Amidst all the gloom and doom nowadays, one or two bright spots stand out. Firstly, whatever one thinks of the ANC’s new team, Polokwane demonstrated that democracy is alive and well in our “liberation” ruling party. Contrast what happened in the ANC with what has not happened to Zanu-PF and Swapo, for example. Secondly, civil […]
News/Politics
Posted inNews/Politics
Ukhahlamba massacre: Arrest the bastards from the municipality
When 80 children die because municipal authorities neglected, failed or just point-blank refused to issue warnings against drinking tap water, in the face of compelling evidence to do so, then those concerned must be arrested and charged with culpable homicide. When the municipal water-purification plant broke down in October, the Ukhahlamba district municipality received a […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Zuma vs Mbeki
Submitted by Muhammad Karim I feel every South African has this going through their minds, consciously or subconsciously. We’re all witnessing the effects of Mbeki’s passive leadership. He seems to be making some serious faux pas when it comes to current issues such as Zimbabwe (“There is no crisis” and giving the green light to […]
Posted inBusiness, News/Politics
I’m proud of our unions today
A few weeks ago, in my editorial on the Skills Portal newsletter, I complained about union calls for an additional public holiday. Leaders of union federations were writing letters to Thabo Mbeki and holding interviews with the media, all for one extra day’s holiday. With all the social challenges we face in our country, was […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
What makes a person great?
Robert Mugabe won’t leave office. Thabo Mbeki made a bid for a third term and will leave a country ravaged by inflation, high unemployment, ineptness at high levels in government and business, and erratic electricity supplies. The Economist last week said, in the angriest editorial I can ever recall from that journal: “Can Thabo Mbeki, […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The FBJ’s ‘blacker than thou’ racial reasoning is political suicide
The most exciting feature of the SAHRC ruling against the Forum of Black Journalists is the loud echo of black voices that have welcomed the decision and denounced the latter’s insistence on its right to exclude whites on the basis of skin colour. This reveals that more and more blacks are willing to turn against […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Our president has blood on his hands
South Africa’s continued inaction on Zimbabwe is a disgrace. Mbeki’s “quiet diplomacy” is merely a euphemism for his cowardly indifference. He continues to turn a blind eye while the Mugabe regime systematically rages war on its people, avenging them for daring to exercise their democratic will at the ballot box. “No crisis.” Yes, that is […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Sense and civility
“The mark of an educated mind is the ability to entertain a thought without accepting it.” That’s one lesson to take from the Big Bad Bullard Barney.
Posted inNews/Politics
Cosatu and AfriForum show the way: SA will not be the next Zimbabwe
If South Africa is to avoid becoming the next Zimbabwe, then a material role needs to be played by the powerful trade unions that are, even now, showing us the way forward. Not for them the meek and mild acceptance of Eskom’s rate hikes, food price increases or even demands for arms to be offloaded […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Politics: Only for the brave
Politics is not for sissies. Well, if you are from certain countries that is. From Burundi for instance, or neighbouring Rwanda. Or Eritrea, Sri Lanka, and Colombia. Or Burma, Ecuador and Zimbabwe. These and other nations can’t exactly be classified as airy-fairy political fun fairs. Here, belonging to the opposition, being too vocal, too controversial, […]
Posted inNews/Politics
50 First Elections
It’s a terrible movie, but then it’s a terrible world. The one where Drew Barrymore has a head injury — she’s cute and sweet and she’s stuck in the same day over and over again. She doesn’t remember anything that happened the day before, so she wakes up bright and fresh and innocent and appealing […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Bullard? Qwelane? I’d hire them like a shot
When I read David Bullard’s offending article, which was a disgrace, I pulled no punches — I said that when he had time to reflect he would realise that this was not his finest hour. Now having watched him on the Noeleen show and read his apology, my estimation of the man, which was always […]