89-630: The Cape Argus is a daily newspaper co-founded in 1857 by Saul Solomon and published by Sekunjalo in Cape Town , South Africa . It is commonly referred to as The Argus . Although not the first English-language newspaper in South Africa, the Cape Argus was the first locally to use the telegraph for news gathering. As of 2012, the Argus had a daily readership of 294000, according to
178-523: A " negrophile " – an intended insult that he in fact accepted with considerable pride, and he went on to push even further for social reform (for example repealing the discriminatory Contagious Diseases Act ). Starting in 1874, the British Secretary of State for the Colonies , Lord Carnarvon , having federated Canada, began an ill-fated plan to impose the same system of confederation on
267-676: A 25% share. The purchase of the South African-based media group from Independent News and Media was concluded in August 2013 for €150-million (R2 billion). Sekunjalo Independent Media's 55% purchase of INMSA was largely funded by a loan from the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) and Government Employees Pension Fund. In 2019 Sekunjalo claimed that the PIC and Sekunjalo had come to an amicable agreement for
356-607: A Ministry together for one week if Mr Solomon was in it; and no cabinet could do without him." The eastern part of the Cape Colony had a long-running separatist movement, consisting of a portion of white settlers (the "Easterners"), led by parliamentarian John Paterson of Port Elizabeth , who resented the rule of the Cape Town parliament and wanted stricter labour laws to encourage the Xhosa to leave their lands and work on
445-526: A bitter, mournful fallacy. The French encyclopaedists were all wrong, these ideas are utter nonsense. His progressive views on equal rights extended to gender relations (for his marriage ceremony he asked that his wife should not have to vow to "obey" him), religion (he never officially renounced his Judaism, but he abhorred sectarian attitudes and attended churches as often as synagogues) and class (he asked his employees and household servants to simply call him "Saul"). In 1873 he met Georgiana Margaret Thomson ,
534-415: A bout of rickets , had left him with badly stunted legs. When standing, this made him so short that he needed to stand on a chair to be seen when addressing Parliament. His physical condition was particularly drawn attention to by his very high-pitched voice, as well as by the frequent presence by his side of his friend and political ally Molteno, who was unusually tall, and the image of the two men together
623-586: A debt-for-shares swop in 2018, while other sources reported that a large proportion of the PIC's investment in Sekunjalo were written off . The South African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU) has sued Sekunjalo Independent Media in the Western Cape High Court for failing to repay a loan of ZAR 150 million plus interest in aid of funding the purchase of the company from Tony O'Reiley . The PIC has also filed an application asking
712-551: A fishing licence at the time when the contract was awarded. On 5 December 2013, the South African Public Protector released its report on accusations that the contract to manage South Africa's fleet of fishing patrol vessels was improperly handled and awarded to Sekunjalo's Marine Service Consortium. The report found that the awarding of the R800 million a year contract was improper and did not comply with
801-492: A hate comment article agaisnt journalist Karyn Maughan. Surve's posts on X (formerly known as Twitter) were found to have compounded the harm to Maughan, where he had referred to her as a dog. In 2023, Independent Media issued retrenchment notices to its staff for the fifth time since Sekunjalo's purchase of the news organisation. By October, at least a third of staff were let go off and the company failed to pay severance packages on time and instead issued grocery vouchers to
890-822: A perceived attack on press freedom, several organizations have issued statements of support for Dasnois and of concern over editorial independence at the Cape Times . These include Index on Censorship , the International Federation of Journalists , the SA Centre for PEN International , the SA National Editors Forum , the Freedom of Expression Institute, and the Right2Know campaign. In September 2014 Dasnois filed papers in
979-508: A sharp fall in net assets in December 2023 following the unbundling of AYO Technology Solutions and an alleged cybercrime hit with ZAR 15 million being transferred out of a subsidiary company's bank accounts. According to AEEI, the crime was reported to SAPS and one or more employees may face criminal charges. AEEI and its former subsidiary AYO Technology Solutions, both subsidiaries of Sekunjalo Investment Holdings, faced suspension from
