Toh Unplugged

                         Taiwan President Lai Ching-te In a bold move that has set the stage for a diplomatic standoff, South Africa (SA) has demanded Taiwan relocate its de facto embassy from the administrative capital Tshwane (formerly Pretoria) to the financial and economic hub of Johannesburg, a directive Taiwan defiantly refuses to follow. This unprecedented clash not only tests Taiwan's fragile international presence but also raises serious questions about SA's deepening ties with communist China, its largest trading partner and Taiwan’s fiercest adversary. Is this the latest sign of Beijing’s growing influence in African diplomacy, or a calculated move by SA to shift the balance of power in the region? South Africa has accused Taiwain of dragging its feet about moving to Johannesburg. This comes as government communicators have been at pains to explain that SA – one of Africa’s largest economies – is not ...

U.S. singer Chris Brown *Chris Brown has landed in South Africa for his sold-out concert at Johanneburg's FNB Stadium from December 14-15. Here is a video of Chris Brown and his crew after landing in Joburg.  I have been keenly watching people catching strays on social media for merely stating they had bought tickets to Grammy award-winning US R&B megastar Chris Brown’s sold-out concert at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday and Sunday (December 14 -15). Among those on the receiving end was former University of Cape Town vice-chancellor, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, who was forced to literally wipe the floor with a bully from X (Twitter) that had pointed out the professor was conflicted. The X bully tried to argue the point that Phakeng, who had previously spoken out against gender-based violence (GBV) in the country, was being hypocritical by attending Brown’s concert. The American singer shattered every record in the South African entertainment industry by selling more ...

The brazen scandals in Bhisho - be it aging sex pests with chronic diseases molesting young interns or financial/political misdemeanours taking centre stage instead of service delivery - they all never cease to amaze me. It is so because the provincial seat of the failing Eastern Cape government has always been in the news for all the wrong reasons - for years now. I’m writing this blog post following Friday's (October 11) decision by ANC provincial chair and premier Oscar Mabuyane to place public works & infrastructure (DPWI) head of department (HoD), Thandolwethu Manda, on leave pending an investigation into  “ rape and sexual abuse allegations ”  circulating on social media platforms. Mabuyane had this to say: “Noting the seriousness of the allegations levelled against HoD Manda and the position he holds in government, I have considered the options available to me in line with the applicable public service prescripts. I am convinced that placing him on leave will best...

Nomthetheleli Mene In a functional democracy, the useless Eastern Cape police commissioner Lt-Gen Nomthetheleli Mene and the equally inept community safety MEC Xolile Nqatha would have long resigned over their shambolic leadership that has resulted in the province resembling a criminal state by each passing day. But as former South African president and uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) leader, Jacob Zuma, once said, ours is a “funny democracy”.  Which could explain why Msholozi  (Zuma's clan name), addressing school pupils in Thembisa in July 2016, had to beg South Africans to allow him six full months as a dictator to solve the country's socio-economic crisis, pleading: "If you just give me six months to be a dictator, things will be straight." How does Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane sleep at night when crime is on steroids in the province, or even explain Nqatha’s continued leadership – or lack thereof – when, under his watch, 18 relatives were massacred in cold blood at ...

Nonceba Khontsiwe The Eastern Cape department of sports, recreation, arts and culture, which has a budget of R3.2bn over the medium term, has failed spectacularly in its mandate of supporting the largely rural province’s young creatives trying to break into the music, TV and filmmaking industries with dogged determination. This despite its stated mission being to develop these sectors  for purported “upliftment of the people of the Eastern Cape”. The province’s biggest exports are its boxing champions and afro-pop stars such as Ringo Madlingozi, Vusi Nova, Nkosinathi “Nathi” Mankayi, Amanda Black, the Jaziel Brothers, the Bala Brothers and the late Zahara, to name but a few. The department’s sheer failure is seen in the arguably little support it lends to the sector, such that many artists - known and yet to be known - are forced to trek to Johannesburg – the country’s arts mecca – for a chance at a record deal or to audition for film and TV roles. It therefore took me by surpri...