EDITOR’S LUNCHBOX: Who got the Gupta billions?

Stories of Note

Bytes from the digital world

It turns out that the Guptas were not the only ones who had their bank accounts closed. One of their associates also suffered the same fate.

Donald Trump is sure he will become the 45th president of the US, but many in the country still can’t accept it and are making themselves heard.

It’s the power of the brand, a relationship that is not easy to get it right: Apparently Usain Bolt has been one of Puma’s biggest assets.

In My Opinion

Matters of debate

Jacob Zuma could become the party’s grave digger in 2019 since the ANC seems unable to cut him loose, argues Mzukisi Qobo.

Financial Mail editor Rob Rose says SA’s major banks have to decide if they should take up Pravin Gordhan’s invitation to dish the dirt on the R6.8bn of "suspicious transactions" involving the Gupta family. The brothers are unlikely to want to share details of who the money, cited by the Financial Intelligence Centre, was sent from, and who it was going to.

We are defined by the company we keep, argues Financial Mail deputy editor Sikonathi Mantshantsha. After SA’s major banks closed the accounts of the Gupta family businesses earlier this year, Eskom CEO Brian Molefe was one of the few who rose to their defence. At a media briefing to announce Eskom’s financial results in July, he strayed from the company’s business for 20 minutes to argue that the "kangaroo court" that locked out his friends was "illegal and unconstitutional".

Finding Alpha

The long and the short of the markets

Transnet CEO Siyabonga Gama seems to have jumped the gun in demanding an apology from Futuregrowth, which announced in August that it would cease lending to state entities including Transnet, citing governance concerns. Thuli Madonsela’s state of capture report subsequently flagged exccessive and unprocedural Transnet expenditure through companies Regiments and Trillian, with their obvious links to the Gupta family.

Sluggish GDP growth keeps Maria Ramos awake at night.

Restructuring of SAA in the planning stages. At least this time the Treasury is back in the saddle and is shepherding the process.

Very Twitty

The lighter side of the web