On Friday The Times ran the extraordinary story of how government had offered Anglo American a list of “recommended” candidates for the position of Anglo American chairman.
The list included Cyril Ramaphosa, apparently the preferred candidate, Jabu Moleketi, Valli Moosa, Popo Molefe and Sivi Gounden.
The list was ignored by Anglo who appointed Sir John Parker to head the board. This reminds me of the headline in The Onion when Bush invaded Iraq. It read something like this: “Bush invades Iraq despite plea from Cheryl Crowe”.
What is astonishing is how the fact that government suggested who should head Anglo American has been ignored as if it were just a part of a normal business appointment procedure.
It was an astonishing move for two very different reasons.
The first, and most obvious, is that government is not a shareholder of Anglo American and has no grounds whatsoever to intervene in the corporation’s internal affairs. Government’s job is to create a legislative environment in which business functions and not to suggest appointments to boards.
The second is that Anglo American is no longer a South African company. It’s primary listing is in London and the majority of its business interests are to be found abroad. That this fact has not sunk in is more than a little weird. After all it was this government which authorised Anglo’s move offshore.
But even if Anglo were a wholly South African entity, government has no business lobbying for appointments to the board or to any other position for that matter. The minute it begins doing so, it pollutes the environment in which business is done. Questions would arise about its conduct towards companies that either adhered to or ignored its recommendations.
This is a sorry state of affairs and the Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, needs to clarify government’s policy on intervening in the appointment of private business leaders.

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4. Zuma surprises with senior appointments
5. Government spokesman on coverage of South Africa