News/Politics

South Africa isn’t short of skills, people, resources or imagination. What it is short of is a common vision. Common implies most of us buy into it and will take whatever steps it takes to achieve it. Sometimes we will need to make sacrifices in the short term for the long. The world has known […]

The Firearms Control Act (60 of 2000) has long been the cause of heated debate between those who would possess firearms as opposed to those who regulate and administer control thereof. I recall an evening about ten years ago when one particular genius — who I’m sure slept with his guns while his missus took […]

Cape Town mayor Dan Plato has been given the go-ahead to use council funds in order to bring an action for defamation against a local tabloid who claimed that he was having an extra-marital affair. “A late report to the council on Wednesday said it was in the public interest that those responsible were held […]

Whatever happened to the African renaissance? I thought that shifting priorities, not to mention last year’s xenophobic violence, had long since consigned it to the dustbin of history, as a catchphrase anyhow. Just when it seemed that we were to hear of it no more, here’s the man, who started it all, going on about […]

With labour and ANC organisations flexing their muscles post-elections it is time for the relevant ministers, leaders and organisers of protests and strikes to start drawing to the attention of the participants therein that they are always subject to the laws of our country. While striking and protesting are two democratic methods of expressing people’s […]

On June 25 1950 the North Korean Army under cover of an enormous artillery barrage crossed the 38th parallel into the Republic of Korea (South) initiating what is generally known as the Korean War. It was to be a conflict which created enormous global pressure at the time with a United Nation’s force comprising a […]

Mismanagement aside the SABC has to understand that its primary function as the national broadcaster is to air the views of all the people of this country as well as keep them informed of all ongoing news regardless of whom this may favour or prejudice. Accordingly the decision to sit on the Zapiro episode of […]

The recent appointment of KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize — a key supporter of President Jacob Zuma — as chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) will only further damage the institution’s already shattered reputation. In the space of a little more than five years this university has gone from having a judge respected for his […]

Western Cape Premier Helen Zille has clearly rejected the overtures made by South African President Jacob Zuma to opposition parties during his inaugural address. In his opening speech Zuma called upon opposition parties to work with the government where there are areas of common interest and called upon the ruling party to be more open […]

A few weeks ago South Africans elected the African National Congress to yet another term as overlords of one of the most beautiful, sacred and creative lands on Earth. A land acknowledged as the “Cradle of Humankind”, where our species, homo sapiens sapiens, first ventured forth to populate and ultimately become the overlords of the […]

The return of a top-of-the-range Mercedes-Benz by a senior cabinet minister marks an important turning point in the culture of entitlement and kickbacks in government circles. Transport Minister S’bu Ndebele’s decision will, inevitably, restore faith in the ANC leadership. It is not only a coordinate for taking an anti-corruption stance but a resounding statement that […]