General

Approximately five years ago I argued an appeal in the North Gauteng High Court where the conviction and sentence of a police sergeant, who had been convicted of murder and sentenced to 12 years, were overturned and replaced with culpable homicide and a suspended sentence. In brief — responding to calls from people, whose houses […]

I was challenged by a commentator (realpolitik) in my previous blog post to write as a social scientist ie provide some analysis of crime and criminality in South Africa. The problem with writing about crime and violence is that it is so pervasive — violence infuses everything. Some examples: The students at UKZN arranged protests […]

Now that the Fifa 2010 football extravaganza is over and the strike is on hold, it might be opportune to reflect on how far we have, as South Africans, actioned the reconciliation project. The World Cup gave a picture of a nation in unison. Was that a façade? do we still see different races, with […]

In a recent issue of TIME magazine, Joe Klein makes an interesting suggestion. Harking back to an ancient Greek selection process or practice in BCE Athens, called the kleroterion, by which several hundred citizens (“free” males only; Athens had a limited democracy) were randomly chosen by drawing identity tokens every day, and tasked to make […]

Our identity as a nation is defined by the culture we embrace, practise and how it finds social expression. It defines our national character and personality. The promotion of cultural practices is generally an attempt by communities to preserve their own uniqueness of identify, to promote social cohesion and to some extent exercise social control […]

South Africa needs political courage, a change. A change for the better to steer away from the ill-informed direction we are bearing on at the moment. This is exemplified by, but not limited to the Protection of Information Bill, “proposed” media tribunal, lack of service delivery, abuse of taxpayers’ money by the politically connected. This […]

After Amajita’s failure to qualify for the Under-20 African Youth Championships, South African football was dealt another blow last weekend when the Under-17s (Amajimbos) were booted out of the Under-17 qualifiers by Burkina Faso. This is a sad situation. Our football’s supposed to be progressing, especially after hosting a successful World Cup, but instead it’s […]

We’ve all heard that line from parents, grandparents and other elders, but what if it actually applies to everything we say? The way we talk about groups of people in some way constructs them in the world around us. It shapes our expectations of people, their abilities, their strengths, and weaknesses. Our understanding of good […]

The second edition of the T20 Champions League is on these shores as I type this. Enrique — or Enreekay — kicked the circus off with a concert at Emmarentia Dam in Johannesburg and did a few numbers before the Lions took on the Indians (referring to the teams without their region/sponsor is easier, unless […]

Alice Walker spoke with poise and compassion when she delivered the 11th Steve Biko lecture at UCT last Thursday evening. Her speech, titled “Coming to see you since I was five” was more than just a reflection on her own relationship with our country, it was a call to order. This was a lecture worth […]

Bantwana Bantwana made history by becoming the first South African women’s national team to represent the country in a Women’s World Cup. The fact that it is in the under-17 level means that there is hope for women’s football in the near future, provided that these girls do progress to Banyana Banyana. Even though the […]