EDITORIAL: Crony capitalism, and the ANC’s business lobby
The tale of Jova Vaccines Supply — a shell company registered on January 29 this year — is a disturbing analogy for the crony capitalism that has begun to take root in SA. Serati Simon Mashilo, a self-proclaimed "good Samaritan", made headlines last week after an anonymous WhatsApp message began circulating claiming that Mashilo’s company had been lined up to score a major tender from the Mpumalanga provincial government, exploiting his alleged links to premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane.The premier’s office was swift to deny that such a relationship existed — but Mashilo’s "altruism" was equally promptly unmasked.The 54-year-old confirmed to the Sowetan that he had, indeed, registered his new company after he heard that the government would pay suppliers to store and distribute Covid-19 vaccines."I was only taking a chance because I don’t even have the equipment to do this job. I was hoping that someone would assist me once the tender process starts," said Mashilo.Clearly, Mashilo — w...
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