I first met Deon du Plessis at the Sunday Tribune offices in Field Street during the early 1980s where he was deputy editor. He was a giant of a man – I stand close to 6 feet tall, but he towered over me and was almost twice as broad as I am. By the time […]
Kanthan Pillay
@KanthanPillay was born in 1961, Durban, South Africa; completed high school in Bangalore, India; and majored in Political Science, Princeton University. He has certificates in journalism from Boston University and from the Senior Journalist Development Programme, Niemann Foundation, Harvard University.
Previous satisfied employers include Africa Aerospace and Defence; e.tv; Independent Newspapers; Princeton University; and the Center for Advanced Studies, Research, and Development in Sardinia. He is former MD of the Yired group of companies, former CEO of 99.2 Yfm -- 'GP's hottest frequency', and current group head of online for E Media Holdings.
Kanthan loves his day job and doesn't know any other journalist who has hacked a Linux kernel.
A collection of past writings can be found at kanthanpillay.com
Tel: 083 NQABILE
Posted inBusiness
Y the future …
My speech at the inauguration of the new Yfm building in Hyde Park on Friday, 19 February 2010 Friends, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen I was in Parliament last week sitting in the National Assembly for the State of the Nation address. Our president arrived, the national anthem began to play, and I stood up and […]
Posted inGeneral
Lamenting the loss of innocence
If you knew that a rose would scream, would you still pluck it? Child abuse is one of my psychological buttons. I suppose my reaction to someone who is accused of doing any such thing is along the lines of religiously crazed Iranians when told that Salman Rushdie has committed blasphemy. My gut reaction is […]
Posted inNews/Politics
State of the Nation Haiku
National Assembly An expanse of cleavage Crowned by botox Ambassadors Burnooses in the rain How ridiculous Sarel Cilliers Recited by Mattera Boers applaud uneasily Awaiting the chief The opposition Sits leaderless Amidst the poetry A cacophony of crassness From the media benches Heckles for Helen But a standing ovation For the Judiciary All rise for […]
Posted inLifestyle
Hitler’s legacy … sh!t happens
There’s a virtual ring that runs around Vienna’s inner city reflecting where the Austrian empire’s rulers once held sway and where Hitler arrived to a tumultuous welcome from some 250 000 Austrians about 70 years ago. In relative terms, that was almost yesterday. Today, there is an art exhibition in the city called Restitution reflecting […]
Posted inBusiness, Lifestyle, Media, News/Politics
Happy birthday Mr Morris
“It was the worst of times, it was the best of times; it was the age of foolishness, it was the age of wisdom; it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the epoch of belief; it was the season of Darkness, it was the season of Light; it was the winter of despair, it […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
In defence of David Bullard …
(I must be out of my flippin’ tree! … Writing this particular blog, I mean. Might just as well swim out past the shark nets after acupuncture. Oh well, bring ’em on …) Let’s be perfectly clear on one thing. I do not particularly like David Bullard. I would not invite the man to dinner, […]
Posted inTech
A man who helped me dream
“Having done several thousand interviews in all media, I’m now completely fed up with talking (even about myself). Everything anyone needs to know will be found in my own writings … ” February 8 1999 It’s a sweltering day in what is definitely one of the most beautiful places in the known universe. Three-wheeled taxis […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Mine’s bigger than yours — for now, anyway
Most good jokes can be carried off with just the punchline. Note the following: “No signora, ees not my feenger …” “I tried to stop swallowing, but it was all one piece!” “Declawed? I thought you said deboned?” “So the bear picked up the rabbit and wiped his ass with it.” “Perhapth I should rephwase […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Lying, traitorous blackguards …
It’s Friday and into my mailbox pops the words of another famous blogger. Herewith the words of El Presidente … To remind all of us of what it means to be a member of the ANC, at our 2005 National General Council, I quoted the Oath contained in the ANC Constitution, to which all ANC […]
Posted inNews/Politics, Sport
The best symbol of a united nation
Tuesday midday in GP: A R29 “business lunch special” at a Chinese restaurant in Rosebank with a colleague followed by filter coffee and baklava at Fournos around the corner. And as I used my finger to wipe the last drops of honey from the plate, I sighed in satisfaction: “What is this life if, full […]
Posted inBusiness, Media
‘The beatings will continue until morale improves’
It’s 5.24am on Saturday morning in the northern suburbs of Africa’s financial capital. I’ve just finished two hours re-editing a DVD for the big-screen display at the hottest party in town tonight. (Club Y at Carfax, Newtown, if you must know.) Now, there’s the obligatory wait for the video to render. (That’s geek speak for […]