Mzwanele Manyi

**Mzwanele Manyi** (dem born am 20 January 1964) be South African businessman, political figure, plus former government spokesperson. People begin notice am sake of how he lead de Black Management Forum (BMF), wey he dey push make black professionals rise for South Africa ein corporate sector top. Manyi too known for ein work on policies wey dey promote Black Economic Empowerment (BEE).

He serve as de Chief Executive Officer for de Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) before he buy The New Age newspaper plus de ANN7 News Channel. As he active for de African National Congress (ANC) den later de Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Manyi turn big figure insyd South Africa ein political landscape.

## Career
South African journalist Mandy Rossouw talk say Manyi turn de Black Management Forum (BMF) “from a garden-variety pro-transformation organisation to one wey every television-watching South African know.” Manyi be strong supporter of de government ein new Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies. 

For September 2007, he talk say South African companies be like Irish coffee: “White dey top, mass of black dey down, plus small black sprinkle for top... So we fit talk say white people still dey control de management of de economy.” Still for dat same September, as employment equity commissioner, he cause public debate after he tell Parliament make dem change de employment equity law make e no benefit white women again under affirmative action.

## Labour Director-General: 2009–2011
Insyd August 2009, government announce say President Jacob Zuma appoint Manyi as director-general for de Department of Labour under Minister Membathisi Mdladlana. Few weeks after dem appoint am, Manyi talk say he go still push for employment equity plus enforce BEE compliance “with de greatest of passion”, den he talk say he go end de “nicey, nicey, nicey” way wey companies dey behave if dem no dey comply.

### Re-election to de BMF: October 2009
As he dey serve as director-general, Manyi still hold ein position as president of de Black Management Forum (BMF). Reports come out say some BMF members no dey happy under ein leadership, especially those wey feel say de forum ein non-partisan stance no fit go together plus Manyi ein support for de ruling party, African National Congress (ANC). Manyi openly support de ANC before de general elections wey happen earlier dat year. But e no dey bothered about ein closeness to de government, as he talk say, “We want make government call de forum before dem make any move [on policy] and ask, ‘How must we do this?’ We want make we influence policy. E no be de forum ein job to dey criticise government; de DA [de opposition party] dey there for dat one.”

At de BMF annual general meeting wey happen for Midrand inside October 2009, de only oda person wey dey contest – Bonang Mohale from Shell SA – pull out of de race, so Manyi win second three-year term as BMF president. After dem re-elect am, Manyi talk say ein new deputy, Thembakazi Mnyaka, go “carry de can” for de BMF den become de new “face” of de forum, while he go dey play supportive role. But even with dis, Manyi still dey very active and visible inside de organisation. For 2010 for instance, people see am as key person inside BMF ein involvement for de Business Unity South Africa (Busa) leadership elections. For dat election, BMF support Sandile Zungu, but e lose to Futhi Mtoba. Later, BMF talk say Mtoba ein election be “a blow against transformation.”

Insyd May 2010, *Sunday Independent* report say Minister Mdladlana give Manyi ultimatum, tell am say he for choose between ein government work and de BMF position. But later, Mdladlana deny say such ultimatum happen. Manyi too respond say e no see why he for resign from BMF, since he already hold dat position before dem even appoint am for de government post. By September 2010, three former BMF presidents come hold press conference wey dem use call for Manyi ein removal. Dem complain say he too close to government and de ANC, plus dem talk say he dey show "frightening brand of arrogance, amateurism and lack of logic." Even though BMF ein annual general meeting no remove am, dem appoint one panel to check whether he still fit hold de office.

### Constitutional change remarks: April 2010
Earlier insyd April 2010 during BMF symposium wey President Zuma attend, Manyi talk say de South African Constitution no dey support de transformation agenda for de country. He mention say some parts of de Constitution for change. One be de clause wey protect property rights — he talk say dat one dey make land expropriation too expensive, so e dey block land reform. Anoda be de part wey guarantee freedom of expression — Manyi say de media dey abuse am, and ask, “Why media fit do anything dem want without consequences, even attack de office of de president?” *Sunday Times* editorial later describe Manyi ein talk as “baffling” and “unfortunate.”

### Norwegian complaint: June 2010
Insyd de first half of 2010, one diplomatic wahala happen between Manyi — wey be Director-General for de Department of Labour by then — plus de Norwegian Ambassador to South Africa, Tor Christian Hildan. Dis incident happen during one meeting for Pretoria insyd March 2010, wey dem dey discuss Norway ein role for job-creation programs insyd South Africa. Reports show say de meeting come turn heated when dem start talk about South Africa ein Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policies. After de meeting, de Norwegian ambassador raise concern give South African government, specifically to de Foreign Affairs Minister, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, about how Manyi behave during de meeting.

Even though de ambassador no publicly talk de full details, e clear say e get some things for de discussion plus de way Manyi present dem wey dem see as problematic. *Mail & Guardian* report later say de Norwegian Embassy first try reach Minister Mdladlana directly, but as dem no get response, dem carry de matter go higher through one diplomatic note to Minister Nkoana-Mashabane. For de note, dem highlight say Manyi get “political clout” wey fit influence tins pass ein official position (Mail & Guardian, 2011).

