This whole world, especially the African continent, is fast running out of leadership material. When you look around, it is very easy to see successful men and women who have “made it” in politics or business, whatever that means. In fact, the number of people, especially in the African community, who have made it in […]
2009
Posted inGeneral
Cronin, the messiah, has arrived
“A voice cries out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!’ ” — Somewhere in the Good Book. The Mayans said the world would end in 2012 and we laughed them off. Then we started having all these fulfilments of end-of-days scenarios. All manner of evil upon the land; skinny […]
Posted inGeneral
Bok ratings vs Italy
Wian du Preez 7 — Good, solid if unspectacular debut. Welcome onboard son. Good to have a sound alternative to Beast. Adriaan Strauss 7 — Again. Solid, no fireworks, but not much wrong either. Also handy to have when Bismarck needs a rest. They are doing some seriously good work in the Free State with […]
Posted inNews/Politics
JZ must take hard line against Malema
“The Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) wants to talk to the ANC Youth League about its president Julius Malema’s insults against South African Communist Party general secretary Jeremy Cronin. It was ‘disgusted’ at the insults against Cronin, who is also the deputy minister of Transport, YCLSA spokeswoman Gugu Ndima said in a statement. […]
Posted inSport
All white rugby
“I don’t know why it is, but it is a fact that the Afrikaner cultural group just seems to produce some freakishly built people with a freakish genetic make-up,” Nick Mallet famously said in 2007. Pierre Spies, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger and Os du Randt have …
Posted inNews/Politics
Internet bigots and loonies also have rights
Those who warn of an international Jewish conspiracy or imminent Armageddon if women won’t dress modestly, struggle to get published in credible newspapers. Competition for space is fierce and the local loony claiming abduction and impregnation by randy extra-terrestrials is only rarely indulged.
Posted inGeneral
Henry the Fraud
Forget the Thierry Henry of Arsenal days. Forget the mazy runs, the languid sprint and the delightful finishes. There is only one Henry that football will remember, and that is the cheat who popped up on Wednesday night. He used to be revered as “Titi” the legend, but he can now remove a single “i” […]
Posted inLifestyle
It’s time to declare a pox on annoying people
It’s been a while since I’ve had a good bitching session about People who Do Annoying Things, and it’s high time that this oversight was rectified. So, I give you my latest list of people who deserve to be cursed with a chronic infestation of pulex irritans. First up, pedestrians. Yes, South African motorists hate […]
Posted inLifestyle
Do we see how daft our own behaviour is?
We decided to have a lock put on our bedroom door for extra safety and I duly told our ayi, maid in Chinese, the new rule and the safe place to leave the key. I realise ayi here in China come from a very simple or rural background and need training in using washing machines, […]
Posted inGeneral
Let’s go straight to number one
What is the obsession with mediocrity? Compromise! Middling, equivocal, moderated and ultimately ineffectual solutions. There is only so much oil under the ground, and the same goes for natural gas, coal and uranium. There are only so many rivers for hydroelectricity and the full cost accounting on renewables is harsh: even the best dream of […]
Posted inGeneral
Thierry Henry has done me a rather dubious favour
By Pamela Weaver It’s taken me 23 years, but at last I understand why my old man, who is English, still can’t let go of Maradona’s infamous “hand of God” goal against England in the 1986 World Cup. Next time he enters into what, for more than two decades, I have only ever heard as […]
Posted inGeneral
The endemic culture of blame-shifting and victimhood
There exists a disturbing phenomenon in our country where no one person appears to be eager to assume responsibility for their individual deeds. The culture of blame shifting and victimhood is so deeply entrenched in the fibre of society that none of us appear willing to account for our individual actions, nor do we muster […]