The advent of the Jacob Zuma presidency marks an important turning point in the meaning of freedom and democracy in South Africa. Whatever the know-all political experts and analysts may say, it will be the most important five years in the history of the liberation struggle, especially the ANC. This period will be characterised by […]
2009
Posted inGeneral
On the idea of evil and Zuma
What is evil? My favourite definition is that a person is evil if they cannot tell wrong from right, bad from good. As an extreme example, a man buys an apple and takes out a knife to peel it. He slits a child’s throat to check if the knife is sharp enough then proceeds to […]
Posted inGeneral
The Special Browse Mole Report: The veiled truth within
When the Special Browse Mole Report (the report) was initially leaked to Cosatu, those implicated in clandestine activities to undermine the rule of law and overthrow the government swiftly moved to discredit the origins of the report and attempted to render its contents invalid. The SACP secretary-general, Blade Nzimande, addressed a letter of complaint to […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Hlophe decision will be bigger than Zuma
Over the weekend IOL and the Weekender carried articles concerning the Judicial Services Commission hearing into the allegations made by the Constitutional Court judges against Judge President John Hlophe and his counter-charges against them. Hlophe has been charged with unlawfully attempting to influence two of the judges in respect of the matter which was previously […]
Posted inBusiness
Slip on those heels and grow a penis
When my friend Sara joined a reputable graduate programme in Johannesburg, she was assured that even though the company kills people for a living (they manufacture a kind of poison); the organisational culture at work would be categorically awesome. She was promised personal development mixed with out-of-the-box thinking (necessary if you want people to buy […]
Posted inGeneral
Dear President Zuma … What do you expect from his presidency?
This week’s Talkback question on the Mail & Guardian Online: Dear President Zuma … What do you expect from his presidency?
Posted inGeneral
Barcelona’s graffiti artists are running riot
The commentator had it right. Barcelona haven’t won anything yet, despite their mind-blowing brilliance. I will say one thing, though. They may not have won a trophy this season, but Pep Guardiola’s side have most certainly won the hearts of every football fan out there. Their latest demolition job, in Real Madrid’s backyard nogal, was […]
Posted inGeneral
Zuma’s honeymoon period
Irrespective of how you voted or your feelings towards the ruling party, the time has come to afford the ANC and soon to be national president Jacob Zuma and his incoming administration the breathing space they need to get everything up and running. The time for electioneering is over and the future wellbeing of this […]
Posted inGeneral
Dangling between the devil and the ANC
One of the big stories of the day in the US is the sly means by which mega-corporations are finding less-than-open ways to give their CEOs disproportionately gargantuan packages. Everything from super-cars to private jets to high-profile academic posts to private security. The companies — if and when they respond — bleat about how hard […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
Honey, no sex today, until you know how to govern Kenya
There is a common phrase that is gaining popularity among Kenyans. Extraordinary moments require extraordinary solutions — Kenyans have taken this statement wherever they go. This was the basis of an argument raised this week by women organisations in Kenya when they slapped a seven-day sex boycott to pave way for men to reason together […]
Posted inMedia
Let’s celebrate the bright side of poverty
Submitted by Mahmood Sanglay I watched Slumdog Millionaire and felt sick. Never have so many watched so much poverty on a silver screen and felt so good about it. The deception disgusts and the irony offends — extremely. But I apologise for this undeserved kindness. Mine is just one of few critical voices amid the […]
Posted inGeneral
Is KFC the right image for the Proteas?
Submitted by Sean Lloyd We’ve all come to look up at certain people in our lives and often the brands we use are ones that have in some way been endorsed by someone we look up to. From Lance Armstrong, Nike and Oakley, to Kelly Slater and Quiksilver, each brand has a face to it […]