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#17327872145901068-509: A story that Dasnois's lawyer claims sought to accuse Dasnois of being disrespectful to Mandela. In January 2015 the company and its director Iqbal Survé were accused of pro- African National Congress (ANC) political bias in how they operated Independent News and Media SA and its subsidiary newspapers such as the Cape Times. Although there had been lingering concerns over press freedom at Independent Media following Skunjalo's acquisition of
1157-568: A token translator job with the Argus. Solomon emerged from these attacks financially damaged, but largely victorious. The government, frantically cutting back on core infrastructure to avoid bankruptcy from its war expenses, became increasingly unpopular. When its British backers were recalled to London to face charges of misconduct, the Sprigg government fell. Physically, Solomon was partially disabled. Childhood poverty and ill health, aggravated by
1246-652: Is a privately owned and separately controlled segment company that is not directly related to the publicly listed African Equity Empowerment Investments segment of the Sekunjalo Investments parent company, however, Independent Media employees were transferred to the payroll of the JSE-listed AYO Technology Solutions, a subsidiary of both Sekunjalo Investment Holdings and AEEI. Sekunjalo holds 55% ownership of Cape Town-based Independent News and Media South Africa (INMSA) with
1335-510: Is without doubt the ablest man South Africa has produced. Without his support few Ministers could hold office for long. He is the most remarkable statesman in the Cape. It is he who can pull the wires and bring Jack's house tumbling down about his ears whenever he likes. An able debater, a splendid fighter, an energetic, consistent, upright man, he deserves all honour and praise. He has led a life of steadfast consistency, and has conferred benefits upon
1424-489: The Cape Colony , a British colony in what is now South Africa. Solomon was an important member of the movement for responsible government and an opponent of Lord Carnarvon 's Confederation scheme . Saul Solomon was born on the island of St Helena on 25 May 1817. Although his family were St Helenan, they had close links to Cape Town. Saul spent his first years at a Jewish children's home in England, where he suffered from
1513-471: The Government Gazette , but also took on the parliamentary and stationery contracts. This was principally because it was the only printing company at the time which had the resources and management to reliably fulfill these contracts. It expanded considerably to 200 employees, 8 manual presses and 10 steam-powered presses by 1878. The Argus editor (from 1864 until 1872) Sir Thomas Ekins Fuller
1602-559: The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) due to both companies' failure to submit their annual financial statements. AYO was previously fined for 6.5 million rand by the JSE. In February 2024, AEEI shareholders unanimously voted to delist from the JSE. The final day of trading AEEI shares was set to 9 April 2024. Five directors and former directors of AEEI and AYO Technology Solutions have been fined and censured by
1691-598: The Public Investment Corporation Commission (aka as the PIC or Mpati Commission) which was chaired by retired Judge Lex Mpati . The commission was set up to investigate allegations of impropriety regarding the Public Investment Corporation . There were accusations that PIC executives bypassed normal processes to invest R4.3 billion of public money into Sekunjalo Investments subsidiary company AYO Technology Solutions. The Companies and Intellectual Properties Commission (CIPC) instructed
1780-484: The South African Labour Court for unfair dismissal and for breach of contract. In May 2016 Sekunjalo reached an agreement with Dasnois to settle out of court and issued a statement that acknowledged that Dasnois did not show disrespect to Mandela's legacy and neither was her conduct in any way motivated by racism. Shortly after releasing this statement the Sekunjalo owned Cape Times newspaper ran
1869-569: The Zulus , and the future British Emperors, Princes Edward and George . In 1881 the eldest daughter drowned – as did the governess who tried to rescue the child. Solomon's health declined and he withdrew from public life, even handing his business over to his nephews. Saul retired from public life, and the family moved to Bedford in England in 1888, where their sons attended Bedford School . He retired from public life completely in 1883 due to poor health and moved to Kilcreggan , Scotland, in 1888. It
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#17327872145901958-480: The "new and impatient imperialism" which motivated it. As an alternative, Solomon proposed a looser system of federation, whereby the Cape could preserve its multi-racial franchise. Another proposed alternative was the "Molteno Plan" of the Cape Government , which advocated complete union instead of confederation, but with the Cape's constitution (including the multi-racial franchise) extended and imposed on
