A Tribute to Pravin Gordhan: Leader of Financial Strength

In the annals of South African history, few names resonate as profoundly as that of Pravin Gordhan. One of the few Good Ones!

- Jabu Makhoba

Pravin Gordhan at the inauguration in Pretoria of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday, 19 June 2024. (Photo: Leon Sadiki / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

In South African history, few names stand out as much as Pravin Gordhan. Known for his honesty and strength and leadership adeptness, Gordhan has played a big role in the country’s journey to democracy. As the former Finance Minister and Public Enterprises Minister, his work made a lasting impact.

Gordhan’s story started during the fight against apartheid, where he became a strong activist. His dedication to justice and equality helped him rise in the African National Congress (ANC), where he played a key role in the peaceful transition to democracy in South Africa.

However, it was his time at the South African Revenue Service (SARS) that showed his true leadership. Appointed as Commissioner in 1999, Gordhan worked hard to improve the tax system. Under his leadership, SARS became known for its efficiency. His efforts not only increased the country’s income but also promoted a culture of accountability.

As Finance Minister, Gordhan helped steer South Africa through tough economic times. His focus on transparency and good governance earned him respect both locally and internationally. He was able to balance the country’s financial discipline with the need for social responsibility, ensuring that economic policies were fair and sustainable.

In his role as Public Enterprises Minister, Gordhan faced the difficult job of fixing state-owned companies that were struggling with corruption and poor management. With determination, he led efforts to restore these organizations, focusing on ethical leadership and improving their operations.

Gordhan’s legacy goes beyond his professional achievements. His strong stand against corruption and his commitment to public service have left a lasting mark on South Africa. His life and career remind us that true leadership is about working for justice and the greater good, not seeking titles or praise.

Through his dedicated service, Gordhan has inspired many leaders to follow his example, promoting accountability, integrity, and excellence in public service. His impact continues to guide South Africa toward a stronger economic future.

Another former Finance Minister, another 'Good One' in Daily Maverick's piece Tribute to Gordhan, wrote:

"Even in his final moments, as we gathered at his hospital bedside, Pravin remained an inspiration. He greeted, saying: “It’s so good to see you, broer. And as you can see from the machines, the end is nigh.” Those gathered with me — (former deputy finance minister) Mcebisi Jonas, (advisor) Mandla Nkomfe, (economist) Fuad Cassim, and Momo (the Treasury’s Ismail Momoniat) — all felt a sense of inspiration from him, even in those final moments."

As we look back on his remarkable journey, we are reminded of how one person can influence a nation’s future. Pravin Gordhan’s legacy will continue to inspire future generations to strive for excellence, maintain integrity, and work towards a fair and equal society.

We honor Pravin Gordhan, a true patriot and financial leader, whose contributions to South Africa's prosperity will be remembered for generations. 

Sithi lala ngoxolo ntate Gordhan!

Inside $21,000 Emirates first class seat

U.S YouTuber or vlogger Casey Neistat recently received a golden boarding pass ticket, a surprise “free upgrade” to the airplane’s first class seat from the Emirates Airlines worth $21,632.30 (approximately R292,100 S.A Rand).

That amount would normally cost any Emirates customer to fly from Dubai to New York, a 14-hour flight.

Neistat, like any other popular vlogger, he filmed the unexpected upgrade experience into a 9-minute vlog video for his over 4,500,000 subscribers on YouTube and so far, the video has received at least over 8 million views.

At the beginning of him filming and actually ‘documenting’ the experience, he compared to the free upgrade from business to 1st class as one of the greatest days of his life; when his children were born and his son graduating high school.

Neistat is known for his detailed scenery of the big apple, New York city videos, or vlogs of him and his family at the beach using a GoPro cameras and drones. This time around the YouTube vlogger used his regular camera to display deluxe features of the Emirates high-priced first class seat.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve this, I really don’t,” Neistat said, before appearing inside the plane’s luxurious first class suite (seat).

 – Jabu Makhoba

World's largest aircraft makes its first take-off

   

  

Airlander 10 can be the renaissance of flying machines. The biggest plane in the world,Airlander 10, took off into the skies for the first time in Great Britain, Bedfordshire, following years of testing in its hangar at Cardington Airfield.  

