I hugely welcome the decision to start giving security guards in Jo’burg the same status as police officers. If I was still living in South Africa I would be enormously relieved. The police force is hopelessly inadequate. This is not to say that many of the men in blue are not fine officers; they simply […]
2008
Posted inNews/Politics
The global financial crisis and the suspicious IMF intervention
As the global economy stands on the edge of a financial precipice, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) armed with a paltry $200 billion rescue package attempts to intervene and prevent emerging economies from collapsing under the stressful weight of the financial turmoil. Some emerging economies are already experiencing liquidity problems and look toward the IMF […]
Posted inGeneral
Dude, where’s my flyhalf?
The absence of a specialist flyhalf in the Springbok squad has left many questioning the selections of coach Peter de Villiers ahead of a gruelling season-ending tour of the United Kingdom. World Cup winner Butch James has been omitted as he plies his trade with Guinness Premiership giants Bath. However, he has made himself unavailable […]
Posted inNews/Politics
McCain versus Obama: Pakistan, Syria and Iran?
It has long been my view that Barrack Obama will triumph in the upcoming US presidential elections barring an act bordering on World War III. Analysts across the board generally ad idem that if the material issue governing this election is the economy then it’s the Senator from Illinois while a major incident along 9/11 […]
Posted inGeneral
Driving me mad
Driving me mad Submitted by Charlotte Malgas Every time I start thinking my family should remain in South Africa, I just have to go down the main road. Coming from the United Kingdom — where taxi drivers do not shoot rivals and passengers over “who” a public highway belongs to, as they did in Durban […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Would women really make better leaders?
All this publicity for Sarah Palin has got me thinking about one of the most endemic myths of contemporary (largely Western) political culture: the idea that if women were in charge, the world would be a kinder, gentler place. This is a load of bollocks. Look at Margaret Thatcher. The Iron Lady, famous for crushing […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Mob justice: Desperation or anarchic lawlessness?
With The Honourable Nhlanhla Musa Nene’s struggles with gravity occupying much of the public consciousness late last week, (does that moment NOT justify this year’s licence fee all of its own?), you most likely missed the following story in the news on the same day: A man was killed by an angry mob in uMlazi’s […]
Posted inGeneral
Africa and Africans: Tackling developmental challenges head-on
David Reynods, in a chapter titled “Sub-Saharan Africa: The collapse of the State” in his book, One World Divisible, states that “like caste and religion in India, tribal and ethnic identities, though often colonial constructs, became politicised after independence because they were potential conduits to secure state resources”. He goes on to say that “most […]
Posted inNews/Politics
On Cyril Ramaphosa condoning ANC despotism and defending Malema
It is deeply worrying when a person of Cyril Ramaphosa’s respectable standing appears to harbour personal grudges and allow them to impede his good judgement. Ramaphosa is held in the highest regard by a large majority of South Africans; to the extent that many were imploring him to avail himself for the presidency of the […]
Posted inGeneral
Motlanthe must use the carrot and the nuke on Mugabe
One of the issues I highlighted in my coverage of the xenophobia was the fact that lack of housing was considered a primary grievance among local township dwellers. They were of the view that local councils were taking kickbacks from exiles, mainly Zimbabweans, in order to obtain houses ahead of those who had been on […]
Posted inSport
Scrapping the Springbok emblem? “Hier kom die Blomme”
It is fairly well known that most swimmer athletes prefer to wear Speedo, not because its gossamer lightness is any different to other swimsuits. It is the deep, psychological association of great success with the brand. The Speedo company can proudly and honestly brag that 70% of swimming medals were won by athletes wearing its […]
Posted inLifestyle
Pigs’ brains in a skottel: interviews with the Chinese (Ray)
I despaired as I looked at the editing job in front of me. This being Ray’s response to my interview questions for Chinese people. His English bore some resemblance to a child’s bowl of alphabet soup in which he is thwacking his spoon about among the noodle letters. I did not want to wade through […]