Category Archives: Columns

Baggage issue an allegory for state of our SOEs – no one gives a hoot

Veteran consumer journalist Wendy Knowler discovered her bag had been tampered with early this week when she picked it up from the carousel after disembarking from her flight. Perhaps the only surprising thing for the rest of us was that she hadn’t been flying from OR Tambo International Airport.

Kick-ass boets in Beemers more fun than ANC anniversary

Fighting in real life just isn’t like it is in the movies, which is a bit of paradox when you think of the proliferation of martial arts movies and the suburban dojos, gyms and Fight Clubs underpinning this fascination all over Gauteng at least.

Cadres on a jol at ANC 108 celebrations before Moody’s puts the boot in

The ANC is in Kimberley, the spiritual home of Sol Plaatje, this weekend to deliver its January 8 address. It’s an important moment, presaging what the president of the party who also happens to be the president of the country will say at the State of the Nation Address next month when he opens Parliament.

Go after the guilty parties and stop the grandstanding

There’s nothing more controversial though than rape in this country and this judgment, with its far-ranging implications, will be a potent deterrent in combating the scourge of sexual violence that shames us every day.

Steal Christmas to save lives

We will no doubt be treated to bravura performances by the increasingly Elton John-esque Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula either in oversized sunglasses and gold bling or in a borrowed traffic police uniform.

Boks made a meal of England – with no need for salt

Rassie Erasmus looks like he’s going to have his work cut out for him if he’s not careful. He’d no sooner announced that he was standing down as Springbok coach to return to his original job as director of coaching than his erstwhile charges went out and won the Rugby World Cup.

We must listen to truth beyond our echo chambers

When do we believe what our eyes tell us over what the people who were actually involved say happened? In a world where our access to information is as unprecedented as our technical ability to manipulate meaning, it’s an increasingly important question.

Is Maimane about to be nailed to the preacher’s cross?

Last Sunday the disbelief was unbounded – and the jibes on social media merciless. Mmusi Maimane, the self-styled Obama of Soweto, had been unmasked using a car donated by disgraced financier Markus Jooste – the man who made the Wolf of Wall Street look like a puppy.