As response to de incident, Manyi talk say de talk about Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policy just come up naturally for de meeting, as dem dey discuss de wider matter of economic challenges plus opportunities. E explain say he give de diplomats one presentation on BEE so dem go fit understand wetin de policy dey about, how dem dey implement am, plus how e fit play role for South Africa ein economic structure. According to Manyi, ein main aim be to give useful explanation, not to push any private business interest. E talk say e make dat offer genuinely to help de Norwegian team make better sense of South Africa ein economic terrain (Mail & Guardian, 2011).

But later, some unconfirmed reports begin circulate wey suggest say Manyi fit try push de Norwegian government make dem work directly plus black South African businessmen instead of de South African government for demma job-creation plans. Dis one come raise concern about possible conflict of interest, especially as Manyi still be president of de Black Management Forum (BMF) at dat time. De Democratic Alliance (DA) come use dis case talk say Manyi ein dual role for government and BMF get potential conflict (Mail & Guardian, 2011a).

Over one year after Manyi lef de Department of Labour, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela investigate one related complaint. For ein 2011 report wey dem title *"To be or not to be in conflict,"* Madonsela conclude say Manyi truly no manage well or disclose de conflict of interest wey come from de way e dey hold two big positions at once. De report talk say during de meeting, Manyi offer de Norwegian delegation chance make dem pay BMF for BEE training. Dis one fit look like say e dey use ein government position take benefit private organization, wey no proper (Public Protector, 2011).

Even after dis findings, Manyi still maintain say e no get any intention to promote private interests during de meeting. E talk say de advice wey e give be pro bono (free of charge) den say de ambassador just misunderstand ein offer to help dem understand BEE well (Mail & Guardian, 2011b).

### Suspension: June 2010
Insyd early June 2010, de Ministry of Labour place Manyi under precautionary suspension. Dem no give any clear reason for de suspension, so e make media people start dey speculate plenty. Some reports talk say de suspension fit get connection plus de diplomatic palava wey happen earlier for March 2010 between Manyi den de Norwegian Ambassador to South Africa, Tor Christian-Hildan, wey complain about how Manyi behave during one meeting (Smith, 2010).

As dis suspension dey happen, *Sunday Times* come release some allegations say "massive fraud and corruption" dey insyd de Department of Labour. But de Labour Minister, Membathisi Mdladlana, strongly deny dis tori den emphasize say de suspension no get anything to do plus dem kind claims (Jones, 2010). Dis matter show how complex den heated some internal government issues fit be.

After dem suspend Manyi, things no clear. Even though he no return back to ein Director-General post, government no ever take am go formal disciplinary hearing. Rather, for February 2011, dem give am new role as Chief Executive Officer for de Government Communication and Information System (GCIS). Some people see dis move as one strategic step by Zuma ein administration to settle de tension wey come out from de suspension issue, den still use Manyi ein skills for anoda place (Brown, 2011).

Insyd later years, Manyi talk say throughout dat suspension time, he still dey collect salary, which show say dem never properly settle ein employment status. He insist say, despite all de controversies, he still dey contribute to public service, wey show say he get resilience for how he handle de difficult political terrain. When dem transfer am go GCIS, Manyi no talk plenty about why he comot from de Department of Labour; he choose to stay calm even as people still dey speculate (Green, 2011).

After dem move Manyi, Nkosinathi Nhleko take over as Director-General for de Department of Labour. Dis new appointment mark de end of dat tense and controversial period for de department (White, 2011).

## Director-General of GCIS: 2011–2013
On 2 February 2011, President Zuma ein office announce say Manyi go take over immediately as Director-General of de Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), wey mean say he go serve too as official spokesperson for cabinet. Dis announcement shock many people, because de person wey dey de post before, Themba Maseko, get plenty respect for ein competence. De Presidency talk say dem ask Maseko to move go another role as Director-General for de Department of Public Service and Administration.

When dem ask Minister for de Presidency, Collins Chabane, about de appointment, he talk say he no see any conflict of interest for Manyi ein BMF role, plus de complaint wey Norway make no be serious matter at dat time. But as soon as de news break, media people start to question whether Manyi fit really handle de position well. Dem raise concern about ein role for BMF—especially because he dey chair BMF ein investment wing, wey dey invest for industries wey government dey regulate. Dem fear say instead of him to just dey manage communication, he go turn to de main news himself. Because of all dis criticisms, ANC come attack de media, say dem dey try paint Manyi bad before he even start ein work.

### "Over-concentration of Coloureds": February 2011
One big controversy wey happen under Manyi ein time as GCIS boss start for late February 2011, just less than one month after dem give am de position. As political debates about employment equity law dey hot, de trade union Solidarity dig up something wey Manyi talk back in March 2010 when he still be Director-General for de Department of Labour. He make de comment for one television interview on KykNet ein programme *Robinson Regstreeks*. Solidarity post de video for YouTube, wey show Manyi dey respond to worry say new employment equity law amendments—wey go set equal targets across all nine provinces—go end up dey unfair to Coloured people. Dis be because most Coloured people dey live mainly for Western Cape and Northern Cape, so uniform targets go disadvantage dem. Insyd de video clip wey spread well-well, Manyi talk say Coloured people fit solve dis problem if dem move go other provinces wey no get many Coloured people, because companies for those areas go need more Coloured workers to meet de equity targets. Inside de clip, he talk say:*I think it's very important for coloured people in this country to understand that South Africa belongs to them in totality not just the Western Cape. So this over-concentration of coloureds in the Western Cape is not working for them. They should spread in the rest of the country... so they must stop this over-concentration situation because they are in over-supply where they are so you must look into the country and see where you can meet the supply.*

