An invincible friend passed away yesterday and while I sit in Cape Town with the clouds crying with me I am battling to understand the fragility of life. Someone whose cup overflowed with love, energy and a fair dose of eloquent sarcasm has been stolen from us and those who left behind are reeling. We […]
Jen Thorpe
Jennifer is a feminist, activist and advocate for women's rights. She has a Masters in Politics from Rhodes University, and a Masters in Creative Writing from UCT.
In 2010 she started a women's writing project called 'My First Time'. It focuses on women's stories of significant first time experiences. Buy the book on the site http://myfirsttimesa.com or via Modjaji Books.
Jen's first novel, The Peculiars, came out in February 2016 and is published by Penguin. Get it in good book stores, and on Takealot.com
Posted inGeneral
The amazing potential of the universe
The discovery of several new planets outside of our solar system is really exciting. Why? Well the incredible astronomers working tirelessly to expand our minds and our knowledge of space have discovered another star that has similar heat and light potential as the sun. This “sun2” is surrounded by planets in its own solar system, […]
Posted inLifestyle
It’s time to make a choice
A really funky house music song that I listen to has the lyrics “Make a choice, make it now, raise your voice, raise it loud”. Being the activist that I am, this song really speaks to me, because I believe that many small voices joined together can present a challenge to big societal problems, and […]
Posted inGeneral
What would you do?
Yesterday a German artist released his exhibition of Nazi Gnomes in a square that was once used for pro-Hitler parades. The exhibition has 1250 gnomes moulded into a typical Nazi salute. This salute, and any other pro-Hitler rhetoric is illegal (for humans) in Germany. Some gnomes are golden and others are black. The artist claims […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Is the ANC the big bad wolf in Kennedy Road?
Recent reports have emerged about violent attacks in the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Durban. Members of the Abahlali baseMjondolo (or urban shack-dwellers movement) were pulled from their homes, violently attacked and some of them were murdered. It sounds like somebody huffed and puffed and tried to blow this movement down. Why? But more importantly, […]
Posted inGeneral
Once a criminal, always a criminal
This whole Polanski story is really getting my goat. I’m not sure exactly why the world is up in arms in defence of this man? He raped a young girl. He then fled the country to avoid arrest. And now, when he finally is arrested everyone is upset for him??? The bottom line here is […]
Posted inGeneral
Idioms 101 for the race-sensitive South African
After being criticised for the title of my previous blog I thought it necessary to write a response. Perhaps some of the readers of Thought Leader are so very worried about race that they carry around a little race injection to squeeze into unsuspecting blog posts whenever they can. Crafty of them, but endlessly tireless […]
Posted inMedia
What women want
We are living in a material world, and though I wouldn’t call myself a material girl I’m not going to lie and pretend that I’d love to live a comfortable life in a home that has furniture, with access to some good wine every now and then. Reading through any women’s magazine you will begin […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The pot calling the kettle black!
President Zuma was interviewed on CNN yesterday and has been cited as criticising former president Mbeki’s standpoint on HIV and Aids. He said that Mbeki’s choices and actions were “not government policy”. The Times Online article argues that this was criticism of the previous regime, but to me it seems like simple defensiveness. So what […]
Posted inGeneral
Violence isn’t freedom either
I just read an article on the reader blog called “Fear is not freedom”. Sipho Mazibuko, who labels himself a recent victim of crime seems to suggest that the solution to South Africa’s shared fear is to take the law into our own hands. He says: What is our prerogative as citizens when taking the […]
Posted inSport
Chuene is SA’s scapegoat
South Africans are using Leonard Chuene as their scapegoat in one of the most sordid abuses of power by many officials and ASA. He has admitted to a trail of lies that have landed him outside the favour of the ruling party, and have resulted in the mistreatment of an excellent athlete. He has undoubtedly […]
Posted inBusiness
Oh…and one last question
I haven’t had the luck or CV excellence to go to many interviews since I moved up to Cape Town. Truth be told, things are a bit laid back here and so in the absence of a job I’ve had to make ends meat by pursuing other inane part time work like data capturing, promoting, […]