2047-514: The Cape, the reactionary and pro-British views of Murray and Darnell became increasingly unpopular and alienated the Cape Argus readership. Saul Solomon, as MP for Cape Town, had also become the most powerful figure in the new Cape Parliament . Eventually, in 1859–62, Murray and Darnell sold their remaining shares and departed for the Transvaal. Saul Solomon, now the sole owner of the Cape Argus from 1863, through Saul Solomon & Co. , threw
2136-574: The City of Cape Town's subscription to that publication. In the same report the Cape Times rejected any accusation that it or any Sekunjalo owned publication was reporting unfairly towards any opposition political party. In 2012, prior to the purchase of Independent Media South Africa, Sekunjalo entered into an agreement with the Gupta family (a family best known for their relationship with ANC president Jacob Zuma ) owned Oakbay Investments to purchase 50% of
2225-554: The Competition Tribunal dismissed Sekunjalo's application for an extension of a 2022 interim order seeking to disallow the banks from closing Sekunjalo companies' accounts. Sekunjalo's claim that the banks acted in collusion was shot down by the tribunal. This followed a July 2023 Competition Appeal Court (CAC) ruling that found the Competition Tribunal had erred in granting an extension in the first place. The matter remains unresolved as Sekunjalo has vowed to appeal
2314-541: The JSE after a six-year stint on Africa's largest stock exchange. This followed the sale by the government-controlled PIC of its entire 20% stake in Premier Fishing back to the company at a steep loss. In October 2023, AEEI announced its intention to delist citing "costs and administrative burden associated with a listing" no longer being warranted following the sale of its stake in former subsidiary and sister company AYO Technology Solutions. AEEI announced
2403-559: The JSE's listing requirements. Khalid Abdulla was censured and fined two million rand for breaching listing requirements and for instructing a fellow director to adjust amounts in AYO's interim results. Abdulla appealed the censure but a judge of the High Court dismissed the appeal. Abdulla's fine was reduced to 1.2 million rand and he resigned as chairman and director of AYO Technology Solutions. Sekunjalo Independent Media Consortium
2492-455: The JSE, including Survé's brother-in-law Khalid Abdulla. The first to be censured were Mbuso Khosa and Telang Ntsasa who served on AYO's Audit and Risk Committee. Khosa and Ntsasa were censured and banned from serving as JSE directors for publishing false and misleading annual financial statements. Abdul Malick Salie and Naahied Gamieldien, who both served as AYO's CFO at different times, were publicly censured and fined 250 000 rand for breaching
2581-465: The Koegas trial judge asking him to publish the information, and detailing the brutal violence of the murders and the racism which had prevented justice being done. "Fiat Justitia" ultimately turned out to have been Mr D.P. Faure, who had served as the Koegas court interpreter. Faure was driven from his official career by the Sprigg government, but Solomon later sought out the unemployed Faure and gave him
2670-450: The Navy could not properly maintain the fleet of six patrol vessels and issued an emergency tender to Nautic SA and Damen Shipyards. On 5 December 2013 former president and struggle hero of South Africa Nelson Mandela passed away . Most newspapers in South Africa, and major international newspaper titles dedicated their front pages to coverage of Mandela's death. Except for Die Burger and
2759-725: The PIC to recoup to recoup the R4.3 billion investment it made into AYO Technology Solutions in 2017 by issuing a Compliance Notice against the board of directors of the Public Investment Corporation (PIC). The notice was declared unlawful by Judge Cornelius van der Westhuizen at the North Gauteng High Court as the PIC was not given a hearing before the issuance of the Compliance Notice. The PIC Commission of Inquiry Report does not have
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2848-580: The Public Investment Corporation. The banks' decision in this regard has been fought vehemently by the Sekunjalo Group, most notably by means of a lawsuit in the country's Equality Court, which challenges the discriminatory tactics and dominance of the largest banks in South African's banking sector. Sekunjalo and Survé have been accused of using newspapers owned by Independent Media and their online news website Independent Online to attack
2937-603: The Public Protector's report highlighting irregularities in the awarding of the Sekunjalo Marine Services Consortium tender. The same day, the newspaper's editor, Alide Dasnois , was dismissed from her post by Iqbal Survé, executive chairman of Sekunjalo Investments. One of the stated reasons by Survé for Dasnois's dismissal was that Mandela's death was not on the front page of the Cape Times. Sekunjalo Investments threatened to sue