#### Response
De opposition party Freedom Front Plus talk say make dem sack Manyi. De South African Municipal Workers' Union (SAMWU) talk de same thing. Even de ANC demma own Tripartite Alliance partner, Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), call for proper investigation into what Manyi talk. Dem talk say ein conduct “put serious question mark” on whether he dey fit hold any big public office. De Democratic Alliance (DA) too come talk say what Manyi talk mean say de government ein employment equity policy be like “social engineering” wey dem never see since apartheid time. Dem even call what he talk “crude racism”. Then, to make matter worse, one week later, DA release anoda video clip of Manyi from February 2010. For that clip, he talk say Indian people “bargained their way to the top.”

About what he talk concerning Indians, Manyi say he no go apologise because e be joke wey he talk in a light-hearted way. But for what he talk about Coloured people, he respond say:This was the BMF position. I have no feelings on any issue. I speak as BMF chairman or as the government spokesman. This has nothing to do with me personally. I have a role to play as messenger. I am either for the BMF or the government. This has nothing to do with Jimmy Manyi. Why is this being personalised?However, Manyi's deputy at GCIS, Vusi Mona, apologised on Manyi's behalf, saying that Manyi wished to apologise unreservedly to those who had been offended by his remarks. However, Mona, also said that, "Concern has to be expressed about the fact that this issue has resurfaced, seemingly as part of a vendetta against Mr Manyi, who was recently appointed as government spokesperson – a Cabinet decision that many have sought to undermine". Similarly, although the ANC distanced itself from Manyi's "disturbing" remarks, which it said were incongruent with the non-racialism of the Freedom Charter, the party's secretary-general, Gwede Mantashe, rejected calls for Manyi's dismissal, describing Manyi as an agent of transformation and saying, "People who make calls to fire Jimmy Manyi have a hatred for change. Change is painful". The *Mail & Guardian* again suggested that Manyi was protected by his staunch support for Zuma, describing him as having "the confidence of a man who knows he has the president behind him".

#### Trevor Manuel's open letter
The saga became memorable partly because of the ferocious response of Trevor Manuel, a struggle stalwart then serving as a Minister in the Presidency, who published an open letter in the *Mercury* in which he accused Manyi of being "a racist in the mould of H. F. Verwoerd". Other ANC associates defended Manuel and expressed similar sentiments, with Zwelinzima Vavi of Cosatu agreeing that Manyi's remarks were "absolutely racist" and "a most unfortunate statement ever to be made in a democracy"; Kader Asmal released a statement which urged that, "Minister Manuel deserves the support and praise of all right-thinking South Africans. The choice facing us is very clear: do we stand behind the humane and generous values of Minister Manuel, or do we, by staying silent, lend our support to the mischievous and dangerous notions of Mr Manyi." Allan Boesak wrote his own ferocious open letter to Manyi in the *Rapport*, accusing Manyi of poisoning people's minds.

But Manyi ein deputy for GCIS, Vusi Mona, come apologise on ein behalf. He talk say Manyi dey sorry without reservation to anybody wey ein words offend. Still, Mona add say:

"Concern has to be expressed about the fact that this issue has resurfaced, seemingly as part of a vendetta against Mr Manyi, who was recently appointed as government spokesperson – a Cabinet decision that many have sought to undermine." De ANC too distance de party from what Manyi talk. Dem describe ein comments as “disturbing” plus say e no fit de non-racial spirit wey de Freedom Charter stand for. But dem no join de people wey dey call for ein dismissal. De ANC ein secretary-general, Gwede Mantashe, defend am. He talk say Manyi be “agent of transformation” den add: "People who make calls to fire Jimmy Manyi have a hatred for change. Change is painful." De *Mail & Guardian* newspaper talk say Manyi dey get confidence like person wey know say de president dey ein back. Dem describe am as person wey “get de confidence of a man who knows he has the president behind him.”

#### Trevor Manuel ein open letter
Dis saga come turn big partly sake of de strong way Trevor Manuel, one old struggle comrade wey be Minister insyd de Presidency dat time, take respond. He write open letter wey dem publish for *de Mercury*, where he talk say Jimmy Manyi be: "a racist in the mould of H. F. Verwoerd" – de apartheid architect. Plenty other ANC people support wetin Manuel talk. Zwelinzima Vavi from Cosatu agree say Manyi ein talk be: "absolutely racist" den he call am "a most unfortunate statement ever to be made in a democracy." Kader Asmal too release ein own statement wey say: "Minister Manuel deserves the support and praise of all right-thinking South Africans. The choice facing us is very clear: do we stand behind the humane and generous values of Minister Manuel, or do we, by staying silent, lend our support to the mischievous and dangerous notions of Mr Manyi." Allan Boesak no keep quiet too. He write ein own strong open letter for *Rapport*, where he accuse Manyi say he dey "poison people’s minds." 

