News/Politics

Whatever you believe is arts minister, is … Bhota Mam Lulu, “Been meaning to write to you for a while now since your dramatic promotion to handle the very complex portfolio of arts and culture for our country and the high level reinforcement through the misdeployment of the former premier of Gauteng. The two of you […]

South African President Jacob Zuma was given a warm welcome by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, upon his state visit to Britain on Wednesday, with a Horse Guards’ Parade followed by a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace. It was a royal spectacular with all the tradition, pomp and ceremony that only the British seem to […]

As a result of the growing media pressure surrounding ANC Youth League president Julius Malema’s lifestyle audit a press conference was scheduled for Tuesday in order to afford his attorney, Tumi Mokwena, the opportunity of clearing up some of the issues. At the media briefing Mokwena stated that while Malema was still registered as a […]

Professor Sipho Seepe’s recent article in the Sowetan that morals are not necessary for leadership in politics must rank as his poorest contribution to national debate yet, obviously blinded by his well-known support for Zuma’s ascension to power. What is comforting though is that he is not even being supported by the man he is […]

You know it’s been a slow day in the news world when Lynda Odendaal joining the ANC is a main story on the evening news. The former Cope second deputy president and lead organiser of a new independent civil-society initiative announced she had joined the ANC amid fanfare and a formal press conference. “Comrade Lynda” […]

Due to what appears to be a desire to bridge (which in itself means never having to shake hands — English translation) the communications gap some of you have requested that further terms, phrases and personalities, unique to South Africa, be translated into language that everyone can understand. Accordingly herewith : PART II Malema shall […]

“Jewish author’s estate accuses Rowling of plagiarism” was one of the featured stories in today’s Jewish Telegraph Agency bulletin. According to this, Rowling got her ideas from a 1987 book by Adrian Jacobs (since deceased) entitled The Adventures of Willy the Wizard: No. 1 Livid Land. This is not the first time certain people have […]

The Rubik’s cube is one of those puzzles that many people want to throw against the wall. It seems solution-less, until someone comes along and shows you how to do it. Have you ever faced a problem and had no idea how to solve it? One of those things you feel completely overwhelmed by and […]

Why do people hate Julius Malema so? I’m honestly perplexed. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I don’t love him. Do you see me in a JZ shirt, baying out mshini wami outside the ‘Maritzburg High Court, sweat dripping from beneath my Dickies taxi-boy keppie, scuffed ankles and once-white All Stars straining as I give the […]

[Update: The Press Council’s deputy press ombudsman, Johan Retief, found in Lakela Kaunda’s favour regarding a July 7 2010 article the Times published titled “Kaunda wins battle in the presidency – Zuma’s top aide tightens her hold as two more key officials prepare to leave”. The ombudsman stated that Kaunda had complained that “the story […]