I wonder if newer residents of London, New York, Paris or San Francisco feel this way. I’ve noticed over the past couple of weeks that I’ve come to feel quite resentful of tourists, which is a bit rich, considering that I myself was one until a little less than six months ago. I noticed it […]
2008
Posted inNews/Politics
One hundred Philistine foreskins
That’s what Saul wanted from David. It was mission impossible, one moerse tall order, but Saul was the king, the head honcho, Mr Big, the CEO, chairman of the board, the president, the general secretary, No. 1 King Pappa, Msholozi of umIsrael. And if that was what would lift the squall off the Saul, 100 […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
With no ANC, it is a very cold, cold world!
It is suspected that the threat or fear of losing position, power, status and material wealth is what could have motivated so-called ANC ‘dissidents’ to jump ship. They must have felt that it is heroic to jump into the deep blue sea rather than to wait to be pushed over to the sharks. You see, […]
Posted inNews/Politics, Sport
Sorry Naas, Springbok emblem goes far deeper than that
Francis Fukuyama, professor of international political economy at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, in an article entitled “The damage to Brand USA needs urgent repair”, submits that the damage to the American brand will be far more costly to the United States than the implosion of its investment banks. www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article4937563.ece “After 9/11 […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The dismissal of Mbeki from office was foretold in 1999
In an article written by Don Makatile and published by Drum magazine in 1999, Credo Mutwa, our own Nostradamus, predicted that Thabo Mbeki would not finish his term in office. The sceptics in us probably dismissed Mutwa’s foresight as incredible and pure inventions of a senile mind when he had relayed his visions. Mutwa informed […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The second coming of Jesus seems to be upon us
ANC president Jacob Zuma once said that the ANC will rule until the Second Coming of Jesus. It looks like he may be making an appearance sooner than he realised. I know it is too soon to write the obituary of the ANC. To borrow from Shakespeare, “Lend me your ears,” but in this case, […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Standing up against poverty and living in denial
2008 began as a year of possibility. The second half of this year marks the midpoint of our time allotted to meet the Millennium Development Goals; the midpoint of our quest to make aid more effective through the Paris Declaration; and the review of progress made so far in responsible financing for development since the […]
Posted inSport
Springbok emblem: Does Butana Komphela have a point?
This week’s Talkback question on the Mail & Guardian Online: Springbok emblem: Does Butana Komphela have a point?
Posted inNews/Politics
Zuma versus Mbeki to start the great debates?
The Mail & Guardian, among others, is reporting the possibility of the ANC calling for an early election in order to reduce the impact that the breakaway party in contemplation could make in 2009. Gwede Mantashe the secretary-general of the ANC has dispelled this insisting that the focus will be on strengthening party structures rather […]
Posted inGeneral
2010 public relations machinery shows signs of life
The public relations machinery responsible for selling the 2010 World Cup to the rest of the planet is finally grinding into gear. It’s no secret that South Africa has taken a beating in terms of its international media coverage since it was awarded the rights to host the world’s biggest single-code sporting event. With each […]
Posted inBusiness, Lifestyle, Media, News/Politics, Sport
How little has changed. How much has changed
Now that my loved ones are safely in another country, I feel free to return to record the facts, fables, foibles and fantasies of surviving in South Africa. I put blogging on TL on the back-burner eight months ago after threats on my life and my children from supporters of Jacob Zuma. My landlord has […]
Posted inLifestyle
New TRC enquiry needed: “corporal punishment” in SA schools
In South African schools “corporal punishment” was not only allowed, it was encouraged. The term is a euphemism filled with denial. The reality was beating the living daylights out of bewildered male children and violating their vulnerable, private space in a sensual manner that bordered on rape. As a result I lived much of my […]