The Best of the Breakfast Show with Xolani Gwala

Many questions have arisen following Eskom's admission that they paid Gupta-linked consultancy firm Trillian R500 million for work done. Interim board chairperson at Eskom, Zethembe Khoza says an inquiry has been set up to investigate this further. Despite not having a contract with Trillian, Eskom was apparently instructed to pay the firm R500 million through global consultant firm McKinsey. Mckinsey denies telling Eskom to pay this money.

While Parliament and the South African Police Service (SAPS) have agreed to provide the necessary protection for Dr Makhosi Khoza, who has faced several death threats, there are more death threats being made against Members of Parliament and legislature leaders in the country. Richard Pithouse, Associate Professor at Rhodes University says threats and assassinations have always taken place at grassroots level.

Chairperson at Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Themba Godi, was speaking to Xolani Gwala this morning, he  says former CEO of State Social Security Agency (Sassa), Thokozani Magwaza was expecting to be fired as he did not receive the necessary backing or support from his 'political principals'. Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini announced on Monday that she and Magwaza had agreed to terminate his contract after a consultative process. Magwaza says however, his contract was terminated.

The application for an urgent interdict by the Chamber of Mines to prevent the implementation of the controversial Mining Charter will be heard in September. On Friday the chamber announced the implementation of the law which increases the minimum threshold for black ownership of mining companies to 30%, has been put on ice by government pending judgment in the case. Xolani Gwala spoke to the Chamber of Mines CEO , Roger Baxter who says “We want the charter to be taken on a full review because this is not our charter, it is really designed to benefit a select few to the disadvantage of all citizens”

Eskom has rejected allegations that it is left with at least R20 billion in its coffers following a report by the Sunday Times that the power utility still wants to pay bonuses to axed CEO Brian Molefe and suspended acting CEO Matshela Koko. The Sunday Times said this is apparently contained in the power utility's latest financial statements. Deputy Editor at the Financial Mail, Sikhonathi Mantshantsha says Eskom has before said it is a liquidity buffer and it is only enough cash for three months, that is all in their internal documents.

The South African Communist Party (SACP) is holding it's national congress in Boksburg where it's looking at how to approach a possible split in the Africa National Congress (ANC) after December. Stalwart Mvuso Msimang hopes the crisis within the ANC can still be fixed, to avoid a split. Earlier this month, stalwarts of the ruling party refused to participate in a consultative process scheduled for the first leg of the party's policy conference, because their requirements had not been met.

This morning, Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba is expected to announce details of government's inclusive growth action plan. The  meeting comes after the cabinet reshuffle in March by president Jacob Zuma which saw the country falling into a technical recession.  Breakfast show host Xolani Gwala spoke to Dr Thabi Leoka, Economic Strategist at Argon Asset Management  who says she hopes Gigaba will work to make business understand that the national treasury is more than just him and his deputy. 

Home Affairs Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize has pledged that her department will do better in providing services to the public. She says improved performance will have a hugely beneficial effect on the country's bottom line. Mkhize says her department faces a number of challenges. She was speaking to Xolani Gwala on the breakfast show.

Mkhwebane recommended that this be done so that the Reserve Bank's mandate in the Constitution be changed. However, she made an about-turn on Monday saying she will not oppose the Reserve Bank's review application of her remedial action in relation to the central bank's mandate. Speaking to Breakfast show host Xolani Gwala, Director at the Centre for Constitutional Rights, Phephelaphi Dube says as a result of Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's call for the Constitution to be changed, the Rand "tanked".  

Xolani also spoke to Dr Jakkie Cilliers, Chairperson at the Institute of Security Studies on the Burglary at the NPA, Cilliers says too many of these robberies are taking place to not question the state of play. Dr Cilliers says that it is quite possible that the robberies are part of a political game. He says that the recent robberies and burning of the offices of the Gauteng and Eastern Cape Premiers point to a parallel state in the country, where political games are settled through crime.

Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi on Sunday announced that the planned taxi strike in Gauteng has been called off following deliberations with the taxi associations. Last month thousands of commuters found themselves with no means to get to work or school when the taxi operators embarked on a strike after complaining about high repayment rates for their vehicles. Speaking to Xolani Gwala on the breakfast show, Maswaganyi said “government has committed to intervening in assisting the taxi associations with the challenges that they are facing”