Archive for February, 2009
Thursday, February 26th, 2009
For a while now I’ve had the impression that Kgalema Motlanthe is not keen on a Jacob Zuma presidency. Him and a few million South Africans.
In an interview with Tim Modise on SABC recently, Motlanthe mentioned that he wasn’t interested in continuing his position as president of the country.
Be that as it may, he has been making very subtle noises about a Zuma presidency.
In the same interview with Modise he spoke about “whoever becomes president”.
And this wasn’t the first time he declined to name Zuma as the country’s next president.
Even before the talk with Modise, Motlanthe has spoken about the next president – without naming him.
Yesterday he straight out said that Jacob Zuma would step aside if necessary.
Who knows if there’s already a Motlanthe vs Zuma camp. I know which camp I will find myself – and it won’t be anywhere near Zuma.
Maybe I’m clutching at straws, but I hold onto the words of Pieter Mulder of the Freedom Front at Motlanthe’s inauguration about unleashing a lion…
Posted in election 2009, politics | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
Imagine this…you get the lucky feeling and head off to Shoprite to get your Lotto ticket for the Saturday R21 million draw.
At 9.30pm you switch over to E-tv, check you numbers and against all the odds you’ve won the Lotto!
Your heart beats so fast you can hardly breathe.
You make all sorts of plans for yourfuture – maybe get a nice comfortable house in a more upmarket suburb. Upgrade your car and perhaps help out some family members and good friends financially. Give a few hundred thousand to charity and invest the rest, giving you comfortable existence for the rest of your life.
Fortunately it’s a Saturday night so you don’t get the opportunity to tell off your boss before getting a chance to double check your winnnings. Maybe 1 or 2 other people were also lucky.
Come 10.30pm you switch over to E-tv again to see the payouts. 18 other people won too!!!
You have to split your one Lotto win with 18 other people – giving your the grand price of R1.2 million. Not too shabby, but not enough for grand plans either.
It could be worse – you could be one of 33 as there was in 2003!
Why would this happen when the jackpot is R21 million and not when it’s it’s usual R2 million or so? Is there a snake in the grass?
Gidani, the Lotto operators say no, there is nothing suspicious going on. It is all the luck of the draw.
I guess if you were one of the 18 it would not look above board at all and if you didn’t win you probably don’t care.
What about those 133 Brits who had to share the UK Lottery in 1995??!! It could always be worse
Posted in society | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
Last Friday when the news broke that Bishop Mvumelwano Dandala was chosen as presidential candidate for COPE, I immediately went to my colleague in the office next door and asked what he knew about the man.
As a COPE supporter, he was thrilled with choice.
All I needed to hear was the part of Dandala being a religious leader to disqualify any interest from my side.
When I heard him going on about moral compasses and values and crap on Interface on Sunday night, I switched the channel.
Outwardly he looks a lot better than Lekota and Shilowa, but for me church and state needs to be as far as possible away from each other.
Even though Barack Obama spoke about his Christian faith during the US elections, it was never to make himself look morally superior to everyone else, exactly the opposite to COPE and Bishop Dandala.
Seriously, whose morals are COPE going to impose on the nation? And the day I believe that any country can be governed without some sort of corruption somewhere in the ranks, is the day I believe pigs can fly.
Out of interest I read up on Bishop Dandala and found that he was born in Mt Ayliff in the Eastern Cape on 26 October 1951. He is married and has two children.
He has Doctorates in Theology (from the Protestant University in Cameroon) and Philosophy (from the University of Transkei).
Maybe he will appeal to ACDP members looking for another party? I don’t know.
For me no way, no how!
Posted in election 2009, politics | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
Two more sleeps before the big cricket test match series between South Africa and Australia begins at the Wanderers.
I can’t wait!
After the test series win in Australia, I was pretty confident about the Proteas chances, but now that the time is near, I hope our team is not too complacent.
Those Aussies are a tough bunch – like them or not!
We certainly have a much more balanced and experienced team and they should again be to good for the Australians, but we South Africans still need to respect the Aussies record.
Speaking of the Aussies – they really disintegrated during the summer in Australia.
Besides losing to the Proteas (and I’m sure they will think that bad enough) the guys in the team started to fall apart as well.
First they had (alleged) all-rounder Andrew Symonds sent for alcohol related counselling (much like our own Hercelle Gibbs, mind you). Then there Symonds reportedly asked for a AUSD250 000 reduction in his contract if he could skip interviews with the media!
To top it all two of their “top” players Simon Katich and Michael Clarke got into a dressing room brawl after the final test, in which Australia scored a face-saving victory – over which version of a song to sing. They apparently sorted themselves out at the airport before embarking on this current tour.
Since they’ve been here, the Australians have been quietly going about their business. Yesterday they even visited Soweto and helped with coaching clinics.
Do our players coach Australian children during overseas tours, I wonder?
Our media are of course a lot more respectful of the Aussies than theirs are usually about overseas touring teams. Except when they’re losing!
Still, come Thursday all talk will be about the test match, the pitch, umpiring decisions – in other words CRICKET TALK!
Posted in cricket, sport | No Comments »
Monday, February 23rd, 2009
I think I may be warming up a bit to Julius Malema, resident idiot.
This morning I woke up, all upset that it’s Monday morning and I have to go work. Then the news came on Capetalk, announcing Julius Malema’s latest utterances – calling Helen Zille a racist (I would not have thought that was true until I heard Mrs Zille’s condescending interview on Capetalk last week).
Anyway, I was up like a flash with a huge smile - and thought aloud that Julius Malema is a genius fool to get all the bigwigs in the opposing parties to comment and the media to report the stuff that comes out of his mouth.
Seriously, who can come up with the things he spouts and get all that attention? He’s not running for any particular office – he’s 28 years old and has another 7 years in a cushy position as ANCYL leader.
What does Julius Malema have to lose, except the attention that he seeks. But the media and other parties think they are belittling him. Instead they are giving him the platform that he craves.
Some people think his utterances is creating support for opposition parties, but I beg to differ. Whenever the other parties comment on his nonsensical statements, they look even more stupid.
What’s a little censure from the ANC big boys now and then. They are probably laughing their arses off before putting on a serious face for the media.
The only way to stop Malema is to stop reporting his every word. But why should the media do that?
He sells newspapers and causes the airwaves to buzz.
He’s not going anywhere, until this election is over.
Posted in election 2009, politics | 10 Comments »
