It was with a great deal of sadness that I read David Smith’s piece, announcing his intention to stick his head into the sand, which I took mean that he would no longer engage us in intellectually stimulating writing. Of the political sort, I mean. I understand my friend’s fatigue. South Africa is a madly […]
Sipho Hlongwane
Sipho Hlongwane is a journalist and columnist for the Daily Maverick.
He is an avid fan of jelly beans, Top Gear, Arsenal and thinks that South Africans tend to take themselves a little too seriously.
Posted inNews/Politics
The Bridge: Defining blackness for the 21st century
A couple of months ago I interviewed Nkosinathi Biko the CEO of the Steve Biko Foundation, for The Daily Maverick. In an unreported part of our conversation, we discussed black consciousness and its place in post-apartheid South Africa. Biko said, “If under the old dispensation being black meant being oppressed, what does it mean today?” […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Gird your loins, chaps
I had the rather dubious pleasure of attending a discussion on the matter of the proposed media appeals tribunal and protection of information at the University of Johannesburg last night. Let me warn you from the outset: if you want intelligent, honest and frank discussion, do not go to these events. Just don’t. “Honest” discussion […]
Posted inSport
Has a footballer ever managed to reverse a referee’s decision?
It’s a question that begs asking, isn’t it? Every time a referee reaches into his pocket to extract a card, he is swamped by players wearing looks of thunderous incredulity on their faces and waving their arms in dramatic disbelief. Never mind the fact that more often than not everybody on the field saw the […]
Posted inSport
Run Benni, run…
A moment of silence for the Bafana team caterers, please. Benni McCarthy’s exclusion from the World Cup squad must come as a dreadful blow to them. A dreadful blow indeed. That’s my offering to the ever-increasing collection of Benni jokes doing the rounds. His must be one of the most inglorious career closures in South […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Were things really better under apartheid?
See, this is why I don’t appreciate it when these foreign johns comment on the state of South Africa. They’re bound to get it wrong. The worst thing about the World Cup is the masses of scribes, descending onto our little wedge of turf like carrion birds onto the carcass of a giraffe, to prod, […]
Posted inGeneral
Has big industry become public enemy number one all over again?
Industrial companies have never had an easy relationship with the public. Ever since the Industrial Revolution, when these behemoths were first born, they have been blamed for all manner of things, ranging from child labour to global warming. But it wasn’t till about 30 years ago that industrial companies were viewed not only as exploiters, […]
Posted inGeneral
Need any help removing your head from your arse, Steve?
Dear Steve Hofmeyr, We’ve never met, and what I know of you is what I’ve gleaned from newspaper and magazine articles that detail your suburban conquests there in the East Rand, or wherever your haunt is. You don’t know me, which I’m perfectly happy with. Despite all this, I decided to write this little letter […]
Posted inGeneral
Notice where the ANC drew the line on Malema?
I know you’ve had enough of reading about Julius, but this one is different. Promise. Because it’s a bit of good news at last! Earlier today, the ANC issued a statement condemning the behaviour of Youth League President Julius Malema at a press conference yesterday towards BBC journalist Jonah Fisher. Malema called Fisher, amongst other […]
Posted inGeneral
Sorry to disappoint, but South Africa will succeed
I have news for you. Yes, you. South Africa is going to succeed. I’ve come across you several times on the interwebs. You like to brand yourself as the ultimate thinking person and a visionary. The amount of energy you invest in foretelling South Africa’s doom is simply astounding. You gleefully link every article or […]
Posted inGeneral
All your base are belong to Fifa
South Africa’s artists shouldn’t be the ones moaning. Do they really think they’re going to be worse off thanks to the World Cup? In case you’ve been under a rock for the last few weeks, or have been too busy living your life to care, a bunch of South African artists, lead by the poet […]
Posted inNews/Politics
SpeakZA: Bloggers speak out on free speech
South Africa faces many challenges as a country. We have one of the worst crime rates in the world, unemployment continues to hinder progress and the government faces an uphill battle with corruption within its own ranks. What we have enjoyed so far since the advent of democracy is a free press. Those who drafted […]