Suntosh Pillay speaks to fellow psychologist Anton Botha, who is also a former UN staff member, about Israel and Palestine and whether or not the United Nations is abdicating its duties to maintain peace
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Posted inEquality, General, Media
Is psychology serving humanity?
By Suntosh Pillay Do we have the intellectual courage to ask what is “post” about “post-apartheid” South Africa? This question was, interestingly and perhaps not coincidently, raised at two separate conferences happening at the same time in Durban last year September. At the Steve Biko National Conference, Veli Mbhele raised this provocative and necessary question […]
Posted inGeneral
Prof Gerwel believed in me…
Edited and compiled by Suntosh Pillay Many sterling tributes and obituaries have already been written, drawn, spoken and reminisced for the late Professor Jakes Gerwel. In addition to his many other roles he served as chairperson of the board of trustees of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation (MRF), which annually selects the Mandela Rhodes Scholars. Some […]
Posted inGeneral
Do we need Africa Day?
This post is in response to the recent Community of Mandela Rhodes Scholars (CMRS) “Conversations for Change” sessions held throughout the country in May. As a platform for constructive interdisciplinary debate and intellectual enquiry, the sessions sought to bring together academic institutions, public intellectuals, social activists, students, and community members with the intention of facilitating […]
Posted inLifestyle
So much writing, is anyone reading?
By Suntosh Pillay It started innocently enough. But then again, I should have known better. My parents always said don’t go into strange places with strange people. But I couldn’t resist. Before I knew it, I was knee-deep in the online jungle called Amazon. Special offers were popping up in every corner. Books that I’ve […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Waiting for 2pm on Gothic Tuesday
By Suntosh Pillay My one concern about Black Tuesday was that if the 400 MPs deciding our future decided not to pass the secrecy bill, then a celebratory White Wednesday might follow and, quite frankly, dressing up in white is never as flattering as black. In faded black jeans, looking like a trainee Gothic, I […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Who did the Indians vote for?
By Suntosh Pillay Race, place and identity are all at play during elections. The election circus has left town, new mayors make old promises and the mug shots we’ve been tortured with on street poles have finally been removed. The results were predictable: the ANC a little weaker, the DA gloating its victories, Cope nearing […]
Posted inLifestyle
Beggars in shopping malls — facing our guilt
By Suntosh Pillay Beggars confront us every day. What do you do when a person arrives, looking pitifully desperate, begging for a handout? Perhaps we’ve developed routine methods of response: quickly search our pockets and flick a rand; shrug sympathetically; squirm uneasily in the car looking to our side compartments, or, perhaps because suffering has […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Juju’s globetrotting — for what?
By Suntosh Pillay Truth is always stranger than fiction. Malema, after all, went to Zimbabwe to learn economics from Robert Mugabe. In fact, the ANC Youth League’s “study-tour programme”, where eight of Malema’s cronies will travel to China, Chile, Venezuela, Brazil and Cuba, to “learn” how these countries have fared in nationalisation projects, is absurd. […]
Posted inGeneral
The racial divisions of class keep racism alive
By Zukiswa Mqolombo I read a thought provoking piece by fellow Scholar, Suntosh Pillay. His was a response to Andile Mngxitama’s little red book Blacks can’t be Racist. His proposition contested Andile’s one, and sought to affirm that black people in postmodern South Africa can be, and often are indeed, racist. This prompted my short […]
Posted inLifestyle
One simple reason why blacks can’t be racist
By Suntosh Pillay A short little booklet caught my attention recently. On its red cover, the bold title “Blacks can’t be racist” appeared. Curious by such an absurd claim, I parted with R20. Indeed, it was a 23-page explication on why black people cannot be racist. CANNOT. This argument, written in July 2009, was put […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The rise and rise of the president’s right hand
[Update: The Press Council’s deputy press ombudsman, Johan Retief, found in Lakela Kaunda’s favour regarding a July 7 2010 article the Times published titled “Kaunda wins battle in the presidency – Zuma’s top aide tightens her hold as two more key officials prepare to leave”. The ombudsman stated that Kaunda had complained that “the story […]