Alice Walker spoke with poise and compassion when she delivered the 11th Steve Biko lecture at UCT last Thursday evening. Her speech, titled “Coming to see you since I was five” was more than just a reflection on her own relationship with our country, it was a call to order. This was a lecture worth […]
2010
Posted inNews/Politics
Secrecy bill could harm the ANC more than the media
The Sunday Times headline story by Stephan Hofstatter and Mzilikazi wa Afrika — how the government spent R4.2 million buying and furnishing a plush home for police commissioner General Bheki Cele — is the perfect example why certain parties are adamant that the Protection of Information Bill (POIB) should be implemented and why South Africans across […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Good ideas endanger the ANC’s political health
Upon sober evaluation of the snout-to-trough threat factor, the ANC’s ‘good’ idea is allowed quietly to pine away from neglect.
Posted inNews/Politics
What do our crime stats mean?
The government has released its latest crime statistics. You can access the full page here. The scary truth is that approximately 2 121 887 serious crimes were committed in the 2009/2010 calendar year. More than 30% of these were contact crimes and more than 25% were property-related crimes. So what does that mean for the ordinary citizen? […]
Posted inGeneral
Women’s football needs to be treated with respect
Bantwana Bantwana made history by becoming the first South African women’s national team to represent the country in a Women’s World Cup. The fact that it is in the under-17 level means that there is hope for women’s football in the near future, provided that these girls do progress to Banyana Banyana. Even though the […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Koran burning: How much of Terry Jones is in us all?
“What a dick,” I muttered, shaking my head as I watched Terry Jones, yet another apostle of the Christian fundamentalist lunatic fringe*, declare on television that he was going to publicly burn the Koran as part of his church’s ceremony to observe the anniversary of 9/11. “What on earth makes him and his ilk think […]
Posted inLifestyle
Why we should be investing in renewable energy
As South Africa looks to renew its energy sector, comparisons are often made of how much one source of electricity costs versus another. Carrying out this exercise is much more difficult than might at first appear, but this must not deter the attempt. What are the problems encountered when comparing renewable sources such as wind […]
Posted inGeneral
Test cricket — the greatest game on earth
“Baseball has the great advantage over cricket of being sooner ended.” These were the words of the Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw, perhaps complimented by the actor Robin Williams, who said of the gentleman’s game, “Cricket is basically baseball on Valium.” Both men and many other people have always tended to think Test cricket specifically, […]
Posted inNews/Politics
I’d like to challenge Cwele to a live debate
While State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele was suggesting that the controversial proposed Media Tribunal and the Protection of Information Bill will not suppress the media, Sunday Times journalist Mzilikazi Wa Afrika was appearing in the Nelspruit Regional Court on Wednesday where charges of fraud, forgery and uttering were withdrawn against him. Wa Afrika had been […]
Posted inMedia
Jag was right to drop that silly Aussie
This week has been a bit of a mixed bag for the celebrity tweeters of this world. Kanye West earns the otherwise elusive respect of millions by apologising for Imma let you finish; Kevin Pietersen is fined for tweeting about knobs and Australian Olympic swimmer and rugby fan Stephanie Rice was dumped by Jaguar for […]
Posted inGeneral
Pirates could go all the way and lift MTN 8 cup
The MTN 8 semi-final clash between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday night is going to be a humdinger. The fact that it will be played over two legs makes it even more exciting for both teams, the supporters and the neutrals. Both sides are on song at the moment, playing some flowing attacking […]
Posted inLifestyle
Great Sexpectations
Tick tock, tick tock. That sound is the passing of time, and lots of it has passed since the 50s, or at least I had hoped so. The love of my life has been given a job in Johannesburg (a dusty, dirty and angry city) and we currently live in Cape Town (a fresh, clean […]