News/Politics

At the beginning of the crisis in Zimbabwe, Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the anti-Senate Movement for Democratic Change, called on South Africa to cut off Zimbabwe’s power supplies. A practical-joker technician from the power utility cut off power supplies to his house. But seriously, the idea was that if the people of Zimbabwe were denied […]

Prophets of doom are battling to swallow their words as President Thabo Mbeki’s diplomatic efforts in Zimbabwe appear to be vindicated. Mbeki has maintained that a people-centred approach stemming from dialogue between Zanu-PF and the MDC is the only hope of a lasting solution to the political and economic meltdown in that country. Since Mbeki […]

The American presidential election is about a year away from the national conventions where the Republicans and Democrats nominate their candidates. This takes place in the summer before elections. As things stand, analysts are predicting a Democratic president, namely Hillary Clinton. If, however, the Democrats nominate Obama at their Denver Convention, would that be in […]

So the SADC summit has come and gone, and once more there is nothing but platitudes coming from the SADC leadership. After veering from one false dawn to another, one has to come to two conclusions; firstly, that the SADC leadership will not intervene, whatever the humanitarian cost, in the affairs of Zimbabwe, and secondly, […]

President George Bush and other members of his administration have sent a clear message to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki — give us tangible results or you’re on your way out. With the reports on the military “surge” due in September, Bush himself is under pressure to prove to the American people that this latest […]

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel’s claim that foreign intervention to impose regime change in Zimbabwe would occasion another Iraq is patently wrong. The finance minister, who I would love to see as our next president, has clearly not thought this thing through. It hardly needs pointing out that foreign intervention is not the only way to […]

When Madiba finally crossed the Rubicon and started us on the road to a multiracial democracy, the overwhelming majority of South Africans rejoiced. Some 13 years on, in my humble opinion, both presidents, Mandela and Mbeki, have served us well. The country has progressed and is achieving growth. However, like an autistic child, we have […]

Does Facebook play a part in politics (governmental, not corporate :-)? Of course! The Sunday Times in South Africa released a front page report yesterday on the South African Health Minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. Over and above the fact that Manto is 66 years old and should probably retire anyway, there are calls from almost every […]