Is it possible that my blog “God save us from the racists” was racist? I don’t think so. If there are those who think so, let them convince me of that fact before I can retract. I stand firmly with my views. Interpretation of any aggressive act by a person of another race as racist […]
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Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Zuma, Nzimande clash … over media effects
Signs of division appeared in Jacob Zuma’s camp this week when the ANC president disagreed publicly with one of his staunchest supporters over media effects. While SACP leader Blade Nzimande accused City Press of sowing division and confusion within ANC ranks, Zuma has come to the conclusion that nobody much bothers about what they read […]
Posted inMedia
The trial of John Tengo Jabavu for (mis)representing African opinion
Friends asked me to attend a day-long talk shop by some of the country’s opinion-leaders at some white university the other day. I did not have to think hard before I answered with a resounding: “I am not particularly interested!” They were quiet for a minute before they answered: “This is so surprising.” I guess […]
Posted inGeneral
Zuma avoided Tyson, now Mbeki must void Erwin
“Accountability”, for the benefit of Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin and others, is the acceptance of responsibility for your actions and decisions — in this case, the national electricity disaster. It is a debacle that dwarfs all other problems facing this country and impacts directly or indirectly on the lives of every South African. Opposition […]
Posted inLifestyle
Movies, movies and more movies
Oh dear, more movies to watch. It’s not like I don’t have three or four previews in a week, and then there are the DVDs piling up at home … The second edition of 1 001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (Cassell) is out. The previous edition (2003) ended with The Pianist; this one […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The new is not yet born: The battle for African democracy
Sometimes, progress can look like a mess — particularly for those who prefer not to see it. An excellent example is the current state of African politics. As it often does, the continent is offering Afro-pessimists — a long, fancy word for people who don’t believe black people in Africa can run anything — no […]
Posted inNews/Politics
ANC collective may make it more difficult for Zuma to retain economic policies
It comes as no surprise to me that JZ is charming the pants off the media down in Davos — he is, after all, the most charismatic leader this country has ever produced (and that includes Madiba): http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id =6&art_id=vn20080125025211403C858475 http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/ BusinessTimes/Article.aspx?id=692199 At Polokwane, we watched him strutting his stuff and it really was exciting fare […]
Posted inNews/Politics, Tech
Eskom — it’s the information, stupid!
I am quite unable to see why some of Eskom’s computer geeks have not been able to solve at least one part of the energy crisis. Everyone keeps complaining that they don’t know when the power is going to go down, and that Eskom’s website is very unclear. Why not simply put a map of […]
Posted inLifestyle
Feel-good songs for Friday
These are a few of my favourite, can’t-resist-dancing songs. (It’s Friday! Lighten up!) I Feel it All by Leslie Feist. A new acquisition (just got it this week), but totally irresistible. Great beat, fantastic lyrics, and it’ll get stuck in your head and never, ever, ever leave. Best line? “I know more than I’m known […]
Posted inGeneral
Stealing chickens
Professor Steven Friedman, sir, I write in response to your blog entitled “Eskom, Zuma and some people’s nightmares“. As a white South African, I am greatly disturbed by you (a professor) casually calling disgruntled white South Africans “racists”. Please allow me a little story to illustrate part of my point: I once met a lovely […]
Posted inGeneral
The Madiba magic to look a racist straight in the eye
Blacks love their white people, even if they are racist. Many of them are. We blacks have even coined a term of endearment for them: abelungu bethu, which simply means our superior white people. You see, when you are black and have the confidence and courage to look a white person in the eye, you […]
Posted inGeneral
Rasool’s closing-down sale?
Ever the self-righteous optimist, I was up at 6am on Boxing Day for the first of many runs along the glorious stretch of coastline that runs from Sea Point to Clifton and beyond. But I was not the only person to hit the Atlantic Seaboard early that morning. By 6.30am, when I finally got moving, […]