By Amanda Ngwenya Kate Wilkinson’s Thought Leader article that SRCs are for students not politicians provides a good platform off which to make the case for the inclusion of political organisations in Student Representative Council (SRC) elections because it posits the classical fallacy that attends the debate. The fallacy being that political organisations further some […]
2011
Posted inGeneral
TIA – This is Africa
By Jacqueline Muna Musiitwa “This is Africa” (TIA) is used in the context of what is perceived to be “African” versus “unAfrican”. For this article, unAfrican includes, but is not limited to, systems that work, clean places and timeliness. African, however, is dirty, tardy and disorganised. Even though I surround myself with Afro-optimists, I have […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Africa is not a country
I didn’t really take much notice of the last Zambian election, one which pitted Michael Sata and Rupiah Banda, two men in their 70s. My lack of interest could have been because I wondered why these men, who actually belong to the nationalist period that swept Africa in the 1960s, should be the ones battling […]
Posted inGeneral
No government can take away our rights
By Amukelani Mayimele When you vote you change nothing. Things will only change if we change our way of thinking and do things for ourselves. Figures show that we vote but do we hold our leaders accountable? Do we know the policies that are approved on our behalf? Do we recommend solutions to government? Are […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Limping towards the socialist revolution
There are few functioning economies where there still could be a serious discussion on the desirability of a socialist revolution. That it remains a topic of earnest debate in South Africa is sad evidence of arrested mental development. This week it was John Kane-Berman, head of the SA Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR), who reignited […]
Posted inGeneral
SRCs are for students, not politicians
By Kate Omega Wilkinson Prof Jonathan Jansen over at University of the Free State has been given a hard time about the fact that he wants to limit political activity on the Student Representative Council (SRC). I just want to give him a pat on the back. I think that it is a step in […]
Posted inLifestyle, Media
An open letter to MTN
Dear MTN, Recently I trudged through the plains of Mordor, chucked the Ring into the Mount Doom and emerged in one piece on the other side. Which is to say that I’ve just crossed my self-payment gap and Discovery will actually start to pay for things again. This is just as well for you, because […]
Posted inGeneral
Prevent lock-in, obsolescence and over-charging with standards-based VoIP
Many companies today stipulate a need for “investment protection” in their telephony systems. In other words, they want the assurance that their phone system won’t require a full “forklift migration” at upgrade time due to “closed” standards, and that it won’t spring so many hidden cost surprises that, in the end, they’re left with a […]
Posted inBusiness, General, Media, News/Politics
Why South Africa should be run like the Loeries
Two icons meet on stage Photo: Gallo Exhilarating, exhausting and, most of all, enlightening. I’ve just returned from a two week road trip and social media campaign, travelling down to Cape Town for the Loerie Awards. (You can read all about the campaign here.) It was unbelievably hard work and worth every Red Bull-fueled moment […]
Posted inGeneral
On shame, apartheid, and being a white South African
We live in a constitutional democracy, where, apart from the high levels of crime, the co-existence of people of various races is relatively peaceful, judging by my everyday experiences at the university where I teach, in restaurants and coffee shops, and also on occasion at civic functions. I attended such a function tonight at Port […]
Posted inGeneral
I salute you Richie McCaw
A big congratulations to All Black captain Richie McCaw on reaching 100 caps for the All Blacks. I was really taken aback at the lack of pomp and ceremony around this milestone and was filled with questions as to why the captain was not showered with more on the night. In the week leading up […]
Posted inGeneral
The Cup of Dreams
There is no doubt that the whole of New Zealand is praying twice a day, if not more, that their All Blacks finally overcome the hurdle of winning their second RWC and matching up with their Sanzar partners. Those that can’t pray are having dreams about the cup coming back to New Zealand. I can […]