Who are the biggest baddies? Fauci, the SA government, or Peet and Mel?
What makes a person ‘bad’? How do we know someone is evil? It is typically defined by a consistent and intentional pattern of behaviour without remorse that causes harm to others. Our podcasters point some fingers at a few suspects.
Just another simulacrum
What has the plight of the rhinoceros got to do with Jean Baudrillard?
How smart was Moriarty?
Let’s face it – to the law-abiding, crime usually seems stupid. The low average IQ (92) of men in US jails supports that impression.
The medals we celebrate and the swimmers our system may never discover
The Minister and SSA owe athletes, families and the country answers: about the money, the failures and the talent being left behind.
Jason Arday, Rip van Winkle ripped off in turn, R.I.P
No solitary splendour, this. I write in a solitary stupor. It is Friday night, late, and Jason Arday is, as our black friends say, late. Or as some whites say, he has passed.
DA manifesto: the least bad option
The DA’s local government manifesto is the most economically literate platform in South African party politics. That is faint praise, but it does not merit more than that.
The great AI data centre allergy of 2026
Last week a popular local radio station was looking around for someone who might defend the proposed construction and operation of an AI data centre in the city in which I live (as a counterpoint to previous guests who were apparently vocal data-centre resisters).
A white UCT sociology graduate stands by Naledi Pandor’s remarks on AfriForum
“today I, who is female (she/her) white and privilege, am aim attack on Afriforum and university institution ‘akademia’. As former sociological student of esteemed university of cape town with degree,as former private school learning pupil in same city, as present working in HR I make solidarity with naledi pandor, high rated socially aware former education secretary for state. I am also admire mrs. Pandor’s activism for palestine, number 2 issue for all of our lives. Number 1 issue remain fatal threat of far right podcasting.
The SANDF encroachment crisis: military bases and the land question
Fifteen months is a long time in politics. It is long enough for a civilian to die after gaining access to unexploded ordnance at an unfenced military training area. It is long enough for court orders to remain only partially implemented because alternative accommodation was never provided. It is long enough for hundreds of millions of rand in proposed perimeter fencing to remain unfunded aspirations. And it is long enough for an interdepartmental working group that Parliament instructed the Executive to establish to remain nothing more than a phrase repeated in a PowerPoint presentation.
SA: the patient that wants to be cured
I’d like to start my talk today by quoting from a tweet, lightly edited. See if this sounds familiar …