South Africa: ‘There are no shortcuts left’
October 5, 2011 By 2 Comments
Behind the Rainbow
February 23, 2010 By Leave a Comment
If you’re in the US tonight and you’re close to a TV, watch Egyptian filmmaker Jihan Al-Tahri’s documentary film, “Behind the Rainbow” (trailer above), about the years between the South African ANC’s unbanning in 1990, the taking of political power and its December 2007 conference when the disastrous Thabo Mbeki was unseated by Jacob Zuma as the party’s leader. It is an expansive film–and probably the definitive documentary–of the first decade or so of democratic rule in South Africa, at least of the developments within the ruling party.
I saw it when it first came out and take my word for it, it is worth the almost 2 hours. (Unlike with most other films, you can’t view it online).
Apartheid Reparations
January 20, 2010 By 1 Comment
Democracy Now! in New York City reports last week on the historical case in a New York City court by black victims of white minority rule in South Africa (not everyone bought the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s line), against several international corporations accused of aiding the Apartheid regime. The victims’ lawyers are seeking up to $400 billion in compensation. The South African government and elite opinion are opposed to the case going ahead. The companies include Daimler AG, General Motors, Ford Motor Company and IBM. “They are accused in a class-action lawsuit of complicity in human rights abuses during the years they did business in apartheid South Africa.”
* Watch for an appearance by the late Dennis Brutus.
“AFTER MANDELA”
November 9, 2009 By 1 Comment
On the even of South Africa’s second democratic election in 1999 as Nelson Mandela made way for Thabo Mbeki, both foreign and South African media outlets could not contain themselves with the “What happens After Mandela?” questions.
That same nonsense is being peddled on the front page of The New York Times in a piece that does not tell us much. The piece is actually an excuse to promote a new book about Mandela’s time in prison (for which I will honor Mandela forever). But this should have been in the Arts section instead of being offered as news analysis.
RUSH LIMBAUGH, THABO MBEKI AND AIDS DENIALISM
October 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Thabo Mbeki, the former South African President who is an avowed AIDS denialist, must be happy with the latest rant of Rush Limbaugh, the nutty rightwing radio talk show host (he who is beloved by US Republicans and the media networks for whom he is a money spinner).
Limbaugh, early today, in an attempt to get at the Obama Administration for declaring swine flu a national emergency, went on a riff about how the government’s warnings about swine flu are similar to the “hype” about the extent of the AIDS pandemic in Africa. Anyway, Limbaugh first claimed AIDS infections in Africa are exaggerated and then said AIDS does not exist. Like he is a medical scientist or a researcher of pandemics.
I know this sounds crazy. But remember until not so long ago (that is 2008) this kind of nonsense was considered informed opinion among some members of South Africa’s Cabinet as well as some of its ruling party elites. (There is now a change.)
Via Gawker.
THERE ARE APPARENTLY NO GOOD LEADERS IN AFRICA
October 19, 2009 By 3 Comments
Remember Mo Ibrahim’s prize for “good governance” awarded annually to an African leader? The winner gets $5 million over 10 years and $200,000 annually for life thereafter. Previous winners have included such prudent politicians as Mozambique’s Joaquim Chissano and Botswana’s Festus Mogae.
Apparently Thabo Mbeki, South Africa’s disastrous second democratic president (1999-2008), was among the candidates for this year’s prize.
This year, however, there won’t any winner because Mo Ibrahim can’t find a suitable candidate. Nobody deserves it.
THE POVERTY OF IDEAS
September 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
I was forwarded the front and back covers of a new book–edited by William Gumede (author of a book on Thabo Mbeki) and Leslie Dikeni (brother of poet Sandile)–on South African intellectual culture. I don’t have more information except that it appears to focus on the Thabo Mbeki era, a period characterized by virulent anti-intellectualism. Dikeni’s chapter is on “pseudo-intellectuals,” while Jeremy Cronin writes on the late exiled ANC intellectual, Comrade Mzala–remember Mzala’s 1980s book on Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, “Chief with a Double Agenda”? which had to be pulled from library shelves after the Chief objected?
The book also has contributions from Jonathan Jansen (the first black university president of the University of the Free State), US-based literature professor Grant Farred, Mahmood Mamdani, and poet James Matthews.
I am curious to read Cronin’s take on Mzala.
JACOB ZUMA IS A COMMUNIST
August 24, 2009 By 1 Comment
Surprise, surprise, 100 days into his tenure as South Africa’s newest President, Jacob Zuma is getting high marks from the Financial Times. Like everyone else, before April’s elections the FT raised “the specter of some new heart of darkness descending on South Africa.” Now Zuma is their man. Descriptions of “… a solid and optimistic beginning by his government” and of Zuma being “pragmatic pragmatically.” Zuma’s choice of finance minister (Pravin Gordhan) and the elevation of Trevor Manuel to the powerful post of planning minister “… have been welcomed in the private sector.” And of course he has not let the demands of “left wingers” (meaning the poor majority) to do something about glaring poverty and inequality, influence him. (He also gets praise for being more conciliatory towards whites and opposition parties unlike his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki.) The FT also has anecdotes:
