Frank talk to counter buffoonery
12 September 2012
On 18 August 1977, Stephen Bantu Biko was arrested at a police roadblock under the Terrorism Act No 83 of 1967.
Aakash Bramdeo is a former colleague from e.tv news who moved on to the SABC before being offered the editorship of Post in Durban — which was the newspaper which published my first story back in 1980. Before accepting the job, Aakash picked my brain as to what he could do to make the paper relevant to a wider readership. "Get a columnist who reflects the audience you're trying to attract," I said.
Shortly after accepting the position of editor, Aakash called me and asked, "when can you start?"
"View from the Top" ran in Post every week from 1 May 2011 to 9 April 2014 (which coincided with Aakash's departure from Post to edit the Sunday Tribune).
Here’s a spear the nation could use!
19 September 2012
iKlwa is the name of the short stabbing spear invented by Shaka Zulu — onomatopoeic supposedly because of the sound made as it is withdrawn from the victim's body.
Malema case is cause for trepidation
26 September 2012
Last week, a newspaper broke a story that expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema would soon be arrested.
When excrement hits the jetstream
3 October 2012
Someone recently asked on twitter: "Why exactly do we need a national carrier?" I responded after a while: "It's a medical term: yo
What if there was a war and no one noticed?
10 October 2012
Shortly after our freedom in 1994, cellular telephones using the GSM standard began making their way to our shores.
We soon found ourselves being able to travel the world and still remain accessible on the same phone number thanks to roaming – except for in the USA.
Were you really surprised, Pravin?
17 October 2012
Many of you are likely to be familiar with the name Mike van Graan. He is a writer, playwright and artist from Cape Town where he currently resides.
Tighter belts won’t help, Mr Zuma!
24 October 2012
Reality is an illusion induced by absence of alcohol, a wise man once said.
Truth be told, through the years since I first heard that quote, I never thought him to be wise, merely drunk.
Now, I've had a change of heart.
If you’re squeamish, stay on Earth!
31 October 2012
On Sunday night, at around twenty past nine, SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft returned to Earth from the International Space Station, safely splashing down about 400 kilometres off the coast of southern California.
One rhino steak, please, well done!
7 November 2012
Do you fancy a rhinoceros steak?
Astonishingly, it's a thought that came to mind directly linked to the US presidential election (which is underway as I pen these words).
Secret of winning lies in tic-tac-toe
14 November 2012
Do you remember when you were a child at school and you used to play noughts and crosses? (Or, as the Americans call it, tic-tac-toe?)
And then, suddenly, you stopped. Do you remember why you stopped?