Sunday, August 15, 2010

How stupid does the ANC think we are?

The debate about the ANC's media bill continues.

The latest is Jacob Zuma's letter admonishing anybody for arguing against it.

The Daily Maverick has a good analysis of the key parts.

The ANC argues that nobody should worry about them using the media laws for censorhsip or other evil. They are the ANC and elected due to their strong moral compass.

The one simple arrow that shoots straight to the heart of the ANC's argument is this: the test of a good law is whether the lawmaker would be comfortable with the law in another party's hands. Would the ANC be happy if the proposed media laws were used by the DA, or even the old NP?

Friday, August 06, 2010

When will the new south african political activism start?

This past week has surely been my most frightening in the new south african context.

The arrest and detention of Mzilikazi wa Afrika (http://www.thedailymaverick.co.za/article/2010-08-06-mzilikazi-wa-afrika-and-the-shape-of-things-to-come) and the furore about the anc's attempts to clamp down on press freedom mark the most worrying event since chris hani's assassination.

I previously blogged about the arrest of a jogger for showing the finger at president zuma's cavalcade. Stringing these events together appears to show a governing party increasingly favouring the authoritarian style of zanu pf and other parties to our north.

Given the shocking levels of corruption and crime in south africa, when will people begin to rise up and say enough is enough? When will the songs be written and the concerts be organised? When will people march demanding change?

Surely it is getting to that stage.
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