The expectation was that when the African National Congress — being the broad political church that it is — eventually fractured, the split would be between the nationalists and the socialists. It has since become apparent that the critical fault lines in the party are less ideological than they are around personal rivalries based. For […]
2010
Posted inGeneral
Pope Goes the Weasel
It’s about time we had some earthquakes in Rome. The historical home of the fiddle hasn’t had a shake in ages. Global warming may be biggie, and Iran may prove tsunamis to be minor ripples, but the man in the big hat has been bust, he fiddled while kids were razed. I’m comforted to know […]
Posted inNews/Politics
ANCYL ‘publicly’ condemns the ANC…
The division which arose within ANC ranks, following President Jacob Zuma’s public reprimand of the ANCYL president, takes on new meaning if regard is had to the alleged response of the youth league to a purported decision to charge Julius Malema. In accordance with reports in both the Sunday Times and City Press, Malema has […]
Posted inNews/Politics, Tech
Hatebook
As fear and loathing play out in this country, the real question is what can be done to mend SA’s racial divide?
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
Julius and Visagie are mirror images of our fractured society
By Zukiswa Mqolomba Analysis of South African politics has often been overshadowed and reduced to the politics of cult personalities, sex, drugs and power-politicking. Analysis has often lacked the lustre of critical analysis and in its context. Far too often, political analysts have pursued sound-bite analysis that “sells” to capture the imaginations and the fears […]
Posted inGeneral
Dear reader …
Of course, your opinions are more important than the blog — that’s the whole point. I was going to write something new — but wanted to respond to Maria. It is unfortunate that you feel I used the term “social Down’s Syndrome” in a shallow way to describe stupid. I didn’t. Just because someone has […]
Posted inGeneral
Volcanic eruptions and the end of the world
The eruption of volcano EyjafjallajÖkull has had its fun side. John Cleese allegedly paid a taxi driver $5 100 to travel 675 miles across a portion of Europe because he could not catch his plane. Oh, it was a car pool of people. As already argued, that taxi ride could be movie-making stuff, filled with one-liners. […]
Posted inGeneral
The need to resist being ‘constructed’ by divisive discourses
One often gets the impression that what is known as social constructionism has won the day, in so far as people seem to be slaves to the belief that everyone is conclusively “constructed” — that is, “determined” — by the cultural practices and beliefs they have adopted in the course of growing up. This is […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Chancellor House and the art of grabbing
By Stefaans Brümmer amaBhungane’s dictionary entry for the day: grabology n. The systematic, usually practical study of the optimum means to grab as much as you can, while you can, because you can — after all, you’re a pompous political prick and who gives a damn about the poor? amaBhungane’s insight for the day: Simple […]
Posted inGeneral
Need any help removing your head from your arse, Steve?
Dear Steve Hofmeyr, We’ve never met, and what I know of you is what I’ve gleaned from newspaper and magazine articles that detail your suburban conquests there in the East Rand, or wherever your haunt is. You don’t know me, which I’m perfectly happy with. Despite all this, I decided to write this little letter […]
Posted inLifestyle
‘Nikey’ and the Price War
So, here’s the question: If products were forced to carry labels that disclosed the product’s full cost to society, would you have the conviction to put certain products back? If you picked up a pair of the latest Nikey shoes, would you have the courage to return them to the shelf when you saw their tag?
Posted inNews/Politics
Why would the ANC be divided over Malema?
The excellent article by Matuma Letsoalo and Mmanaledi Mataboge outlining the division within ANC ranks following President Jacob Zuma’s public reprimand of ANCYL President Julius Malema speaks volumes about loyalty to a personality rather than policy. To say that this admonishment was long overdue is probably the understatement of the year and those that are […]