The sport of race carding has always been popular in South Africa. From the early days of Dutch settlement until now, the sport has thrived in our country. We have produced some of the world’s finest race carders. From great amateurs like Adam Kok and Totius to one of the world’s first professional race carders, […]
2009
Posted inNews/Politics
Something doesn’t ring true in the assault case against Malema
There is one thing that is really puzzling me in the case that has opened against ANCYL President Julius Malema. Why would he, a man permanently under the spotlight, get involved in physical contact? Firstly he has umpteen bodyguards because of the nature of his role within the volatile ANCYL. If he wanted someone sorted […]
Posted inSport
Leonard Chuene’s real mistake
Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene fell into the classic trap of not thinking far enough ahead when he made the fateful decision not to withdraw Caster Semenya from the Berlin competition. Most of the criticism and calls for his resignation have been from the emotional/human level, his failure as a CEO of Athletics SA […]
Posted inSport
Chuene is SA’s scapegoat
South Africans are using Leonard Chuene as their scapegoat in one of the most sordid abuses of power by many officials and ASA. He has admitted to a trail of lies that have landed him outside the favour of the ruling party, and have resulted in the mistreatment of an excellent athlete. He has undoubtedly […]
Posted inGeneral
Good sex for life
I would like to offer my rule for good sex for life. But, first I would like to ask the hard question: why does sex play such a dominant role in South Africa — more than anywhere else I believe — and, more specifically, in our HIV/Aids discourse? (If you are not interested in this, […]
Posted inGeneral
Malema arrives in Sandton, whites finally rush to the airport
You have to admit the news that ANCYL President Julius Malema’s Sandton neighbours were up in arms about his house-warming party is one of the funniest things we’ve heard about in ages. Apparently Malema sent out a notice warning residents that he was throwing a bash and if you had any objections that was not […]
Posted inLifestyle
What can we learn from depression?
“Serve you right to suffer, serve you right to be alone, because you’re still livin’ in days done past and gone … ” jangles that marvellous blues number played by one of the most awesome duets known in blues history, Van “the Man” Morrison and John Lee Hooker. The latter dude went through such rough […]
Posted inNews/Politics
SA united on sacking Chuene but silent on racism
If ever South Africa has embarrassed itself then it has to be on the Caster Semenya issue. Here I’m not referring to ASA boss Leonard Chuene, who has made a total idiot out of himself by carrying on a lie in the face of the terrible things we were saying about the international community and […]
Posted inLifestyle
Knersus, the Gummi Bears and nostalgia
I think the Gummi Bears rocked. Sure, technically, they bounced, here and there and everywhere — at least when they’d ingested gummi berry juice — but I still think they rocked. They’re one of my fondest memories of the 80s. (What else does the 8-s have to offer? PW and his Rubicon speech? Big hair? […]
Posted inGeneral
Nah, it’s in Durban we trust
Six weeks was all the time I gave Johannesburg to impress me with its might and splendour. And in just six weeks I have decided that one would have to be completely crackers to live anywhere but in Durban. So last night I bid farewell to the sprawling dichotomy of the southern labour camps and […]
Posted inGeneral
Democracy — the South African version
I have taken enormous liberties with this blog. Liberties which I trust the original poet, a legend in his own lifetime and an enduring icon in my life, will forgive because I am unable to improve on his evocative, lyrical, astounding work. Along with Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, John Lennon, Carole […]
Posted inGeneral
Is ODI cricket dead in the water?
Shane Warne recently wrote in his column for the Times: “This is a big call, but cricket evolves and the 50-over game has passed its sell-by date. It’s amazing to think that after the Ashes series, England and Australia play seven one-day games, which take about a month. Sorry, but that’s just greed on the […]