Durban, I think, leads the way with load-shedding, and I’m not speaking of the power failures foisted upon us by those corrupt, inept, travel-voucher peddlers who deign to rule us. I’m talking here about bakkies losing their cargoes and even passengers when they run into the thousands — literally — of enormous potholes littering the […]
Gavin Foster
Durban photojournalist Gavin Foster writes mainly for magazines. His articles and photographs have appeared in hundreds of South African, American and British publications, and he's also instigated and researched stories for Carte Blanche.
Winner of the Magazine Publishers Association of South Africa PICA Profile Writer of the Year Award in 2008.
South African Guild of Motoring Journalists Motorcycle Journalist of the Year (Magazines) 2015/16/17.
South African Guild of Motoring Journalists Motorcycle Journalist of the Year (Overall) 2015/16.
South African Guild of Motoring Journalists Motorsport Journalist of the Year (Magazines) 2017 - Runner-Up 2015/16.
Posted inGeneral
Dear Bob … about my farm
My relationship with Bob Mugabe has been trundling along for quite a while now — I send him emails, and he never replies. I even invited him to go on holiday with me, and he ignored me. But it all started much earlier, with a couple of brandies one night, when I stumbled across the […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
Double-barrelled surnames — just blame them on Felicia
For a nation that has so vehemently cast off the shackles of colonialism, we South Africans have done a bloody good job of opting for that ridiculous British anachronism — the double-barrelled surname. It’s even stranger that this rather pompous trait seems to be confined almost exclusively to high-powered female members of the ruling party. […]
Posted inBusiness, Lifestyle, News/Politics
Polokwane: Bargain bazaar for albinos and gunslingers
Poor old Polokwane — dragged kicking and screaming into the limelight by a political party’s national conference. Surely the town once known as Pietersburg is newsworthy for more than the fact that a bunch of politicians and thieves has gathered there to squabble over the spoils? A quick trawl of the internet to find out […]
Posted inLifestyle
Lifesavers or looters? The Christmas ‘road safety’ myth
So we’re about to do the Christmas-season thing again, and another thousand-plus South Africans who were hale and hearty on December 1 won’t get to see the new year in. Yet again our politicians will pontificate somberly that “speed” and “alcohol” were mostly to blame, ignoring the reality; a large proportion of our drivers are […]
Posted inLifestyle
Wooden bicycles without steering? Steam motorcycles? It’s all in the name of fun
Have you ever wondered what people who don’t ride motorcycles do for fun? I’ve given this loads of thought, and I’m buggered if I know. But today they have a choice — the bikes are there; they just have to go out and buy ’em. Then I had a scary thought; what did would-be bikers […]
Posted inGeneral
Sixteen days without violence? What about men?
So that’s it, then. The 16 Days of No Violence against Women and Children campaign is just about over, so we can settle back into our normal way of life. If Mrs Foster gets on my tits I’ll give her a good clout, and, while I’m at it, I might as well give the little […]
Posted inLifestyle, Sport
Electricity for 2010? No worry!
TO: Mr Jacob Maroga CEO, Eskom CC: Mr Jacob Zuma Mr Thabo Mbeki (Please ignore if no longer applicable) December 5 2007 Dear Mr Maroga, RE: RELIABLE POWER SUPPLY FOR 2010 I see that Engineering News ran an article on July 13 stating that Eskom’s capital expenditure budget over the next 20 years is set […]
Posted inLifestyle
Cars? Thank God they don’t make them like they used to …
With most new cars coming with ABS brakes, air con, a sound system, electric windows and more than enough power to get the job done, it’s easy to wonder why anybody should bother going upmarket when shopping for new wheels. But what do you get for the extra money? Probably the most expensive item on […]
Posted inLifestyle
Don’t be bullied by traffic cops
So there you are, driving down the road, minding your own business, when you get snared by a roadblock. The traffic cop who comes to your window asks for your driver’s licence, checks your car’s number plates and licence disc, then goes back to his vehicle. When he returns he brusquely tells you that you’re […]
Posted inLifestyle
Medical aid to die for
You know all those stories about near-death experiences? The loooong passage, the beckoning figure silhouetted against a bright light at the end of the tunnel … Well, that wasn’t exactly my experience, but it came close, even though I was nowhere near dying — I simply had a broken wrist after tossing my KLR into […]
Posted inGeneral, Lifestyle, Tech
Spammer scammers can be fun
So there you are, trawling the internet for news of Agostini’s rumoured comeback, or those rare pics of Rossi with some gorgeous wench, when Windows shouts “Bing-bong” to announce the arrival of a new email. You stop what you’re doing, and there it is, simmering in your inbox — a badly written message, usually bearing […]