General

Yesterday a German artist released his exhibition of Nazi Gnomes in a square that was once used for pro-Hitler parades. The exhibition has 1250 gnomes moulded into a typical Nazi salute. This salute, and any other pro-Hitler rhetoric is illegal (for humans) in Germany. Some gnomes are golden and others are black. The artist claims […]

Tomorrow’s Absa Currie Cup final will see the best of the north travel to the Cape to try and blitzkrieg the Newlands faithful. It doesn’t get any more provincial then Western Province versus the Blue Bulls. Newlands is sold out and a great atmosphere is guaranteed for those in the stadium and watching on TV. […]

M-novels, or mobile novels (stories on your cellphone) are on the rise in South Africa, as Michelle Matthews explained so well in “Cell-lit is all the rage”. In SA there is about 10% PC-based internet connectivity, while the number of people with access to cellphones ranges from 60% to 90% (depending on which community you […]

There is a temptation to see South Africa as a self-cannibalising charity case. Given the vast number of charitable causes, NGOs, NPOs and beggars on the streets, it seems everyone has a hand out. And given the ANC government’s appalling record on social upliftment issues from health to housing to employment, even the ordinary individual […]

A tournament where the hosts never get beyond the first round is always dreaded because the general buzz and interest dies down. Bafana are not doing enough to allay this fear. France went all the way in 1998, South Korea kept the torch burning after Japan got knocked out when they were co-hosts in 2002 […]

This week’s Talkback question on the Mail & Guardian Online: Has Agliotti totally damaged the state’s case against Jackie Selebi?

A colleague of mine remarked yesterday that if you turn off the sound of the television during the news and watch the “service delivery protests” it reminds one starkly of the apartheid protests in townships, complete with burning tyres and policemen gunning down civilians (granted, it is with rubber bullets). It might perhaps be an […]

Fifteen years into the post-apartheid new South African dispensation we’re hearing growing groans and murmurs lamenting the long-lost dream of 1994. This was a central theme of Cope parliamentary leader Dr Dandala’s campaign speeches as he criss-crossed the country and it prominently features in the Dinokeng Scenarios Report in the form of the “Promise of […]

Before you judge me let me explain myself. I’ve always believed in treating all equally. Even the people society has taught us not to treat equally. We have been told to treat certain people more gently than others, with kid gloves. Unfortunately this may be the primary reason I will never be nominated for, never […]

Two Mitchells Plain CPF members gunned down and the community vows to keep on fighting crime. Imagine, if you will, that communities all over followed this example. That being, instead of moaning and bitching about Malema, ministerial cars, police being given the green light for deadly force, construction of WIDER roads, people decided to take […]

Could I abuse someone? This is a question I have repeatedly asked myself recently after reading the voluminous blogs on this site about abuse and its many grotesque manifestations: child abuse, rape and violence against women, to name a few. As someone who has been physically and mentally abused, it is not an easy question […]

1. Glenn Agliotti — best exponent of the in-box own goal ever? 2. Am I the only who finds the thought of two grown men walking around Sandton City buying each other clothes and accessories just a tad erm … otherwise? 3. In light of the Hans van Dyk “Hannibal Lecter of Ellis Park” incident, […]