But de ANC Youth League talk sey dem "disturbed" top Manuel ein letter, dem talk sey, "We no dey sure again who Trevor Manuel dey represent, because wetin he talk fit well-well inside de political agenda of right-wing political forces wey dey go against de ANC". Manuel ein letter too get response from Paul Ngobeni, wey write for Sunday Independent, call sey make dem sack Manuel. Ngobeni talk sey Manuel be "gangster of de worst kind", sey he dey behave like sey he be "king of Coloured people", den sey he dey try spoil President Zuma plus ein cabinet through ein "cowardly, unwarranted and racist attacks on Manyi". Later, dem suspend Ngobeni from ein work as legal adviser to Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, wey comot ein body from de letter plus "all ein contents", but he come go back work for July. 

Wey dem ask Manyi about de whole matter two years later, he talk sey, "If such honourable man like Jesus Christ, wey bring good news plus salvation, dem harm am bad on top de cross, who I be?" He still talk sey wetin he talk about Coloureds dem twist am well-well, den talk sey de way academics plus analysts wey criticize am for media no try understand ein side, e make am "lose all respect for these so-called experts".

### Retreat from de BMF: March 2011
But de ANC Youth League talk sey dem "disturbed" top Manuel ein letter, dem talk sey, "We no dey sure again who Trevor Manuel dey represent, because wetin he talk fit well-well inside de political agenda of right-wing political forces wey dey go against de ANC". Manuel ein letter too get response from Paul Ngobeni, wey write for Sunday Independent, call sey make dem sack Manuel. Ngobeni talk sey Manuel be "gangster of de worst kind", sey he dey behave like sey he be "king of Coloured people", den sey he dey try spoil President Zuma plus ein cabinet through ein "cowardly, unwarranted and racist attacks on Manyi". Later, dem suspend Ngobeni from ein work as legal adviser to Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, wey comot ein body from de letter plus "all ein contents", but he come go back work for July.

Wey dem ask Manyi about de whole matter two years later, he talk sey, "If such honourable man like Jesus Christ, wey bring good news plus salvation, dem harm am bad on top de cross, who I be?" He still talk sey wetin he talk about Coloureds dem twist am well-well, den talk sey de way academics plus analysts wey criticize am for media no try understand ein side, e make am "lose all respect for these so-called experts".

### ''Vuk'unzenzele'': March 2011
Insyd late March 2011, Manyi talk give City Press sey government go bring ein own newspaper, wey be rebranded version of de government magazine, Vuk'uzenzele, wey dem dey publish every two months. Manyi talk sey GCIS go dey publish de newspaper every month from April, den dem plan sey within one year e go turn bi-weekly. Dem plan sey dem go print between 1.7 million to 2 million copies, wey go make Vuk'unzenzele get de highest circulation for any newspaper inside de country. E go be free for all residents, den dem go publish am for all de 11 official languages. One GCIS official go edit de newspaper, den according to wetin Manyi talk, dis go solve de problem wey make government dey force to leave ein public communication role give commercial editorial control. Manyi talk sey, "De media dey censor plenty government information. Niyasivusa ukuba sizenzele [wey be Xhosa, e mean sey 'You dey wake us make we do things by ourselves']." He still talk sey, if de commercial media continue dey "censor" government, Vuk'unzenzele fit turn daily newspaper.

Manyi ein announcement bring criticism from many places. Corné Mulder, wey be leader of de opposition Freedom Front Plus, talk sey GCIS dey misuse ein power and dey violate media freedom by way of threatening sey dem go publish ANC "party-political propaganda" use public money. De South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) vex well-well top wetin Manyi talk about censorship, as dem ein deputy chairperson Raymond Louw challenge Manyi make he bring exact examples of de information dem censor.

### Advertising restructuring plan: June 2011
Insyd June 2011, some few weeks after dem announce de Vuk'unzenzele initiative and while he still dey insyd ein first six months for office, Manyi announce sey cabinet don decide sey all government media buying go dey under GCIS control. Dis mean sey GCIS go dey in charge of all de government ein R1-billion advertising budget, wey before now dey scatter across de different departments. Manyi talk sey dis centralisation go make GCIS fit "monitor and enforce adherence to de government brand" plus help dem save money by getting more value from de advertising money, as dem go direct de budget to media outlets wey go give government de highest "bang for its buck". Dat same week, he talk sey GCIS, wey dem say dem dey "forced" to find other ways to communicate government ein message, dey plan to buy plenty television airtime give national government ministers make dem fit inform de public about demma programmes.

Even though news editors mention sey government advertising be small part of de total advertising revenue, dem vex well as SANEF describe Manyi ein move as something wey no dey constitutional – sey e be like sey dem dey try force de independent press make dem dey talk good about government, something wey be like "bribery" or economic punishment. Manyi turn de accusation back give de media outlets, saying, "If de press vex, e mean sey all wey dem dey care about be government money... De media dey talk sey: ‘Government, you fit release all de press statements wey you want, but if you no pay us, we no go publish dem.’" As dem start roll out de centralisation for 2012, DA leader Mmusi Maimane accuse Manyi sey he dey build "propaganda machine" and sey he dey try "to shield de government's advertising expenditure from public scrutiny".