The seemingly double balloon hybrid plane is made up of groundbreaking technology. The super efficient aircraft combines helicopter, airplane, airship and with fixed-wing innovative technology.  

According to its creators, Hybrid Air Vehicles, it was initially created for US military surveillance. But because of its ability to virtually land anywhere it can be used for rescue missions, fly over is African Safari or to even carry massive loads. 

Not long now.. Takeoff position! #Airlander pic.twitter.com/nVzF4rrWCL

— Hybrid Air Vehicles (@AirVehicles) August 17, 2016

The helium filled and butt shaped airplane, massing 10000 kilogram and 92-metres-long, uses the gas to lift-off, Hybrid Air Vehicles Chief Executive Officer Stephen McGlennan told BBC's Newsday. 

Its helicopter turbines, four engines are used to propel and control the aircraft, all technologies combined make the Airlander 10 "super efficient and critically green aircraft," McGlennan said. 

Airlander 10 is capable of staying up in the air for at least 5 days without anyone operating it and more than a week manned at times. 

"Three governments have spend over £60 million in helping [the] company bring this technology to the market.  

Airlander 10 is leading the way in this [airship] market. Three to five years and two hundred million dollars ahead of [their] closest competitor," Hybrid Air Vehicles said.

5 Head honchos of tech industry: US Dominates World's richest

 5 Head honchos of tech industry: US Dominates World's richest

Picture: Forbes.

Technology sector still has one of the richest individuals in the world, disregarding global economic upheaval and volatility of currencies following Brexit. With the USA dominating the list and only two Asians according to the recent Forbes' 'richest people in tech' top ten.

Forbes is a popular and trusted business magazine, every year, it reveals and lists some of the wealthiest individuals and families worldwide.

People who make it to the top in biz tech, can thank the rapid growth of tech commercial enterprise, e-commerce and technology innovations.

Picture: Forbes.

Among the richest people in tech are too, this year, 2016 regular names and well-known faces as previous years. Bill Gates is no stranger in top of Forbes list, the Microsoft founder, in 2008 was momentarily dethroned by fellow American, friend and billionaire investor, Warren Buffet, from being the richest man in the world after a 13-year-long reign.

Gates not only tops the list in tech, but he is currently the wealthiest man on earth. The 60-year-old philanthropist stepped down as Microsoft's chairman in 2014 to become the software giant's adviser.

L-R: Gates, Ellison & Bezos.

#1 Bill Gates $78b USA

#2 Jeff Bezos $66.2b USA

#3 Mark Zuckerberg $54b USA

#4 Larry Ellison $51.7b USA

#5 Larry Page $39b USA

#8 Jack Ma $25.8b China

#9 Ma Huateng $22b China

However, that is all in the past, there are new kids in the block, digital and Internet-based new tech start-ups, and youngest self-made tech billionaires. Facebook founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is 3rd behind Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos.

Youngest in the top ten, the Facebook chief first made it to the Forbes list as the youngest billionaire in 2008 at the age of 23, with an estimated net of $1.5 billion.

E-commerce, ads, cloud computing and online-shopping making the constituents of the industry, Amazon.com Inc, dominates many, if not most of the aforementioned essentials of tech realm.

Bezos, said to have contributed immensely in the electronic commerce, web services, or online retail, and according to several observers, Amazon has superseded Wal-Mart stores Inc.

This week, probably in retaliation, Wal-Mart caused an upset in the e-commerce industry by acquiring online retailer Jet.com for $3.3 billion. In 2015, Time magazine reported that Jet, with its low cost prices could possibly be "Amazon-killer,” businessinsider reported.

Zuckerberg's Facebook is known to have caused a lot of buzz when it purchased popular cross-platform mobile messenger WhatsApp for a whooping $22 billion.

Facebook, also acquired and owns Instagram ($1bn buyout) and the augmented reality headset system, Oculus Rift, a 2014 $2bn acquisition - these are one of the fastest ventures of magnitude by Facebook, WhatsApp included.

In App store and many other app marketplace, Facebook and its applications are the most downloaded and used; Facebook, WhatsApp Messenger, Messenger, and Instagram.

For every amount Facebook offers to smaller startup companies to join the social media giant, that is more extraordinary control of shares for the social media giant.

