There have been a number of blogs on Thought Leader about sexual violence and rape. One of the things that leap out at me is the number of comments by self-proclaimed Africans (haiwa tigere for one) that echo the comments by a Zambian conference delegate as relayed in Jennifer Thorpe’s blog. The notion that women […]
2010
Posted inNews/Politics
Israeli-Palestinian conflict leaves me conflicted
I read yesterday that there was a small victory for Boycott Israel Movement in South Africa. The University of Johannesburg (UJ) announced a conditional boycott against Ben-Gurion University (BGU) in Israel. It’s conditional in the sense that it is not a boycott but the threat of one. UJ has committed to ending any relationship (teaching […]
Posted inGeneral
Delhi: The games people play
The views in this article have been expressed in the author’s private capacity The debacle surrounding India’s competency to host the Commonwealth Games begs two “tricky” questions. Firstly, is there still a place in today’s world for the Commonwealth? And secondly, what was India thinking bidding for the Games? My views on each follow. Is […]
Posted inGender violence, News/Politics
A Zambian embarrassment at the Victim Empowerment Conference
I have had the fortune (or misfortune … I’m not quite sure yet) to be at the International Conference on Victim Empowerment this week. We began yesterday with 12 hours of travelling, no food and shower that I had to run circles in to get wet and I had hoped that today would be better. […]
Posted inGeneral
Rudolph back as Proteas circle the wagons
The release of Cricket South Africa’s various squads last week showed where the selectors see “the future”. Rusty Theron, who should’ve already made his debut for the Proteas, was the big winner in the T20 squads while Loots Bosman should count himself lucky considering his very sketchy international record. The big calls were made with […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Media tribunal: Why access to the courts is important
The ANC’s thrust to create a Media Appeals Tribunal has met with considerable opposition across the board. I would like to focus on two issues in the debate on press freedom that received little attention. Depending on the perspective, the one could be described as the flipside of the other. State regulation and non-state self-regulation […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
Too old to rock ‘n roll, too young to braai!
Waking up with a pounding headache in a small room with extremely ugly curtains. Where am I? I force my aching body out of bed, stumbling through the debris of the night before. Empty wine bottles. Dirty clothes flung over a guitar case. Scribbled notes for a musical set list. Blinding sunlight pouring in through […]
Posted inLifestyle
Of monsters and men RE: Rapists are men
The most important point I need to make is that understanding something is very different from condoning it. Attempting to explain why men rape, and understanding their motivations for raping, is fundamentally different to condoning the act, or trying to ‘explain it away’. Condoning rape would be to play it down, or even to endorse it. Seeking to understand rape on the other hand, is about investigating why it happens. Understanding is not the same as excusing rape or rapists.
Posted inGeneral
AfriForum retreats further and further into ideological laager
It’s 2010. Eighteen years after South Africa’s re-introduction to international sports and the formal unification of sporting codes in the country. A sponsor writes to the organisation responsible for running the game it has been associated with for a quarter of a century to express its concerns over the seemingly slow pace of transformation and […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Can police search you at a roadblock?
In light of the arrest of Atul Gupta, for allegedly refusing a search at a roadblock, as well as the police searching vehicles seemingly without warrants, one of my readers, Graham Bailey, asked if I could have a look at the powers of the authorities in these circumstances. At the outset always bear in mind […]
Posted inGeneral
Wafa Wafa: Who wants it most?
The excellent Moses Mabhida Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal will host the Original Soweto derby on Saturday when Orlando Pirates take on Moroka Swallows in the MTN8 final. Orlando Pirates are determined to be the last team standing when the final whistle blows to end what is expected to be an exciting final on Saturday between two […]
Posted inBusiness, News/Politics, Tech
The real cost of renewables
We are at the start of a period of significant investment in renewable energy in South Africa. Renewables will bring many advantages for the country. For simplicity in this blog I will deal mainly with the benefits of wind power, but these benefits will occur with solar, particularly solar PV, as well. The headline cost […]