### Crisis insyd SANEF relations: June 2011
One big thing wey mark Manyi ein time for GCIS be how e relationship plus de press spoil well-well. For middle of 2011, Sunday Times advise Manyi sey, "you should not accept a job as cabinet's spokesman if you hate dealing with the press", while Mail & Guardian ein editorial talk sey Manyi "is increasingly reminding me of a mash-up of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four and the movie This Is Spinal Tap... Because there seems to be a desire, à la the Spinal Tap amplifier that has a volume knob that goes up to 11, to ramp up the vitriol and doublespeak when it comes to portraying 'the media' in South Africa". Tensions come reach ein highest level for June 2011, just after Manyi announce de restructuring of advertising spend plus as de wahala about de Secrecy Bill still dey go on. One meeting between SANEF and GCIS delegation for mid-June end with no agreement.

Insyd dis same time, as he appear for Radio 702 on 21 June, Manyi attack SANEF ein respected chairperson, Mondli Makhanya of Avusa Media, directly, accusing am sey he dey encourage journalists make dem dey hostile towards government through ein "cartel-like tendencies". Makhanya reply sey na Manyi himself dey cause de quick spoil of relationship between media and government, and sey e never bad like dis "even in the days of [former minister] Essop Pahad". SANEF come request urgent meeting plus Manyi ein boss, Minister Chabane, to talk about GCIS and press relationship, wey Makhanya say dey "headed for rock bottom". De National Press Club support SANEF, say, "The media fraternity is extremely concerned about Manyi's hostility", den dem call for higher authorities to step in. But Manyi talk sey de whole problem don dey long before he come GCIS.

### e-Tolls: February 2012
Insyd February 2012, as he dey talk de government ein stand on de e-tolls for Gauteng wey plenty people no dey like, Manyi tell de public sey, "This is not just a bad dream; it's a reality, it's going to happen. No one should have any illusion whatsoever that this thing is going to go away. It's a fact of life and it's going to happen". Dis ein statement stay long for people ein mind, as critics talk sey e show how rough ein communication style be. For April 2012, as Cosatu promise sey dem go do "mother of all protests" against de tolls, Manyi explain sey, "the whole process is quite simply a roll out of democracy".

### Departure: August 2012
Manyi still remain as de head of GCIS till middle of 2012, den for January of dat same year, President Zuma give am another role – he appoint am for three-year term make he join de five-person board of de Media Development and Diversity Agency. But for June, Mail & Guardian report sey Manyi ein three-year contract as director-general – dem dey count am from 2009 wey he enter Department of Labour – no go renew after e end for August.

Then on 27 August 2012, dem officially announce sey Manyi ein contract don expire, so he comot from GCIS ein office. Mail & Guardian bin talk earlier dat week sey de big restructuring plan wey Manyi propose no go through because National Treasury and Ministry insyd de Presidency block am.

### Alleged role in state capture
Sanso see: Gupta family § Media

Long after Manyi lef GCIS, ein time insyd de department – wey no even reach two years – still remain controversial. Insyd later years, GCIS come turn one of de places wey people dey mention as possible spot for state capture by de controversial Gupta family, wey people dey accuse sey dem get too much power over de Zuma administration. Manyi, wey later become worker plus loud supporter of de Guptas, dey inside some of de issues (see below), but na ein time for GCIS wey dem really investigate well for de Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture (wey people dey call de Zondo Commission). Dis commission wey dem start for 2018, include one order sey make dem look into all de wrong ways wey government take give advertising contracts to de New Age, de Gupta ein newspaper wey dem start for 2010 wey dey support government.

One main point wey people focus on be de way Manyi take enter GCIS for 2011, wey push commot ein respected predecessor, Themba Maseko, wey later talk true about de state capture matter. For July 2019, former President Zuma tell de Zondo Commission sey dem remove Maseko because e get wahala between am and former Minister insyd de Presidency, Collins Chabane, wey die for 2015. But Maseko say Zuma no dey talk true, den commission chairperson Raymond Zondo support am, talk sey Chabane give Maseko very high performance score (114%) just before dem remove am. Maseko say na Zuma sack am because he no gree help direct government ein advertising money go de New Age newspaper. Sana, GCIS deputy director-general Phumla Williams talk sey how dem take move from Maseko to Manyi be de fastest she ever see for government work, say Manyi even ask make dem introduce am to ein new staff before Maseko self commot ein office.

So for de commission, dem tell Manyi sey dem put am for GCIS because dem believe sey unlike Maseko, he go gree direct de advertising money go New Age. Dem show sey New Age get too much government advertising contracts wey no match ein circulation; for 2011/2012 financial year, dem get R8.7 million from government, but three big newspapers – City Press, de Star, and Sunday Times – each get less than R200,000. Williams still talk sey Manyi change how GCIS dey do media procurement, make am be sey na only am go dey approve tenders instead of de department ein bid adjudication committee, plus sey de media-buying division den de internal audit unit go dey report straight to am.

#### Testimony to de Zondo Commission
Wen Manyi take give ein testimony to de Zondo Commission insyd 2018 den 2019, he talk say all de accusations no be true. He talk sey na because de bid committee den Williams demma name come insyd procurement wahala make he break down de bid committee den remove Williams from overseeing internal audit. He still challenge how de commission dey go about de issue, say he no fit talk why dem hire am for GCIS, den he add, "I was a pawn in the process. Why are you calling a pawn? Why don't you call the people who were playing the chess?" Manyi talk say de commission for look de thing broad, say, "that actually there has never been a time in which the state has not been captured"; he suggest sey na white monopoly capital capture de state before de Gupta people, den dem be de ones wey even cause de Gupta empire ein fall. By dat time, Manyi be de owner of de collapsed New Age newspaper, den he talk say de newspaper no be tool for state capture, but rather e dey threaten de white media monopoly demma interest, den sey dem, plus National Treasury, na dem wey build “this monster called the Guptas” as distraction story.

