South Africa: Interventionism and the tyranny of designation

Last year, the then CEO of Transnet, Portia Derby, resigned for reasons that have yet to be clearly explained. What we know is that there was pressure from the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Minerals Council SA because of the group’s worsening operational and financial performance.

But this is South Africa and things aren’t always what they seem. Transnet was increasingly in trouble, but it’s an open question whether that was Derby’s fault or the rampaging looters…