Moeletsi Mbeki
Encyclopedia
Moeletsi Mbeki is a political economist and the deputy chairman of the South African Institute of International Affairs
, an independent think tank based at the University of the Witwatersrand
. He is the younger brother of former President Thabo Mbeki
and son of ANC
leader Govan Mbeki
. He has been a frequent critic of President Mbeki.
Nieman Fellowship
and time at the BBC
. He often acts as a political commentator in South Africa
, and is the author of a paper titled Perpetuating Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, published on 30 June 2005 by International Policy Network
. He was a media consultant for the ANC
in the '90s, and is currently the chairman of Endemol
South Africa, a TV production house, and KMM Review Publishing and Africa. He has also been director of Comazar
, which rehabilitates and grants concessions to railway networks in Africa.
In 2003 it was revealed by John Perlman
that the SABC had blacklisted a lot of political commentators and that Moeletsi was one of them, possible due to his political views. Moeletsi generated some controversy when he said that Africa was governed better under colonial rule than today. (See October 2007 in rail transport
). In October 2006 Moeletsi Mbeki applied for an order to have Jonathan Moyo
jailed the next time he visits South Africa. He has been known to oppose certain Black Economic Empowerment
(BEE) deals in South Africa and has written articles for the Cato Institute
, a USA
-based libertarian think tank.
and the rest of Africa.
South African Institute of International Affairs
The South African Institute of International Affairs was founded in Cape Town in 1934 and has been located since 1960 in Jan Smuts House in central Johannesburg, on the campus of the University of the Witwatersrand with which it has strong links...
, an independent think tank based at the University of the Witwatersrand
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
. He is the younger brother of former President Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
and son of ANC
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
leader Govan Mbeki
Govan Mbeki
Govan Archibald Mvuyelwa Mbeki was a South African politician, and father of the former South African president Thabo Mbeki and political economist Moeletsi Mbeki...
. He has been a frequent critic of President Mbeki.
Career
Moeletsi Goduka Mbeki has a strong background in journalism, with a resume that includes a Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
Nieman Fellowship
Nieman Fellowship
The Nieman Fellowship is an award given to mid-career journalists by The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. This award allows winners time to reflect on their careers and focus on honing their skills....
and time at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. He often acts as a political commentator in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and is the author of a paper titled Perpetuating Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa, published on 30 June 2005 by International Policy Network
International Policy Network
The International Policy Network is a global think tank headquartered in the City of London. It defines itself as a non-partisan, non-profit organization, but has also been described as a "corporate-funded campaigning group"...
. He was a media consultant for the ANC
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
in the '90s, and is currently the chairman of Endemol
Endemol
Endemol is an international television production and distribution company based in the Netherlands, with subsidiaries and joint ventures in 23 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Poland,...
South Africa, a TV production house, and KMM Review Publishing and Africa. He has also been director of Comazar
Comazar
Comazar is a company that operates railways in Africa. Its stock is majority owned by the French investment group Bolloré.Comazar was founded by Eric Peiffer and Patrick Claes in conjunction with Transnet and Transurb Consult in 1995.The headquarters are in Johannesburg.- Related organizations...
, which rehabilitates and grants concessions to railway networks in Africa.
In 2003 it was revealed by John Perlman
John Perlman
John Perlman is a radio presenter for Kaya FM in South Africa, where he hosts "Today with John Perlman", a weekday programme between 6 and 7 p.m...
that the SABC had blacklisted a lot of political commentators and that Moeletsi was one of them, possible due to his political views. Moeletsi generated some controversy when he said that Africa was governed better under colonial rule than today. (See October 2007 in rail transport
October 2007 in rail transport
- October 1 - October 6 :October 1* – Speaking at a press conference, Vladimir Yakunin, president of RZD, the Russian national railway company, announces that RZD and Deutsche Bahn of Germany are in talks to acquire a Polish rail freight company...
). In October 2006 Moeletsi Mbeki applied for an order to have Jonathan Moyo
Jonathan Moyo
Jonathan Nathaniel Moyo is a controversial political figure in Zimbabwe. He was Minister of Information from 2000 to 2005 and is currently a Member of Parliament. He is considered the core architect of AIPPA and POSA....
jailed the next time he visits South Africa. He has been known to oppose certain Black Economic Empowerment
Black Economic Empowerment
Black Economic Empowerment is a programme launched by the South African government to redress the inequalities of Apartheid by giving previously disadvantaged groups economic opportunities previously not available to them...
(BEE) deals in South Africa and has written articles for the Cato Institute
Cato Institute
The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1977 by Edward H. Crane, who remains president and CEO, and Charles Koch, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the conglomerate Koch Industries, Inc., the largest privately held...
, a USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-based libertarian think tank.
Writings
He has written many articles about the political and economic situation in South Africa, ZimbabweZimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
and the rest of Africa.
- Articles by Moeletsi Mbeki in the New Statesman
- South Africa: Only a matter of time before the bomb explodes
- Africa was better governed under colonial rule than it is today
- Overview of his opinions
- A growing gap between the black elite and the black masses?: Elites and political and economic change in South Africa since the Anglo Boer War
- South Africa: Democracy is Mature, the Private and NGO Sector is Strong, and Government is Weak in South Africa
- South Africa: Roots of Black Poverty