In 1999 as part of the new draft constitution for Zimbabwe, there was an amendment to replace existing clauses with one to compulsorily acquire land for redistribution without compensation. This was put to the country in a referendum in 2000 and rejected outright. What followed was anarchy ratified in 2005 when the government passed a […]
Michael Trapido
Mike Trapido is a criminal attorney and publicist having also worked as an editor and journalist.
He was born in Johannesburg and attended HA Jack and Highlands North High Schools.
He married Robyn in 1984 (Mrs Traps, aka "the government") and has three sons (who all look suspiciously like her ex-boss).
He was a counsellor on the JCCI for a year around 1992.
His passions include Derby County, Blue Bulls, Orlando Pirates, Proteas and Springboks.
He takes Valium in order to cope with Bafana Bafana's results.
Practice Michael Trapido Attorney (civil and criminal) 011 022 7332
Posted inNews/Politics
SACP and Cosatu play a vital role in SA today
The joint statement issued by the South African Communist Party and Cosatu following the bilateral meeting held on April 26 demonstrates the continuing unhappiness being experienced by the left-wing elements of the tripartite alliance at the lack of direction and progress being made on socio-economic issues at present. It records that over the years since […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Pat on the back for Mthethwa
The minister of South African police, Nathi Mthethwa, has openly criticised those cadres who speak out of turn. On Wednesday, SABC radio news reported that the minister, who has been a member of parliament since 2002 and is a current member of the national executive committee of the African National Congress, said that: “There’s no […]
Posted inGeneral
Is SA the new Zimbabwe?
Many South Africans have been asking this question for a number of years now but when the Scottish Sunday Herald starts making it a featured item then the time has come for us to put the question to ourselves. The article is by Fred Bridgland, a British writer and biographer who first revealed South Africa’s […]
Posted inNews/Politics
ANC charge Malema like a wounded buffalo
The chairperson of the African National Congress’s national disciplinary committee, Derek Hanekom, has confirmed that ANC Youth League president Julius Malema’s disciplinary hearing will take place on May 3. The confirmation by the deputy science and technology minister came amid dissatisfaction expressed by the Gauteng ANC leader who said that the membership of no less […]
Posted inNews/Politics
ANCYL ‘publicly’ condemns the ANC…
The division which arose within ANC ranks, following President Jacob Zuma’s public reprimand of the ANCYL president, takes on new meaning if regard is had to the alleged response of the youth league to a purported decision to charge Julius Malema. In accordance with reports in both the Sunday Times and City Press, Malema has […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Why would the ANC be divided over Malema?
The excellent article by Matuma Letsoalo and Mmanaledi Mataboge outlining the division within ANC ranks following President Jacob Zuma’s public reprimand of ANCYL President Julius Malema speaks volumes about loyalty to a personality rather than policy. To say that this admonishment was long overdue is probably the understatement of the year and those that are […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Cosatu vs ANC
Tripartite alliance partner Cosatu has once again advised the African National Congress that the centre of power should be the alliance and not the ANC. This coming at a time when Cosatu and the SACP are frustrated by the lack of material leftward movement on economic policy by the government and not having a substantial […]
Posted inGeneral
AWB to SACP should back Zuma on this
President Jacob Zuma’s statement on political conduct and social cohesion issued late Saturday is exactly what this country has been waiting for. It is a reaffirmation that the president, government and ruling party share the same goals as the vast majority of South Africans in building our fledgling constitutional democracy. In clear terms it sets […]
Posted inGeneral
ANCYL, cure thyself
The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) is the youth wing of the African National Congress. Unfortunately, unlike the youth wings of major parties the world over, this is not the fountain from which young blood and radical new ideas flow forth to the party but rather an ill-disciplined, militant rabble whose only sense of […]
Posted inNews/Politics
AWB best not declare war
Reports, including our own, which claim that the AWB wants a declaration of war are not giving careful consideration to the circumstances in which the country currently finds itself. It simply is not on. For proof that it is misguided, regard need only be had to the retraction by the AWB of the statement of […]
Posted inGeneral
ANC must think South Africa, not members only
The African National Congress, as the current ruling party that provides the people who make up the government and the president of the country, are charged with running the country for all South Africans regardless of their political beliefs. Accordingly in responding to issues such as the murder of former AWB leader Eugene Terre’Blanche, polarisation […]