The Mail & Guardian on Sunday reported that the chairperson and commissioner of the IPL, Lalit Modi, had broken bail conditions and was involved in a number of troubling legal confrontations upon his return to India. My question therefore is how dare they have allowed him to travel to South Africa in the first place? […]
2009
Posted inGeneral
Federalism: DA wary of report that may reduce number of provinces
A report which was commissioned by former provincial and local government minister Sydney Mufamadi and which seeks to advise on the way in which provincial and local government function will be published later in the year. In an interview with the Saturday Star Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Sicelo Shiceka confirmed that South Africans […]
Posted inBusiness, Media
Why are businesses still treating customers badly?
So we’re having dinner at a friend’s house and we get onto the subject of customer service. Specifically, the lack of it, and how, if you want to sort out a problem, you have to have a tantrum or nobody pays any attention. (This is exactly what one of the guests did in the reception […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Piketberg: A mine and a metaphor for our time
A few weeks ago South Africans elected the African National Congress to yet another term as overlords of one of the most beautiful, sacred and creative lands on Earth. A land acknowledged as the “Cradle of Humankind”, where our species, homo sapiens sapiens, first ventured forth to populate and ultimately become the overlords of the […]
Posted inGeneral
The Southern Kings (explained)
The Southern & Eastern Cape were awarded a Super 14 rugby franchise on June 8 2005 with a unanimous SA Rugby Union Presidents Council resolution, which allowed the South Eastern Cape franchise to prepare for the Super 14 by playing Currie Cup rugby in 2006 and be in the Super 14 in 2007 and 2008. […]
Posted inGeneral
Mother Nature and Father Greed
Mother Nature and Father Greed have both reached crisis at the same time, environmentalist Monica Graaff told an Institute of Directors breakfast in Cape Town last week. One businessperson at the breakfast challenged: “Why should business change when what is going to happen is going to happen regardless?” Two days later the Cape of Good […]
Posted inGeneral
ANC will savage any opposition in its bid for perpetual rule
The ANC’s plans to destabilise and distract Helen Zille from fulfilling her duties as premier shows the contempt that our ruling party has for democracy. After several years of the ANC’s chaotic mismanagement and paltry delivery, the Western Cape’s voters decisively elected the DA to run the province. In moves startlingly reminiscent to its repeated […]
Posted inLifestyle
Townhouse torture or township triumph?
If there is one thing about townships that I think I should share is that there is a lot of monkey see, monkey do behaviour. It is a lot like the American mentality of keeping up with the Joneses but in a rather intricately township way. We (need I say) black people tend to overlook […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Ndebele saga marks a turning point
The return of a top-of-the-range Mercedes-Benz by a senior cabinet minister marks an important turning point in the culture of entitlement and kickbacks in government circles. Transport Minister S’bu Ndebele’s decision will, inevitably, restore faith in the ANC leadership. It is not only a coordinate for taking an anti-corruption stance but a resounding statement that […]
Posted inGeneral
Does S’bu Ndebele’s decision to return the “thank you” Mercedes bode well for the conduct of South Africa’s new government?
This week’s Talkback question on the Mail & Guardian Online: Does S’bu Ndebele’s decision to return the “thank you” Mercedes bode well for the conduct of South Africa’s new government?
Posted inNews/Politics
Muslim marriage law should be supported
The Constitutional Court has reserved judgement on an application brought before it which seeks an order to compel parliament and the president to enact a law recognising Muslim marriages. The court according to the Mail & Guardian link above appears to have narrowed its problems down to two issues ie whether it can be the […]
Posted inGeneral
Getting to play selector
So with the Super 14 pretty much done and nearly dusted, South African attention now turns to the — impending/looming/choose own hyperbolic adjective here — incoming tour by the British and Irish Lions. Now as is the nature of such, every man, dog and his braai stand have been playing selector and choosing their teams/squads […]