Molefe's obstructions explained, Sans Souci pair in court, Trump-Kim dinner begins

[Click here for the web version of this email]( [Daily Maverick] Wednesday, 27 February 2019 While You Were Working [Brian Molefe's Optimum obstruction]( Speaking at the Zondo Commission today, Glencore's former CEO Clinton Ephron has revealed how Eskom's former CEO Brian "not a real colonel" Molefe intentionally blocked a deal with Optimum coal in order to back it into financial vulnerability, thereby allowing the Guptas, laying in wait, to snap it up. If you thought Eskom could not have been managed any worse, [take a read]( and plumb the depths of the power supplier's ineptitude. [Pakistan bans Bollywood films]( As the Indo-Pakistan crisis ratchets up, Pakistan has opted to ban all Bollywood film screenings in the country. Pakistan confirmed today that it had banned the popular genre in the same breath as it confirmed the shooting down of two Indian aircraft and the capture of a pilot. The Indian-termed "non-military pre-emptive action" is looking decidedly military in action right about now. — [Sans Souci teacher appears in court]( The teacher charged with assaulting a Sans Souci student had appeared at the Wynberg Magistrate's Court today. The teacher appeared in a closed court session at the same time as the pupil, who is facing the same charge for allegedly assaulting said teacher. Both have been suspended from the school. [Trump and Kim begin dinner talks]( President Donald Trump and Dear Leader Kim Jong-un have kicked off their talks with a one-on-one meeting. The pair are meeting in Hanoi to discuss North Korea's nuclear disarmament. The dinner at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel could also include a range of other topics, including declaring a technical end to the Korean War. — [Sick Of Watching Your Money Be Sucked Into The Abyss?]( Put it where it can really make a difference. As bad as the budget is, it would have been much worse if Tom Moyane was still at the helm of SARS. Moyane and his cronies bequeathed South Africa with a R48 billion tax shortfall, as of February 2018. It's the only thing that grew under Moyane's tenure...the year before the hole was R30.7 billion. Scorpio investigations helped to flush them out of the system. Moyane, Makwakwa...the lot of them...gone. Every day, we're making a material difference to South Africa whether it's through our investigations or by adding members to our editorial team in the fight to Defend Truth. Maverick Insider contributions are making all this happen. [Sign up today and make your money]( work for your country. Wouldn't that be a nice change? — Featured Articles [Brian Molefe blocked Optimum Coal’s life-saving Eskom deal, says witness]( [Brian Molefe blocked Optimum Coal’s life-saving Eskom deal, says witness]( BY Jessica Bezuidenhout [Ekurhuleni: Struggling communities pin their hopes on Ramaphosa’s generous promises that things will change]( [Ekurhuleni: Struggling communities pin their hopes on Ramaphosa’s generous promises that things will change]( BY Ayanda Mthethwa [The curious, agonising, perplexing case of the ANC vs Robert McBride]( [The curious, agonising, perplexing case of the ANC vs Robert McBride]( BY Marianne Thamm Opinionistas [All courts, including the highest, must be subject to careful public scrutiny]( BY Professor Balthazar [Beware of wobbly legislative pillars aimed at constructing electoral majorities]( BY Susan Booysen [FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO A FRIEND]( Copyright © 2019 Daily Maverick, All rights reserved. You are receiving this mail because you are awesome and on the Daily Maverick Afternoon Thing subscriber list. Want to advertise in this mail? [Talk to us.](mailto:advertise@dailymaverick.co.za?subject=Advertising%20query%3A%20Afternoon%20Thing) [Getting too many emails from us? Manage your preferences]( | [Unsubscribe](