News/Politics

I am running a “competition” over on my Blog to try and stimulate intelligent debate on the looming appointment of four members of our Constitutional Court. There I invite all readers to propose their “dream candidates” for our highest court. In several judgments — including the Doctors for Life case and the Matatiele case — […]

The biggest stumbling block in post-colonial Africa’s progress towards democracy has been the steadfast refusal of its dictators to relinquish power. Much of this can be attributed to the fact that should they be forced to relinquish power they are, more likely than not, going to be facing charges of genocide, crimes against humanity or […]

Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan recently suggested underperforming parastatals might be sold off. The reaction was shock and dismay from the ANC and alliance partners. But the option of divestiture, the correct technical term, has long been part of ANC government policy. This policy is contained in the policy framework document, “An Accelerated Agenda towards […]

Caiphus Kgosana in an article which may be found on IOL suggests that the Congress of the People party may be in danger of travelling the same path to relative political obscurity as that of the UDM and the ID. The prognosis is based upon a document, a copy of which is in the newspaper’s […]

If South African Navy chief Johannes Refiloe Mudimu has suggested that he will not pay allegiance to our commander in chief, President Jacob Zuma, then the submarine that has been put on bricks must be taken out of mothballs, the gentleman placed therein and immediately sunk without a trace. I must in all fairness point […]

Applications are invited from suitably supported candidates to be admitted to the exalted status of being a judicial commissioner, an arbiter in a subsidiary court, a magistrate, a high court judge, a supreme court of appeals judge or a constitutional court judge. Please note that the following requirements subsist in respect of all applications: Are […]

With the SABC and its financial problems very much in the news at the moment I was interested to read a letter headlined “Others share blame for SABC woes” in the Mail & Guardian of May 29 2009. The letter was published under a pseudonym, “SABC staffer — name withheld” — and suggested that despite […]

Martin Jahnke, a German, went on trial last week for chucking his (possibly Asian sweatshop) trainers at Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. Echoing the impressive footwear attack on George Bush last year (who dodged an Iraqi boot in the face) this was less an emotional protest and more an attention-seeking hissy fit. The Iraqi journalist, Muntadhar […]

United States President Barack Obama will either be remembered as one of his country’s greatest ever leaders or possibly its most naive. Whichever way history adjudges it one thing is certain, this is not a presidency that will soon be forgotten. His somewhat misguided speech at the University of Cairo designed to lance the boil […]

On the same day as our President Jacob Zuma was delivering his State of the Nation address I was monitoring the near implosion of Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s British cabinet. A second cabinet minister Hazel Blears joining Jacqui Smith in resigning her post; two in as many days. The brouhaha over the members of parliament […]

National Assembly An expanse of cleavage Crowned by botox Ambassadors Burnooses in the rain How ridiculous Sarel Cilliers Recited by Mattera Boers applaud uneasily Awaiting the chief The opposition Sits leaderless Amidst the poetry A cacophony of crassness From the media benches Heckles for Helen But a standing ovation For the Judiciary All rise for […]

By Patric Tariq Mellet There are so many stories and issues in the lives of South Africans that have for too long had to take a backseat in our media which seems to be stuck in a groove. Generally the South African media are besotted with the world of politicians and high-society figures, coasting from […]