If South Africa is to avoid becoming the next Zimbabwe, then a material role needs to be played by the powerful trade unions that are, even now, showing us the way forward. Not for them the meek and mild acceptance of Eskom’s rate hikes, food price increases or even demands for arms to be offloaded […]
2008
Posted inNews/Politics
Politics: Only for the brave
Politics is not for sissies. Well, if you are from certain countries that is. From Burundi for instance, or neighbouring Rwanda. Or Eritrea, Sri Lanka, and Colombia. Or Burma, Ecuador and Zimbabwe. These and other nations can’t exactly be classified as airy-fairy political fun fairs. Here, belonging to the opposition, being too vocal, too controversial, […]
Posted inNews/Politics
50 First Elections
It’s a terrible movie, but then it’s a terrible world. The one where Drew Barrymore has a head injury — she’s cute and sweet and she’s stuck in the same day over and over again. She doesn’t remember anything that happened the day before, so she wakes up bright and fresh and innocent and appealing […]
Posted inBusiness, Lifestyle
BEE’s ‘married bachelors’ and a moral centre that cannot hold
Since the advent of black economic empowerment — an outward expression of the worship of money — the moral centre of the previously disadvantaged community does not hold. As a result, many families are falling apart. The new trend, it seems, is that many men now love money more than their wives. After all, when […]
Posted inLifestyle, Tech
How children’s rights are violated on Facebook
When a 14-year-old Johannesburg schoolgirl’s Facebook account was “broken into” and abusive messages and material sent to friends and family, she was deeply traumatised. But at least, she imagined, Facebook would assist in tracking down the perpetrators. It was not to be. Facebook is easily able to fend off spurious complaints about wasting productive time, […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Bullard? Qwelane? I’d hire them like a shot
When I read David Bullard’s offending article, which was a disgrace, I pulled no punches — I said that when he had time to reflect he would realise that this was not his finest hour. Now having watched him on the Noeleen show and read his apology, my estimation of the man, which was always […]
Posted inLifestyle
Thabo really needs a smoothie
I am worried our president is just not getting a proper breakfast. How else can you explain his, well, erratic behaviour these days? There may not be a crisis in Zimbabwe, but I think there is definitely one in the Tuynhuis kitchen. What on earth are they feeding the poor guy in the morning? Worse, […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Zimbabwe: Looking beyond the horizon
Zimbabwe’s harmonised election, which saw presidential, senatorial, parliamentary and local government elections being held simultaneously, took place peacefully on March 29 2008. This watershed plebiscite was anticipated to be a poll that would radically change the political landscape of this troubled country. More than two weeks have passed since the initial votes were cast with […]
Posted inLifestyle
A pleasure to visit this library
So, you are all feeling a little glum, it seems. Between the Zimbabwe elections turning into a farce, our president denying that he said there wasn’t a crisis, the Scorpions being sent packing with their collective tails between their legs, food and fuel prices going up, the interest rate going up, and the general lack […]
Posted inBusiness, Media
The office, it’s a groovy kinda love
I hate closed doors. Secrets happen behind them, people are talked about and decisions are made for others. That, of course, is why you have to have them. But too many of them? Well, they just bring a place down, man. It’s, like, all to do with some kind of hippie philosophy of bad vibes […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Bullard sorry, was out to lunch
I described the column over which David Bullard was fired as offensive and condescending, but given the supercilious faux-Victorian persona he’s cultivated, not all that surprising, and not worth suppressing by his dismissal or otherwise. I did not expect an apology.
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
To Thabo or not to Thabo
That is indeed the question today! Except for showing the confusion among the people of South Africa, this also gives us an idea of the fickle state of the South African media. Unfortunately, media reports often form public opinion and therefore influence thinking among our people. Post-Polokwane saw massive public sympathy for Thabo Mbeki due […]