#### Zondo Commission findings
De Zondo Commission, for de first part of demma final report wey dem release insyd January 2022, talk clear sey dem no agree plus wetin Mzwanele Manyi take defend einself based on wetin e do when he be Chief Executive Officer for de Government Communication den Information System (GCIS). De commission talk sey how dem take put Manyi for GCIS be one of de first steps wey show sey de Gupta family start capture de state. Dem show sey he "cooperated with the Guptas" den he no fit explain why big money from government advertising go land for The New Age, wey be newspaper wey de Gupta family get. Because of dis, de commission call Manyi "facilitator" of state capture, den talk sey under ein leadership GCIS be "enabler" of all de corruption wey link to how de Gupta family take control de Zuma government (Zondo Commission, 2022).

Manyi come vex rough give de commission ein findings, say all be "rubbish" den no get any good proof. He talk sey de commission just talk all dat because later he be de spokesperson for former President Jacob Zuma, wey he call "the most-hated person" for South Africa. Manyi believe sey de real "crime" wey dem dey use against am be sey he get link plus Zuma, no be sey he do any bad thing when he dey GCIS. He say dem just turn de state capture story to make am look bad purposely (Manyi, 2018–2019; Mail & Guardian, 2022).

## Return to activism: 2013–present
Manyi comot from de BMF presidency for October 2012, just two months after he lef GCIS; Shell SA ein Bonang Mohale take de position after am without any challenger. But Manyi still dey well-known insyd plenty oda civil society organisations, for de media top, plus as person wey dey tweet plenty. He still run ein own investment company wey dem dey call Afrotone.

### ''Straight Talk'' den de Guptas
InsydAugust 2013, de Gupta brothers start ANN7, wey be joint business between demma Oakbay Investments plus India ein Essel Media. Still dat same month, ANN7 talk sey Manyi go host one weekly interview programme, Straight Talk, for de channel top, wey go show every Saturday afternoon, wey go clash plus de time wey oda channels dey show sports. De slogan for de show be "No comment is not an option". Manyi talk sey ANN7 na dem come find am: "Dem dey look for person wey fresh den bold wey fit handle different den hard matters." But for 2018, former ANN7 editor Rajesh Sundaram write for ein tell-all book sey na President Zuma talk make dem employ Manyi as presenter, even though he "failed miserably" during de interview for de job.

Wen he still dey work for ANN7 plus after he comot from there, Manyi defend de Gupta brothers for media top plenty times. Ferial Haffajee, even though she praise Manyi as "one of de main people wey build de modern [black economic] empowerment laws" plus "fine talker for empowerment matter", still talk sey he be "clearly one of de Gupta ein lieutenants or stooges"; Palesa Morudu talk sey de main thing wey Manyi dey do be to act like one person wey dey cover up for de Guptas. For 2017, de Gupta Leaks show sey, for 2014, Manyi send ein own CV plus de CV of one old workmate, Xoliswa Mpongoshe, go give de Guptas, like sey he dey expect dem go help dem get job, maybe for some board of one government company. Mpongoshe talk sey na so e be. Manyi talk sey he no remember anything about de emails, den later tell CapeTalk sey nothing wrong dey inside dem.

### Government posts
Insyd May 2013, dem appoint Manyi as one senior manager for Rand Water, wey be public water company, make he handle strategy matter. By July 2014, dem still add am go de National Communications Task Team, wey be advisory panel wey Minister of Communications by den, Faith Muthambi, create. He still dey serve as board member for de Media Development and Diversity Agency until October 2014, wey dem appoint am as special adviser to Minister Muthambi. He do de Ministry job plus de Rand Water job at de same time. But ein comot from de communications ministry no come show clear until October 2016: just after he defend Hlaudi Motsoeneng of SABC, wey dem talk sey lie about ein certificate, Minister Muthambi ein office come release statement wey talk sey "Manyi no be adviser to de Minister of Communications again, so he no dey talk for de Ministry".

Insyd November 2017, just one week after Sunday Times report sey Manyi send ein CV go give de Guptas, former Minister of Public Service and Administration Ngoako Ramatlhodi talk to de same newspaper sey for 2016, he block one move wey Mosebenzi Zwane, wey be minister wey dem link plus de Guptas, try make to hire Manyi as director-general for de Department of Mineral Resources. Later, Ramatlhodi tell de Zondo Commission sey he believe sey dem sack am from cabinet for early 2017 partly because he no gree approve Manyi ein appointment.

### Civil society platforms

#### Progressive Professionals Forum
Insyd 2013, Manyi become de first president of one new organisation, wey dem call de Progressive Professionals Forum (PPF). De PPF no hide sey dem dey linked to de ANC – even though dem talk sey dem no be direct part of de party – dem talk sey dem mission be to represent professionals plus intellectual people wey dey support ANC ein policies plus agenda. De founding secretary-general, Siphile Buthelezi, talk sey "we be de ones wey benefit from ANC-led government policies den now e time to give back". Insyd 2017, after DA ein David Maynier ask for parliament, government come disclose sey two state companies – Eskom plus Transnet – give R840,000 as donations to de PPF.

