“State Capture.” No, that’s not a Russian transliteration or a jeopardy clue for the boardgame, Risk. It’s a South African English phrase describing the nefarious control that mobsters, international arms dealers and flagitious politicians held over the South African Republic for 9 years. The great State Capture public hearings began yesterday. The Zondo Commission (similis…Continue reading
It’s still too early to tell, but I’ll concede a sliver or two of hope: the current global pendulum forever swinging to the right might be slowing down and coming back. Africa is the leading indicator. South Africa’s Jacob Zuma’s ascent to power 9 years ago foretold what then happened in places like Austria and…Continue reading
Look to the Dark Continent for light at the end of the tunnel. Cautiously. There are a few parts of Africa falling even deeper into the abyss, but several important countries are coming out of their “Trumpian” eras. Understanding the difference might show the rest of us the way out.
Today in Johannesburg President Obama delivered what his PR people advised in advance would be “the most important speech since his presidency.” African media went bonkers, believing that it would be in Africa that Obama trounced Trump, pummeled Putin and praised right-hearted souls around the world. It didn’t happen. His speech was inspirational but totally…Continue reading
Yesterday’s much heralded peace accord between Ethiopia and Eritrea was seen as a glimmer of hope that people power and democratic ideas might be at last challenging some of Africa’s most autocratic regimes. Not so fast, folks. Some of us don’t see it that way at all.
The Land Issue is heating up in South Africa, but opposition to the possibly terminal ANC is imploding. We Americans should be interested, because it’s a perfect outline of what will happen once the Trump era is over here. South Africa suggests to Americans that post-Trump will be left-leaning but that because the left will…Continue reading
The “American nation [is] complicit in the demise of its own democratic well-being,” writes South African Ebrahim Rasool today. There’s a sense in the American progressive media that the worst may be over, that Mueller’s investigation heralds an imminent victory, and that it’s time to get off the streets and begin electing those midterm Democrats….Continue reading
Jacob Zuma and Donald Trump have been compared to one another by many whose blogs get more readership than mine: Trevor Noah, for one. The course Zuma’s life is taking following his resignation in disgrace I think is near exactly what will happen to Trump in America. South Africans suffered Jacob Zuma as president for…Continue reading
The river just below my front patio roars with unusually strong, late summer rains. Tons of fresh sparkling water crashes onto the ancient dolomite boulders that haven’t moved since the beginning of time. The gushing is so loud I can’t hear her when she arrives. She walks 15k from her small village of high mountain…Continue reading
There’s only one of 52 countries in Africa where individual citizen gun violence reaches the level of America’s : South Africa. Citizens – huge percentages – in both America and South Africa believe banning at least some guns will reduce this horror. Guess what? South Africa has already passed some of the toughest gun laws…Continue reading
Watch South Africa, Americans! The election of Jacob Zuma, a year or so of excessive celebration by his base then an accelerating deterioration of the economy, the scandals which mounted until his ouster yesterday with one year left in his second term, instantly followed today by a police roundup of all the scoundrels involved ……Continue reading
Imagine Ryan voting to impeach Trump and Pelosi voting not to: American political strategists better closely follow what’s happening right now in South Africa. The South African president – despised in every corner of his land while retaining the steadfast loyalty of an enraged minority – was thrown out yesterday afternoon, or more correctly, the…Continue reading
What do the leaders of Zimbabwe, South Africa and the U.S. have in common? In South Africa, today, the first real action to oust President Jacob Zuma is expected after at least 5-6 years of planning to do so. In Zimbabwe the destructive dictator Robert Mugabe who was ousted by a coup last November may…Continue reading
Today Cape Town authorities announced that the city’s water supply will likely end in 80 days. The normal dry season extends into April. “Day Zero” on April 15 presumes Capetonians will continue restricting themselves to 50 liters of water daily. The severe drought effecting the city, the winelands and extending up a fairly narrow sliver…Continue reading
A couple things worth taking away from the funny video ad produced by a property consortium in Namibia. (Keep in mind that Namibia was among the first countries Trump trashed early in his presidency when he congratulated the leaders from “Nambia” at an important global conference.)