In Afrikaans “skielik” means suddenly. It is also the name of the cluster of shacks where dirt-poor black people live in the tiny North West hamlet of Swartruggens (literally “black backs”, though that could as easily derive from a topographical feature or any number of species of animal as it could refer to the backs […]
Llewellyn Kriel
Posted inBusiness, Media, News/Politics, Sport
Are we good enough for 2010?
OF COURSE, this question has been asked hundreds, if not thousands, of times. It’s been asked about our national soccer team Bafana Bafana and the answer is clearly “No!” It’s been asked of our stadiums and the answer seems to “Yes, if …”. It’s been asked of our transport “systems”, and the answer is “Possibly”. […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Electoral system in need of reform
I hold no particular candle for Bantu Holomisa or his party. I’m sure he doesn’t even know who I am. The comment piece below is from this morning’s Cape Times, and, while it patently does not advocate as harsh anti-voting views as mine, it is, I think, enlightening in what it discloses about the Independent […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
The nature of the beast & what goes around …
Just got home after attending a debate on freedom of expression at the University of Johannesburg (it’s 9.20pm GMT +2 — we journos like accuracy, see). The debate, sponsored by The Weekender newspaper, was chaired by Prof. Adam Habib and featured Jessie Duarte, spokeswoman for the ANC, Patrick Craven, spokesman for Cosatu, Karima Brown, political […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Commentators, bring it on!
No one should be surprised that Thought Leader is the top blog site of most local aggregators. Few other sites provide such vivid, candid and diverse comments in response to postings. Bearing in mind that most of us regular contributors are here by invitation — an exceptional requirement — the commentators are not. Where other […]
Posted inGeneral
It being Sunday n’all
It’s hard to keep Dylan’s words out of your head reading about the breakneck pace at which change is happening all over our planet. From the fun and fire in the US [I can’t see what all the fuss is about. We’ve had black guys getting into white houses for generations] to the Biblical-scale of […]
Posted inGeneral
The tortoise, the hare and Google in the sea
The moral of the tale of the tortoise and the hare is a warning against the dangers of resting on your laurels. Well, that’s arguably the main moral. But there are probably others that can be drawn from it too. Don’t be arrogant. Don’t give up. Don’t eat carrots. Don’t fall asleep on the job. […]
Posted inNews/Politics
So? What’s changed?
Five years ago, this column was published in several South African and European newspapers. Having survived another half-decade in the land “alive with possibilities”, having changed careers, made history, saved some ordinary people, exposed a fraction of the spooks and crooks that lurk in the shadows everywhere, seen my children to safety in exile, become […]
Posted inBusiness, Media, Tech
Kill the home computer! Viva!
A reasonable, basic, start-up desktop PC with all the necessary accessories and running Microsoft Windows’ notoriously atrocious Vista will set you back at least R8 000. Add in broadband connectivity and the mandatory ball-and-chain contracts, and the whole rigmarole will put a ten-to-twelve-grand hole in your family savings. That’s right now. Tomorrow it will be […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
Why didn’t we think of that?
Next Friday is Halloween. In many parts of the world All Hallows Eve, end of the harvest and the onset of advent in the build-up to Christmas, is celebrated. Steeped in pagan traditions centuries old and heavily seasoned with ancient superstition and autumnal fear, it is a time to marvel at the irony and paradox […]
Posted inGeneral
Private & Confidential
Just the mention of the words sends shivers down most backs. We anticipate trouble, because, just as porno mags arrive in plain brown envelopes (or used to), any letter marked “Private & Confidential” has got to be bad news. If it comes from your bank, it must mean you owe them money. If it comes […]
Posted inNews/Politics
One hundred Philistine foreskins
That’s what Saul wanted from David. It was mission impossible, one moerse tall order, but Saul was the king, the head honcho, Mr Big, the CEO, chairman of the board, the president, the general secretary, No. 1 King Pappa, Msholozi of umIsrael. And if that was what would lift the squall off the Saul, 100 […]