3026-645: The Public Protector. To investigate allegation of improper awards of this tender by the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries. That "the company had submitted four separate bids under different company and consortium names, which were all accompanied by Sekunjalo’s 2010 annual report." Additional concerns were raised over possible conflict of interests that neither the company nor the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries adequately addressed over one of its holdings, Premier Fishing, also having
3115-409: The Sekunjalo owned Cape Times which instead led with a special edition that wrapped around the regular edition covering Mandela's death that was regarded by TIME magazine as one of the best covers from around the world on the event. On 6 December 2013, the day after Mandela's death and at the same time other publications were covering the event, the Cape Times led with a front-page article on
3204-503: The South African Department of Science and Technology 's research innovation centre. In April 2015, Sekunjalo Investments Limited (SIL) was renamed, African Equity Empowerment Investments (AEEI) to avoid confusion with its parent company, Sekunjalo Investment Holdings (SIH). SIH became a privately held company whilst AEEI took Sekunjalo's publicly traded status on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) trading under
3293-565: The South African Advertising Research Foundation's All Media Products Survey (Amps) Newspaper Readership and Trends. Its circulation for the first quarter of 2013 was 33247. Jermaine Craig is the executive editor of the Cape Argus . He replaced Gasant Abarder, who resigned in early 2013 to take up a post at Primedia in the Western Cape. The Cape Argus was founded on 3 January 1857, by
3382-514: The Sprigg government, ultimately targeting Solomon, whom it tried to link the pamphlets too. Although it was never proven that McLoughlin even authored the pamphlets in question (and Solomon believed he had not), the trial and related pressures caused McLoughlin to resign (he shot himself a few years later). The Sprigg party failed however, to bring Solomon himself down. The following year, Solomon's enemies had another opportunity. The Argus printed reports of racism and miscarriage of justice regarding
3471-503: The allegation that submitting four tenders under the Sekunjalo Group constitute collusive tendering. Therefore, Sekunjalo was cleared of charges of collusion and corruption, the Public Protector referred the matter to the Competition Commission. The Competition Commission found that there was no collusive bidding by four entities of the Sekunjalo Group when they each put in a bid for an R800 million tender. The contract
3560-471: The backdrop of the wider "Confederation wars" that now swept southern Africa, Sprigg began to institute a more discriminatory policy towards the Cape's Black African citizens, leading to revolts and further conflicts like the Basuto Gun War . Although Saul Solomon had initially agreed to accept Sprigg's new government, its discriminatory policies immediately brought down his strongest criticism, which
3649-668: The banking sector as well as to publish articles biased in favour of Survé against the banks. On 18 December 2023 , the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that Nedbank’s decision to terminate Sekunjalo’s banking services was not based on unfair racial discrimination and that Sekunjalo Group had not provided any evidence in that regard on a prima facie basis. Sekunjalo appealed to the Constitutional Court, which in September 2024 announced that Sekunjalo's appeal
Cape Argus - Misplaced Pages Continue
3738-485: The colony, which must earn for his name the unswerving veneration of generations of South Africans yet to come. He secured for the Cape the boon of representative institutions, he stimulated her energies in all matters educational, and that grand educational establishment, the South African College, is vastly his debtor. He has been ever foremost in making every effort to provide for suitable instruction for
3827-676: The company any longer. Karima Brown, the Chief Content Officer of Independent Media replied to Du Preez's resignation letter by rejecting accusations of political bias, as their publications still feature a number of articles critical of the ANC government, claimed that Du Preez had inaccurately accused Schabir Shaik and President Jacob Zuma of pursuing a corrupt relationship, and that Du Preez and those who have supported him were motivated by racism. Opposition leader Helen Zille stated that Skunjalo's operation of Independent media
3916-462: The company partly due to the 2014 firing of Cape Times editor Alide Dasnois and partly due to Survé's close relationship with the ANC the catalyst for the accusation was "group Executive Editor Karima Brown and Editor of Opinion and Analysis Vukani Mde's decision to wear ANC colours at an ANC rally." The accusations were first made by former Independent News columnist Max du Preez in his open resignation letter as reasons for his refusal to work for