From ein PPF platform, Manyi still dey talk loud loud for dis wey dem dey call radical economic transformation. For January 2017, Manyi talk sey de PPF "no dey convinced" about de good side of constitutional democracy den dem support make people start dey talk about possible change go pure majoritarian democracy under parliamentary sovereignty. People no take am easy when Manyi talk sey de South African Constitution be something wey Afrikaner Broederbond bring during de time wey dem dey move from apartheid, den say dem benefit from constitutional democracy sake of sey e dey limit wetin democratic government fit do to change de economy structurally. Manyi repeat dis same argument plenty times, den for March 2017, he talk sey ANC ein policies, like de Public Finance Management system, dem "infiltrate" am den now e dey work for white monopoly capital. One example wey some newspaper writers laugh am be when Manyi talk against de 2017 tax increase for people wey dey earn de highest (around 105,000 people), say de heavy income tax for money above R1.5 million dey help white monopoly capital den e dey do harm to de black middle class.

Manyi too be de one wey lead de PPF dem strong strong opposition to de Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment Bill, wey dem do to upgrade de anti-money laundering rules make e match wetin international people dey expect. Manyi talk sey de bill no dey fair to de ANC ein black donors, say dem go suffer as politically exposed persons. He warn sey de bill dangerous, e go "enslave" businesspeople, den e go make ANC "broke as hell". Cyril Ramaphosa wey dey inside ANC come talk sey de party no dey follow PPF for dis kind thinking, den say ANC no dey take laundered donations at all.

One time too, PPF come separate demself from wetin ein president Manyi talk. Insyd end of April 2017, Manyi talk for press sey e no dey worry sey people dey see am as person wey dey support Guptas, because Guptas never guilty for anything, only say dem try challenge white monopoly capital. As Manyi talk am, "I am not Guptaphobic, and I would like people to be cured of that disease". But PPF come release statement sey dem no agree sey Guptaphobia be real problem, den dem strong strong against anybody or group wey dey involved for state capture.

#### Black Business Council
Manyi too dey active insyd de Black Business Council (BBC), den for de end of September 2016, dem elect am as de council ein head of policy, wey he serve under BBC president Danisa Baloyi. For December dat same year, Sunday Times publish some reports wey Manyi deny, say de BBC ein membership committee push am go one side after he suggest sey de Guptas dem Oakbay Resources go give R5-million donation make dem get corporate membership for de council.

Manyi no last long for de policy position, as he comot for de post for end of March 2017, just six months later. Even though Business Day talk sey dem force am make he resign because of ein connection plus de Guptas, Manyi talk sey he dey leave make he fit concentrate on ein other duties, especially to help launch de youth den student wings of de PPF. He still remain as member for de BBC national council through ein role as PPF representative.

#### Decolonisation Foundation
For broader coverage of de Bell Pottinger campaign, see White monopoly capital.

Last last, insyd August 2016, Manyi form de Mzwanele Manyi Decolonisation Foundation. Not long after dem start am, de foundation begin report plenty formal complaints against public people wey pipol dey see say dem no dey favour de Guptas. Among other tins, de foundation beg de Public Protector make dem investigate three former finance ministers – Trevor Manuel, Pravin Gordhan plus Nhlanhla Nene – say dem no do dema work well about how dem take approve some suspicious tenders for de building of Medupi den Kusile power stations. Manyi still talk say he go report AngloGold Ashanti plus ein chairman, Sipho Pityana, because Pityana call make business leaders stand up against de ANC den force Zuma comot from office.

Insyd March 2017, when Sunday Times publish dem exposé about one fake news campaign wey dey support de Guptas, wey British company Bell Pottinger plan, de newspaper talk say dem see leaked documents wey show say Manyi ein Decolonisation Foundation plus Andile Mngxitama ein Black First Land First either start or get money from Bell Pottinger as part of de campaign. One report wey come after talk say Sunday Times call Manyi one of de "real-life commanders of de Guptas' fake news army", say ein Twitter account be one of 19 original accounts wey join bot accounts push pro-Zuma den pro-Gupta message for social media. Manyi deny any direct link or money from Bell Pottinger.

### Media acquisitions
Insyd 21 August 2017, de Guptas demma Oakbay Investments announce say dem sell dema two media companies – Infinity Media wey dey run de broadcaster ANN7, plus TNA Media wey dey operate de newspaper *the New Age* – give Lodidox, one company wey Manyi be de only shareholder. De R450-million deal get Oakbay support through one vendor-financing agreement. Dis deal cause big reaction, mostly because of how dem arrange de money matter, plus because de price – R300 million for ANN7 den R150 million for *the New Age* – people talk say e be too high. Some people talk say Manyi just dey front for de Guptas, maybe to make de media companies look better to banks – since de banks dem close de accounts recently after de state capture scandal – or maybe to help dem do money laundering. Manyi deny all dis talk hard.

