In what is recorded as his last speech, the extraordinary Anton Muziwakhe Lembede told the gathering, at Leake Hall in Soweto, June 1947, that “the history of mankind is the history of the liberation of the mankind”. Fast-forward to 1961, Frantz Fanon forcefully argued that “what matters today is the need for redistribution of wealth”. […]
Search results
Posted inGeneral
Will the real ANC Women’s League please stand up?
By Zukiswa Mqolomba As we celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, I had to contend with the frightening reality that the ANC Women’s League is indeed dead. I focus on the women’s league because of its strategic location at the centre of political power in South Africa and its historical mission and legacy as […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Would you grant Jub Jub bail?
Protea Court Soweto will once again be the focal point as the bail applications of hip-hop artist Molemo Maarohanye, known as Jub Jub, and co-accused Themba Tshabalala enter into their second day. They are currently being held on charges of murder and attempted murder. These arise out of a horrendous incident which took place in […]
Posted inGeneral
If you want to help, here’s how
It’s quite clear that many people in South Africa actually want to make a difference but are not sure how. Most of us don’t have as much time as we’d like to but we do have some money, some of us have plenty of time but no money, some of us have a specialised skill […]
Posted inGeneral
Is!…Isn’t!…Is!
By Vasti Roodt Another debate is upon us. Following the uproar over her snubbing of a risque art exhibition, Arts and Culture minister Lulu Xingwana has called upon South Africans to debate the line between art and pornography. We will have to find space for this new debate among various other debates that are clamouring […]
Posted inBusiness, News/Politics
Nationalising the mines a just cause but…
By Zukiswa Mqolomba Firstly, the ANC Youth league must be applauded for raising debate on key and critical questions about the need to unlock natural productive forces in pursuit of national development. The league has tried to put both a strong historical account and case for nationalisation on the one hand, and an ideological basis […]
Posted inSport
The cost of hosting the World Cup
Why it is that African countries have to go through the painful and expensive exercise of convincing the so-called first world that South Africa, in particular, is ready and capable of hosting the Fifa World Cup? We toiled culturally to showcase our rainbow nation as not barbaric, and politically to prove a matured democracy and […]
Posted inNews/Politics
In defence of Julius’s right to free speech
I believe in freedom of expression. Our Constitution protects the right to freedom of expression. That is why I cannot welcome the Equality Court’s ruling that Malema was guilty of hate speech when he commented on the young woman who had accused President Jacob Zuma of rape. Please understand that I am not defending Malema. […]
Posted inGeneral
SA’s looking a lot like Zimbabwe
Though former president Thabo Mbeki was often guilty, to a fault, of defending his administration, nothing could have prepared South Africans for the inappropriate appointments and point-blank refusal to accept wrongdoing among those who occupy positions of power or who are allied to current President Jacob Zuma. It’s as if a totally different set of […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Malemaisms and the art of distraction
Edged in national memory is that picture of a fat youngster who — except for his skimpy underwear, is totally naked — drunkenly leading a protest during the chaos that was the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) elective conference in Mangaung, Bloemfontein. At that conference, Julius Malema was elected president of the ANCYL. How […]
Posted inGeneral
SXSW South Africa Series #5 – Lynette Kloppers and Andy Hadfield chat Banking 2.0
Just attended the Banking 2.0 panel with my colleague from FNB, head of digital strategy in the personal banking segment at FNB. The following is an interview style summary of some of the amazing content that was discussed. The Panel comprised of CEOs from Mint.com, SmartyPig, LendingClub.com and Credit Karma. Andy: So with all the […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Stirrings in the heart of Die Volk
The only instantly identifiable Afrikaner leaders are defunct (FW de Klerk), defected (Marthinus van Schalkwyk), or deranged (Eugene Terre Blanche).