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118 news articles in this category
The last six weeks have been nothing short of a rollercoaster. The discovery of a new COVID-19 variant in South Africa put the entire world on edge, and just hours after the Department of Health went public with its findings on Omicron, Mzansi was slapped by a number of travel bans. Six weeks of Omicron – here’s what we learned… Governments worldwide, including the UK’s, said they were acting within the best interests of their own people. But the ridiculousness of relying on harsh and un
Kyalami still has the inside line on hosting the next South African Grand Prix
The famous Kyalami circuit near Johannesburg was the last venue to host a South African Grand Prix in Formula 1 and is the place the championship is most likely to return to should it return to the calendar. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has reportedly earmarked South Africa as a potential new host for a Grand Prix, in a bid to further expand motorsport’s elite competition schedule. Kyalami in pole position to host South African Grand Prix Kyalami last hosted a Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1
Opinion: Why the UK must REMOVE South Africa from its travel ‘red list’
We know Boris Johnson has been a busy bee this week. Hell, when you’re implementing tax hikes on the British public, it’s fair to assume his schedule is a hectic one. However, both he and the UK government need to start showing some urgency on a matter that concerns a large amount of South Africans. Yes, this is about the travel ‘red list’. What is the travel red list? The travel guidance in Blighty is split into three tiers; green, amber, and red. Countries on the green and amber lists
Sorry Cyril, but your state capture testimony is full of contradictions…
We’d love to sit here and say that Cyril Ramaphosa’s appearance at the State Capture Inquiry has been a victory for accountability and justice in South Africa. But in all good conscience, we just can’t do that. His testimony over the past two days has sought to paint contradictory stories about his response to rampant government corruption. For you see, this is Schroedinger’s President. He was both aware AND unaware of the corruption around him. He can AND cannot recall vital details about c
Springboks must avoid the sin-bin to triumph over the Lions
The British and Irish Lions have set out their stall to emulate a formula perfected by Exeter to give them an edge against the Springboks. Springboks must avoid the sin-bin Much has been made of tackles and officials in the build-up to the first Test between the Lions and Boks, and unless it Warren Gatland is bluffing his team will look to get their opponents sent to the bin. Not with the sort of theatrics practiced by French skipper Anthony Jelonche against the Wallabies, but with t
Is Jacob Zuma going to jail a good thing?
A week, as the cliché most usually attributed to ex UK Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, is a long time in politics. In the convoluted and perplexing world of South African political intrigue, it can feel like eternity. In the last week, South Africans have endured more twists and turns in the interminable saga that is Jacob Zuma than most nations have had to get through in their existences. There have been more “will he or won’t he?” moments than a season of The Bold and the Beautiful. I
Zuma sentence is a victory for South African democracy
That a former president has been charged and sentenced to imprisonment in South Africa is, inarguably, a totemic moment for our nascent and much challenged democracy. It is worth remembering the symbolism of the Constitutional Court, the highest judicial body in the land and an embodiment of the rule of law. The very building is on the sight of what was once the most feared prison in the country, the Old Fort, which amongst many political prisoners housed none other than Nelson Mandela. The
Ramaphosa could himself become a political casualty of the pandemic
That the COVID-19 pandemic besetting South Africa will get worse before it gets better is not news, it is reality. President Ramaphosa finally reacted on Sunday, albeit far too late, ordering the country back into lockdown. However, questions remain about what indeed lies ahead for South Africans. The best-case scenario is that the current exponential rates of caseloads plateau out towards the end of July, the health system can start to repair the damage which the recent onslaught has wreake
Africa is confronting a demographic ‘crossing the Rubicon’ moment
Africa is confronting a demographic crossing the Rubicon moment. Despite having the youngest population of any continent and the fastest-growing, it is also saddled with the worlds oldest leaders. A cadre of immovable gerontocratic geriatric leaders are about to fight an unstoppable urban force; hundreds of thousands of disenchanted, frustrated largely unemployed urban youth. This clash of youths against antediluvian dictators is extreme and looks set to shape the trajectory of the next few
SA’s winter of discontent: A pregnant pause amid an improbable birth
When veteran news anchor Tim Modise implored last week on Twitter that “It feels like South Africa has a sell-by date. Does anyone know when it is?” he seemed to distil the feelings of an entire nation. Perhaps more eloquent if equally fitting are those famous words of the Bard in Richard III, “Now we have reached the Winter of our Discontent”. SOUTH AFRICA HAS ENDURED A ROUGH FEW YEARS Post-apartheid South Africa has endured some fairly rough weeks over the years. The sacking of fi
The creep: Piers Morgan’s long history of bullying young women of colour
– The following article on Piers Morgan is an OPINION PIECE Let’s just say it, shall we? Piers Morgan deliberately picks fights with younger women. Perhaps it’s a coincidence that some of his nastier attacks just so happen to be levelled against women of colour… but his thirst to be mentioned in the same breath as these figures – for better or for worse – has been described as a ‘disturbing fetish’. Piers Morgan is targeting a certain group of women – but why? Morgan revels in contro
SA and UK, Mkhize and Johnson – a tale of two bungling democracies
By any standard yesterday was an extraordinary day in British politics. It is enlightening to look at these events in parallel with what is happening in South Africa. In a seven-hour hearing before MPs in Westminster, Boris Johnson’s former aide Dominic Cummings pulled no punches. He said that Johnson is unfit to be Prime Minister and his bungled handling of the pandemic crisis resulted in “thousands dying who never should have died”. JOHNSON IS THE ‘MAYOR IN JAWS WHO REFUSED TO CLOSE TH
South Africans abroad: Expose the shame of yesterday, break barriers today
When an object in flight approaches the speed of sound, it reaches a sound barrier. This invisible wall is a force against the object, discouraging it from accelerating any further. For many years, the sound barrier was considered to be impenetrable. While interesting, this information is not very relevant to my life. It’s true, I do enjoy being a passenger on the occasional commercial flight, but I have no interest in flying a plane at such terrifying speeds. I have, however, discover
Does a South African have a right to someone’s job just because they’re not a citizen?
