Moeletsi Mbeki
{{Short description|South African political economist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use South African English|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Moeletsi Goduka Mbeki
| image = MoeletsiMbeki2007 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Mbeki in Leiden, 2007
| birth_name = Moeletsi Goduka Mbeki
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1945|11|09}}
| birth_place =
| other_names =
| children =
| father = Govan Mbeki
| mother = Epainette Mbeki
| relatives = {{unbulleted list|Linda Mbeki (sister; born 1941, died 2003)|Thabo Mbeki(brother; born 1942)|Jama Mbeki (brother; born 1948, died 1982)| Skelewu Mbeki (grandfather; born 1828-died 1918)}}
| known_for = Deputy chairman South African Institute of International Affairs
| occupation = Political and economic commentator
| nationality = South African
}}
Moeletsi Goduka Mbeki (born 30 November 1945) is a South African 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, and a political analyst for Nedcor Bank. He is a member of the executive council of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) which is based in London. 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.An IOL online article about the last cabinet meeting of the Mbeki Administration. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3086&art_id=nw20080924153804200C107252
Career
File:GovanMbekiHonoraryDoctorateAmsterdam1978.jpg
Moeletsi Goduka Mbeki has a background in journalism, with a resume that includes a Harvard University Nieman Fellowship and time at the BBC. He worked for The Herald newspaper as a journalist while in exile in Zimbabwe.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 the International Policy Network. He was a media consultant for the ANC in the 1990s, and is currently the chairman of Endemol South Africa, a TV production house, and KMM Review Publishing{{Cite web |url=http://people.africadatabase.org/en/person/10811.html |title=Mbeki, Moeletsi - South African businessman and political analyst |access-date=7 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703092322/http://people.africadatabase.org/en/person/10811.html |archive-date=3 July 2007 |url-status=dead }} and{{cite web |title=Moeletsi Mbeki Paints A Gloom Picture For Zimbabwe |url=http://crybelovedzimbabwe.blogspot.com/2007/03/moeletsi-mbeki-paints-gloom-picture-for.html |date=2007-03-18}} Africa.{{cite web |title=Moeletsi Mbeki: Political economist |url=http://www.moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw/en/page55?oid=195362&sn=Detail |work=Moneyweb Power Hour |date=2008-02-25 }} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/u/sign-in/|title=DispatchLIVE|website=DispatchLIVE}} (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[http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=vn20091129102007183C129341 Why BEE should be abolished] IOL{{Cite web|url=http://www.mineweb.net/radio/classic_mining/346622.htm|title=Gold Council mulls investment unit spin-off|website=mineweb.net|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061112055024/http://www.mineweb.net/radio/classic_mining/346622.htm|archive-date=12 November 2006|url-status=dead}} and has written articles for the Cato Institute, a USA-based libertarian think tank.{{cite web|url=http://www.cato.org/pubs/fpbriefs/fpb85.pdf |title=Underdevelopment in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Role of the Private Sector and Political Elites|date=15 April 2005|author=Moeletsi Mbeki
|website=cato.org|access-date=30 June 2023}}
With his book Architects of Poverty: Why African Capitalism Needs Changing in 2009 he triggered a debate about governance, ethics and moral values in African governance processes.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
Controversies
Although more recently known as a critic of black economic empowerment (BEE) policies and corruption, one of the main sources of Moeletsi Mbeki's wealth was a BEE deal linked to South Africa's controversial Arms Deal. Mbeki reportedly shared a 25% BEE stake in the South African subsidiary of British armoured vehicle company Vickers Defence Systems.{{Cite news |author=Staff Reporter |date=31 March 2002 |title=Thabo Mbeki's brother and the arms deal |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2002-03-31-thabo-mbekis-brother-and-the-arms-deal/ |work=Mail and Guardian}} Chippy Shaik, whose brother Schabir Shaik was separately convicted for corruption linked to the Arms Deal, was reportedly pivotal in influencing procurement to favour Vickers Defence Systems and therefore Mbeki.{{Cite news |last=Pressly |first=Donwald |date=20 November 2011 |title=New book brings skeletons out of arms deal closet |url=https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/economy/new-book-brings-skeletons-out-of-arms-deal-closet-1182053 |work=IOL}} Chippy Shaik was accused of accepting a bribe but never prosecuted.{{Cite web |author=Staff Reporter |date=15 March 2007 |title=Chippy Shaik awaits his arms-deal fate |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/chippy-shaik-awaits-his-arms-deal-fate-318969 |website=IOL}} Vickers was later taken over by BAE Systems, likely leading to a large windfall for Mbeki and his partner Diliza Mji. Mji was a former treasurer of the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal and the defence parastatal Armscor.{{Cite news |last1=Geloo |first1=Zarina |last2=Mataboge |first2=Mmanaledi |last3=Sole |first3=Sam |date=8 March 2013 |title=Bitter tussle over Moeletsi Mbeki mansion |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2013-03-08-00-bitter-tussle-over-moeletsi-mansion/ |work=Mail and Guardian}}
Moeletsi Mbeki was sued by employees when a think-tank he founded, the Forum for Public Dialogue, ran out of money and retrenched the employees.
Other activities
Writings
- Moeletsi Mbeki: Architects of Poverty. Why African Capitalism Needs Changing, Central Books, April 2009, {{ISBN|1770101616}}
- Moeletsi Mbeki: Advocates for change. How to overcome Africa's challenges, Picador Africa, 2011, {{ISBN|978-1-77010-120-3}}
He has written many articles about the political and economic situation in South Africa, Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa.
References
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