state capture commission that there was no doubt he was a competent man but that none of them knew of his connections elsewhere.
Duarte said Ramaphosa, like her, had always seen him as a competent individual: “I have no doubt in my mind that he was a competent man and that he was connected elsewhere, how would we have known that? We knew him as competent. In fact, he turned Transnet around.”
In Other News – SANDF – Jacob Zuma’s life is at significant risk, will take 6 months to treat him
A high-level military doctor has told prison and prosecuting authorities that Jacob Zuma suffered a “traumatic injury” late last year and now needs “extensive emergency treatment” and six months of care to restore his health.
Jacob Zuma is married to four women and has an estimated number of 23 children whom he sired with a total of 15 women. He has been married a total number of six times but remains married to four women as one of his spouses died, and he divorced another. However, according to government records, he is officially married to the only woman he divorced. learn more
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called for transparency, accountability and the elimination of unnecessary expenditures to cut down on the cost of governance in the country. Akpabio made the call on Monday at a one-day dialogue on the cost of governance in Nigeria organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, in Abuja.
Akpabio, who was represented by Sen. Agom Jarigbe (PDP-Rivers) highlighted the possible factors contributing to the high cost of governance in the country.He said the size of the country’s bureaucracy, the escalating public service wage bills, the overhead costs of appointed public officials, and the salaries and allowances of elected officials are major factors.
According to him, the running of government institutions among other substantial components contributed to weighing down the economy and hindering development efforts. Let us hold ourselves accountable and take responsibility for the betterment of our nation. We have to ensure that our government operates efficiently and effectively, serving the needs of the people and fostering sustainable development,” he said.
The president of the senate emphasized the need to streamline bureaucracy, eliminate unnecessary expenditures, and ensured transparency and accountability at all levels of governance. We must invest in our human capital, empowering our public officials with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive progress.
“And we must foster a culture of innovation and creativity, where new ideas can flourish and transform our nation,” he said.Akpabio urged all Nigerians to remain united, become agents of change and be committed to making sacrifices for the nation. He said that the 10th Assembly was ready to partner with all stakeholders to do everything within its constitutional powers to make Nigeria for all citizens.
Source: pmnewsnigeria
In other news – Bad leaders making the life of Nigerians miserable – Pastor Giwa
The senior pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming Of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, on Sunday, lamented that the economic situation in Nigeria has gone from bad to worse under President Bola Tinubu.
The clergyman noted that bad leaders were intentionally making life miserable for Nigerians. Read more
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Manchester City 0-0 Arsenal. Manchester City and Arsenal handed Liverpool the advantage in the Premier League title race as they played out a bitterly disappointing goalless stalemate at Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool are now top of the table and two points clear of Arsenal after they came from behind to beat Brighton at Anfield, their delight increased by their two closest rivals cancelling each other out.
This was a game that made a nonsense of its billing as a potential classic, as Arsenal’s containing tactics snuffed out City while the Gunners had only limited chances of their own in a desperately poor affair.
Nathan Ake had an early close-range header saved by Arsenal keeper David Raya before going off injured while former City striker Gabriel Jesus posed an occasional threat, just failing to connect with Bukayo Saka’s cross inches from goal after the break.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be happier than City counterpart Pep Guardiola with this outcome – but the real winners were Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.
Guardiola’s side were under greater pressure to win this match but their usual fluent passing game was rarely in evidence, stifled by the visitors’ organisation and infuriated by referee Anthony Taylor’s reluctance to punish the Gunners for a succession of infringements.
It led to a scrappy, disjointed game in which City were never allowed to gather their usual momentum and rhythm, with even the best efforts of master creators Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva unable to carve out meaningful opportunities for Erling Haaland, who was kept on the margins throughout.
The hosts held sway in possession for most of the second half but it was illustrative of the game that Raya barely had an anxious moment, his counterpart Stefan Ortega also idle for long periods.
Indeed, it is the first time City have failed to score at home in the Premier League since October 2021, a run of 47 games.
The reigning champions, as usual, will remain confident of retaining their title but Guardiola will be bitterly disappointed at his side’s failure to trouble Arsenal, with substitute Jack Grealish on the end of some lengthy post-match advice from his manager.
City are back here at Etihad Stadium to face in-form Aston Villa on Wednesday night knowing they cannot afford any more slip-ups in this tight Premier League title pursuit.
Arsenal arrived at Manchester City with a point to make and a chance to show their improvement at a ground where they have had a miserable record in the past.
The Gunners last won here in January 2015, drawing one and losing eight of their subsequent nine visits before this game.
Here, Arteta set his side out to be fiercely drilled and well-organised to frustrate, a strategy seemingly designed to earn the point they secured rather than risk more for victory.
It was a conservative approach but what it did demonstrate was that Arsenal do have more resilience and character than on previous occasions, when they have sometimes capitulated under City’s attacking assault.
Arteta’s side were composed but also willing to throw bodies on the line when danger threatened, not that they were ever in serious peril of conceding – a tribute to their display in itself.
They have kept clean sheets in both games against Manchester City this season, making them only the fourth team to shut out a Guardiola side twice in the same season.
Whether this is one point gained or two lost remains to be seen, but Arteta seemed satisfied enough at the final whistle.
source – BBC