ROB ROSE: Heat rises, as Dlamini Zuma hits out at ‘unqualified’ Basson
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Even though the government seems to be on the verge of scrapping its booze ban, the heat is rising between cooperative governance minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and former Shoprite CEO Whitey Basson ahead of a court clash next week.
Next Tuesday, the High Court in Pretoria will hear an application by 120 wine farms, led by nonprofit the Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI), to declare the ban unlawful. Basson, as the owner of one farm, Klein DasBosch, argued that the prohibition would lead to the “irrevocable demise of the majority of wine farms and licensed restaurants”.
This is no theoretical concern. The wine industry, which includes 2,873 grape producers and 542 cellars, contributes R40bn to SA’s GDP. Yet thousands of the 300,000 people have already lost their jobs due to the lockdown.
But in a new 86-page replying affidavit, Dlamini Zuma not only argues that she had no duty to consult with anyone before imposing the ban, she bluntly dismisses Basson’s arguments as “simply baseless”.
He “ventures other opinions for which he is plainly not qualified,” she said. At best, she argues, Basson “has experience in the retail grocery retail sector (but) is not an expert relating to the exigencies of governance during a pandemic”.
However, in a surprisingly inflammatory statement, Dlamini Zuma rubbished his argument that alcohol could be allowed in ‘cool green spots’ where Covid-19 has retreated.
“Dr Basson refers to ‘cool green spots’ as if certain parts of this country live and operate in silos ... the burden of Covid-19 is shared among affluent and less affluent areas. Planning by government is not done as it was under apartheid”.
This clearly got under Basson’s skin. Yesterday, he filed a new 10-page affidavit, in which he said it was “outrageous and uncalled-for” for Dlamini Zuma to suggest he wanted government to conduct its planning ‘as it was under apartheid’.
“My business philosophies and (ethos) have not been informed, influenced or shaped by the principles of apartheid. I never supported the apartheid government, and was never a member of the National Party or a supporter of the apartheid regime. My whole family and I loathed apartheid,” he said.
He argued that actually, he is qualified to speak, given the fact that he owns Klein DasBosch and has worked for nearly four decades dealing with “suppliers to the retail industry including wine producers”.
Basson says the idea of the ‘cool ...
Next Tuesday, the High Court in Pretoria will hear an application by 120 wine farms, led by nonprofit the Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI), to declare the ban unlawful. Basson, as the owner of one farm, Klein DasBosch, argued that the prohibition would lead to the “irrevocable demise of the majority of wine farms and licensed restaurants”.
This is no theoretical concern. The wine industry, which includes 2,873 grape producers and 542 cellars, contributes R40bn to SA’s GDP. Yet thousands of the 300,000 people have already lost their jobs due to the lockdown.
But in a new 86-page replying affidavit, Dlamini Zuma not only argues that she had no duty to consult with anyone before imposing the ban, she bluntly dismisses Basson’s arguments as “simply baseless”.
He “ventures other opinions for which he is plainly not qualified,” she said. At best, she argues, Basson “has experience in the retail grocery retail sector (but) is not an expert relating to the exigencies of governance during a pandemic”.
However, in a surprisingly inflammatory statement, Dlamini Zuma rubbished his argument that alcohol could be allowed in ‘cool green spots’ where Covid-19 has retreated.
“Dr Basson refers to ‘cool green spots’ as if certain parts of this country live and operate in silos ... the burden of Covid-19 is shared among affluent and less affluent areas. Planning by government is not done as it was under apartheid”.
This clearly got under Basson’s skin. Yesterday, he filed a new 10-page affidavit, in which he said it was “outrageous and uncalled-for” for Dlamini Zuma to suggest he wanted government to conduct its planning ‘as it was under apartheid’.
“My business philosophies and (ethos) have not been informed, influenced or shaped by the principles of apartheid. I never supported the apartheid government, and was never a member of the National Party or a supporter of the apartheid regime. My whole family and I loathed apartheid,” he said.
He argued that actually, he is qualified to speak, given the fact that he owns Klein DasBosch and has worked for nearly four decades dealing with “suppliers to the retail industry including wine producers”.
Basson says the idea of the ‘cool ...
