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The Winnie Mandela problem
3 April 2026
How to fix traffic flow at one of Africa's most important intersections. more
How To Fix South Africa
Can South Africa thrive?
Yes, we can. And most of what we need to do won't cost us anything. Get this book today to learn how!
Latest Video
The Overton Pod - E33 - Dear John
Kanthan and Jonathan push back on the hysteria around the Jeffrey Epstein files, arguing that the saga is far less consequential than many claim. They then turn to John Steenhuisen’s fall from grace, unpacking what it means for his political future and the knock-on effects for the DA. The episode closes with a hard look at the prospects of South Africa’s most prominent political parties and who is actually positioned to survive the next electoral cycle.
Latest Articles
No, Argentina is not on life support
15 October 2025
— There's been a gleeful slew of commentary over the past week suggesting that Argentina under Javier Milei's libertarian administration has been a failed experiment.
The Impact of Black Economic Empowerment on South Africa GDP
3 June 2025
— B-BBEE compliance costs averaged 1-3% of annual turnover for large businesses
Celebrating 70 years of the Space Age
2 June 2025
— The Space Age became a reality 70 years ago today with the founding of the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Here are ten things you need to know:
Donald Trump is ’misinformed‘
19 May 2025
— Cyril Ramaphosa meets with Donald Trump this week. As far as I can gather, the key message my country's president wants to put across is that the US leader is 'misinformed' about South Africa.
What I wrote on this day...
...and justice for all
"Usurpers always choose troubled times to enact, in the atmosphere of general panic, laws which the public would never adopt when passions were cool."
So far, it is mission impossible
It's easy to blame apartheid for rampant crime. It's a lot harder to understand why — or how to fix it
Shortly after my arrival in Italy in 1992, I went out for dinner with my allievi ricercatori — my research assistants.
In months ahead, they would become my friends.
My favourite writings
Angels in desolation
'In such ugly times, the only true protest is beauty,' Phil Ochs once said ...
The butterfly that stamped
This is the 9th month of the year 1999. There are 99 days to go to the last year of this century. Do you feel a sense of destiny?
Death of a friend
My tribute to Dr Abu Asvat was published in The Daily Princetonian and since then has appeared in many other places.
Jo'burg, the place of miracles
How we deal with death is as important as how we deal with life...
Happy birthday Mr Morris
"It was the worst of times, it was the best of times; … we had nothing before us, we had everything before us …"
Lamenting the loss of innocence
If you knew that a rose would scream, would you still pluck it?
