Mosiuoa Lekota’s moves over the past week have been very interesting to follow, but his future remains very much a murky mist. While it would be fantastic for our longer-term democratic foundation, there are two key issues that dampen my optimism about Lekota’s new party. The first is that this is a party very much […]
News/Politics
Posted inNews/Politics
Mbeki needs to defuse fears of Zimbabwe military
A New York Times article headlined “Zimbabwe generals’ fears of prosecution threaten deal” has cut to the chase on what is proving to be the major stumbling block to the implementation of that country’s power-sharing deal. The agreement reached previously always had contemplated that Robert Mugabe would retain the Presidency and lead the Cabinet, while […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The ANC is not collapsing!
It would be naive and dishonest to accept the argument by Sentletse Diakanyo that the ANC has collapsed such that we should “welcome a new beginning”. Despite the pomp and demagogy that surrounds his thinking, his paper is premised on two main hugely empty arguments: (1) the ANC took a “fatal” decision by “firing” Thabo […]
Posted inNews/Politics
McCain’s ever-diminishing bag of tricks
In just three weeks, Americans go to the polls to elect a new president. All the polls strongly suggest that if the election were held today, That One would sweep to victory. FiveThirtyEight.com, which aims to “accumulate and analyse polling and political data in way that is informed, accurate and attractive … to give … […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Africa Command: Militarising or improving US Africa policy?
In my short time in South Africa, few elements of US foreign policy in Africa have raised as much ire or confusion among the people I talk to as the new US Africa Command (Africom). Officially launched at the beginning of October, despite lingering scepticism both across the continent and in the US, Africom consolidates […]
Posted inNews/Politics, Sport
‘The Springbok emblem must go!’
South Africans in general, black and white, appear to have an allergic reaction to change. While we all recognise and acknowledge the need to transform public institutions in whatever form to be reflective of the society they represent, we are quick to oppose attempts to move towards that particular ideal. The ushering of democracy necessitated […]
Posted inNews/Politics, Sport
On divisive symbols in the new South Africa
It seems that every other week we are confronted with the reality of an ever changing nation. Summer rolls around, housing developments go up, presidents change, ministers and premiers shuffle around. “We live in exciting times” is a refrain I’ve heard often over the course of the past two months. And every so often, in […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Mbeki’s Zimbabwe deal will succeed
While the world’s media speculate on the imminent collapse of the power sharing agreement in Zimbabwe, the realities on the ground preclude President Mugabe’s ministry grab, which is jeopardizing the deal’s implementation, from succeeding. The fact of the matter is that unless the MDC control the ministries of Home Affairs and Finance there will be […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Content and readership analysis of the M&G and Thought Leader
In a recent post Bert Olivier referred to being called a “clown” for being critical of capitalism. As it goes I have been doing some research about commentators and contributors to Thought Leader. I am still collecting and analysing the data. Of the thousands of entries I have in my spreadsheet, so far, the clearest […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
ANC split: good for what?
Never mind that no one seems to have the faintest idea about what exactly is going on in our country over the past few weeks, but apparently all of this serious pushing, pulling, shoving and other such forced removals, is good for our democracy. I don’t know. Perhaps too much is happening too fast for […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The rise and rise and spectacular fall of the ANC!
The law of nature suggests that what goes up must eventually come down. I think Newton’s law of gravity said something to that effect. When the Romans engaged in expansionist military adventures, terrorising and conquering territories that existed outside of Rome, none of the Roman warlords imagined any succession of events that could lead to […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Dear Mr Lekota: Let’s open the arms deal (part 2)
Dear Mr Lekota After your performance in the Western Cape, it is obvious that you are alive and well, so there is no necessity of asking. Let’s get on with these issues. Both you and I know very well why we are all here. It is the arms deal, in case you have forgotten. A […]