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News & Views by Terry Bell
Browsing All Posts published on »May, 2018«
Too much murk in dealings by the PIC
Are Cosatu-affiliated trade union investment companies, under the umbrella of Cosatu Investments, in line to be helped by Pubic Investment Corporation (PIC) to a R15 billion debt funded share deal? It's an important question following the disclosure of slide presentation featuring an apparently unlisted Rothe Consortium headed by "Cosatu Investments" and involving R15bn in Vodacom shares.
SA union challenge to govt investment body
May 25, 2018
South Africa's Public Investment Corporation (PIC), the government-owned manager of nearly R2 trillion of public sector workers’ pension funds has until month end to “come clean” or face formal legal action. A "can of worms" may be opened, but another chapter in a long running saga seems about to begin.
The need to talk about Marxism
May 21, 2018
The ideas of Karl Marx have, in one way or other, had the greatest influence on trade union and labour movement internationally. But these ideas have been more distorted and lied about than those of any other social theorist. What, in fact, does Marxism actually mean?
Still none so blind…..
May 18, 2018
Economic growth remains the mantra across the board as the economic crisis staggers on. This, despite all the evidence that the drive for economic growth is part of the problem and not any form of solution.
Farm wages, workers & common interests
May 13, 2018
We are all trapped in an economic system which, if its demands were judged by human standards, would almost certainly be regarded as criminally insane. Government, perhaps encouraged by the unions, could take steps to introduce an element of stability and fairness to those who suffer most in this global asylum. This could be a step forward to dealing with the lunacy itself.
The reality of white privilege in SA
May 13, 2018
There were hostile reactions from several quarters in South Africa following Democratic Party leader Mmusi Maimane's statement that white privilege still persists. But the statement was logical and an honest reflection of reality. The reactions tended to reveal a worrying level of blinkered arrogance.
Wages & the need for financial disclosure
May 13, 2018
It is not in the interests of either employers or employees to have profitable enterprises collapse. Which is why exemption clauses exist in cases of legislated minimum wages. But for such a system to operate honestly, requires full financial disclosure by employers.
Banks, bonds & rip-offs
May 6, 2018
If you owe a bank R50 000 and cannot repay on time, you have a problem. But if you owe a bank R1 billion and cannot pay, the bank has a problem. This, in monetary terms, sums up the relationship of rich and relatively poor. A sad example of this fact in practice relates to housing and forced sales.
Terry Bell Writes 
May 27, 2018
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