One of the most enjoyable things that one can share with one’s wife, husband, lover or partner, must surely be reading with and to each other. And what better form of literature to share in this fashion than the ever “novel” literary phenomenon, to wit, a novel. Sure, if both of you happen to be […]
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Posted inNews/Politics
The dismissal of the national director of public prosecutions to protect alleged criminals
“President” Kgalema Motlanthe (or perhaps acting on instructions from Luthuli House) decided to fire the suspended national director of public prosecutions, Advocate Vusi Pikoli, even though the Ginwala Commission of Inquiry absolved him of any wrongdoing and further recommended that he be reinstated to his position. He believes it is illogical to reinstate Pikoli but […]
Posted inGeneral
Two down, one to go …
Since local organising committee CEO Danny Jordaan first spearheaded South Africa’s campaign to host a World Cup, he has frequently repeated the refrain: “There is no contradiction between African and world class”. And this country’s favourite sports administrator was at it again following the slick and impressive draw for the 2009 Confederations Cup. Although the […]
Posted inGeneral
The internet buzz election — Britney pips Obama? Not quite …
(This post first appeared on my own blog, www.tonylankester.com) Every time you turn the television on these days you get more talking heads crunching numbers about the US Elections – whispering urgently about who is going to win which states and why. I’m feeling a little left out, so I thought I would do my […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The second coming of Jesus seems to be upon us
ANC president Jacob Zuma once said that the ANC will rule until the Second Coming of Jesus. It looks like he may be making an appearance sooner than he realised. I know it is too soon to write the obituary of the ANC. To borrow from Shakespeare, “Lend me your ears,” but in this case, […]
Posted inGeneral
What is creativity?
With the whole country agog in the face of the rumblings within (and without) the ruling party, I thought I should write on something else, lest the party in question come to the erroneous conclusion that it is the only thing worth writing about, which it certainly is not. In fact, every time, lately, that […]
Posted inLifestyle
We do not have to apologise for not speaking “proper English”…
Rod MacKenzie’s comments about the standard of English on Thought Leader (see the box, below) are well taken. It is, sometimes, difficult to follow contributions by bloggers and commentators, not all of which can be explained by actual language skills, or lack thereof. Some of it may have to do with a lack of reading […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Broedertwis: a brotherly war has ensued between Mbeki and Zuma
The decision by Jacob Zuma to oppose former president Mbeki’s application to the Constitutional Court to appeal sections of the Nicholson judgment may be the beginning of the end of his political career if the court rules in favour of the former president. The ruling would be a blow to Zuma’s attempt to escape criminal […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Mbeki as tragic hero — not
I am as sentimental as the next person. Really, I am. And I did my Shakespeare at school, and I know the story about the tragic hero — a great man, with a fatal flaw. I love those Elizabethan tragedies, real and imagined: poor Mary, Queen of Scots, going bravely to her death in a […]
Posted inMedia, News/Politics
Right-wing Zapiro, or a guy who gets it right?
The country’s visual conscience corrected his balance with his revised cartoon on Sunday that switched the Jacob Zuma rape of justice image, with members of the Thabo Mbeki camp. Both, according to his accompanying caption, are valid. I analysed this development for the Daily Dispatch as regards his basic message. Which is: South Africa needs […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Fear the wrath of Helen Zille scorned!
In the movie Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino, Samuel L. Jackson renders with great fervour one of the best-scripted lines in cinema history: “The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Cosatu’s devious incitement of anarchy and carnage
“This very weekend, I received urgent warnings that the ANC has decided to abduct two of my children and to kill them … it was a serious warning, urgently given … I don’t know the truth of it … there are certain elements in the ANC quite capable of such a thing.” Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi, […]