Coming in at 4^th , another American tech entrepreneur, Larry Ellison, is Estate investor, co-founder and former CEO of Oracle Corp. Ellison is the 7^th richest man in the world.

Oracle is one of the largest software developing companies in the world, close arch-rival of Microsoft. The pervasive and popular software platform, Java, is developed by Sun Microsystems, a subsidiary of Oracle.

After his announcement to step down as Oracle's CEO, the 71-year-old announced that Oracle, was going to concentrate on cloud-computing. Bloomberg reported that Oracle was behind when it comes to cloud computing and providing its services over the internet. The software giant is set to acquire NetSuite for $9.3 billion.

Talking to Bloomberg, Bill Kreher, analyst at Edward Jones & Co., said: “NetSuite is really pioneering cloud and this will certainly add to Oracle”.

Alphabet Inc. is notably and arguably the biggest multinational conglomerate that is known to have created frenzy in the tech industry and no doubt owns many of the popular online platforms and applications.

Picture: Reuters.

Co-founded by Google's duo Serge Brin and Larry Page, Alphabet, is a newly created parent company of Google and many of its subsidiaries, including YouTube, Android, and Chrome browser among others.

Page and Brin make Forbes list number #5 and #6 respectively. Page is currently Alphabet's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Brin is the President and Eric Schmidt, once Google's CEO, is now Alphabet's executive chairman and is ranked #19 on Forbes richest people in tech.

The Alphabet trio.

Jack Ma of Alibaba.com and Ma Huateng are the only Asian businessmen in the Forbes top ten richest people in tech. Ma is China's richest man (with riches worth $25.8 billion) and Huateng coming second with a networth of $22 billion. 

Jack Ma.

20 Years into Democracy

#Democracy

Twenty years into democracy but we still live in a South Africa where one can find a small town that is for 'white' people ONLY! Yep, there is a small farmland in the Karoo, Northern Cape Province in South Africa that is for white-Afrikaner people and it is called Orania.

Billboard: Written "Welkom in Orania" - welcome to Orania. The white-only enclave state of Orania. Image by: BBC 

Built on 8,000 hectares of private farmland along the Orange River in the desolate region of Karoo, the town has schools, shops and even its own currency, the Ora. Below, the Jonck family - DailyMail.

Among those to have made Orania their home is Kobus Jonck, a sheep farmer who moved there with his family last year.

Free country and Free people

#Orania 

According to DailyMail the residents of the small enclave city established during the fading days of Apartheid, 1991 - the most heinous system that sought apartness (segregation) between white and non-whites (blacks). "With only about 1000 residents. "Only white people who identify themselves as Afrikaners are eligible for residency" - TimesLive.

In my opinion Orania people enjoyed much of apartness then and they cannot not deal with #Democracy and the new RSA since the early days of post 1994-elections. BBC writer, Pumza Fihlani, who actually went there adds that Orania has also proved to be the answer for those Afrikaners who felt displaced in the land their people had ruled for many decades.

'Many of the inhabitants of Orania are farmers or traders, and prefer to have as little dealing as possible with the outside world' - DailyMail. One elderly man who was interviewed by the BBC crew that went in an exclusive pass inside the town says he saw nothing wrong with the Apartheid.

Still Stuck Between Black and White

The #BlackFace

Two White Stellenbosch Students donned the #BlackFace. Image by Twitter

#BlackFace

Moreover, Conrad mentions the latest varsity (Stellenbosch Univesiteit) where its students (two male students) polished their faces with polish to look perhaps black and reportedly wore clothes to look like the famous tennis, Williams sisters. However, University of Pretoria students were the first ones to do the black face and they were later suspended - this raised racial concerns. Unlike how professor Pierre de Vos wrote how "for many decades Stellenbosch University implemented race-based affirmative action policies to benefit white Afrikaners" - DailyMaverick (Opinion).

Although Chester Missing's 'sidekick', Koch is questioning and emphasises the problem with 'diversity discourse' that fails to raise serious debates about power and history. He argues that diversity has left those without power per-se under socially acceptable solutions. "Diversity is a product of the post-94 Rainbow Nation rhetoric, of the discourse that Born Frees are becoming post-racial, and that us old (I am 37) bigots all just need to get over it," Writes Koch.