2017 # 1: SA in numbers – Geography, Population, & Economy – compared to the rest of the World: Nathanael West “Numbers constitute the only universal language.” Every year the Economist ‘Pocket World in Figures’ brings out a varied set of global rankings covering 190 countries. These range from fastest-growing economies to highest per capita...Read More

Volunteering made convenient: a Fantastic SA initiative When I was still living in JHB I organised a few ‘volunteering’ trips for my staff, we helped build a house with Habitat for Humanity, we adopted a creche in Doornkop and we organised outings for kids. I even ended up, with FNB support, publishing a “Corporate Volunteering...Read More

Scenario # 2: Zuma bounces back, again He’s just much more strategic, much more motivated and much more ruthless than his rivals By Peter Bruce Oh dear. Another attempt to dislodge Jacob Zuma; another failure. Someone once gave me a blow-up sort of doll of Saddam Hussein. It had sand as ballast at the bottom...Read More

2017 ANC PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS: WHAT ARE THE SCENARIOS? WHAT CAN WE DO? As our President survives yet another ‘No Confidence’ vote it becomes increasingly apparent that the succession strategy is the game plan, that Zuma and his acolytes (a more polite word than ‘cronies’) are intent on ensuring that Dlamini-Zuma becomes the next President of the...Read More

How to fix SA There is considerable talk on what is going wrong in SA, and to fix things we must (i) ‘stop this’ and ‘stop that’, (ii) change the leadership, (iii) fix education – and then it should be plain sailing. Clearly it is much more complex than that! The article below by Peter...Read More

DELIVERY: THE NAME OF THE GAME Herman Mashaba is a South African entrepreneur, politician and Mayor of Johannesburg. He is the founder of the hair products company Black Like Me. Below are the highlights of his 2017 State of the City Address: In his first State of the City Address, Mayor Herman Mashaba outlined key...Read More

How ‘community projects’ can help with unemployment – 43 shining examples By Prof Elain Vlok, Founder of Clover Mama Afrika South Africa’s unemployment rate is currently sitting at an average of just over 25%¹, peaking at over 27% at the end of 2016. While that figure decreased at the start of 2017, the fact remains that...Read More

Storming the Stage – the New South African Drama by Justin Foxton Writers and commentators have been referencing South Africa’s politics in theatrical terms. Words like “Shakespearean”, “tragi-comedy” and “drama” have been used to describe recent events. Depending on which side of the political divide you occupy, central characters –  Pravin Gordhan, Mcebesi Jonas, Jacob...Read More

Prayer meetings, marches, protests, movements – Will they make a difference? By Steuart Pennington Over the past week-end +/- 1 400 000 citizens gathered outside Bloemfontein to pray for our beloved country South Africa. “It’s Time” was organised by Angus Buchan (see S.A. Heroes) On Thursday we celebrate Freedom Day, 23 years since our transition to a constitutional...Read More

A really good South African movie – in every way! by Steuart Pennington I was privileged enough to get a sneak preview of a wholly produced South African movie:- “Beyond the River” It’s basically (how we love to use that word here in SA) about a white guy and a black guy who get together...Read More