4005-563: The court to liquidate Sekunjalo Independent Media. Survé has been accused of editorial interference at Independent Media and of using transformation to remove credible journalists and editors to replace them with others who write favourably about him and his businesses. In August 2024, the Press Council found that Independent Media newspapers and news website IOL were being used to advance Sekunjalo's corporate interests. The ruling that ordered IOL to publiush an apology and remove
4094-507: The daily running of the Argus . In 1880, he retired completely, after the tragic drowning of his 5-year-old daughter, which caused a collapse in his health. When his sons then mismanaged the business, Solomon took back the beleaguered company and sold it to his editor Dormer, in 1881 (though Solomon continued the actual printing work for him). Dormer then formed the Argus Printing and Publishing Company from it in 1886, when he acquired
4183-483: The decisions in the Constitutional Court. In December 2011 a Sekunjalo subsidiary, Sekunjalo Marine Services Consortium, was awarded an R800 million (equivalent to roughly US$ 98 million in 2011) tender for the crewing, management and maintenance of the research and fisheries patrol services. On 19 February 2012, Mr Pieter van Dalen, the Democratic Alliance member of parliament, lodged a complaint with
4272-412: The department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries supply-chain management requirements. The Public Protector found that the head of the department's tender evaluation had been "irrational, biased and improper" in its awarding of the bid to Sekunjalo. In the final report, the Public Protector was unable to find any improper maladministration by the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries on
4361-458: The dominant National Party during the Apartheid years. In August 2013, Sekunjalo purchased Independent News and Media SA from Independent News and Media . Not long after, editor Chris Whitfield took early retirement, a decision blamed on editorial interference by the new ownership. Saul Solomon Saul Solomon (25 May 1817 – 16 October 1892) was an influential liberal politician of
4450-529: The earlier trials for the Koegas murders , which had been sent to it signed "Fiat Justitia" ("May there be justice"). This generated another round of political trials. These attacked Solomon's new editor, Francis Dormer , for libel but again sought ultimately to damage Solomon himself. Once again the editor resigned, and once again Solomon survived, in spite of losing the trial. Crucially, he produced letters from
4539-586: The following companies in South Africa: In 2021 and 2022, banks in South Africa issued notices indicating termination of banking services to the company. Absa, Investec and FNB all closed their accounts with Sekunjalo subsidiaries after the bad press and “reputational risk” that came with the Mpati report. The banks cited the high risk of doing business with the Sekunjalo Group following the publication of an inquiry by Judge Lex Mpati into irregularities at
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#17327872145904628-536: The inaugural headteacher of a girls' school in Cape Colony, now known as Good Hope Seminary High School . Their views tallied on many matters, not least girls' education: he owned a first edition of Mary Wollstonecraft 's polemic A Vindication of the Rights of Woman . Despite his being almost twice her age, they married. The wedding, which took place on 21 March 1874 at his home, was to have had an alteration to
4717-630: The largest insurance firms in South Africa. As representative for Cape Town, Solomon entered the very first Parliament of the Cape of Good Hope (Cape Parliament) when it opened in 1854. He remained an MP for this constituency until his retirement in 1883. Saul Solomon's original election promise had been "to give my decided opposition to all legislation tending to introduce distinctions either of class, colour or creed". Throughout his political career he strictly adhered to this manifesto – repeatedly turning down both cabinet and ministerial posts so as to be free to vote according to his beliefs. Although he
4806-523: The lead up to the Union of South Africa ; their brother William Henry Solomon became the Union's Chief Justice . Solomon's wife Georgiana survived him by over 40 years, and was an influential suffragette. Of their three children who lived to adulthood, Daisy Solomon was also a suffragette, Hon. Saul Solomon was a high court judge (the Supreme Court of South Africa ), and William Ewart Gladstone Solomon
4895-513: The locally elected Cape government, McLoughlin angered the British authorities with his anti-imperialist views. Francis Joseph Dormer took over as editor in 1878. At the same time, a change in the political direction of the Cape began to cause significant problems for the Argus . A British intervention in the Cape led to a new and dubiously-appointed government, under a puppet Prime Minister, Gordon Sprigg . The racist and expansionist policies of
