It’s a rare occasion when a news headlinee in the New York Times catches my eye. With so much coverage on the war on Iran (not a typo) or Obama’s road show which the Germans are not that happy with, ones eyes tend to glaze over. Then there are copious reports on McCain’s latest statements […]
News/Politics
Posted inNews/Politics
Radovan Karadzic: bonfire of the racist vanities
If there is one thing I am enjoying more than seeing Radovan Karadzic, former leader of the Bosnian Serbs, facing trial in the Hague for genocide and crimes against humanity, it’s reminding racists here and abroad that Europe, supposedly the centre of civilised humanity, is also the master of butchering its own. Dr Karadzic, indeed […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The wrangle over Africa
It is hard to fathom, but Zimbabwe is sandwiched between the ambitions of two super powers to extend their influence over the African continent. Both China and the United States see Africa as the strategic focus in an ever-tense game of vying for hegemony. The recent outrage by the Bush administration at South Africa’s refusal […]
Posted inNews/Politics, Sport
Government has failed transformation of sports
In 1998, the ANC issued this statement: “The transformation of sports in our country is one such area where we have done very little.” “… there are still sporting codes which are not truly representative of the South African nation. Both the rugby and cricket national teams remain lily-white despite their much publicised development programmes […]
Posted inNews/Politics
We are true revolutionaries
We don’t care for your Constitutional Court with its pompous judges and overblown constitution. We are true revolutionaries. We say that the protection of human rights is yesterday’s idea and the Human Rights Commission is yesterday’s institution. We have to guard against the forces of darkness hiding in such places. We don’t care for bourgeois […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Carpe diem Zimbabwe
There can longer be any doubt that the future of South Africa and Zimbabwe are inextricably linked. The recovery and rebuilding of our northern neighbour is vital to our own progress and development. More importantly it affords an opportunity to rescue 5.1 million Zimbabweans from the brink, offer the exiles a stable home, relieves pressure […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Institutions shoring up Eurocentrism and ‘Western civilisation’ are not ‘non-partisan’
A contribution to Thought Leader by David Saks reminded me of an intellectual movement with which I associate myself, and which questions the continued application of Western thought/Eurocentrism as the dominant paradigm for social organisation — especially governance, policy-making, development and so forth. Out of this movement emerges a body of thought that questions the […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Caviar communism: YCL comes out of business-class closet
Recently the Young Communist League national secretary, Buti Manamela, was detained for questioning at Heathrow on his arrival. Sounds like a horrible experience to go through — one which he shares in an interview in the Mail & Guardian a few weeks ago. What I found fascinating, though, was Manamela’s admission that he flew to […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Distinguishing between Mandela and Mbeki is poor
While president Thabo Mbeki was making preparations to continue his mediation efforts in Zimbabwe with support from the African Union and the United Nations, Nelson Mandela, Africa’s greatest citizen, was celebrating his 90th birthday. Madiba, a man who has devoted his entire life to the struggle for the liberation of his people, losing nearly three […]
Posted inNews/Politics, Sport
Down the Nag’s Head: taking the piss about politics, ethics, morality and shandies* in sport.
On the only occasion I ever voted, I placed a cross beside the name of a man convicted of treason; as everyone knows, of course, treason replaced heresy after the mediaeval period as the highest crime one can possible commit against one’s country. Happy Birthday to the criminal, but this story is not about you; […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Indaba with a peg in the ‘axis of evil’?
The Guardian featured an article on Thursday, July 17 that showed the US plan on setting up “a US interest section — a halfway house to setting up a full embassy” in Tehran sometime in August 2008. This article followed short on the heels of a US announcement on Wednesday, July 16 2008 that the […]
Posted inNews/Politics
In search of Mandela’s people
Madiba shines brilliantly at ninety. One sees it in the gush of smiles that follow mention of his name almost anywhere on the African continent. He remains in the words of the late Brenda Fassie “My Black President” – a title he earned before he was elected by the South African people – and one […]