News/Politics

The joint statement issued by the South African Communist Party and Cosatu following the bilateral meeting held on April 26 demonstrates the continuing unhappiness being experienced by the left-wing elements of the tripartite alliance at the lack of direction and progress being made on socio-economic issues at present. It records that over the years since […]

The minister of South African police, Nathi Mthethwa, has openly criticised those cadres who speak out of turn. On Wednesday, SABC radio news reported that the minister, who has been a member of parliament since 2002 and is a current member of the national executive committee of the African National Congress, said that: “There’s no […]

“Get ready mama prepare for your freedom. Freedom is coming tomorrow!” So went the lines of one of the songs in the hugely successful Sarafina musical. It’s a catchy tune too. In terms of the imagery of this Mbongeni Ngema song, freedom comes hurtling towards us at the speed of light, unstoppable and inevitable. Yet […]

Whatever the truth of the backward and forward between Judge Richard Goldstone and the Sandton Shul is, the heated words that have made it into the press speak of a major blowup behind the scenes. True to form, the community, in the guise of the Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein, has made a belated attempt to […]

While Malema conceded that the ANC government had the right to express its opinions, senior members could not act to endanger the position and standing of the ANCYL. ‘The ANC is not an independent body. It exists within the umbrella policy and discipline of the ANCYL,’ Malema said.

By Sam Sole There is little pleasure in watching Jackie Selebi unravel under cross-examination in the South Gauteng High Court. The case is too cold for that. Selebi is far from the swaggering figure he was when he was commissioner of police (General Cele take note) — and he could bank on the president and […]

“So much for the Prague Spring”, mumbled the chattering classes a year ago today as they waddled off to cast their ballots and so help end all the post-Polokwane fun Mzansi was having. With this little memory sparking anticipation of reams and reams of one-year reviews of the Zuma government’s performance by every other hack […]

It was late. I was tired and trying to find my way out of the city. It must have been Maas op ‘n Maandag (“Maas on a Monday” on RSG) on the radio, because it was Deon Maas (aka Witboy) who interrupted Wits sociologist Andries Bezuidenhout’s remarks on nationalism to try and interpret it for […]

The chairperson of the African National Congress’s national disciplinary committee, Derek Hanekom, has confirmed that ANC Youth League president Julius Malema’s disciplinary hearing will take place on May 3. The confirmation by the deputy science and technology minister came amid dissatisfaction expressed by the Gauteng ANC leader who said that the membership of no less […]

This party needs saving. It needs to be saved from itself. The enemy is not some evil and external force; it has parasites within itself that have so transformed themselves into what seems to be the ANC. The chameleon-like camouflage has so fooled all those within that they have come to believe that this is […]

It’s quite simple. Imagine if the plan was never to oust Mbeki in favour of Zuma, but in fact to put Malema in place as our president from the beginning?! Why not do it straight away then you ask? To put Malema against Mbeki would have seemed ludicrous. I mean, Mbeki is practically an “agent”. […]