The recent exchange between ‘the people’s bae’ South African Member of Parliament and Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (PhD) and a candidate for the SABC board Rachel Kalidass, got me thinking about the politics of representation, race and class in the country. During the interview ‘the people’s bae‘ leaned into his mic and asked,…
Tag: sabc
IF WE DON’T TELL THE TRUTH WHO WILL? – ZOLA NTUTU
It’s difficult. I am at a loss for words and a piece of me is still hoping that it’s not true. My former SABC Radio News Assignment editor and Veteran Journalist Zola “The General” Ntutu has passed away. Found dead, in bed, alone in his flat on Sunday the 20th August 2017. I was talking to…
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
I’m sharing something I wrote three years ago about censorship at the South African Public Broadcaster (SABCNews) which was initially published on IPS in 2013 as I am thinking and reflecting on the bravery of SABC8 Journalist Suna Venter who died from Heart Break Syndrome. I didn’t know then that the state of emergency in our country would…
NEWS: PRINCIPLES CAN’T PAY THE BILLS
I’ve heard it being said a million times in the blue corridors of the embattled public (state) broadcaster, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). Journalist after senior journalist and editor after senior editor giving us newcomers, the young ones, sage advice. Lay low, do your job, keep your head down and let the storm pass…
JUNE 16: ” Entitled”
The issue of “title” or “entitlement” takes a different tone during the month of June in South Africa with cries by media commentators, politicians, business leaders, social activist and others claiming that today’s (black) youth has an attitude of “entitlement” and they are not willing to work for a living. I think it is useful to…
A BLUE MONDAY: THINGS FALL APART BUT THE CENTER HOLDS
It is perhaps a little ironic that the statue of Cecil John Rhodes should fall or more aptly be removed from its pedestal in the same week that South African journalist, writer and cultural activist Peter Makurube passed on. As the University of Cape Town students staged protests on campus grounds demanding that #RhodesMustfall, I…
“Surreal But Nice…”
Romance Could Happen to YOU too… These days finding reasons to smile and laugh can be as hard as trying to find a needle in a hay stack. Luckily through my younger brother, Immie, – bless him – I have a copy of Nottinghill (1999)the movie starring American actress Julia Roberts and British actor…
What Marikana Meant for Me.
In The Public Interest I wrote this for Press Freedom Day recently. Working on the Marikana story revealed how important it is that we get counselling and psychological help for people experiencing trauma (the widow I interviewed specifically asked for some kind of psychological counselling) it also revealed to me that though I was empathetic…
THE HANI MOMENT
10 April 2013. I was 12 and I had just woken up from a bad dream, it was a Saturday so happily I along with my siblings would be staying in at home. My father had recently installed black and gold iron gates the next step in the fencing off our township home. Putting a…
