APP of the Week
cuting Authority for her role in sending confidential Cabinet documents about the broadcasting digital migration to the Guptas. She wasted several years trying to swing the lucrative contract for the making of the devices to the Guptas.
The migration process has been running for a decade – at least. If only the communications minister had had more than 10 years to prepare…
Essentially, Ntshavheni is a bully. Convinced of her own righteousness, she petulantly threatened to withdraw her approval from the SABC’s financials for both Parliament and the Auditor-General.
Her spurious argument was that the SABC’s data was inaccurate because the broadcaster had pointed out earlier this year that the analogue switch-off would adversely affect its audience reach and therefore its revenue. To simplify, the SABC pointed out its governance department had failed to do its job and the struggling broadcaster would be affected. Stung by the public disagreement from a thankfully non-complaint SABC board, Ntshavheni behaved with a total lack of grace or dignity and, frankly, made more of a fool of herself.
Sadly, the Constitutional Court didn’t try to bring professionalism to the process, stating: “in granting relief, this court does not purport to delay the process; it merely leaves the ball in the minister’s court”.
Oh dear. The poorest of the poor have few champions in government, not least former social development minister and declared liar Bathabile Dlamini (after being found guilty of perjury by another court over her ridiculous shenanigans around the near-collapse of grant payments).
There have been many (legitimate) calls for Energy Monster Gwede Mantashe to be fired this week, as Eskom plunged the country into Stage Six #loadshitting because of an illegal strike. But Ntshavheni has proved the most incompetent minister of the week.
Headspace is a meditation app but it’s also great for sleep. The free version has 45- to 55-minute “sleepcasts” – adult bedtime stories – that help bring about a calm state of mind.
Cost: Free for select content; R1,120 per year for full access. Get it for iOS or Android.