Before all of you start jumping to conclusions about my ignorance and what not; how about you actually read what I have to say… HIV/AIDs has become a moot point of some sort in our society, like everything else in life we go through them in phases. When it was the beginning stages of the […]
2010
Posted inNews/Politics
An immoral sense of morality
You are probably corrupt. Here is why. In the last twelve months you probably have done one of the following. You probably have, on more than one occasion, bribed a traffic cop who pulled you over for speeding. You had no qualms parting with a facilitation fee (http://www.mg.co.za/article/2010-02-12-getting-a-licence-can-drive-you-to-corruption) to a driving instructor in return for […]
Posted inGeneral
Amajita early exit another big blow for SA football
A 3-2 defeat by Lesotho last weekend means that South Africa’s Under-20 national team will miss out on the next edition of the African youth championships as well as the world youth championships. This is yet another big blow for the progress of South African football, it has robbed our youngsters of a valuable opportunity […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Does the ANC have a point about the media?
Media freedom is one of those topics that its easy to raise a consensus around. For those of us that remember that bad days of apartheid, the consequences of a media held back by a government threatened by the truth needs no exposition. It is thus not surprising that there has been a loud and […]
Posted inGeneral
Asking nicely…is a bad position to be in
According to current victims’ services policies in South Africa, victims of crime generally have the right to request information about the status of their case, but do not have the automatic right to receive that information without asking for it. So we currently place the burden on the victim to fill in a form, pay […]
Posted inGeneral
Do we deserve to celebrate Women’s Day?
As South Africans celebrate Women’s Day, the contribution of great women are often heralded and echoed across the nation, and rightly so. It is only fitting that we, as a nation, mark the immeasurable sacrifices and suffering of leading women in our society. The names of Lilian Ngoyi, Mamphela Rampele, Helen Joseph, Albertina Sisulu, Adelaide […]
Posted inGeneral
How is a ‘critical journalism’ possible?
Journalism is usually, and I believe accurately, associated with the uncovering and reporting of “facts”. Investigative journalism, especially, involves the (sometimes difficult, even dangerous) ferreting out of “facts” that are not generally known, and often deliberately hidden or covered up, especially by those in power. Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, for example, will be remembered […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
The Central Defamation Fund
Right, so the aim of the Media Appeals Tribunal is to (allegedly) assist people who want to take on the media by providing them with a platform with which to seek some form of redress for some hurtful comments or stories that may have been written about them in the media. At present our Law […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Up to the media to look beyond the Selebi sideshow
Selebi may be just a sideshow. No one knows how deep and far the corruption in SAPS’ top hierarchy extends.
Posted inNews/Politics
Why won’t the NPA let me talk to Gerrie Nel?
By Adriaan Basson Since he and his team successfully prosecuted Jackie Selebi, the National Prosecuting Authority is refusing to grant me an interview with Advocate Gerrie Nel. Why? Nel and his team were the architects of Operation Bad Guys — one of the Scorpions’ final investigations that netted Selebi, Glenn Agliotti, Clinton Nassif and a […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Threats to the media — we brought this on ourselves
Society and progressive civil society in particular, must take some of the blame for the state threats to the media. This is not some sensationalistic shock statement meant to upset you into action. In it lies the years of abdication from social responsibility to build a vigilant society. A society that guards its democratic freedom […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Prison knocks at Selebi’s door
After a marathon trial, after suspicious political inventions and interventions, after the commendable investigative and prosecutorial work of members of the now disbanded special unit known as Scorpions, prison beckons for former South African police commissioner and former head of Interpol, Sello Jacob Selebi, known simply as Jackie Selebi. For some it’s hallelujah. For others […]