Michael Trapido

With all the pro-and-anti NPA articles doing the rounds I thought it best to give you lot some understanding of how the law works in South Africa and what is considered so trivial that we need hardly bother following up on it. So gather round the heath (hearth? — that thing that blows smoke as […]

The next time I hear a member of the Scorpions, NPA, a government minister, a current judge, a prosecutor or anyone else charged with “upholding our laws” moaning about the Zuma decision then best they don’t do it anywhere within earshot of the worst temper our profession has ever produced — mine. Where do I […]

“Independent Democrat leader Patricia de Lille has confirmed that a Johannesburg rabbi from the northern suburbs will be submitted as their candidate to contest the Western Cape Premiership in the forthcoming elections. Rabbi Alexander Carlebach of the Chabad Synagogue, Lyndhurst, Johannesburg, confirmed that he was joining the party but would not comment on the issue […]

Paragraph 37 of the Supreme Court of Appeals judgement handed down by Judge Harms in the matter of the NDPP versus Jacob Zuma — an appeal against the decision by Judge Nicholson in Pietermaritzburg which occasioned ANC president Jacob Zuma’s charges being withdrawn — sets out the following: “[37] The court dealt at length with […]

The sacking of Vusi Pikoli, as head of the National Prosecuting Authority, ostensibly on the basis of his insensitivity to matters of national security will surely go down in history as one of the great ironies of South African politics. Pikoli, who in his capacity as head of prosecutions, went after leading elements in both […]

In the past few days Britain has mourned the passing of Jade Goody aged 27 who was famous, quite frankly, for being famous. This bubbly lass, who owed most of her fame to a variety of Big Brother reality shows, primarily the one where she had a major fall out with Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty, […]

The resignation of Christine Qunta from the board of the SABC is a moment to celebrate and savour for, in her sudden but welcome departure, justice, democracy and the interests of the country are well served. • Justice is served because, on her watch, we have seen the SABC become a place where corruption, malpractice […]

South Africans are waking up to news this morning that the National Prosecuting Authority have purportedly been placed in possession of tapes, ostensibly handed over to them by the Zuma team as part of their representations to have the charges against the ANC president dropped, which include tapped telephonic conversations between inter alia former president […]

The Independent Electoral Commission has confirmed that Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is entitled to be nominated as a candidate for the African National Congress despite the objections that they have received. This may not be the last word on the issue as the Freedom Front Plus has confirmed that they are taking this matter to the electoral […]

If ever a government and a ruling party was capable of getting foot and mouth disease then the ANC and South Africa has to be it. Sometimes it gets so bad that it seems as if the only time that they open their mouths is to change feet. The Balfour-Shaik-Zuma debacle being the latest offering. […]

On May 28 last year, Washing Post columnist, Michael Gerson coined a phrase which is finding increasing resonance in the international corridors of power: “Whatever the reasons, South Africa increasingly requires a new foreign policy category: the rogue democracy. Along with China and Russia, South Africa makes the United Nations impotent. Along with Saudi Arabia […]