It recently emerged that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to adopt the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) code. An integral part of this position is the BCCI’s support of its top players, who are claiming that the Wada code violates their privacy amongst other reasons. The BCCI has also said […]
2009
Posted inGeneral
SMS or data services for Google?
I recently had a conversation with some people at Google about mobile applications for sub-Saharan Africa. Two key issues emerged: i) South Africa is ahead of the pack in terms of cellphone adoption, coverage and services, and ii) the lowest common denominator is still SMS. If Google, or anyone else who wants to seriously play […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Putin, man of the people
I’ve always been a little suspect when a leader is described as a man of the people. It implies this person has the sanction of a nation. That he is their dreams and desires embodied in a man. It says: he is one of us. But so often it seems the more dubious a leader […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Is Mugabe preparing for war?
Pursuant to a fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe the Democratic Alliance gave a media briefing at Parliament confirming that they were of the view that there is no doubt about it but that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is preparing for war. In the briefing they set out the facts upon which they rely for coming to […]
Posted inGeneral
Blade’s out for those opposed to national health scheme
In his State of the Nation address Jacob Zuma informed us that the government would introduce the National Health Insurance (NHI) in a phased and incremental manner. He went on to inform the nation that “in order to initiate the NHI, the urgent rehabilitation of public hospitals will be undertaken through public-private partnerships”. I understood […]
Posted inLifestyle
Peak oil: Should I be worried?
By Roger Diamond Imagine one of those fine hotel buffets, with lots of food and places to sit, drinks to order and generally a good old time is being had by all. You’ve probably been there. Imagine the people just keep streaming into the restaurant steadily and the food just keeps being renewed, replaced, new […]
Posted inGeneral
Can we get some real news with our coffee?
More non-stories in the media this week then. Quite disturbing really. How does it ever come to pass that a whole editorial team passes through a “major story” that is well, nothing new and adds well … nothing new? The first related to a supposed expose’ of dodgy arms deals passing through SA’s regulatory cracks. […]
Posted inGeneral
Where are our democratic leaders?
Fifteen years into our young democracy and democratic leadership is severely lacking and sorely needed. Across all sectors in society, from the halls of Parliament, the lawns of our academic institutions, the fertile fields of our farmlands and in company boardrooms, it seems as though democratic leaders are either lacking altogether or incredibly thinly spread. […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Great expectations
War. That’s the fighting talk coming from Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande as he uses the intense media spotlight on the ANC’s National Health Initiative (NHI) to rabble rouse in his role as SACP general secretary. Making capitalism the enemy Speaking at the SACP’s 88th birthday in Virginia, the Free State, he promised to […]
Posted inLifestyle
Aussie Priorities 101
Disclaimer: The author neither endorses nor supports reckless and unsafe behaviour where any children or driving and alcohol consumption is concerned. What he does endorse and fully support is having a sense of humour about things, especially where no ultimate harm was done. I have a confession. Like all males since time immemorial I have […]
Posted inGeneral
A rapid heart rate and broken windows theory
Ok. So this has very little to do with sport. Other than my heart rate racing up as if I were sprinting up Table Mountain. But today, stuck in traffic on the Grayston Drive offramp in Sandton, I was passed by a flurry of cars belting up the emergency lane and restricted shoulder. Passing as […]
Posted inGeneral
The African Union: A club of convenience
By Dr Michael ‘Buchi Eze The ideological platitude on which the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and later African Union (AU) came into being was primarily to challenge colonialism, neutralise any lingering influence of imperialism and gain political independence for the rest of Africa. Thus Kwame Nkrumah in the heydays of independence struggle echoed this […]