Manyi talk say de media companies go still continue dem old plan to do business plus government for adverts, say, "I go dey knock government doors with no shame because dem dey talk about radical economic transformation, so I go tell dem: 'Make you stand by wetin you talk'." For April 2018, he announce one "strategic decision" make de companies shift from dem old owners by changing name – ANN7 turn Afro Worldview, den *the New Age* turn Afro Voice; he still talk say he don pay all ein vendor debt give Oakbay Investments after dem reduce de amount through new agreement. ANN7 still try get new broadcasting contract after Multichoice talk say dem go remove de channel for August 2018 because of de channel ein part inside "controversies".

Insyd June 2018, Afro Voice workers tell de press say de newspaper no dey do again, den for July, Manyi go apply make dem close de newspaper business. Inside de court papers, Manyi talk say de newspaper ein money wey e dey get drop because government contracts cancel plus people get bad mind about de Guptas, den de work self spoil because VBS Mutual Bank, wey be de bank wey dey keep de newspaper demma operational accounts, collapse. Afro Worldview stop to show for TV de next month; Manyi no gree talk anything about "Afro Worldview business on any issue whatsoever".

### Jacob Zuma Foundation
Insyd June 2021, former President Zuma ein daughter, Dudu Zuma-Sambudla, announce say Manyi get new work as official spokesman for ein poppie plus de Jacob G. Zuma Foundation. Zuma wey dem comot am from presidency for 2018, dey face new corruption case, and Manyi ein work be to talk Zuma ein "side of the story" for court plus any other matter.

## Political affiliations

### African Transformation Movement: 2019–2023
Before, Manyi be member of de ruling African National Congress (ANC), but for January 2019, he announce say he dey join de African Transformation Movement (ATM), a party wey dem form for 2018 wey later come close to people wey dey support Zuma plus dis wey dem dey call radical economic transformation. For de press conference wey he take talk dis matter, Manyi talk say de ANC dey "sabotage" demself, especially as e no dey show say e serious to do land expropriation without compensation plus other change plans. ATM ein leader, Vuyolwethu Zungula, talk say de party no get problem plus Manyi ein past, say:We wan transform society. We no fit just dey work plus only de most clean people. We no fit push person wey wan help develop South Africa... [Manyi] ein character change, ein language change, because de work of ATM be to transform minds. De thing show pass for Manyi ein own case.Manyi ein recruitment to ATM come after one failed attempt wey he try form ein own movement, wey be de All Africa Decolonisation Congress (AADC), wey dem start for December 2018. De next day after he announce say he dey join ATM, AADC come release one statement wey talk say dem feel say dem for "distance ourselves from Mzwanele Jimmy Manyi and all his fraudulent activities", especially as Manyi get plans make AADC join hand plus ATM. For de statement insiyd, AADC ein Edward Mokomele talk say he come notice say "Manyi and ATM leadership dey launder money through de party", through churches wey support dem, den he add say Manyi meet plus de Guptas abroad to talk about how dem go fund AADC. Manyi talk say he go sue for defamation and talk say, "AADC na my own creation, my own party and I go prove am by shutting it down".

Before dis, Manyi bin be ATM ein national executive committee member plus de party ein head of policy. Again, insyd de 2019 general election, he stand as ATM candidate for de National Assembly, but as dem put am 14th for ATM ein party list, he no win seat.

### Economic Freedom Fighters: 2023–2024
Insyd May 2023, before de next year ein general election, Manyi announce say he dey leave ATM to join Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), wey be anoda opposition party. He talk say he dey leave ATM in peace, den he hope say he go fit act as bridge between de two parties. He explain say, as EFF get bigger pass ATM, "I have decided that I can serve South Africa better in an organization like the EFF". Insyd 6 June 2023, news come report say EFF don choose Manyi make he represent de party for de National Assembly. He take ein oath de next day for ceremony wey Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula preside over.

### MK Party 15 August 2024 to present
For middle August 2024, Mzwanele Manyi resign from Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). For Monday, 12 August 2024, Manyi submit ein resignation from EFF, den dis decision quickly follow by resignation of former EFF Deputy President Floyd Shivambu for Thursday, 15 August 2024. Julius Malema, EFF ein leader, announce de news of demma resignation for press conference wey happen Friday dat same week.

Even though de timing of de resignations look like say dem plan am together, Manyi clarify say he no know about Shivambu ein plan to resign, den he express surprise say e happen like dat. After he leave EFF, Manyi join former President Jacob Zuma ein new MK Party. Dis move show say Manyi still dey align plus Zuma ein political ideology.

Dem appoint Manyi as de party ein Chief Whip, before dem sack am for May 2025.

## Personal life
Manyi dey popularly known as Jimmy until around 2015, wey he start dey use de name Mzwanele. According to Manyi, he talk say he make dis change during de Rhodes Must Fall protest for 2015, de same day wey dem pull down de statue of Cecil Rhodes for University of Cape Town. Now he reject de name totally as matter of decolonial principle, den he talk give Sunday Times for 2017:De only reason why dem dey call me 'Jimmy' be say na for work purposes, make e easy for white man to fit call me for work. So e no different from slave name, because de master go struggle call Mzwanele. Now wey I be my own master, I dey feel very offended if you dey insist make you still dey use 'Jimmy', because I go feel say you dey enslave me.He marry Nomaphelo, wey dem dey call Stella too, around 1985, den dem get three children together. He be lay preacher for Bantu Church of Christ.

## References



## External links

* Mr Mzwanele Jimmy Manyi at People's Assembly
* 2015 interview with News24