News/Politics

I am as sentimental as the next person. Really, I am. And I did my Shakespeare at school, and I know the story about the tragic hero — a great man, with a fatal flaw. I love those Elizabethan tragedies, real and imagined: poor Mary, Queen of Scots, going bravely to her death in a […]

William Butler Yeats in the The Second Coming uses religious symbolism to illustrate his anguish over the apparent decline of Europe’s ruling class. The poem is more poignant given the depressing political events in our country. Yeats said: “Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the […]

One of the primary catalysts for ousting President Thabo Mbeki has been cited as the attempt to seek the repeal or reversal of the judgement handed down by Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Chris Nicholson — the decision to challenge that part of the judgement which indicated that Mbeki had interfered in the prosecution of ANC […]

As my train passed Washington National Airport at dusk the day before 9/11, I was overcome by a sudden spell of warmth and fuzziness. I had just finished my second stint of voter registration in Fairfax county — in Northern Virginia — and was enjoying reading Jeffrey Toobin’s The Nine, an absorbing tale of the […]

When Georgia invaded South Ossetia on 7 August 2008, very few people had even heard of the place. A month on and the crisis in the breakaway republic is causing a monumental shift in the power play of the worlds greatest nations. It may not be apparent yet but South Ossetia could dramatically change our […]

Gwede Mantashe, secretary-general of the African National Congress, has confirmed that the National Executive Committee had reached consensus in the early hours of Saturday morning to recall national President Thabo Mbeki. Mbeki is not expected to fight the recall although the Constitution does not provide the steps that would need to be taken to implement […]

Judge Willem Heath has engaged in some extrajudicial adventures and a personal crusade against President Mbeki, former Minister of Justice Panuel Maduna and former Director of National Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka. Heath has suggested that charges be laid against these three men following the injudicious inferences contained in the judgment passed by Judge Nicholson. According to […]

As my regular readers know, the survival of the Scorpions as well as special police units like Organised Crime, has been one of my priorities over the past year. This arises not only from having dealt with many of their people and being able to appreciate their professionalism but also as a result of our […]

Judge Nicholson in his judgment correctly indicated that politicians should not interfere with the functions of the NPA nor impede or influence the manner in which they discharge these functions. President Mbeki has been ridiculed by those less informed of the judgment by Nicholson; and accused of being the chief conspirator against Jacob Zuma. If […]

This week’s Talkback question on the Mail & Guardian Online: Zuma ruling: What now for Mbeki?