By Pamela Weaver It’s taken me 23 years, but at last I understand why my old man, who is English, still can’t let go of Maradona’s infamous “hand of God” goal against England in the 1986 World Cup. Next time he enters into what, for more than two decades, I have only ever heard as […]
Reader Blog
On our Reader Blog, we invite Thought Leader readers to submit one-off contributions to share their opinions on politics, news, sport, business, technology, the arts or any other field of interest.
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Posted inGeneral
Eskom, we need answers
By Mohamed Fayaz Khan The fact that the electricity industry is a shambles is well-documented, understood and often ridiculed. The current price of electricity is not sustainably viable and significant capital is required to expand our base-load generating capacity to ensure that we do not again experience energy interruptions. The present situation was primarily a […]
Posted inLifestyle
Sex 101: Lather, rinse, repeat
By Michael Baillie Dolly was her name. Smallish frame, petite bust, and tiny blue eyes that really lit up if you did it just right. She usually did it on the floor, man-on-top, and, like I said, shed really light up if you just stuck by the book: keep you arms straight, 12 deep pushes […]
Posted inMedia
Malema’s media scapegoat
By Janice Winter Last week saw one of Britain’s biggest media controversies with BNP leader Nick Griffin’s appearance on the BBC’s Question Time. Public debate pivoted on the media’s role in guarding democratic space, with interpretations of this responsibility in contradistinction: on the one hand, the view that by inviting the BNP onto Question Time, […]
Posted inGeneral
Thanks for your ‘help’ SuperSport
By Michael de Vries South African cricket is going through a “golden period”, if the hype is to be believed then our national team has not had this much quality and depth in the post-isolation era. It’s great for those who never stopped believing. Kepler, Hansie and Polly’s teams were impressive but could never seem […]
Posted inBusiness
Every budget tells a story
By Albert van Zyl In his first important speech as finance minister, Pravin Gordhan’s main story was that the budget deficit would be 7.6% of GDP, not 3.8% as projected in the February budget. And the reason for this, he told us, was that Sars collected a lot less tax than what the Treasury thought […]
Posted inMedia
Black Wednesday, white lies?
By Janice Winter This month has been a very encouraging one for media freedom in South Africa. Reporters Without Borders released their Press Freedom Index 2009, seeing South Africa rising in rank to position 33 (from 36 last year in 2008 and 43 in 2007), now outranking countries such as France, Spain and Greece. This […]
Posted inGeneral
Soweto massacre: Just what the doctor ordered
By Lesedi Dibakwane South Africans are passionate about their sport. Naturally our football over the past few weeks has evoked an outpouring of emotions and stirred up great debate. There has been chatter about our lack of quality on the field and a general displeasure with any suggestion that we lack the relevant experience off […]
Posted inLifestyle
Is it right to profit from addiction?
By Warren Whitfield How is it possible, that after gazillions of multiple currencies were made by multinational companies and governments for literally millennia gone by that this question has not been asked or answered? I find it absolutely amazing that the “sheeple” of planet earth have stood by and watched companies and governments literally rape […]
Posted inGeneral
Mamma didn’t love me, daddy didn’t care
By Sadiyya Sheik I recently sat in on a case presentation by a psychologist that got me thinking about human behaviour and the reasons we behave the way we do. The case presentation was that of a patient who as a result of “unmet childhood needs” was now displaying significant social dysfunction. His disastrous relationship […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Jackie Selebi, directed by Martin Scorsese
By Sipho Hlongwane Ever since the SABC started strangling itself through a series of monumental cock-ups, there has barely been anything worth watching on TV. I’m not too depressed about that. Who needs the SABC when we have our politicians? I don’t think we’ve had a dull moment in South African politics, at least not […]
Posted inGeneral
Awulethe Isamoosa Yami!
By Sipho Hlongwane Awulethe umshini wami, ngiyawudinga! I realise that talking of mshini wami is so 2008, but bear with me. We’re a little behind here in the provinces. Four words that forever changed the country. And really, why? As slogans go this is one of the tamer ones out there. Remember “One farmer, one […]