It is no secret that the main rivals for the ANC presidency have — for a while now — been grooming and breeding vicious bulldogs. How else can one describe the behaviour of both Mbeki and Zuma’s lieutenants in attacking each other in the ongoing mudslinging showdown in the ruling party? Like ruthless animals they […]
2007
Posted inBusiness, Tech
Who needs private capital?
In this country, the notion of private companies risking their capital on infrastructure projects is a no-no. While it complains about “market failure” and high prices, the Financial Mail’s Duncan McLeod reports that the government has just decided to spend $2 billion (!) on its own undersea cable project.
Posted inMedia
Mmm … methinks the Constitution is the cheese!
I hate to be the … *checks it* … fifth person, effectively, to write on the subject of Mondli Makhanya and Jocelyn Maker’s apparently-no-longer-impending arrest (on this site alone), but being a still wet-behind-the-ears media practitioner, I find this situation simply far too enticing to not add my two cents’ worth. Much of the debate […]
Posted inSport
Why we’ll lose the World Cup
It’s Saturday evening. 9pm. The World Cup final. Fifteen men in green and gold line up to face fifteen men in white. It’s a showdown of epic proportions — England want to avenge past humiliations; South Africa are equally hungry and need to prove their worth as “past World Cup winners”. In the UK, millions […]
Posted inBusiness
An hour with Lood Bester
Meet the man who is revolutionising the motor-car salvage industry and a Blue Bulls fan to boot. Traps (T): Tell me a bit about Ludewikus Bester. Lood (L): I matriculated at Lichtenburg High, having spent most of my school days at boarding schools in Pretoria. I’m 36 years old, married to a wonderful girl, Aldurette, […]
Posted inLifestyle
The Has-Been-Hotties
Fat people are slow by their gigantic nature. This, to disillusioned thin people, may seem like a huge disadvantage; well, it might be most of the time like when you are being chased by Fluffy, the neighbours’ annoying poodle, but sometimes it is actually an advantage. See, being slow helps when it comes to observation […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Middle East peace summit: Time to turn the screws on Olmert
At the time of writing, it would seem that the proposed United States-sponsored Middle East peace summit will be taking place in Annapolis, Maryland, on November 15 this year. This is an important initiative and needs to be supported by all in the Middle East and the international community. The reason for this should be […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Mystery, judges and the JSC
I am not a woman of mystery. I am one of those people who tell you your fly is undone, or that your payment is late. This is not because I don’t like a bit of mystery, especially the mysterious cloak of secrecy that the law casts around judges. In the Supreme Court of Appeal, […]
Posted inBusiness, Lifestyle
What’s for supper tonight? Ask Arnold
Somewhere a computer is quietly thinking about you. It is deciding what you want for supper tonight and sending instructions to trucks and warehouses to make sure that your local Woolworths can sell it to you. It is basing its thoughts on a whole range of factors — weather patterns (thanks, Al Gore), holidays (Eid, […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
New weapon in traffic cops’ arsenal
The Sunday Times this week reported on the long-promised demerit scheme set to weed out South Africa’s worst drivers. Habitual offenders will rack up points depending on the severity of their traffic mishap, thus risking the suspension or cancellation of their driver’s licences. A pilot project to test the system will be launched in Pretoria/Tshwane […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The truth about Eskom
Last Saturday morning, at about 8.30am, I drove past the Durban cricket stadium. It was a relatively sunny day and the stadium stood in silence, yet its four high-powered floodlights were shining brightly, eating up hundreds of watts per second. I was outraged. How can electricity be wasted in such a shameless manner while South […]
Posted inNews/Politics
What are Zuma and Mbeki lobbyists smoking?
Someone must invest in a sledgehammer and knock some sense into the heads of the supporters of Jacob Zuma for excluding President Thabo Mbeki from their list proposals for the powerful ANC national executive committee. That person should also deal a good blow to Mbeki’s backers for doing the same with Zuma. Turn that sledgehammer […]