Events of the past months make it very difficult to defend the relevance of elections. The cases of Kenya and Zimbabwe point to the need for a new thinking around governance. In these two cases, elections have betrayed people’s wishes and subverted their democratic right to a leader of their choice. Such scenarios call for […]
2008
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
A tribute to the ‘Judge’
There are many people who are probably more qualified than me to speak about Ronnie Morris, who died in his sleep early on Saturday evening. However, I have my memories of him that I feel I want to share. Ronnie was a legend in the newspaper industry and was hugely respected by just about every […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Europe, it is time to lead
Something has clearly changed on the international political stage that gives the European Union an unprecedented opportunity to bring stability and an end to a violent conflict in the Middle East, without the need to have someone’s permission to act. Europe is capable of conducting an active foreign policy and has the ability to commit […]
Posted inBusiness, Media, News/Politics
In defence of colonialism
Prompted by the debate David Bullard tried — but probably failed — to stir (as I argued on my own blog), I wrote a short opinion on colonialism, which I reckon is worth posting separately.
Posted inNews/Politics
Zimbabwe: Forget the president, let Cosatu act as mediator
President Thabo Mbeki is right. There is no crisis in Zimbabwe. Next to hyperinflation, mass starvation, brutalisation of the population, Gukurahundi, 80% unemployment and any number of other plagues Mugabe has visited on the people of Zimbabwe, why would failing to release the presidential election results constitute a crisis? Indeed it would seem mere footling […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Zuma endorsement of Shabangu in stark contrast to ANC policy on death penalty
You have to admit that Msholozi and Deputy Safety and Security Minister Susan Shabangu’s calls to shoot the criminals and kill the bastards make you feel kinda warm all over. Let’s face it, South Africans are sick and tired of criminals and the sooner this blight on our country is brought under control, the better. […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Save us from the Save David Bullard brigade
By Robert Brand and Anne Taylor We’ve had to put up with David Bullard for years, so it was with delight that we heard he’d been fired. But it seems there are those who are rallying to his defence, citing Machiavellian corporate and political machinations as the real reason for his axing. It’s all bullshit, […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Was Dave’s drivel really racist?
After reading Xolela Mangcu’s frothy condemnation of what will ultimately be David Bullard’s last Sunday Times column, I braced myself for the worst and prepared to be thoroughly indignant when I got round to reading it. But when I eventually did get to the so-called controversial and allegedly racist piece, I was puzzled. He got […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Interviewing Mr MK in 1991
Lest anyone forget how South Africa nearly exploded when Chris Hani was assassinated, here are some front pages of the paper I edited at the time: Missing, however, is the wonderful full cover from South of Hani standing outside Parliament in 1992, with the headline “Next year we rule from within this place”. Democracy was, […]
Posted inGeneral
Happiness and fulfilment
My previous posting elicited a number of responses that, directly or indirectly, questioned the meaning of human happiness and fulfilment. At the outset of a discussion of these one has to admit, as the song goes, that “happiness is … different things to different people”, but far from resolving the issue via an affirmation of […]
Posted inLifestyle
Caught in the crossfire
My partner and I have been studiously avoiding a piece of paper sitting on the kitchen counter. It’s been days since it arrived, and it sits there, demanding our attention. We both don’t want to deal with it, but somehow its presence muscles in on our conversations. So we discuss it half-heartedly; then, like all […]
Posted inBusiness, Lifestyle
Which airline do you fly? (An informal survey)
I’ve been hearing a lot of trash talk around our nation’s local airlines lately, and while I think most of it is probably well-deserved, I’d like to hear your opinions. So let’s have us an informal poll. I’m going to list the airlines up for discussion, along with what I perceive as their pros and […]