Gallery of rogues?

[Dave A]

It is well known that JZ as ANC party president is under a cloud defending charges of corruption etc.

Now we have this story:

He has been entrusted by the ANC with the strategic job of spokesperson. But Carl Niehaus has left a broad trail of bad debt and broken promises behind him.
full story from M&G here

A broad trail indeed, and long.

[Morticia]

Reminds me of the lyrics of a current hit song by Gym Class Heroes:

"I want be faithful
But I cant keep my hands out the cookie jar.
(Travis)
My hands, my hands, my ha uh my hands
Cant keep my hands, my hands, my, uh, my
Cant keep my hands, my hands, my, uh, my
Cant keep my hands, my hands my hands out the cookie jar."

[Dave A]

They hired this guy in November 2008. And it looks like they knew of his "problems" when they hired him too.

This probably is putting it too strongly, but people with a history of moral integrity problems just seem to be collecting around JZ like flies to sh*t.

Innocent until proven guilty is all very well, but good practice is to suspend people who seem to have had their hands in the cookie jar until the matter is cleared up one way or the other. The ANC seems to have developed a habit of doing the exact opposite - giving them more responsibility and running them up the flag pole as symbols of what the organisation represents.

[garthu]

To true... The only thing i can commend him on (and the only reason he is deserving is cause he actually openly admits and thats a first) is his open admission. It must be a huge embarrassment to ANC... but then is it really. They just don't seem to care. It really astounds me to the peoples/masses acceptance though?

[garthu]

Oh i dont believe this.. he's been re-deployed into another section of the party

[Dave A]

The ANC certainly looks after their own.

Actually, I don't have a problem with him being redeployed. Everyone has the right to earn a living. The issue is finding an appropriate post to match the person. Or maybe that should be finding the appropriate person to match the post - which would have saved us all a lot of blushes.

[duncan drennan]

What I find disturbing about the whole story is the comments about the fraud he committed to secure a loan from a property company,

“But there was a hook. In exchange for the loan they wanted a letter committing various provincial ministries to favouring them when they wanted to rent, sell or lease government buildings in the Johannesburg CBD.”

Isn't this just blatant corruption? Firstly, the property company is effectively bribing him to secure a better position for themselves, and he is committing fraud by forging a signature.

The fact that there are companies willing to manipulate themselves into favourable positions really gets under my skin. They are as much to blame as the corruptible politicians. Then the ANC just sweeps this all under the carpet.

Surely, surely, if they really believed their own anti-corruption message they would act more strongly on this. Corrupt politicians have no place in government.

[garthu]

Well said Duncan

Actually, I don't have a problem with him being redeployed. Everyone has the right to earn a living.

But with ANC they could make him chief accountant? (please no... just kidding..really!) Sure everyone has the right to earn a living, but he's corrupt, My opinion he doesn't have the right to earn a living in government? The message to everyone is wrong - from children to ceo. No one is stopping him from starting something else

[wynn]

I wonder how many ANC bigwigs have contacted the company in question offering their services since Friday???

[garthu]

For those that didnt catch the Carl Niehaus "song" on whackheads this morning... it's worth a visit!

[Dave A]

But with ANC they could make him chief accountant?

I had something more along the lines of tea tiffy in mind

[garthu]

Like that!

Gives me a nice idea for a new campaign - could even a bit viral!

"We all know how it easy it is to end up with "Nie - haus" in Midrand.... but you don't. Buy your property at www dot ourweb

[Dave A]

Carl Niehaus has resigned as an employee of the ANC.

[garthu]

Good for him.. A+C have done damage not taking the lead on this. Whenever somehting like this goes (timing and the way it occured) down i always wonder on a hidden agenda? Preplanned?? Who knows... i'm a real conspiracy theorist with anything to do with politics as they cant plan important things like electricity, but they can certainly plan how to keep there seat.

[Dave A]

Zapiro did this incredible cartoon of Trevor Manuel criticising the Premier Soccer League bosses getting R50 million in "commissions" for securing the ABSA Bank sponsorship.

Trevor says "We can't have sports officials getting kickbacks"
Next frame: "That's reserved for politicians."
Complete with various politicos in the background with bags labelled "arms deal kickbacks, license kickbacks, municipal tenders, social grant kickbacks, golf estate kickbacks..."

Carl's next career - politician! All the corrupt benefits without accountability.