I start with a rather reactionary title that will not make many people happy as they fought against Apartheid or knew people that died during the anti-Apartheid struggle. My point is not that Apartheid should have been allowed to continue, but that the violent means to combat Apartheid was sure folly. Apartheid was an evil […]
2008
Posted inLifestyle
Jewish reflections at an Afrikaner shrine
I had never been all that enthusiastic about adding Blood River (Ncome) to my tally of battlefield rambles, and certainly never envisaged being there on December 16, once the Day of the Vow and today the Day of Reconciliation. The famous Voortrekker victory over the Zulus on that date became invested with profound meaning by […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
No ‘non-racialism’ without whites
Few people know that the ANC has, traditionally, not always accepted whites — formerly known as Europeans — to be members of The Party. This only happened in 1985. The non-racial efforts to create a democratic and just society where Africans will be bosses forever continues. In fact, it gained momentum, slightly, when Nelson Mandela […]
Posted inGeneral
Nearly naked before mine maid (oh, I got to know her name later)
The late advertising guru, David Ogilvy, is well-known for saying “advertising is the most fun you can have with your clothes on”. Maybe true, but not quite so in the blogging world. I often sit at five am in my birthday suit and create a blog or two and trawl through my commentaries, reply if […]
Posted inLifestyle, Media
Oprah’s African women don’t love themselves
Not too long ago I was frightened by words of a young, gifted and African woman who expressed a desire to be recreated in Oprah Winfrey’s image: confident, aggressive and, of course, American. This beautiful soul is a high-flying creative achiever who wants to be what she is not: a poor imitation of an African-American […]
Posted inGeneral
What is democracy?
Recent events in South Africa have resurrected the age-old question of democracy. What is it? What does it mean to say, ever so glibly, that democracy is ‘the rule of the people’? Putting it that way does not necessarily mean ‘the rule of the people by the people’, but could easily reflect a docile kind […]
Posted inLifestyle
We do not have to apologise for not speaking “proper English”…
Rod MacKenzie’s comments about the standard of English on Thought Leader (see the box, below) are well taken. It is, sometimes, difficult to follow contributions by bloggers and commentators, not all of which can be explained by actual language skills, or lack thereof. Some of it may have to do with a lack of reading […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Mshini Wami 5: a new plan for the Scorpions
The ANC are adamant that the Scorpions have to be incorporated into the SAPS as a brand new unit, which will be headed by a deputy national police commissioner and report to the minister of safety and security. In addition they will not be allowed any independent criminal intelligence capability just to make absolutely sure […]
Posted inGeneral
Our time is coming …
The latest Human Science Research Council survey reveals that white South Africans are worried about the success of the 2010 World Cup. However, the survey also indicates “this by no means implies that they care less about hosting the mega event”. Furthermore, “at least 95% of white South Africans have consistently perceived there to be […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Can a Shilowa be greater than the ANC?
I was amazed to learn that Mbhazima Shilowa has resigned his position as premier of Gauteng province. He has done so without prior consultation with the organisation that had put him there, in the first place. In fact, he has decided to quit the plum job because he does not like how former President Thabo […]
Posted inGeneral
Football — stuck in the Dark Ages?
http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Respect/ Football used to be a simple affair. Eleven fit young men from around the way would go down to the park on weekends and square off against another collective from another locale. The game would be played in high spirits and with goodwill all round, the ref would be a quiet authority on the […]
Posted inGeneral
Twitter: damned if you follow, damned if you don’t
I love Twitter. But I’m starting to fall very much out of love with some of the tweets that pop up in my stream. Yes, obviously, Twitter offers us a quicker, less formal, real-time version of email. And yes, it’s gone way beyond its original plan to publish everyone’s answer to “what are you doing?” […]