4984-458: The malnutrition and rickets that physically affected him for the rest of his life. He then had a rudimentary formal education in South Africa before beginning work as an apprentice in a printing business. He later acquired the business and built it into the largest printing business in the country, founding the Cape Argus newspaper. He was also one of the founders of Old Mutual , today one of
5073-546: The need to enforce the principles of racial equality that the Cape's constitution called for, the Separatist representatives all stood up and walked out on him. He reportedly declared: "I would rather address empty benches than empty minds!" In parliament he went on to lead the "Westerners", who backed the Molteno–Merriman government in successfully crushing the separatist league. Separatist parliamentarians branded him
5162-409: The new government (and incidents such as the Koegas atrocities ) came under severe criticism from the Argus . In retaliation for the criticism, Sprigg's government cancelled all printing contracts with the Argus , awarding them instead to political allies from Grahamstown (who charged several times the price, and consistently failed to deliver the work). In later life, Solomon gradually withdrew from
5251-448: The newspaper company after Sekunjalo had completed the purchase from the company's original owner. This agreement fell through and led to a court case being brought against Sekunjalo by Oakbay. Former Independent Media columnist Azad Essa said that the newspaper cancelled his column immediately after he published a column distributed to a number of Independent Media newspapers critical of China's mass internment of ethnic Uighurs . Essa
5340-410: The newspaper entirely behind responsible government and support for non-racialism . He was immensely influential in building and shaping the company, which quickly became the leading newspaper of the Cape, overtaking the " Commercial Advertiser " of John Fairbairn . During this time, the Argus and Solomon's printing works served as the official government printing contractor. It was responsible for
5429-572: The other states of southern Africa. Both suggestions were ignored by the Colonial Office and over the next few years Carnarvon's disastrous confederation scheme unravelled as predicted, eventually resulting the outbreak of several destructive conflicts across the region . To further the Confederation scheme, Sir Henry Bartle Frere appointed a new and more compliant government, under the puppet Prime Minister Gordon Sprigg . Against
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#17327872145905518-406: The paper, Dasnois, and journalist Melanie Gosling over the tender story, but Survé has denied that Dasnois' removal was connected to the article. He instead pointed to the title's declining circulation figures as his primary motivation. Compounded loss of sales, between 2008 and 2012, amounted to 28%, he said. The Cape Times is one of the titles in the Sekunjalo owned INMSA stable. In response to
5607-562: The partners Saul Solomon , journalist Richard William Murray ("Limner") and the MP Bryan Henry Darnell. However, political differences immediately surfaced among the partners. Saul Solomon was a radical supporter of multi-racial democracy, women's rights and the local " responsible government " movement; while his two partners were virulently pro-imperialist. As the Responsible Government movement grew in
5696-408: The people. As to his native policy, he thoroughly believes he is right there. He is animated by noble, generous impulses, but here, if I may make bold to say so, in criticising so great a man, I think his goodness of heart has somewhat thwarted the soundness of his judgment. His whole life has been devoted to preaching the doctrine of the equality of all races and classes. I believe this to be a fallacy,
5785-510: The price). Meanwhile, Sprigg's Attorney-General, Upington, launched a series of high-profile lawsuits (bordering on show trials ) against Solomon himself. Solomon's editor, Patrick McLoughlin , had supposedly anonymously written several pieces criticising the Sprigg government and the British colonial establishment, the most infamous of which was entitled "Pro Bono Publico" ("For the Public Good"). A series of libel lawsuits were launched by
5874-490: The remainder of Solomon's printing works and began printing himself. Edmund Powell (who had been sub-editor since Dormer took over in 1878) became editor in 1889 and remained so until 1907. In December 1969, the paper was renamed The Argus , however the change was unpopular and the name was reverted to The Cape Argus . True to its roots in Saul Solomon's liberalism, the paper was a prominent voice of opposition against
5963-555: The remaining ownership made up of Chinese and Public Investment Corporation of South Africa (a South African government owned company). Two Chinese State Owned Enterprises ( China International Television Corporation and the China Africa Development Fund ) invested R400 million in the deal to acquire 20% of the Newspaper. The Public Investment Corporation of South Africa invested R500 million to acquire
