Peter de Villiers known as Div is the South African rugby coach. It is well-known whenever he opens his mouth he puts his foot into it. This week the Blue Bull's front row rugby player, Bees Roux was charged with murder after allegedly beating a policemen to death. At a press conference, Peter de Vi...
Verbal sparring, political mud slinging and threats between the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the ANC particularly the ANCYL and MK veterans leads to “toilet level” of politics as shown in this Zapiro’s cartoon. For more Zapiro cartoons click here
I am highly disturbed by Helen Zille’s remarks about the President of the Republic. How can you comment in such a way about the head of state? Her remarks were absolutely uncalled for and daring at a head of state. What upsets me more is the manner in which Jeremy Maggs sees nothing wrong with this woman. In his line of questioning he only makes note of the youth leagues retaliation. How in the world can you in this country appoint and all white male cabinet and then say they are best fit for the job? It is another way of wanting to keep this Western Cape white as a possible and every time she seems to promise the coloured electorate of big dreams.
I, in no way condone the remarks of the Youth League but I understand their anger towards this neurotic woman who is in on a one way course to send this province to the depths of hell. With major changes coming to Cape Town I am really considering whether this province will be able to accommodate black people like us here. Her continued remarks even in the past have always surprised me like when visiting one of the townships she remarked that we “blacks” should return to the Eastern Cape in buses we came with .
Mr Zuma is the President of this country and as a head of state he deserves the respect .
Fezile
Cape Town
I was outraged when I was reading the The Star newspaper this morning and I saw a headline saying, “Bulls fan says she was verbally abused”. When I saw the headline, I thought to myself - what could this all be about? I was thinking along the lines of a woman rugby fan being verbally abused by a bunch a drunk fans at the stadium. But that was not the case as this story was about a black woman who was verbally abused by a Bulls fan at Loftus on Saturday where she went to watch the Bulls take on the Cheetahs.
According to the article, the woman was told, in Afrikaans, the the Union Buildings were on the “other side” - which the woman understood to imply that she and her niece were not wanted at Loftus. The article does not say if the man was white or black but it is pretty obvious that it was a white man saying this to the woman. “You should go to the inauguration of the president at the Union Buildings, you shouldn’t be at Loftus,” is what the man said to the black woman.
We all know that the Union Buildings were a hive of activity on Saturday as Jacob Zuma was being inaugurated as the new president of South Africa, meaning that this man may have been suggesting to the lady that she should be at the Union Buildings where she would be welcome as she is not welcome at Loftus. Why should she have gone to the Union Buildings? Because she is black?
I myself would not be surprised if this story is true and this actually happened to the black lady. I have always had the impression that Loftus on a day the Bulls are playing is not the best place to be if you are a black person as you will be in a serious minority. Granted that rugby is a predominantly ‘white’ sport but does that mean a black fan of rugby should not feel comfortable and welcome when they decide to go out and watch a rugby game? If my memory serves me correct, a similar incident happened to a black fan when they went to watch the Springboks play rugby. Why is it so hard for blacks to be able to freely enjoy themselves at a live rugby match?
I am a big rugby fan and have watched a lot of live rugby at Newlands in Cape Town and I have never for one day had a ‘racial’ problem there. I have yet to watch rugby at Loftus but after reading this story today, I am having doubts about going to watch rugby at Loftus as I am black. Is it just a Loftus and Coca-Cola park thing?
Should this be the case? NO! I should be able to go, watch and enjoy myself at any rugby venue in South Africa that I please. I am also paying just like the other fans who are there regardless of their colour.
Critics of Jacob Zuma have generally reacted positively to both his inaugurul speech and his cabinet announcements. As a result, Zapiro in his latest cartoon for the Times has temporarily suspended the “showerhead”. Click here to see the full cartoon
Jacob Zuma announced his new government on Sunday. There were a few surprises and some restructuring in the ministries The full list of the new ministers can be found below together with a video of President Jacob Zuma announcing his new appointments. Let us know what you think of this new team.
Why does Zapiro continue to draw a showerhead coming out the back of Jacob Zuma’s head when Zuma was accused and acquitted on rape charges in 2006? The reason for the ’showerhead’ is that Zuma said quite categorically that he would avoid the ill effects of intercourse with an HIV-positive individual by taking a shower afterwards that gave birth to the now well-know extension. This has become Zuma’s trademark. While it has been reported that future Zuma cartoons will still have the showerhead, Zapiro’s Sunday Times cartoon of the 10th May 2009 offers him a solution to get rid of it- try being truly presidential and maybe it’ll just fall off - Click here to see the cartoon that kicked it all off.
