Would any of these viewers have photographed this painting if the comment from the Presidency had been ‘no comment’?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ferial Hafajee writes eloquently, subtly and critically (as always) on the debate between ‘the personal right to dignity’ and the right for freedom of expression (and so public debate and critique): http://www.citypress.co.za/Columnists/How-a-painting-divided-a-nation-20120527   I have currently not had [...]

Ghandi’s philosphy of Satyagraha (non-violent non-cooperation) was born in South Africa and more specifically in what was then the Transvaal, in the first decade of the 20th Century.  Ghandi arrived in Johannebsurg in 1893 and stayed at various places during the 12 years he was in Johannesburg. For more on this see Eric Itzkin’s excellent book [...]

Yesterday Boekehuis hosted Mark Gevisser, Mbeki’s biographer, in conversation with Fiona Forde, Malema’s biographer. Mark engaged Fiona to expand on some of the issues raised in her biography of Malema: ‘An Inconvenient Youth’. An informed, informative, measured and fascinating interchange followed. Forde’s take is that it is not over till the fat man sings, (my label [...]

Mark Gevisser wrote about South African identity in both the build up to the World Cup  Cup http://www.timeslive.co.za/sundaytimes/article439527.ece/I-want-to-imagine-the-SA-of-my-dreams  as well as after the final whistle had been blown:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jul/10/south-africa-unites-over-football . See his latest take  on what it means to be a South African in late 2010:  http://www.arttimes.co.za/news_read.php?news_id=2683 

I posted a blog on Peter Harris  In a Different Time’  :  http://lizatlancaster.co.za/blog/a-south-african-page-turner-and-its-all-true and now his new book about the conspiracy to destabilize the 1994 elections,  is to be released shortly.    The book will be launched at Exclusive Books Hyde Park at 6 for 6.30 on Tuesday 9th Nov.   RSVP to hydepark@exclisvebooks.co.za or 011 325-4298 

Boekehuis holds its Saturday morning Voices: A discussion with M&G investigative journalist, Adriaan Basson  & political journalist and writer, William Gumede  on  Basson’s book Finish & klaar  Selebi’s fall from Interpol to the underworld.   Boekehuis’ outline of the issues:  ‘From top cop to corrupt crook in six years – Jackie Selebi’s fall from grace came fast.  [...]

Interesting article on the arguments around the ANC’s drive to make their view of history the official version http://constitutionallyspeaking.co.za/the-past-is-unpredictable/

WHAT? SATURDAY VOICES AT BOEKEHUIS WHEN? SATURDAY 21 August 2010, 12:00 for 12:30 TOPIC: William Gumede, author of the book, Thabo Mbeki and the Battle for the Soul of the ANC in conversation with Sakhela Buhlungu, sociologist and expert in the field of labour studies, about his new book, A Paradox of Victory COSATU and [...]