Ramaphosa and the big banks

Today's Daily Friend Show with Nicholas Lorimer, Terence, Corrigan and Michael Morris comments President Ramaphosa made with regard to businesses and the "monopolistic" control of the big banks. They also discuss a leaked recording from the ANC and lastly they

When corruption is a feature, not a bug

The ANC took power with the firm conviction that state power was the route to resolving the country’s chronic socio-economic deficits. Partly, this reflected the statist ideological convictions of a party schooled in the Soviet bloc and influenced by Marxist

The Daily Maverick, and the future of the Press

The most memorable newspaper headline I ever saw was in England 50 years ago to this month. It surprised me − shocked me, I suppose. It told me a lot about the nature of the press and raised deep questions

Media choices, bias, and propaganda

Two minor storms in the local media teacup drew my attention this week and prompt some comment. The Daily Maverick online publication didn’t publish and News24 published something that was unexpected. The Daily Maverick online journal shut down for a

Smoking guns: Can we be sure the police destroyed 50 000 firearms?

The High Court in Pretoria recently ruled in favour of the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai) to compel the South African Police Service (SAPS) to provide records regarding its destruction of firearms in 2021 and 2022. This was after the

Corrupt rulers create criminals

Transparency International has classified South Africa (SA) as a “flawed democracy” in its recent Corruption Perception Index (CPI). ‘Flawed democracy’ is definitely correct - but one should argue further. SA is not just a failing republic, it is very likely

SA's great cyber threat

Today's Daily Friend Show with Hermann Pretorius, Michael Morris, and Nicholas Lorimer discusses the poor track record of government departments fending off cyber attacks. They talk about the reopening of rail lines across SA, and lastly they discuss the Mayor

Poverty