While much has been made of Jacob Zuma’s stature — and in particular his championing of the poor and oppressed — I, as a result of my ignorance of factors on the ground, would like to make a few observations and ask some questions. First of all, there is no doubting the ANC president’s charm […]
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 amnesty a breakdown of law and order? Are we still in transition?
When Mail & Guardian editor Ferial Haffajee speaks, I listen. This gutsy lady has a proven track record on the hard but fair approach to journalism with an in-built radar that steers her towards doing the right thing at the right time. When she went on SABC television just before Polokwane, her assessment of President […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Has Oprah chosen race over gender or are Hillary’s supporters being sexist?
The Times of London headlines with “Women turn on ‘traitor’ Oprah Winfrey for backing Barack Obama“. Oprah.com retorts with “Calling Oprah racist = SEXIST“. Whatever your read on this, America’s biggest talk-show host is paying a huge price to support Obama’s campaign. Her website has been flooded with personal attacks that may have led to […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Swartruggens burning
In 1964, Sam Bowers, the Imperial Wizard of the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, set in motion a preconceived plan for the elimination of Michael Schwerner, a civil rights worker. Schwerner, a member of the Congress of Racial Equality (Core), was trying to help African-Americans gain the right to vote in Mississippi, which […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Clinton found her own voice in New Hampshire and now it’s speaking about Lewinsky
Ten years after the Monica Lewinsky scandal rocked the White House, Hillary Clinton is again finding her voice. This time it’s not an off-the-cuff admission in a coffee shop in New Hampshire, but rather a calculated move on Fox Television. The Senator from New York described the pain and embarrassment she suffered as a result […]
Posted inNews/Politics
No, Mr Zuma, the media are not out of touch with reality …
“A decade and four years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We […]
Posted inLifestyle
Redefining the new South Africa
Every day we encounter words or phrases that take on a whole new meaning when placed in a South African context. Knowing what they mean, where, when and how to use them may well enhance your enjoyment of our beautiful country and perhaps even save your life. Accordingly, herewith more definitions for everyday South African […]
Posted inSport
An hour with Bryan Habana
Without any shadow of a doubt the greatest achievement of Bernie and Faith Habana is the way in which they have raised Bryan (and his brother and sister). He is not a study in fake sincerity or modesty and is a truly well mannered, decent human being who just happens to be a superstar. Regardless […]
Posted inNews/Politics
A chimera that threatens the protectors of our freedoms: Judges on trial?
“As far as South Africa is concerned, the greatest challenge will be to deepen a very fragile democracy and to uphold the rule of law. The assertion of new forms of lumpen-radicalism and the colonisation of both the state and the public sphere by anti-elitist and anti-intellectual forces will severely test South Africa’s capacity to […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Prosecute Zuma on principle — you must be joking
As my regular readers will know, I am a big fan of President Thabo Mbeki and supported his bid to reclaim the ANC leadership at Polokwane. That does not detract from the fact that the delegates at Polokwane chose Jacob Zuma as ANC president, and members and supporters of the ANC have to accept that. […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Is Hillary Clinton set to quit? Misogyny is stronger than racism?
Last night’s Drudge Report included a breaking newsflash that seems to indicate that Hillary Clinton, for so long the favourite to take the Democratic nomination for president of the United States, may well be on the verge of dropping out of the race for the White House. The general mood in the media seems to […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Jacob Zuma: Four weddings and an indictment
While Kenyans were praying for peace yesterday, their leaders continued to squabble over the spoils of the elections. Probably just some form of “post”-destructuralism I must have missed. Mind you, if you think they’re slightly misguided, how about Bobby “Who’s Fuelling Whom” Mugabe who announced his brand-new elephant biltong over the weekend? Local conservationists are […]