IRR’s Hermann Pretorius: “Mashaba’s spy claims are nonsense - and BEE is South Africa’s biggest lie.

In a sharp and fearless conversation with Alec Hogg, Hermann Pretorius of the Institute of Race Relations hits back at Herman Mashaba’s “spy” accusations, clears up Helen Zille’s IRR involvement, and exposes how BEE has failed millions of South Africans. Pretorius details the IRR’s Value for Money Bill, a bold plan to end inflated tenders, scrap race-based procurement, and rebuild trust in public spending. From fake transformation to political hypocrisy, Pretorius pulls no punches in this must-watch breakdown of South Africa’s corruption economy.

Timestamps
00:00 – Alec introduces Hermann Pretorius and the IRR
00:30 – Herman Mashaba’s old accusations against the IRR
01:15 – “The spy story” — Pretorius sets the record straight
02:40 – How Helen Zille’s IRR role was misrepresented
04:10 – “I wish I was that powerful” — Pretorius on Mashaba’s claims
05:00 – On once supporting the DA and losing faith
06:30 – The DA, liberalism and why Pretorius drifted away
08:10 – Setting the record straight on Helen Zille’s role
09:10 – “We’re publishing our own bills” — IRR’s bold new approach
10:00 – Inside the Value for Money Bill
11:10 – How it could eliminate inflated BEE tender mark-ups
12:10 – The shocking finding: government spending that shrinks the economy
13:00 – Why cutting the BEE premium could lower VAT
13:40 – “We’re not anti-transformation — we’re anti-fake transformation”
14:20 – Real vs fake transformation explained
15:40 – How BEE hurts the poor it claims to help
16:30 – The cost of fake empowerment
17:00 – Building real empowerment through cost-effective governance
17:40 – The IRR’s battle of ideas and legislative proposals
18:20 – Working with multiple parties on reform
19:00 – Positive engagements with ANC, DA and Freedom Front Plus
19:40 – What the IRR expects from the EFF and MK
20:10 – “Even ANC leaders know BEE has failed”
20:50 – How ordinary citizens can drive policy change
21:20 – Pretorius on long-term reform and optimism
21:45 – Alec wraps up the interview

Video production by Asime Nyide

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