Somalia is experiencing a crippling famine. Again. As the world’s most failed state for several years running, there is little surprise that country has entered yet another period of instability. Since its societal rupture in 1991 with the end of Siad Barre’s regime, Somalia and its inhabitants have experienced what is...
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When Malawi found itself dealing with violence between protesters and police over a two-day march in July, commentators were quick to jump to the suggestion that the “Arab Spring” had finally reached Southern Africa. The assumption was that the people of Malawi were rising up against the same kind of dictator as Mubarak in Egypt...
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The news and blog world are going ablaze about the London riot (pun intended). Scores arrested! Police injured! Looting rampant! All true, but all completely normal for England. There is a very powerful tonic in having a large population of unemployed youth with too much time courtesy of generous welfare and parents who don’t...
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Eric Miyeni is best known as an urban intellectual, and like all South Africans, is entitled to his opinions, but as a writer, is this the best that he can do? No. We’ve read better from him before. Miyeni has published a piece on Ferial Haffajee, the editor of the City Press, as a response to the article on the source of...
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‘One person with a belief is equal to the force of 100 000 who have only interests’ sounds like a quote you’d expect an Islamist fundamentalist group would subscribe to. And this is exactly what the Scandinavian community assumed in the aftermath of the explosions that devastated Oslo’s government district on Friday...
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Gautengers woke on Tuesday morning to the prolonged screaming of a prisoner allegedly being tortured in Pretoria central prison. Talk Radio 702 aired, on the John Robbie morning show, a recording allegedly smuggled out of the prison – of a remand detainee or ATD (awaiting trial detainee, or, as Judge Johann Kriegler prefers to...
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Within the NATO alliance, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned of a “dim future” for NATO if they do not step up and do their share of the fighting. Strong words from a powerful figure, but in Libya NATO is proving its capability in protecting civilians quite well, whereas the organisation that should be taking a...
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To some this would be a rhetorical question. For others it would be a resounding YES. I would have answered in the same vein, but after hearing the ramblings and sometimes threats from the ANC Youth League and strong denials from the broader ANC movement; I have been compelled to delve into this issue. The idea of nationalising...
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