An acquaintance of mine often recounts, rather wretchedly, an offending utterance he was once slapped with when he’d mentioned to somebody that he’s from Colesberg. ‘Ah,’ his listener had shrugged, ‘you mean that place with a Shell?’ Eina! So much for ‘picteresque,’ ‘historic,’ ‘home to the magic mountain,’ ‘the busiest town over holiday season’ and …
Foreign nationals would’ve breathed a sigh of relief that the vigilante-like group Operation Dudula’s political hopes sank like lead towards the 2024 general election. But thanks to Patriotic Alliance leader, Gayton McKenzie, such relief has been shortlived. Kept out of the home affairs ministry where he’d hoped to drive his ‘#Abahambe’ rallying cry home, as …
So we got word that eParkeni has been booked for the SAMAs this year. Stoked, we imagined a red carpet bled out at our feet. Louis Vuitton man bags and an up-close and personal glimpse at the artist of the year recepient. Maybe, we gushed, a seat next to Robbie Wessels who might be fuming …
The SAMAs, – but not for Music – the Forgotten Highway and a Karoo Museum. Read More »
Last week, the attention of music lovers fell on an unassuming Karoo dorpie as the learners of Colesberg Primary, Umso High School and Umthombo Wolwazi Intermediate Farm School made history at the provincial SA Schools Choral Eisteddfod held at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre in Kimberly between the 11 – 13 July. In several unforgettable …
Colesberg Schools Bag Top Honours at Choir Competition Read More »
Before Thuli Madonsela, the Office of the Public Protector (PP) was largely seen as a toothless appointment if it was seen at all. As with other standard Chapter Nine institutions, it might take on an underdog’s case, occasionally a government department, perhaps even oversee a class action lawsuit but mostly it tended to keep a …
In 1994, when Madiba was cobbling together a government of national unity (GNU) , his position was unenviable. No matter which way he played it, it was clear he could not please everybody. Through his reconciliatory offensive he was able to allay white fears around the trepidation of a swaartgevaar that supposedly wanted to grab …
Antjie Krog’s Country of my Skull is one of those haunting books one never gets used to. Brilliantly written, it fleshes out the pain and suffering that was the mainstay of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). In graphic detail the horrors of the evils of apartheid; the smashing of women’s breasts against drawers, …
Sandile Dikeni: The Great Karoo Writer You’ve Never Heard of Read More »
From day the election results beamed across the large screens, we saw it coming. No amount of feigned smiles or handshakes could spare the GNU from the fate of getting off to a rocky start. That’s if – what with all the rats and mice eyeing the cheese – the wheels could hold to begin …
A flaccid anticlimax, then, last month’s general election. SA’s youth – in their heyday the cause of apartheid’s mad scientists wetting themselves – would lately listlessly show the middle finger than to vote, for anybody. Or animate a viral video where scores of them set all kinds of ANC regalia alight to celebrate Youth Day. …
Two weeks ago I perched myself in my office – really a detached room that functions as little more than an unpretentious sleeping area – to file a story on what ought, in hindsight, to have been the story of the year so far – the 2024 election opinion polls. I’d glossed over a few …
The Polls, GNU and Cold Beers as History Unfolds. Read More »
