2008

South Africa’s erstwhile president would have wept if he’d been Australian. In fact, he’d have bawled his eyes out. This is another key difference between Australia and South Africa. Australian men, especially politicians, cry in public. The land down under might have an endemic drought problem, but not when it comes to the tear ducts […]

For the ANC, judgment passed by Chris Nicholson was an opportunity to put a matter against Jacob Zuma to rest. It is widely reported that the decision by the NPA to lodge an application to appeal and consequently by Cabinet to seek legal advice on inferences made in the judgment, were the last straw for […]

Submitted by Tristan Gorgens Listening to the various reactions to Mbeki’s resignation on Sunday I was struck by a the reaction by Archbishop Emeritus Tutu, one of the few ethical, non-aligned leaders left in our country, in which he said, “I can’t myself imagine that a party itself would say its unity is far more […]

The Community of Mandela Rhodes Scholars is committed to four core principles: leadership, entrepreneurship, reconciliation and education. The principle of leadership requires all scholars to commit themselves to ethical leadership; leadership that places the interests of society ahead of the interests of individuals, factions or groups. In attempting to propagate its principles, the Community as […]

The Speaker of parliament Baleka Mbete issued a statement on September 22 2008, outlining the parliamentary process to deal with the resignation of President Mbeki. The statement made reference to the election of the new president in terms of section 86 of the Constitution. Section 86(1) reads, “At its first sitting after its election, and […]

Since the sacking of the president of the republic, Thabo Mbeki, South Africans have continued with their daily lives. Of course, this does not mean our people have not reacted. Some are delighted, some saddened by these events. However, not even a drop of blood has been lost. In most African countries, sacking a president […]

I know many of my fellow countrymen are digesting the words of American poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox, who wrote: “To sin by silence when we should protest, makes cowards of men.” I will be less poetic for I am less gifted, but — you have to hand it to us South Africans — we truly […]

I read an interesting yet short article by Karima Brown on Business Day online. The following paragraphs caught my eye: “Could firebrand African National Congress Youth League president Julius Malema have an even bigger effect on South African politics than he dreams of? “His demand that President Thabo Mbeki be stripped of his ANC membership […]