Checked into my first hotel in Austin, a little one night stop before hitting the Hampton Inn and Suites with the rest of the SA delegation. My bag didn’t arrive — which carries on a long and stormy relationship I have with baggage. And airlines. Ahem. Delta. Anyhoo, the Delta Airlines lady was wonderfully pleasant […]
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Posted inGeneral
ANC’s never in short supply of shady characters
The ANC’s never in short supply of shady characters in senior positions, whether in government or its party structures. One would be forgiven for thinking that the criteria for a senior leadership position at the moment is having a tainted integrity, character and morality — a criminal record or criminal charges would be preferred. Not […]
Posted inNews/Politics
SA artists will always enjoy freedom of expression
Creativity — be it writing, painting, film-making, acting, singing or dancing — is a frighteningly powerful tool. It is for this reason that artists are able to define and change reality. There are a lot of people who witness and experience life but have no clue about the meaning or impact of that reality. Usually, […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Mandela or Madiba, which one do you want?
In history there is the truth and then there is the story. And rarely are they the same thing. But does the truth really matter? Does it matter that this man or that man was fallible? That he made loads of mistakes and was always scared. Or that he went to his grave pissing and […]
Posted inNews/Politics
ANC’s placating Malema at its own peril
President Jacob Zuma is going to have to draw a line in the sand and decide where loyalty ends and common sense begins in his, as well as the African National Congress’s, approach to the ANCYL and its president, Julius Malema. After yesterday’s racist tirade at the University of Johannesburg the ANC has yet to […]
Posted inNews/Politics
No porn please
There are many reasons why DSTV should not have a porn channel, none of which have to do with morals. The debate about morals lands up with sex being a sin or at least frowned upon, and the idea of watching other people having sex is almost outlandish if not only a bit rude. But […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Mama Lulu’s selective high heels of culture: An open letter
Whatever you believe is arts minister, is … Bhota Mam Lulu, “Been meaning to write to you for a while now since your dramatic promotion to handle the very complex portfolio of arts and culture for our country and the high level reinforcement through the misdeployment of the former premier of Gauteng. The two of you […]
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One hundred days to being screwed over
I don’t like press conferences. Organised to propagate nothing more than a particular message, they are spaces where real questions are rarely asked because they are really no place for real answers. Everything is pre-empted, rehearsed, and answers are a performed act, designed by media experts, advisers and prom queen mothers. Everyone knows that real […]
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Gaffie syndrome
By Duncan Newton Keal I have to consider myself one of the most committed sports fans. I have been supporting the Sharks and Proteas with blind passion for numerous years, only to consistently have my heart broken as they conspire to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Currently based in the Land of the […]
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SA rugby media bias: Fact or fiction?
I’ve only been involved with professional rugby journalism for just over a year, and one of the urban legends that I’ve picked up on my travels is that there is a bubbling (nothing too discernable) feeling from a section of rugby followers that media coverage in South Africa is biased in favour of certain teams, […]
Posted inLifestyle, News/Politics
An interview with my grandfather
Soobrie Pillay, the 90-year-old stalwart of the Congress Movement, who through his humble position as the head barman of the West End Hotel, on the corner of Dr Yusuf Dadoo (Grey) Street and Dr Monty Naicker Road (Pine Street), selflessly provided, over 60 between 1933 and 1995, protection and aid to generations of political activists […]
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Leonard Cohen: Singer extraordinaire
Nietzsche once remarked that life would be “aimless” (a confused “getting lost”) without music. There are many instances of musical performance that attest to the accuracy of this insight, and among these one must certainly count the music of Leonard Cohen. I can hardly imagine that fans of the man who “was born with the […]