For those of us who form part of the chattering classes and have never set foot in a rural village — except perhaps to take tourist pictures — South Africa can be a very confusing and perplexing place. I have wondered for a long time, for example, why so few poor and black South Africans […]
2008
Posted inLifestyle, Media, Tech
Would you like your own personal paparazzi?
You can have it! For a fee. I’ve written about Springwise (www.springwise.com) before, one of my favourite websites for innovative ideas. It sends out a newsletter each week with the hottest business spottings from around the world. Sometimes the ideas are smart (getting teenagers to teach adults how to use cellphones), sometimes they’re silly (getting […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Zimbabwe, Kenya and Polokwane prove that press freedom is vital to Africa
As Mugabe’s thugs are once again unleashed upon the opposition and journalists in Zimbabwe, the roll of the media in safeguarding the citizens of a country is being highlighted — a roll that is particularly vital to the continent of Africa. The tyrant, who has just poked his head above ground, has decided to employ […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
The illusion of engagement: My chat with Downing Street
The first thing that popped up in my RSS reader on Tuesday morning was a post from Richard Sambrook who noted that the prime minister’s office in Britain had not only started to Twitter its press-release notices, but was also responding to questions. I decided to ask the question that is on everyone’s mind : […]
Posted inNews/Politics
ANCYL leadership contest: Shades of Polokwane?
Another page in the voting nasty annals of African politics is being written in the sacred halls of the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein — home of the brave and the land of the free – to pee in your soup. The ANC Youth League (ANCYL), established in April of 1944, is currently […]
Posted inGeneral
Christianity owes us
I am often accused of fighting a battle that’s already been conceded with organised religion. In fact, this is the criticism levelled at many anti-religious thinkers: basically, that we’re beating a dead horse. Religion has moved on from its horrible past. In its current form, it’s something altogether more complex and intricate. So why spend […]
Posted inGeneral
Meeting Mandela: The concept of legacy
Submitted by Zdena Mtetwa Many of us have attended those sessions where we are asked “What inspires you?” or “Who is your role model?” Sometimes we settle for the ones that are closer home, like “my mother”. Of course, some, if not most of us actually mean this. Our mothers are usually wonderful people, and […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Do Zimbabwe’s election results vindicate SA’s quiet diplomacy?
This week’s Talkback question on the Mail & Guardian Online: Do Zimbabwe’s election results vindicate SA’s quiet diplomacy?
Posted inMedia
Pilger’s contrasts make him credible
Pic: Pilger with Guy Berger Crusading journo John Pilger confronted some contradictions last week — and came out well on top of them. In Grahamstown to collect an honorary doctorate from Rhodes University, the angry Australian who champions the cause of the global underdog found himself to be quite the celeb. It’s an irony that […]
Posted inLifestyle, Media, Tech
And the winner is …
… East Coast Radio! No, not entirely. But they did sweep a good three or four categories (including best new blog, the one for which I was nominated! Sob!) and I’m guessing there’s going to be a backlash of bitter blog posts this morning. It’s not 100% fair, I suppose, when you can ask all […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics, Tech
Africa’s big blogging bang
New statistics show that the big bang of blogging activity that began in South Africa in 2007 has been echoed by the emergence of blogging as a high-profile phenomenon in the rest of Africa. The April-July tipping point in social media in South Africa, chronicled in this blog, also appeared to be the period during […]
Posted inLifestyle, Sport
Scuba diving: Does my bum look fat in this?
Yesterday I learned that all three of the current scuba deep-diving world records are held by two divers from Johannesburg — which made about as much sense to me as the Jamaican Olympic bobsled team. I mean, FFS, where do these geniuses train? “Honey, come out of the rain and get your head out of […]