I believe in freedom of expression. Our Constitution protects the right to freedom of expression. That is why I cannot welcome the Equality Court’s ruling that Malema was guilty of hate speech when he commented on the young woman who had accused President Jacob Zuma of rape. Please understand that I am not defending Malema. […]
2010
Posted inGeneral
SA’s looking a lot like Zimbabwe
Though former president Thabo Mbeki was often guilty, to a fault, of defending his administration, nothing could have prepared South Africans for the inappropriate appointments and point-blank refusal to accept wrongdoing among those who occupy positions of power or who are allied to current President Jacob Zuma. It’s as if a totally different set of […]
Posted inLifestyle
Cracking Kiwi-land?
“Right,” said the exasperated customs official at Auckland international airport to the poker-faced Chinese gentleman. “In your country, if yew make a false declaration on re-entering yer country, what happens?” Marion (The Chook) and I had arrived in Auckland from Shanghai on Saturday March 13. We had travelled Air New Zealand, a flight which is […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Malemaisms and the art of distraction
Edged in national memory is that picture of a fat youngster who — except for his skimpy underwear, is totally naked — drunkenly leading a protest during the chaos that was the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) elective conference in Mangaung, Bloemfontein. At that conference, Julius Malema was elected president of the ANCYL. How […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Malema and ANC playing with fire
When ANC Youth League President Julius Malema addressed the National Press Club in Pretoria recently — following his being heckled and booed by SACP delegates at Polokwane — he stated that this type of conduct was an invitation to war which the ANCYL was accepting. After all, how dare they, fellow members of the tripartite […]
Posted inGeneral
So I witnessed an accident
So I witnessed an accident. There I was on a Friday afternoon, waiting behind a flashy black ML — as you do — indicating to turn right from Bryanston Drive into Wilton Avenue, thinking about how, when I got home, the first thing I would do is phone the doctor’s rooms to find out if […]
Posted inGeneral
SXSW South Africa Series #5 – Lynette Kloppers and Andy Hadfield chat Banking 2.0
Just attended the Banking 2.0 panel with my colleague from FNB, head of digital strategy in the personal banking segment at FNB. The following is an interview style summary of some of the amazing content that was discussed. The Panel comprised of CEOs from Mint.com, SmartyPig, LendingClub.com and Credit Karma. Andy: So with all the […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Stirrings in the heart of Die Volk
The only instantly identifiable Afrikaner leaders are defunct (FW de Klerk), defected (Marthinus van Schalkwyk), or deranged (Eugene Terre Blanche).
Posted inGeneral
The hypocrisy of SA politics … That’s how the cookie crumbles
I truly thought I was dreaming when I listened to Helen Zille explaining away her MEC’s sexual indiscretion as none of our business, using the same mouth used to condemn Jacob Zuma for having “unprotected sex with a mistress”. Equally, I had to pinch myself when Julius Malema using his motor mouth to attack Helen […]
Posted inGeneral
SXSW South Africa Series #4 – Is fulfilment the most important word in digital?
In the last post, I was quite excited by the application of location-based services in a community that has the infrastructure to generate enough traffic. I’d like to temper that exuberance with some considered thinking. It involves a good story, and a not-so-good story. And one word, for which I have my “banking” experience to […]
Posted inGeneral
SXSW South Africa Series #3 – Location-based marketing suddenly makes sense…
Checked into my first hotel in Austin, a little one night stop before hitting the Hampton Inn and Suites with the rest of the SA delegation. My bag didn’t arrive — which carries on a long and stormy relationship I have with baggage. And airlines. Ahem. Delta. Anyhoo, the Delta Airlines lady was wonderfully pleasant […]
Posted inGeneral
SXSW South Africa Series #2 – WiFi on planes…
So I’m winging my way off to Austin, Texas for the SXSW Conference. I’m on the connection flight via Atlanta, blogging this while 30000 feet or more in the air. Yup. Go Go Wifi on Delta flights. I’ll do a speed test ;) (Update: Speed Test gave me over 100 kb / second — that’s […]