The war between Lekota and Shilowa forced the Congress Working Committee emergency meeting last night to cancel the May 29 Cope conference altogether. Speaking at an emergency press briefing at noon today the party’s embattled secretary-general, Charlotte Lobe, said: “We can’t go to conference in this state. These guys must sort themselves before we go […]
2010
Posted inLifestyle
Cape yuppies aren’t giving up the mountain for mine dumps
By Guy Lundy South Africans have a rather outdated tendency to think that all of its cities should be the same. As a result we judge Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and anywhere else in the country by the same criteria, and believe that all our cities should focus on the same industries, compete for the […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Is Tsvangirai an anti-gay bigot?
On Friday, the BBC reported that Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe’s prime minister and head of the opposition MDC, had declared support for Robert Mugabe’s refusal to protect gay rights in Zimbabwe’s new constitution. If his comments are accurate, they represent yet another step backwards in the long walk towards tolerance and respect for human rights in […]
Posted inGeneral
The importance of confidence and spreading it
The definition of confidence is as follows (with thanks to Wikipedia): Generally described as a state of being certain either that a hypothesis or prediction is correct or that a chosen course of action is the best or most effective. How is confidence mitigated? If we take the definition above and go the other way, […]
Posted inGeneral
Che
Recently I was fortunate to see Steven Soderbergh’s two-part film on Ernesto “Che” Guevara, respectively titled The Argentine and Guerrilla, which debuted at the 2008 Cannes film festival, to mixed reviews. I say “fortunate” for two reasons — first, it is a splendid, documentary-style film-duo which corresponds, as far as I am able to ascertain, […]
Posted inGeneral
All your base are belong to Fifa
South Africa’s artists shouldn’t be the ones moaning. Do they really think they’re going to be worse off thanks to the World Cup? In case you’ve been under a rock for the last few weeks, or have been too busy living your life to care, a bunch of South African artists, lead by the poet […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Mbeki vs Zuma in 2012?
According to informed sources former president Thabo Mbeki will be running for the post of African National Congress president at the ANC’s policy and elective conferences in 2012. Mbeki, who was replaced by current President Jacob Zuma as ANC president in December 2007 and national president in 2009, is of the view that at age […]
Posted inGeneral
My new must-have app: Dropbox
Like many people these days, I work across many machines in a typical work-day. I have a Windows machine at the office, a Mac at home and back up all the computers to a Windows Home Server in the cupboard. I have a few “essential” folders that I always want to have access to (things […]
Posted inGeneral
Saru’s BokSmart ticking all the right boxes
Yesterday it was announced that BokSmart, the joint initiative rugby-saftey programme between the South African Rugby Union (Saru) and the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Fund, has been legislated by Saru at the annual general meeting that was held last week. This is important for the following reason: Every year, pre-2009 before the programme was implemented, […]
Posted inGender violence
Rape — sex or power?
Rape happens every day in South Africa. It is estimated that each year about half a million rapes occur, but only 1 in 9 of these is reported. With roughly 24 million women in South Africa this presents women with a scary picture. It means that if you are a woman and you live to the […]
Posted inBusiness, Sport
Has the World Cup been stolen?
JOHANNESBURG — South Africans’ worst fears have been realised. The World Cup, transported to South Africa over the weekend, has been stolen. This according to a Polish syndicate calling itself Federacja Czerwonych Rysi (Federation of the Red Lynx), who claim to have broken into IFA offices on Monday and stolen the 36cm gold trophy. Photographs […]
Posted inLifestyle
Live more, buy less
By Michael Baillie Our sense of value — of what things are worth — is completely warped. Not that it’s surprising if you consider the huge resources that are poured into the juggernauts of marketing and advertising. It’s money spent on convincing you to spend more, work more, consume more — and live your life […]