[DEBATE] : (Fwd) KZN crony capitalism

[Patrick Bond]

The Mercury

So this is how our economy works

September 03, 2008 Edition 1

Tony Carnie

Civilised society aspires to create institutions that protect consumers 
and limit profiteering, yet there are howls of protest when someone has 
the temerity to suggest any form of price control. The market knows 
best. All we need is growth.

Just ask the Durban Growth Coalition, which seems to be irked by the 
need for environmental impact assessments, planning approvals or land 
claim issues.

The coalition, co-chaired by KZN premier S'bu Ndebele and businessman 
John Barton, has been working quietly behind the scenes to smooth the 
pathway.

A few months ago, Barton gave an inkling of how things worked on The 
Mercury's HighRoad page. Apart from an annual breakfast where political 
and business leaders got together, Barton and KZN economic development 
head Carol Coetzee co-chaired a series of meetings to discuss matters of 
mutual interest.

"In an attempt to further gauge what could be done to make the business 
environment in the province more conducive to growth, the coalition 
invited ANC president Jacob Zuma; economic affairs MEC Zweli Mkhize and 
(premier) Ndebele to a private dinner party a few weeks ago.

Forty top businessmen in the province were invited to the dinner, where 
it was agreed that the press would not be invited. The reason for this 
move was to promote open and frank discussion."

Say no more. Why raise awkward questions at these cozy tête-à-têtes?

Could it be that the coalition wants to exempt large, industrial 
projects from the environmental impact assessments process and to shift 
the provincial environmental impact assessments department into 
Coetzee's economic development department?