6052-550: The rights of many Cape citizens). Saul Solomon joined the Cape government in arguing that the Cape's multi-racial constitution might not survive a session of bargaining with the Boer republics. Another issue was the fact that some neighbouring states, such as Zululand and the Transvaal Republic , would require military invasion to be incorporated into the confederation. Consequently, Solomon opposed Carnarvon's proposal and
6141-487: The settlers' plantations. In accordance with his stated policy that "natives should be allowed to sell their labour as they desired, and that no semblance of coercion should be employed to provide labour for the farmer" and because he detested the Easterners' white supremacist views, Solomon took a strong stance against the separatist movement and for a united, multi-racial Cape. When he was addressing parliament about
6230-534: The standard Anglican marriage vows : neither wife nor husband wished her to promise to obey him. However, the two clergymen officiating told the couple that this would render the ceremony without authority, so the words were included. One historian describes their marriage as "idyllic". The couple had six children. He lived at Clarensville House in Sea Point , Cape Town for most of his life. He and Georgiana enjoyed welcoming guests as varied as Cetewayo , King of
6319-504: The state-controlled Public Investment Corporation which manages assets on behalf of the Government Employees Pension Fund, leading major banks to cut ties. In January 2024, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) announced that AEEI, as well as its sister company and former subsidiary AYO Technology Solutions, faced possible suspension from the JSE for failing to submit annual financial statements within
6408-497: The stipulated 4-month period. In February 2024, AEEI shareholders voted to delist from the JSE. The termination of being listed on the JSE was effective on 16 April 2024. Sekunjalo was founded in 1996 by Iqbal Survé, Mohammed Kajee and two others. Three of the founding members sold their shares, with only Survé remaining as the founding shareholder. In 2006, Sekunjalo subsidiary Bioclones (trading as Genius Biotherapeutics) received an investment of US$ 5.3 million from BioPAD,
6497-461: The ticker AEE. The ownership of subsidiaries was restructured so as to "better reflect the underlying businesses and investments of the Group going forward and to differentiate from the private holding company." Founder Iqbal Survé stepped down from managing all investments held by AEEI so as to focus on the company's media holdings. In August 2023, AEEI's subsidiary Premier Fishing Ltd delisted from
6586-556: The times and saw eye-to-eye on a number of issues. According to Saul Solomon's official biography, Molteno only accepted the office of Prime Minister after insisting that it first be offered to Solomon, who turned it down however due to his delicate health. Solomon supported the Molteno Ministry, though he refused offers of cabinet positions so as to be able to oppose the government if and when his conscience required it. One supporter told Parliament that "Molteno would not hold
6675-474: The value of ZAR 2500 which initially were not loaded with any cash, forcing shoppers to abandon their groceries at the till. At the end of 2023, Independent Media's CEO suddenly resigned after 16 months in the job prompting Survé to once again take up an executive role in the company. AEEI has strategic investments in the following companies in South Africa: AEEI has strategic investments in
6764-474: The very different states of southern Africa. Although earlier in his career Solomon had been in favour of a form of federated "United States of Southern Africa", he shared with the Cape government concerns about the form and timing of Carnarvon's confederation project. Of particular concern to many liberal politicians were the repressive "native policies" of Natal and the Boer republics (which would have affected
6853-448: Was "dismissed with costs as it bears no reasonable prospects of success". The Court's nine justices unanimously agreed that Sekunjalo had provided no evidence to support its allegations against Nedbank. Nedbank and other banks that were previously interdicted from closing Sekunjalo companies' bank accounts in the interim are now legally permitted to close the bank accounts of more than 200 Sekunjalo-linked companies. On 19 December 2023,
6942-712: Was a noted painter who followed his mother into educational leadership as principal of the Bombay School of Art . [REDACTED] Media related to Saul Solomon at Wikimedia Commons Sekunjalo Investments Sekunjalo Investment Holdings (parent company of African Equity Empowerment Investments) is a South Africa -based private equity firm specializing in acquisitions, PIPEs , and buyouts. It has principal operations in publishing , Internet, fishing , healthcare, pharmaceuticals, telecommunication , financial services, aquaculture , biotechnology , enterprise development, events management, travel. The company
