by Roger Diamond. “The world is coming to a catastrophic end!” How does that statement make you feel?! Let’s try “Certain elements of our society are likely to be placed under major stress and perhaps stop functioning optimally.” Feel different about that prediction? Two totally different sentences that could have the same meaning, but certainly […]
2010
Posted inGeneral
Words and action
Everyone knows the saying about “sticks and stones” but I’m beginning to become disillusioned with the ending. South Africa is a place where freedom of speech is highly valued among all people and the right to tell your story is something empowering and powerful. But how do we then stop people when they’ve said too […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Explaining Selebi
Jaap Cilliers SC, counsel for Jackie Selebi, confirmed at the conclusion of the evidence given by former intelligence coordinator Barry Gilder that the accused’s legal team intends bringing an application for his discharge at the close of the state’s case. The state thereafter closed their case after reading certain evidence, which has been agreed between […]
Posted inGeneral
Why we should nationalise the sex industry
Dear Mr Ebrahim Patel, I heard that you and some of your colleagues are planning a major rethink of our economical system. This is great news! I would like to take part in the Big Economic Debate! Even though I know very little about economics (ignorance about this topic has not prevented Mr Malema from […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
It’s time to #SpeakZA
For some time I have purposely not said anything about Malema. I think he gets wayyyy too much press as it is. He’s everywhere and I am sick of him and his utter stupidity in my PC, my TV and in my radio. So I kept quiet about him, not wanting to feed to his […]
Posted inMedia
Tribute to a less famous Coetzee
The ANCYL’s unsubstantiated claims about hypocritical journalists certainly ring completely hollow in relation to the life and work of David Coetzee.
Posted inNews/Politics
From the Acropolis to the Burj
Recent reaction to the Greek economic crisis was striking in its dissimilarity to the reaction to Dubai’s economic woes in 2009. Dubai was effectively written off as a nation doomed to permanent decline whereas Greece has been rallied around. I guess it really does pay to be part of the European Union. German Chancellor Merkel […]
Posted inGeneral
Recovery is a word you hear a lot in Rwanda
By Danielle Nierenberg and Jim Devries From public-service announcements on television to billboards — it’s the motto for a place that just 15 years ago was torn apart by genocide. More than one million people were murdered in 1994 as ethnic strife turned neighbour against neighbour in one of the bloodiest civil wars in African […]
Posted inGeneral
The final before the final
By Sphiwe Hlongwane It has already been dubbed as the final before the final, so we can expect fireworks when Mamelodi Sundowns host Kaizer chiefs in the Telkom Knockout challenge quarterfinal at the Super Stadium on Sunday. Both teams were disappointed after failing to win the league title, so this tournament is an opportunity for […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Mthembu walks the talk
Having been among the first to slate African National Congress spokesperson Jackson Mthembu for his being arrested for drunk driving in the same week as four Soweto school kids lost their lives, I would like to be among the first to salute his willingness to accept responsibility for his actions. At a time in South […]
Posted inNews/Politics
We need more ministers like Hogan
So Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan has done it again. After a shocking indifference across the ANC on the Chancellor House/Eskom scandal, she has stood up again to be counted. For those who missed it, this is where the ANC, with a 25% shareholding in Hitachi, is set to fleece you and I through the […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
SpeakZA: Can Jacob Zuma be called an apie?
I am echoing the old debate where Eugene Terre’blanche referred to a statue of Chief Tshwane as an “apie”. For the record, I do not think he is ape-like at all (Jacob, not Eugene; I find Eugene slightly simian). I actually do not even wish to talk explicitly about Jacob Zuma, but about freedom of […]