Terry Bell writes that both the ministers of finance and economic development turned up to address the national congress of the National Union of Metalworkers (Numsa) this week, but, as many suspected, former public protector Thuli Madonsela didn’t pitch up.  

Madonsela was advertised as the guest speaker at the Numsa gala dinner on Thursday, but she was out of the country this week and, it transpires, had never agreed to speak at the dinner.  But, into the breach apparently stepped the actor and human rights activist, Danny Glover.  Earlier, finance minister Pravin Gordhan spoke and answered questions from delegates, as did economics minister Ebrahim Patel.  Both agreed there were tough times ahead, but their solution was to stick with the system, unite and so hope to overcome the economic and social storms ahead.

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