I despise bullies. Inevitably, my first experience of that was at school. Well I remember being lifted up by my shirt and banged against a school wall while the big, grinning bully and his cronies laughed at me hanging against the wall, shoes dangling in the air. I had done nothing to deserve this. If […]
2010
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
SpeakZA: The free press will never die
The name Zanu-PF used to be synonymous with liberation as was the ANC. It used to stand for the high ideals of fighting oppression at great cost to those who lead the fight. Across the globe, liberated, free-thinking societies and the media institutions that represented their views stood by Zanu-PF as they have stood by […]
Posted inNews/Politics
SpeakZA: Bloggers for a free press
Last week, shocking revelations concerning the activities of ANC Youth League Spokesperson Nyiko Floyd Shivambu came to the fore. According to a letter published in various news outlets, a complaint was laid by 19 political journalists with the secretary-general of the ANC, against Shivambu. This complaint letter detailed attempts by Shivambu to leak a dossier […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
SpeakZA: Bloggers for a free press (and ethical leadership)
This post is being circulated on a number of websites and blogs, and is re-posted here in support of a free press in South Africa. The Community of Mandela Rhodes Scholars (CMRS) rejects the actions of Floyd Shivambu based on the CMRS’s commitment to the principle of ethical leadership. Last week, shocking revelations concerning the […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Sisulu, the minister of offence
After the briefing given by Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu on Thursday March 18 relating to information provided by US authorities who allegedly claim that her special adviser Paul Ngobeni is a fugitive from justice, it is little wonder that tensions are developing between Parliament and her concerning her department’s financial woes. According to the minister: […]
Posted inGeneral
A how-to guide on front-row skullduggery
We all love our game of rugby with varying degrees of passion, from the Taliban-like fundamentalism of the painted Bulls bone heads, to the plasma screen couch fans popping salted peanuts in their mouth at home or at bars around the world. The game either ranges from a spectacle with a clash of the titan […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Indefensible indignity
A choice between two terrible options is not really a choice for many people. When those terrible options pose a danger to your life and your dignity they can make even the most proud buckle with the weight of the decision. What am I talking about? Many of you will know that earlier this year […]
Posted inNews/Politics
SpeakZA: Bloggers speak out on free speech
South Africa faces many challenges as a country. We have one of the worst crime rates in the world, unemployment continues to hinder progress and the government faces an uphill battle with corruption within its own ranks. What we have enjoyed so far since the advent of democracy is a free press. Those who drafted […]
Posted inNews/Politics
SpeakZA: Bloggers for a free press
Last week, shocking revelations concerning the activities of ANC Youth League Spokesperson Nyiko Floyd Shivambu came to the fore. According to a letter published in various news outlets, a complaint was laid by 19 political journalists with the secretary-general of the ANC, against Shivambu. This complaint letter detailed attempts by Shivambu to leak a dossier […]
Posted inNews/Politics
SpeakZA: Bloggers for a free press
A message from a whole bunch of peeps, read it, share it and all that. Last week, shocking revelations concerning the activities of ANC Youth League Spokesperson Nyiko Floyd Shivambu came to the fore. According to a letter published in various news outlets, a complaint was laid by 19 political journalists with the secretary-general of […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
Verashni Pillay: SA’s newest boeremeisie
Yesterday, while perusing the news, I discovered a small announcement buried somewhere on the M&G website. It stated that columnist Verashni Pillay, along with a whole bunch of other journalists, had been reclassified as a boer journalist by a special decree from ANCYL leader Julius Malema. And as we all know, what Juju wants, Juju […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Supporting (limits to) media freedom
Zuma has received his award as Newsmaker of the Year for 2009. Not surprising, given last year’s events: a mixed bag, with the withdrawal of corruption charges, his election to the presidency, the launch of the presidential hotline and controversial appointments of a new chief justice, national director of public prosecutions and national police commissioner, […]