It is taken as axiomatic, unquestionable, that a South African is entitled to a job over an immigrant simply by virtue of their citizenship. Really? Why? On what rational, ethical or moral basis? I would never want to deny anyone a job, but one simply cannot stay silent while we witness the terrible injustices around the way immigrants are being treated in South Africa and that this behaviour is generally passively condoned because of this erroneous belief that citizenship entitles someone t
Vaccine rollout: It’s time for South Africa’s government to come clean
Much has been made recently of the beginning of Phase 2 of the South African COVID-19 vaccine rollout. Twitter has been flooded with photos of well-known and respected South Africans such as Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, and ex-finance minister Trevor Manuel getting their jabs. Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize opened vaccination centres with the usual pomp and ceremony. As an onlooker, one could be forgiven for thinking that the roll out is proceeding with uncharacteristic efficie
Israel and Palestine: What is happening in this interminable conflict?
After years of comparative peace and quiet, the Middle East surged back into our news and social media feeds this week as the long-simmering conflict between Israel and the people of Palestine has boiled over once more; Israeli jets pound the hemmed-in Gaza Strip and Palestinian militants launch hundreds of rockets into the Jewish state. But what has triggered this? Why now, and what is happening behind the scenes? WHAT HAS TRIGGERED THIS LATEST CONFLICT? For more than a decade Israe
Ramaphosa at Zondo Commission: A toothless talk shop?
“State capture took place under our watch” was the completely self-evident and half-hearted admittance by ANC and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Zondo Commission on Thursday 29 April. At least we have cleared that up. By now the Zondo Commission is almost three years old. After being launched by President Jacob Zuma, in December 2020 the commission had interviewed 278 witnesses, collected 159 109 pages, and has collected over 1 exabyte of data. I cannot tell you what an e
Opinion: Reframing SOAS, Adam Habib and using the N-word
Many column inches and irate contributions on social media have already been expended on the topic of former Wits Chancellor Adam Habib’s recent suspension as Vice-Chancellor of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London. In case further background is needed, in a virtual meeting with students, one of the participants questioned SOAS’s commitment to erasing racism and said a staff member had used the N-word without consequences. Habib responded: “If someone
Opinion: Enough is enough – response from WPCA is weak
Yet again, true to their continued behaviour or modus operandi, WPCA not only deceives certain clubs who seek equality, justice and fairness, but they have also now deceived the broader public as well. This is a form of gaslighting on their part, wanting to deflect and manipulate the broader public, by trying to paint a picture that they have been funding our club sufficiently and thereby not responding or answering the real questions posed to them previously via our attorney, and now to the
Let’s all laugh at Piers Morgan: TV host annihilated in ‘Meghan debate’
Please note that this article on Piers Morgan and the Meghan & Harry interview is an opinion piece. In the week that preceded the Oprah Winfrey interview with Harry and Meghan (the exiled Duke & Duchess of Sussex), professional whinge-bag Piers Morgan Tweeted about the Suits actress ‘at least 57 times’. Obsession is often a one-way street, and in trying to score points against the former Royal, the TV host has only succeeded in netting an own-goal. But with him being such a vehe
RIP Jackson Mthembu, 1958 – 2021: The ‘fearless and friendly’ minister
South Africa has entered into a period of mourning on Thursday afternoon, after Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu was confirmed dead. President Ramaphosa confirmed this awful news a short while ago. After coming down with COVID-19 just 10 days ago, Mthembu has ultimately succumbed to his illness. His tragic passing, aged just 62, marks a bleak moment in the battle against coronavirus. Just last week, KZN MEC Bheki Ntuli was struck down by the disease. It has been followed by another
No other plans? Why Donald Trump should move to South Africa
There goes the neighbourhood. Donald Trump officially left the White House on Wednesday, hot-footing it down to Florida for the foreseeable future. He’s teased a political comeback, and could well have an enormous impact on the US Election in 2024. But, should he decide to shun the limelight, we have a suggestion: He should consider a life in South Africa… Why Donald Trump should move to South Africa: He’s already got a few mates here Don’t get it twisted, Donald Trump isn’t *overly
Influencer culture: Why we buy into it – yes, we even buy their bath water
If you think influencers are a new phenomenon, then think again. That’s because although social media has definitely made them more visible, influencer culture has been around for centuries. Cultural historian Leo Braudy gives an insight into this in his book The Frenzy of Renown. This delves into the democratisation of celebrity status. Image via Instagram/@belle.delphine Influencer Belle Delphine In 2019, Instagram influencer Belle Delphine sold her used bath water to her enormo
Lion farms: A public health risk to humans and animals
Researchers from the two organisations reviewed almost 150 scientific studies investigating diseases in African lions. They identified 63 pathogens (including bacteria, parasites and viruses) that affect both wild and captive lions, some of which can be passed from lions to other animals, and some to humans. They also compiled a list of 83 diseases and clinical symptoms associated with these pathogens, highlighting the potential harm they can cause to the health of both animals and people.
COVID-19 and its effect on the youth of South Africa
Teenagers and twenty-somethings may be being blamed in Europe for the various spikes of infections by partying without masks, ignoring social distancing and sharing cigarettes. But this misses an important point; our younger generations will bear the cost disproportionately of this crisis. This applies almost more than anywhere to the youth in South Africa. COVID-19 and South Africa’s youth First, as we are witnessing all over the world, schools and universities are simply incapable of o
