President Jacob Zuma’s assertion that South Africa’s last white president, FW de Klerk, was as much a conservative Afrikaner leader as his predecessor PW Botha is absolutely right. Both were born and raised by traditional Afrikaans families who believed in the approach of conservative, white South African politics. What distinguished the two from one another […]
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
Zuma must pardon the middle-finger jogger
Chumani Maxwele, a student from UCT, was arrested, his house searched and then interrogated about his political affiliations after purportedly making an obscene gesture at President Jacob Zuma’s convoy of vehicles while out jogging. According to the Sowetan, Maxwele was arrested for “waving on” Zuma’s convoy when he was jogging on De Waal Drive, Cape […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Zille must walk the talk on Max
Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille is treading a very fine line in claiming that Western Cape Community Safety MEC Lennit Max’s alleged extra-marital affair is a private matter and that until allegations of sexual harassment have been proved against him no action can be taken. In terms of her statement of February 5 2010 Zille […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Mpshe’s appointment cannot be justified
The General Council of the Bar of SA has confirmed that the justice ministry will soon be responding to the complaint of appointing Mokotedi Mpshe, deputy director of the National Prosecuting Authority, as an acting judge in the North West High Court. The problem with that, is that there is nothing that Justice Minister Jeff […]
Posted inNews/Politics
DA and ANC demonstrate maturity over Zuma apology
The Democratic Alliance and African National Congress have issued statements welcoming President Jacob Zuma’s apology that he “deeply regretted” the pain he caused his family, the ANC and South Africans after revelations that he fathered a child out of wedlock. In her response to Zuma’s apology, Helen Zille on Saturday demonstrated why she is considered […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Zuma’s sex life is not beyond scrutiny
South African President Jacob Zuma confirmed his relationship with Sonono Khoza and admitted to fathering a child with her. At the same time he marked his displeasure at the manner in which the story was broken in the media . This follows a number of individuals, parties and groups who have slammed the press by […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Is Zuma’s sex drive out of control?
Though many South Africans are of the view that polygamy is a lifestyle choice that is best left to those who decide to adopt it, the news that South African President Jacob Zuma has also fathered a child with Orlando Pirates owner Irvin Khoza’s daughter, may not sit quite as well. The president is now […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Free Harrath, then make him our special guest
Though the deportation of the head of the British Islam Channel, Mohamed Ali Harrath, has been temporarily blocked by an interim interdict, the questions regarding the basis for his arrest and continued detention — at this stage — have yet to be explained by police authorities or the government. Accepting for the moment that Interpol […]
Posted inGeneral
How serious is the ANC on crime?
The South African public are inundated by calls for crimes to be overlooked, forgiven or — in some cases — not to be considered crimes at all. Unsurprisingly, the vast mast majority of these emanate from those at the very heart of power in this country. The number of judges, correctional services officials, politicians and […]
Posted inGeneral
Togo bus ambush has SA parallels
The police have gunned down three suspects believed to have been involved in the Christmas Day massacre of Inanda FM presenter Ntombikayise Ngwane (24) and her friends. In the early hours of Friday morning, possibly acting upon information obtained from the suspect who was arrested on December 31 at a house in Eshowe, where he […]
Posted inSport
Henry 1-0* Neville
Thierry Henry’s efforts to become the first soccer player in history to lift rugby’s William Webb Ellis Trophy, while playing in the football World Cup, were bound to leave a bitter taste in the mouths of most Irish fans and neutrals who witnessed it. It truly was a disgusting episode. Fifa, however, have taken this […]
Posted inGeneral
Zapiro cartoon on justice system is justified
The outrage expressed by Numsa at the latest Zapiro cartoon in the Mail & Guardian fails to take into account the extreme nature of the circumstances giving rise to its conception. If it had done so it should have been hard-pressed to condemn it as “distasteful” and “deplorable”. As things stand, we are witnessing an […]