Steven Friedman wrote a brilliant post, “The people our national debate does not see or hear”. I began writing a comment in response to his post, but then realised it was too long and needed a post of its own. Steven is absolutely correct. Too many of us who are involved in the media in […]
2007
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Editor, journalist to be arrested … or are they?
Was the Sunday Times guilty of crying wolf when it reported that its editor and another journalist would be arrested on charges of contravening the National Health Act? On Sunday, the newspaper reported that editor Mondli Makhanya and deputy managing editor Jocelyn Maker would be arrested this week on charges related to the theft of […]
Posted inSport
Kraai the beloved country
Manne, I believe the Bokke are going to crush the whingeing Poms on Saturday. That goes without saying. However, in the event of the impossible becoming a reality, you need to be prepared — you need to know how to deal with your emotions without making your name totally tottie. Accordingly herewith: Traps’s guide to […]
Posted inSport
Where were you in 1995?
It came on suddenly during the week in the build-up to the 1995 Rugby World Cup final. I had been laid low by flu the previous week, but had recovered enough to make the most of the semifinal against France. But the flu boomeranged back and left me in bed — at least the All […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The joys of opposition politics (part II)
(Disclaimer:Work with me here and pretend that my original piece was called “The joys of opposition politics”. I think it’s a neater, snappier and more sarcastic title than the original.) “DA slams Manto’s Baragwanath visit” screams the headline in the M&G Online. The quintessential spear-chugger rarely ever gets an opportunity to stick his tongue out […]
Posted inLifestyle
Obesity is not our fault any more — really
A news headline on BBC‘s daily newsletter practically jumped off the page at me. It says: “Obesity ‘not individuals’ fault’”. And it continues with the first paragraph stating that individuals can no longer be held responsible for obesity. Furthermore, it is now up to the UK government to act and do something about this. What? […]
Posted inGeneral
Obesity is not our fault any more — really
A news headline on BBC‘s daily newsletter practically jumped off the page at me. It says: “Obesity ‘not individuals’ fault’”. And it continues with the first paragraph stating that individuals can no longer be held responsible for obesity. Furthermore, it is now up to the UK government to act and do something about this. What? […]
Posted inBusiness, News/Politics
Aluminium smelters: The developmental state gone mad?
South Africa has no bauxite ore! Despite this geological fact, South Africa (and Mozambique) has aluminium smelters. Bauxite ore is the raw material for creating aluminium. The ore comes to us from Australia (and possibly Suriname and Brazil), we process the ore to produce aluminium and then ship it out. If we don’t have bauxite […]
Posted inLifestyle
Have you hugged a toilet bowl lately?
(Here’s a little something for those suffering from Pikoli exhaustion. Did it ever occur to anyone that one day our national obsession would be a fired chubby guy who may or may not be missing a tooth, to quote a soon-to-be-Schabir’s-best-mate editor, when we risked skin cancer en masse on April 27 1994?) It is […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The people our national debate does not see or hear
Do our public commentators know nothing about the lives of grassroots South Africans? Or do we simply not care? One of the more important plusses of our democracy is that we still have a loud and vigorous national debate. Despite worrying signs that politicians might want to reign in the media, we are often able […]
Posted inGeneral
Sure we believe you, Mr President
As I lay face down next to my husband, David, with our hands and feet tied up, I thanked him for six years of marriage and three children. My knees felt like jelly and I had the urge to lose my dinner. Despite pleading with Thabang* not to harm my family, I feared he would […]
Posted inSport, Tech
Rugby should embrace more technology
France won their quarterfinal match against New Zealand on the back of a scintillating try that included a forward pass between Frederic Michalak and Yannick Jauzion. The pass was blatant to the millions of fans watching on television but was missed by referee Wayne Barnes and his two touch judges. Similarly, Fiji came within a […]