General

This whole Polanski story is really getting my goat. I’m not sure exactly why the world is up in arms in defence of this man? He raped a young girl. He then fled the country to avoid arrest. And now, when he finally is arrested everyone is upset for him??? The bottom line here is […]

“Over the past 25 years, there have been a number of coconuts, non-whites and whites who have, overtly or covertly, accused authentic blacks of being racists,” says Memela in his recent “Dear coconuts, there are no black racists blog”. He does not define what an “authentic” black is. An immediate problem with the word authentic, […]

A while ago I was speaking to an African-American friend who was visiting South Africa. He told me that he found it strange that when he is in the United States, he is considered an African-American, but when he is in Africa, he is only an American. I thought about this comment last week when […]

Is ZA News much needed political satire, or more tired fuel already smouldering fires? ZA News, based on the UK’s Spitting Image from years back, is a new internet-only TV show that uses the cartoon images created by cartoonist Zapiro to inspire a bunch of beautifully built puppets of South Africa’s politicians and public figures. […]

By Sadiyya Sheik The social welfare grant has become as common as pain as far as main complaints go. Having spent the past month working at an ARV clinic, I have seen many patients, South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) forms in hand, a determined yet pained expression on their faces, clamouring for a sought-after […]

By Theo Mapheto Just why leaders in South Africa insist on communicating with their followers in a foreign language beggars belief. Take Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe’s address at Ntwampe in Limpopo Province on the occasion of the National Heritage Day celebrations for example. Look, Motlanthe’s first language is Sepedi and the masses who descended to […]

Around the world there is a time-honoured tradition that whenever a South African émigré is dining with foreigners, he will be called upon to regale his dinner companions with talk of his crime-ridden homeland. When the candle has burnt low and the dinner is all but eat and the soul fortified with a suitable red, […]

It’s funny what a few weeks can do to change the complexion of things. The Tri-Nations was still under way, the Sharks and Western Province looked to be favourites (touch wood there for all those wearing blue and white … it’s been a very long time) and Griquas looked to be ruining the established province’s […]

We live in a world where marketing your message is critical, whether you’re selling a commercial product or sanctuary. Even the most inherently good messages can be lost when shrouded with layers of extremism and contrast. The idealist in me hates that fact. The realist in me doesn’t like it much more, but works with […]

The above title is one that’s often seen in sensationalist news reports these days. But is it true? Is China really taking over Africa? And what does “taking over Africa” really mean? “China has supported development in Africa since independence,” said Sanusha Naidu from the social networks movement Fahamu. She was speaking last week at […]

This week’s Talkback question on the Mail & Guardian Online: What is the one thing you would do to reduce the levels of crime in South Africa?

By Rachel Adams As far as religion is a form of acknowledging a higher power and of connecting with the creative force that is responsible for this incredible universe, I have no problems. But if there is any group of people that has gone one step further and adopted religion, Christianity particularly, as a legitimator […]