News/Politics

By Steven Hussey On viewing the shocking Mail & Guardian report of the unwarranted police brutality and homophobia incident that occurred in Vosloorus recently, I was disappointed by a comment that someone posted, describing homosexuality as “Western” and “un-African”. The comment went on, “it’s absolutely not genetical (sic); there’s absolutely no medical or scientific evidence […]

A while back some thoughtful pieces were posted on this site concerning xenophobia. The one that drew my attention most was Tinyiko Maluleke’s “I could die soon”. What I liked most about this article was that it historicised xenophobic sentiments instead of simply representing them as a spectacle that emerged after apartheid. I think this […]

While Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is undoubtedly the worst role model Africa has ever had — and that includes Idi Amin — that does not explain the strange claims that are being made by expatriate and X Factor reject Gamu Nhengu who suggests that if she were to be deported there would be a “firing […]

Trying to foster leadership by awarding prestigious prizes is admirable but futile.

So, nationalisation will be debated — big deal. When Mandela was released from jail 20 years ago, one of the first PR gaffes to be associated immediately with his name was the claim that the ANC was going to nationalise anything that moves. Typically none of that happened because you cannot take at face value […]

Mr Blade Nzimande, have you no shame? I ask this question having just read what the South African Communist Party general secretary was giving as justification for the “proposed” media tribunal. Could it be that Blade sees the “danger” of the media because of the double-speak and luxurious living at the expense of the taxpayer […]

By Ilham Rawoot Circumcision is a touchy business. And writing about it has proven to be even touchier, especially when nobody wants to talk about it. When the KwaZulu-Natal health department decided to go ahead with using the TaraKLamp (a device that strikes me as the penile equivalent of a nail clipper) to circumcise men […]

A crucial element in the second-term conundrum is the growing importance of Zulu ethnicity.

I read yesterday that there was a small victory for Boycott Israel Movement in South Africa. The University of Johannesburg (UJ) announced a conditional boycott against Ben-Gurion University (BGU) in Israel. It’s conditional in the sense that it is not a boycott but the threat of one. UJ has committed to ending any relationship (teaching […]