KPMG has featured in a steady stream of corruption scandals for the past decade, joined in the South African state capture scandal by another graft-tainted professional services firm, McKinsey. Yet, somehow executives from two beasts who played a starring role in eroding the economy and bringing a nation to its knees have been placed front and centre of publicity about 100 judges involved in deciding a journalism prize in Africa.
Dudu Ndlovu, Head of Communications of KPMG SA, and Acha Leke, Chairman Africa of McKinsey & Company, are on a list that includes public relations professionals like my former Saturday Star colleague, Jacqui O’Sullivan – who only associates herself with ethics and fair play. O’Sullivan is executive of corporate affairs at MTN. And there are others like her, who – the bosses of Ndlovu and Leke will no doubt be hoping – will impart some of their sheen.
Whatever were the organisers at Switzerland-based APO Group thinking when they assembled these people together for the African Women in Media Award? And bragged in the headline about their star attractions:‘McKinsey and KPMG among the largest and most influential panel of judges ever assembled for a journalism prize in Africa’.
PS: For some quality, independent journalism, listen to The Alec Hogg Show with Mmusi Maimane. To listen to this remarkable interview, download the link here. You can also subscribe to The Alec Hogg Show on Spotify here.
Comments to my inbox:
And they are coming to host the event in Joburg nogal!
We should take them to Eskom’s Office and the State Capture Commission.
Thanks for exposing this and bringing it to the attention of concerned South Africans
NvB
