It would seem that as we approach the 20th anniversary of freedom and democracy, the exact purpose and meaning of the liberation struggle for democracy has become one of the most misunderstood or distorted activities of the last 100 years. Much of the analysis of its achievements tends to focus on non-revolutionary activities like ANC […]
Sandile Memela
Sandile Memela is a journalist, writer, cultural critic, columnist and civil servant. He lives in Midrand.
Posted inNews/Politics
Robbing miners to pay robber barons
In untransformed economic structures — as they exist in the mines — apartheid is alive and kicking. For all the reasons we can give about the “illegal” strikes and the lawful correctness of the mining houses to fire the workers, this is part of an injustice that reigns supreme in our beautiful land. We all […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Let the miners eat cake, too
Ask any person if they’d like to see an end to rampant corruption and inequality and I bet that if they’re sane and moral they’d answer a resounding “yes!” Corruption has been rated as the biggest scourge afflicting our fledgling democracy. What I don’t understand is why economic inequality is not treated with the same […]
Posted inNews/Politics
We’ve been lied to
I wrote To Tell the Honest Truth late Saturday night after returning home from the funeral of Zwelakhe Sisulu, a former activist, journalist and editor turned multimillionaire businessman. That afternoon I had joined family and friends at a reunion party to celebrate the return home of the 30-year-old son of a former freedom fighter from […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Rich black, poor black
We in South Africa, especially in the black community, have, for a very long time, pretended to live and die in a classless society. As a result, we have never critically examined the role and impact of class difference in the fragmentation of our elusive unity. We have never been a homogeneous group and thus […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Black diamonds sold out
The deep rumbles of discontent that have exploded into an orgy of violence among the poor in Marikana and other flashpoints are the stigma of the depravation of “black diamonds” who constitute the growing black middle class. Over the last 18 years, especially with the advent of affirmative action and black economic empowerment, we have […]
Posted inGeneral
The lies of Verwoerd in black and white
It is the destiny of simple ordinary folks to be fooled. If a political leader or party cannot fool the masses, it is most unlikely to garner popular support. If the common masses cannot understand that the political leader or party is promising them a pie in the sky, they are most likely to give […]
Posted inLifestyle
Andre Brink, speak your truth
It’s hard to accept that almost 20 years into a non-racial society, persecution of creative intellectuals who are pro-black can still be such a powerful and dominating force in society, especially in literature. I remember how leading Afrikaner writer Andre Brink sacrificed his privilege to challenge white supremacy. There are many other unsung literary heroes […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Post-Marikana, it’s time freedom became visible
Over the past 18 years too much attention has been paid to history or its makers. You see, the struggle stalwarts are part of our history but it’s the ideals they fought for that is our heritage. Let’s admit it’s time the struggle stalwarts retire from centre stage. There’s been too much navel-gazing. We must […]
Posted inLifestyle
Put family first
Let me congratulate former editor Ryland Fisher for giving up a powerful position in society to focus on keeping his family together. From the little one can pick up from his decision to quit, Fisher – like millions of other men in SA – had to stay away from his family for almost two years […]
Posted inGeneral
Giving the world a human face
Since it began centuries ago, the South African struggle has been premised on creating a just and equal society that would, ultimately, be a home for all, irrespective of race, class, position or background. If African warriors who served under African kings like Ngqika of the Xhosa, Shaka of the Zulus and Moshoeshoe of Basotho […]
Posted inGeneral
Why are the young, gifted and black rallying around skin colour in a non-racist era?
This is about the new cool and black. I have rarely attended a classy function at a state of the art venue filled with talented young black professionals who not only look beautiful but are trying to redefine the meaning and purpose of their life. Much as I did not know what to expect as […]