Prompted by the debate David Bullard tried — but probably failed — to stir (as I argued on my own blog), I wrote a short opinion on colonialism, which I reckon is worth posting separately.
News/Politics
Posted inNews/Politics
Zimbabwe: Forget the president, let Cosatu act as mediator
President Thabo Mbeki is right. There is no crisis in Zimbabwe. Next to hyperinflation, mass starvation, brutalisation of the population, Gukurahundi, 80% unemployment and any number of other plagues Mugabe has visited on the people of Zimbabwe, why would failing to release the presidential election results constitute a crisis? Indeed it would seem mere footling […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Zuma endorsement of Shabangu in stark contrast to ANC policy on death penalty
You have to admit that Msholozi and Deputy Safety and Security Minister Susan Shabangu’s calls to shoot the criminals and kill the bastards make you feel kinda warm all over. Let’s face it, South Africans are sick and tired of criminals and the sooner this blight on our country is brought under control, the better. […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Save us from the Save David Bullard brigade
By Robert Brand and Anne Taylor We’ve had to put up with David Bullard for years, so it was with delight that we heard he’d been fired. But it seems there are those who are rallying to his defence, citing Machiavellian corporate and political machinations as the real reason for his axing. It’s all bullshit, […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Was Dave’s drivel really racist?
After reading Xolela Mangcu’s frothy condemnation of what will ultimately be David Bullard’s last Sunday Times column, I braced myself for the worst and prepared to be thoroughly indignant when I got round to reading it. But when I eventually did get to the so-called controversial and allegedly racist piece, I was puzzled. He got […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Interviewing Mr MK in 1991
Lest anyone forget how South Africa nearly exploded when Chris Hani was assassinated, here are some front pages of the paper I edited at the time: Missing, however, is the wonderful full cover from South of Hani standing outside Parliament in 1992, with the headline “Next year we rule from within this place”. Democracy was, […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
‘Kill the bastards’: Time for a revolution against crime
While the Deputy Minister of Safety and Security, Susan Shabangu, was making her now-famous speech in which she urged police to “kill the bastards”, I attended the opening night of Mike van Graan’s brilliant play Die Generaal at Artscape’s Arena Theatre. The play is, in my opinion, probably Van Graan’s best work and I have […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Deputy Minister Shabangu: The quest for zero citizens
As a specialist criminal attorney, I would like to put Deputy Safety and Security Minister Susan Shabangu’s instructions to the police into some sort of context; translate it from the ill-considered idea that gave rise to the ridiculous orders and demonstrate how this would affect people in reality. In essence, the minister has ordered the […]
Posted inLifestyle, Media, News/Politics
All your base are belong to us
Call Centre Girl: Hello. Am I speaking to Diane, please? Me: Yars. CCG: This is the Democratic Alliance. We just need to know if you’re still living at 6 Behr Road. Me: [Whoa. Who needs the Scorpions?] No. I … um … moved to Woodstock. CCG: What is your new address there? Me: [Don’t panic. […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Bombin’ is the only way, a medley, by Jomb-Bomb McCain
John McCain was only joking when he mumble-sang “Bomb bomb Iran” to the Beach Boys’ Sixties hit Barbara Ann recently, says at least one of the scores of respondents in the US to my misguided plea for them not to vote dreary old John McCain into office this November. Of course he was only joking. […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Have Tibetan protests ruined the spirit of the Olympic torch relay?
This week’s Talkback question on the Mail & Guardian Online: Have Tibetan protests ruined the spirit of the Olympic torch relay?
Posted inNews/Politics
Afropessimism or bust?
Submitted by Tristan Görgens Our Afropessimism has an indignant tone. South Africa has long been the home of exceptionalism. We did white, minority rule differently, we fought for liberation differently, we avoided civil war with a negotiated settlement, we taught the world about truth and reconciliation, we were the champions and purveyors of Nepad and […]