7031-405: Was a topic for caricature by the political cartoonists of the time. Saul Solomon was nonetheless an eloquent and persuasive speaker with a skill for reasoned argument. His proposals were usually well researched and he characteristically spent long hours studying censuses and other government publications for the precise facts and figures that he believed should inform his opinions. Consequently, he
7120-544: Was also informed that the article he wrote would not be published online. Essa went on to accuse the newspaper group owned by both Sekunjalo and Chinese interests of espousing "sycophantic praise for Chinese investment, lacks critical engagement with the much-ballyhooed BRICS ... and fails to ask basic questions on Chinese motives in Africa." Spurred on by a series of letters by United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa , in 2018 President Cyril Ramaphosa established
7209-471: Was an example of state capture that threatens both the independence of the media and the development of democracy in South Africa. The company was again criticised for its close links with the ANC and of allegedly having an anti- Democratic Alliance (DA) bias in a report on Al-Jazeera in March 2016. The DA for its part was accused of trying to silence criticism from the Cape Times by threatening to cancel
7298-475: Was finally passed under the Molteno government in 1875. Solomon joined the movement for responsible government in the Cape and helped to institute it when it was established in 1872. The leader of the responsible government movement, Prime Minister John Charles Molteno , was a friend and admirer. The two men were both businessmen from poor immigrant backgrounds who had outlooks that were relatively liberal for
7387-512: Was founded by Iqbal Survé and three others in 1996 with the aim of investing and assisting black-owned businesses. In April 2015 all of Sekunjalo's investments except its 55% ownership in Independent Media SA was spun-off into a new company, still owned by Sekunjalo Investments, known as African Equity Empowerment Investments (AEEI) . The company is currently facing allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds from
7476-509: Was from a Jewish background and even funded the establishment of the Cape's first synagogue in 1849, Solomon was openly secular in outlook, declaring himself to be "a liberal in politics and a voluntary in religion". In the first Cape parliament in 1854, he presented his "Voluntary bill" (intended to end government subsidies to churches, and to ensure equal treatment of all beliefs) but it was turned down. He proceeded to put it to parliament every year, only for it to be repeatedly rejected, until it
7565-472: Was here that he died in 1892, of "Chronic tubular nephritis", leaving Georgiana with four children to raise. Saul Solomon's extended family remained deeply involved in politics and law in southern Africa for many years – though they varied greatly in their political allegiance. In particular, his nephews Sir Richard Solomon and Edward Philip Solomon were very influential at the time of the Boer War and
7654-490: Was previously held by rival marine services firm Smit Amandla Marine until it expired in 2011 and a new bidding process started. Smit Amand Marine complained that its contract bid application had been leaked to Sekunjalo. The contract was initially awarded to Sekunjalo only to withdraw it and instead gave Smit Amandla one month to hand over their operation to the South African Navy . The department then found that
7743-410: Was replaced by Professor Roderick Noble (1872-1875) from Inverness - English & Science Professor of the South African College and previously the editor of the declining Commercial Advertiser . Professor Noble, who was also the co-editor of the well-known Cape Monthly Magazine , died suddenly in 1875, and Solomon replaced him with the radical liberal Irishman Patrick McLoughlin . While popular with
7832-449: Was typically always able to back up his opinions with great quantities of evidence as well as with a clear application of logic. This earned him considerable respect, even from his political opponents. An example is the cautious and guarded homage which writer Stanley Little, a political opponent, later paid to Saul Solomon in his 1887 work on the Cape's political leadership. The Honourable Saul Soloman[sic], whom I may call Molteno's ghost,
7921-425: Was voiced through his various media outlets. This culminated in his public campaign against the government for its role in the Koegas atrocities . Sprigg's retaliation was swift. He ordered a review and cancellation of all government contracts with the Argus and other businesses that were linked to Saul Solomon. These were all given to political allies (though without the equipment to fulfill them and at several times
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