The rise of feminism in the early 19th century was inspired by subjugation of the rights of women and the need to promote the ideals of equality among women and men; the advocacy of their political and legal rights as well as their interests; and the need to trounce male chauvinism. Over the years, there […]
Sentletse Diakanyo
Sentletse Diakanyo's blogs may contain views on any subject which may upset sensitive readers. Parental guidance is strongly advised.
Posted inGeneral
Of savagery and barbaric virtues of nations
Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965), the most beloved and respected son of Britain, a decorated war hero, a noted statesman and undisputable orator; in his account of the campaign in the Sudan and the Battle of Omdurman, in The River War (1899), said of Africans: “The indigenous inhabitants of the country were negroes as black […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Scott-Crossley’s parole: the momentary lapse of justice?
In September 2005, Mark Scott-Crossley, a farmer from a province that has gained notoriety in respect of relations between farmers and farm labourers, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the callous murder of Nelson Chisale, who was fed to the lions. The community and Nelson Chisale’s family found consolation in what appeared to have been […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Is Sadtu using school pupils as political pawns?
Nelson Mandela said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” yet we see those charged with the daunting task of educating and moulding the leadership of future generations reneging on their burden of responsibility by choosing to rather devote their time to politics. The South African Democratic Teachers’ […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Afrikanerbond must get used to affirmative action
A particular section of the Afrikaner community and some members of other white groupings appear to be suffering from chronic paranoia of everything related to transformation. While they recognise the indubitable truth that apartheid established gross imbalances in our society, they consider themselves under threat of measures intended to correct such imbalances. Their views do […]
Posted inGeneral
The pitfalls of hero worshipping and exaggerating the importance of others
There is certainty of presence of some human flaws among all of us, one of which is the general weakness to elevate certain individuals to pedestals and exaggerate their importance in the grand scheme of things. This occurs due to variety of reasons; one being that the individual holds a particular position of importance in […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Tsvangirai behaving like a prima donna once again
The presidential elections of 29 March 2008 in Zimbabwe did not produce an outright winner; and the electoral law required that a run-off election be held, which Tsvangirai decided to boycott. It requires no rocket scientist that given the election results of 29 March, Tsvangirai has no right to demand full executive powers as widely […]
Posted inGeneral
The state of traffic law enforcement
Are we ever going to reach a point where the authorities implement sensible and proactive road traffic measures to prevent carnage on our roads? Since 1997, the Department of Transport has launched a series of Arrive Alive campaigns, aimed particularly at reducing carnage on the roads. The success of these campaigns is debatable. There isn’t […]
Posted inBusiness, News/Politics
Challenges to the SADC free trade area
Following the Maseru trade protocol in 1996, the SADC trade protocol was implemented in 2000 with the aim of creating a free trade area in 2008. SADC managed to achieve this important milestone for the region by launching, at its summit held recently in Sandton, Johannesburg, the SADC free trade area (SADC FTA). President Thabo […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Taxi industry — organised cartels of hooligans
The 1920s are best portrayed by the collapse of lawlessness that plagued the US cities of Chicago and New York – much to the doing of arguably the world’s best known criminal: Al Capone and the rival gangs of Bugs Moran. The era of prohibition of the 1920s and 1930s in the US presented the […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Absolute Swazi monarchy also a blot in SADC
Chief Lucas Mangope, of the erstwhile homeland of Bophuthatswana, once told a story about his childish indiscretions while wandering home, barefoot, through a watermelon field after a parched day tending sheep and cattle. Like all fallible humans, he became susceptible to the sweet lure of the bulbous fruit. Mangope told of his father’s admonition and […]
Posted inNews/Politics
FW de Klerk: Did he betray national reconciliation?
In 1992 the New York Times reported: “When he was still a policeman and not yet a mass murderer, Barend Strydom once stole a black man’s head from the scene of a highway wreck and posed for a snapshot of himself, the white avenger, holding the grisly prop aloft in one hand and a butcher’s […]