Retired former liberation heroes (like Nelson Mandela) and struggle stalwarts now turned into government ministers (like Trevor Manuel) cannot enjoy the sight of upheavals like those in Sakhile township near Standerton, Mpumalanga or Khutsong in Carltonville. Can you believe the number of disgruntled people who want the world to believe that our democratic government is […]
Sandile Memela
Sandile Memela is a journalist, writer, cultural critic, columnist and civil servant. He lives in Midrand.
Posted inGeneral
Saving the ANC from itself
Not too long ago I had a conversation with an ageing Bra Mike at Prestige Park, as Diepkloof Extension is known. I was gobsmacked when he asserted that President Jacob Zuma is the last of the African nationalists who truly believes in serving the people and putting their interests first. “After him, this country is […]
Posted inGeneral
There is no black in the rainbow (nation)
While some are having sleepless nights over the non-existence of “authentic blacks”, can we add another question to the cart? Why is there no black in the colours of the rainbow? If South Africa is, according to the former archbishop Desmond Tutu, a “rainbow nation”, what does that say about non-racism, freedom and democracy? Are […]
Posted inGeneral
Dear coconuts, there are no black racists
Over the past 25 years, there have been a number of coconuts, non-whites and whites who have, overtly or covertly, accused authentic blacks of being racists. This is uncalled for and untrue. When blacks are self-aware, love and embrace blackness in their own terms, it does not mean that blacks are anti-white. As the chief […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Don’t judge Blade by the type of car he drives
I think we have to admit that to some extent the Convention for a Democratic South Africa in the early 1990s set us up for failure. This is so because the social, political and economic landscapes of this beautiful country are potholed with contradictions. Many of the injustices and inequalities are structural. Some prefer to […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Why Biko, a university drop-out, matters
It is September and the blossoming of the spring will always remind us of a flower that was killed before it could radiate beauty. You might hear about Steve Bantubonke Biko and it will make you wonder why he was killed. What a terrible waste of a young life. He was only 30 years old. […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
Caster’s dreams more powerful than politics
When you really think about it, you realise that the success and achievement of gold-winning athlete Mokgadi “Caster” Semenya is more powerful than political speechifying. In fact, this girl-woman should impress us for a totally different reason. What this 18-year-old girl has shown is not only can a person be what they want to be, […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
Money, Africans and the art of conversation
A friend of mine told me the other day that he does not like to socialise with the new African middle class. “I find it difficult to have a decent, soul-nourishing conversation with them,” he said. He went on to add: “All they talk about is government tenders, contracts, money and how to make more […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Elevating black voices the Spike Lee way
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Spike Lee’s film-making career. To those who do not know him, he is the first African-American to make it big in Hollywood, if you like. Lee produced and directed films like School Daze, Do the Right Thing, Malcolm X and, my best movie, Bedazzled. Of course, he has […]
Posted inGeneral
Africa has no theatre critics
Now that we are almost 20 years into the new free and democratic society, perhaps it’s time we asked: who and where are the authoritative African voices in the arts, especially theatre? When the smouldering issues of content, style, meaning, relevance, presentation, design and other matters that pertain to the stage are discussed, there are […]
Posted inGeneral
The doctors’ hypocritical oath
It would seem that the doctors in the public health sector have rediscovered their mission which has always been to betray poor people. In the years of the anti-apartheid struggle medical doctors were not, necessarily, part of the political work to bring democracy and health rights for all. There were very few of them who […]
Posted inGeneral
Zuma’s heritage gift to humanity: Nelson Mandela Day
Jacob Zuma has called for July 18 to be yet another official public holiday: Nelson Mandela Day. This happens while the great struggle icon is still alive. He turns 91 this month. It is significant that the third appointed president, Zuma, made this announcement in his first State of the Nation Address. Old man Mandela […]