Starvation dictates that I do some television work now and then. TV programmes pay for FHM subscriptions and other such essentials. To this end, I have taken part in two 13-episode seasons of a television debate/talk show called Drawing the Line. The show is hosted by Lebo Mashile, the poet, and the 2nd season airs […]
2009
Posted inNews/Politics
Voting ANC: Oh come all ye faithless …
… joyless and de-fea-ted, oh come ye, oh co-ome ye to Luu-thuu-li house. Oh co-ome and behold him, with glorious spout sur-mouun-ted… Jokes and a new song for the shower aside (with lots of soap after a night of serious bed-jostling to make sure), what’s so bad about the ANC getting “in” again, note the […]
Posted inGeneral
Africa’s deficit of original thought
In a 1949 essay titled “The Economic Development of Latin America and its Principle Problems”, Argentinean economist Raúl Prebisch challenged the current economic orthodoxy. His contention was that “mainstream” economic thought, promoted by countries that were benefiting at Latin America’s expense, would not lead to that region’s development. Prebisch then went on to develop an […]
Posted inGeneral
Battle of the giants
Google recently joined the group of companies supporting the European Commission’s investigation into Microsoft over the benefits it gets ahead of its competitors by releasing its Internet Explorer browser with Windows. The complaint was originally filed by one of Microsoft’s software rivals, Opera. The Norway-based company also makes a web browser by the same name, […]
Posted inNews/Politics
SABC crisis deepens
The crisis at the SABC seems to literally deepen by the hour as it haemorrhages money like a crazed gambler at the slot machines, drives out its most talented performers and continues to bolster its reputation as a crude propaganda organ of the ruling party. In the space of a few days: • Cosatu has […]
Posted inGeneral
Does the opposition have a youth development plan?
The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) is being established after having been created in terms of the National Youth Development Agency Act, Act 54 of 2008, by Parliament. Fundamentally every person involved with the NYDA must be a qualified and registered youth development practitioner in order for the NYDA to be able to be the […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Is there more to Schabir Shaik’s parole than meets the eye?
This week’s Talkback question on the Mail & Guardian Online: Is there more to Schabir Shaik’s parole than meets the eye?
Posted inGeneral
Predictions will flourish until ANC wins the elections
It is political silly season again when analysts, commentators, researchers and other know-it-all types tell us that the ANC is headed for a humiliating defeat at the coming polls. This seems to have become the pattern in the last three elections. If these prophets spoke the truth, the ANC would have long been dead and […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Balfour declaration Shaiks credibility of rule of law
“I am not going to make the reports of the doctors available. I heard Jody Kollapen from the HRC talking about that this must be a public thing — but for goodness sake do we want to be that silly, would you do that to your sister or brother if they were terminally ill — […]
Posted inGeneral
Why South Africans need to come to the party
Remember the outpouring of emotion the moment when Fifa President Sepp Blatter confirmed the World Cup would finally be hosted by South Africa? Scenes of millions of people celebrating the dawn of the 2010 era were flashed around the world. But now, with just three months remaining before the Confederations Cup and 16 months left […]
Posted inLifestyle
The abyss
I’m so sorry to disappoint you all. I’d like to think Miles is sorry too. (See my post “Today Miles pitched up to make a difference in his own life”.) Well, he did … but. I’ve just called to inquire about him on his second day in a detox programme, to be told: “I’m sorry […]
Posted inGeneral
Is our democracy unravelling?
When Zapiro caused an uproar last year with his now notorious cartoon depicting Jacob Zuma about to take the lead in gang-raping a woman representing Justice, it said two things about the state of South African democracy. On the positive side, where else but in a true democracy would a newspaper be allowed to get […]