So…. JZ’s our president after a particularly (I think it’s safe to say) controversial rise to power. I mean, how many guys do YOU know can get kicked out of office as the deputy president, ALMOST stand trial for all kinds of debauchery and treachery, be accused of rape somewhere between all of THAT, AND STILL emerge smiling as the president of the country???? Big up Msholozi! This guys obviously got the drive and determination that so many of us lack. Talk about rising from the ashes.
So where to now for the South African’s that DIDN’T believe???? I’ll be the first to admit that I DID NOT vote for the ANC (I went for COPE) and I certainly didn’t (and still don’t) agree with some of Msholozi’s deeds of the past - yes, I AM a fickle friend of the ANC I suppose but at least I’m big enough to admit it.
I’ll even be ballsy enough to say that I haven’t changed my views about many things when it comes to the ANC, but dare I say that I think that MAY just change…Jacob Zuma’s ascended into the presidency knowing full well that those opposed to him and his presidency are watching him like hawks and waiting for him to mess up. For THAT reason, I think he’ll bend over backwards to make a difference and to shut all the critics and those who DIDN’T vote for him (myself included) up.
Call me a sell-out if you want to (my apologies to COPE and Rev. Dandala), but the man IS in power now, and I think it’s something to be excited about.
As for the DA…well, I like Helen Zille, no really - I do. Lol, this lady has a voicemail message thats in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa… she’s certainly got character and can create quite a stir if she so pleases. That aside though, she would make a great leader (I think), but I JUST don’t think the world is ready for female power (bar the 1 or 2 small countries who’s names escape me now that have women presidents)….I mean, if a super power like America is only ushering a black president in now, I think we’re ALL going to have to wait a while before taking the next step of having a female president, yes???
And then there’s COPE. Oh, my dear beloved COPE… Well, I think they did bloomin’ well for a party that’s only been around for 200-odd days, but lets face it…we all knew they wouldn’t win but at least now they’ve managed to establish themselves and a 3-million strong support base. And with the whole election pressure off of them, they can at least focus on what THEY actually stand for and NOT on slandering the ANC and Jacob. Maybe I’ll see you at the polls again next time chaps.
I guess what I’m trying to get at here is…well… If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. NO, I’m not saying we should all band together outside of Luthuli House and sing Mshini Wam’ at the top of or voices, but let’s all work TOGETHER to make this whole democracy business work. Ultimately, we all want the same thing don’t we? We all love our country, don’t we? So…lets just help make it as great as it can be, even if it IS under the guidance of a president who dances during press-conferences. Maybe we could even learn a few moves along the way????
Just MY opinion though, what’s yours?
- by Portia Palesa Rantsho
The error that has gripped South African entertainment has left us as South Africa with egg on our faces. Sasha-Lee Davids was declared the winner of Idols 5 but then there was a recount with the votes last week and they actually found out that Jason got the most votes! Jason Hartman actually got 200 000 more votes than Sasha-Lee but a blunder with the vote counting caused by the cellphone network operators has caused a lot of controversy now. We know that nothing is ever 100% guaranteed when it comes to technology and these errors do happen but when they do it is embarrassing as the whole world takes note of these mistakes. And the first thing they say is, “Look at South Africa!!”
Looking at Idols, it is clear according to the votes that Jason won therefore he should be the sole winner. Yes, I feel would feel sorry for Sasha-Lee if they took the title away from her and I would blame it on the network operators who failed to tally the votes. Look at it this way, if by some miracle it was found out that Helen Zille actually got more votes than Jacob Zuma, would we have a situation where we say they are both the presidents of South Africa?
What do you think should happen in the aftermath of this? It does not look like they will change from the “They are both the winners stance” but I would say that Sasha-Lee should accept defeat and let Jason be the sole winner of Idols. He is the winner after all! All this vote counting and mistakes are taking me back to the election counting in Zimbabwe! Recount anyone?
If you missed Jacob Zuma being sworn in yesterday as the new president of South Africa, then you can view the video clip below and see what happened. For me the highlight of this video is two fold, Zuma said in his speech with reference to Nelson Mandela, “He (Mandela) taught us that all South Africans have equal claim to this country, and that there can be no lasting peace unless all of us, black and white, learned to live together in harmony and peace.” Now I seem to recall Zimbabwe’s President Mugabe saying something similar when Zimbabwe got its independance i.e. there is a place for black and white in Zimbabwe, but look at how that panned out with the white farmers being chased out of Zimbabwe. I hope the same does not happen in South Africa. Then have a look at the end of the clip how Mugabe is so excited for Zuma!
