With the latest round of 2010 qualifying matches underway around the planet, South Africa is firmly in the international spotlight as the hosts of the next World Cup. Our early exit from the 2010 African Cup of Nations tournament is a major blow for the country’s World Cup campaign, but bruised Bafana fans should take […]
2008
Posted inNews/Politics
Jacob Zuma defends the judiciary, or does he?
President of the ANC Jacob Zuma, when addressing students at University of Johannesburg, defended the right of free speech, indicating that the judiciary is not beyond reproach. Zuma is right that we must, as responsible citizens, hold our judicial system accountable. He said, “It can’t be said you can’t criticise the judiciary. That is what […]
Posted inBusiness, News/Politics
Drawing instructive lessons of leadership from champions of supreme iniquities
Great leaders leave for later generations the task of imitation and identify themselves through constant response to the rhythms of changing circumstances; they turn the inchoate emotions of the mob to the purpose of their own; they seize on the opportunities of their time, the confiding hopes, fears, frustrations, crises and potentialities; and they succeed […]
Posted inBusiness
Is big business pursuing transformation half-heartedly?
In late 2003, the then Sasol CEO Pieter Cox made a serious error of judgment by citing Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) as a risk factor in a document that the company had to compile in terms of New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) regulations, reporting that, “there could be risks to shareholders that value may not […]
Posted inGeneral
Lance Armstrong returns to Tour de France
ESPN among others are reporting that seven times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong is set to return next year. Aged 37 in a couple of weeks’ time, Armstrong is reportedly going to be racing for the Astana team once again. How wise this is after a long lay off, only time will tell, but […]
Posted inGeneral
Hello … remember the Tri-Nations? There is a game to be played on Saturday.
Here we are a few days away from the Tri-Nations final with South Africa as spectators to the clash in Brisbane on Saturday between the All Blacks and Wallabies and all we read about in South Africa are sex, lies and video tape. I am tracking the Guinness Premiership taking place between 12 teams in […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Turn to the Afrikaans community on police recruitment
A couple of months ago I was in Emalahleni (Witbank) to argue a culpable homicide matter in the local regional court. Unfortunately, due to problems with the magistrate we were unable to proceed with the trial on the day. As always, when matters are delayed, we spent a couple of hours milling around trying to […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Jacob Zuma, Zapiro and Sarah Palin
At first glance, this might look like a shameless attempt to gain reads by listing the hottest topics in the South African blogosphere right now. And in some ways, it is: you have no idea how motivating it is to watch your name slipping down the rankings on the Thought Leader home page. I may […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
In defence of Zapiro
At their recent national convention in St Paul, Minnesota, the Republicans were quick to blame the “liberal media” for many of the ills of society. So too were their supporters in the conservative press. In response to questions regarding the suitability of John McCain’s running mate, for example, Jeffrey Kuhner of the Washington Times — […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Fear the wrath of Helen Zille scorned!
In the movie Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino, Samuel L. Jackson renders with great fervour one of the best-scripted lines in cinema history: “The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity […]
Posted inLifestyle
Trends and issues in local philanthropy in East Africa
A review of: Rose Lukalo-Owino, A Legacy of Giving: The Story of Mohamedally and Maniben Rattansi Educational Trust, Allavida, Nairobi: 2008. — In Trust for Tomorrow: Kenya Community Development Foundation, Allavida, Nairobi: 2008. — One Woman At a Time: The Kianda Foundation, Allavida, Nairobi: 2008. Connie Ngodi-Houghton, Promoting Philanthropy in Kenya: The Case for Tax […]
Posted inMedia
Why, Zapiro?
An open letter to Zapiro from Sandisiwe Vilakazi Why, Zapiro? During any kind of disaster there is always room for criminal elements to take hold. Looting during floods, xenophobic attacks and marches is a common enough occurrence. So it is with malicious intent during times of change. South Africa is going through trying times and […]