Michael Trapido

The proposals submitted by the Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille at a media briefing in Parliament on Wednesday offer, in my humble opinion, a vastly improved electoral system with which to safeguard South Africa’s fledgling democracy, reduce cronyism and limit the number of passengers that parties are able to carry into an election. They are […]

“In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow-countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The Government will not assail you. You can have no conflict without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in heaven to destroy the Government, while I shall have the most solemn one to “preserve, protect, […]

“Amid growing speculation that Zuma plans to ‘spill the beans’ about former president Thabo Mbeki’s role in the arms deal, [Fikile] Mbalula said: “Zuma never started the arms deal. The arms deal was started by someone who was ANC president.” The ANC moved quickly to squash suggestions that one of Zuma’s allies’ strategies would spill […]

In light of the Mail & Guardian’s article “ANC’s plan to save Zuma” I’d like to do a short recap of my reading on the ANC president Jacob Zuma’s legal situation and then a brief analysis of what this latest news means. It is important to read the M & G article before going through […]

The Golden Globes rewarded Hollywood’s latest presidential offering John Adams (second president of the USA) with a couple of awards just as Will Smith, having completed his first really deep and serious role, was expressing a desire to play the part of Barack Obama. Indeed there seems to be a never-ending production line of these […]

If Judge Chris Nicholson was the primary catalyst, which occasioned the recalling of president Mbeki and flowing therefrom, the formation of the Congress of the People Party, he may one day be regarded as one of the brave, if somewhat misguided, “warriors” of South African history. Moreover, and herein lies the irony, his judgment, which […]

Hillary Clinton’s statement to the senators at her confirmation hearing, required for appointment as the next Secretary of State in the Barack Obama presidency, gives a sneak preview at the direction that US foreign policy will take over the next four years. While the transcript sets out her overview of the global approach and is […]

Yesterday’s decision by the Supreme Court of Appeal has overturned the September 12 2008 decision of Judge Chris Nicholson in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, in terms whereof he had held that the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions were obliged to afford ANC President Jacob Zuma the opportunity of making representations before a decision was taken […]

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep. (Robert Frost) The ANC’s election manifesto launched in East London on Saturday prioritises: creation of decent work and sustainable livelihoods; education; health; rural development, food security and land […]

At the outset I must confirm that I am an Orthodox Jew who firmly believes in the Torah and the practices of my religion. This does not mean that I am in any way qualified to give the Jewish point of view on this issue as I’m sure that most rabbis who read this article […]