Latest news with #FloydShivambu
Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Maverick
Ballots and burnouts: Our fragile democracy lacks direction and is swerving off the road
The rain was coming down hard — and so was I. Wipers squealed uselessly across the Mazda Rustler's windscreen as the car veered right, as it always did when I braked. Only this time, I wasn't sober enough to correct it. My knuckles clenched the wheel. My breath fogged the glass. Somewhere behind me, the neon lights of a Grange party still pulsed in my head. I was 20, drunk on whisky and bravado, speeding down Commercial Road with a girl in the passenger seat and a heart still thumping from the cold barrel of a gun pressed against it just an hour earlier. Red robot. I slammed the brakes. The Rustler screamed — tyres hissing, chassis groaning — and leapt the centre island like a wounded animal. It spun once, then twice, and smashed nose-first into a green electrical box outside McDonald's. The bonnet erupted in smoke. My forehead cracked the dash. Somewhere, the girl screamed. I stumbled out barefoot onto the wet pavement. The air smelled like burnt rubber, oil and something inside me I couldn't name – panic, maybe. Or shame. A crowd gathered. Blue lights sliced the mist. I reeked of liquor. 'Have yuuu bien drienkieng?' the officer barked in that heavy Afrikaans growl. I nodded. He twisted my arm behind my back. The cuffs clicked shut. That was the night I learned what it feels like to be behind the wheel without vision, without clarity, without control. You think you're getting somewhere — until you're spinning out, jackknifed on the pavement, smoke rising from everything you built. Years later, watching South Africa's democracy swerve down familiar roads, I realise I wasn't just drunk that night — I was rehearsing something much bigger. We're all behind the wheel now — and we're all at risk. A dazed nation behind the wheel We are a country barrelling forward with no seatbelt, no working brakes, and no map. Intoxicated by slogans. Distracted by factions. Driving harder – not wiser. Last year's national election delivered a chaos of choices — over 50 political parties, from Afrikaans revivalists to Marxist revolutionaries, from throne-and-tradition parties calling for the return of the amakhosi, to spreadsheet technocrats promising dashboards and delivery. The result? A 'unity' government stitched together with nervous smiles and ideological glue. Now another skid mark on the road — Floyd Shivambu, all but ousted from the MK party after being removed as secretary-general, is reportedly preparing to launch the Mayibuye Movement. We keep changing drivers — but the car keeps swerving into the same ditch. I trained the election officers In 2009, I worked in the Independent Electoral Commission's engine room as an Electoral Project Coordinator and Provincial Electoral Trainer. I trained hundreds of presiding officers and area managers — most of them school principals, the very people who opened their classrooms as polling stations. There was structure. Protocol. Civic dignity. Even then, the ballot was crowded. But this year felt different. The fragmentation wasn't a sign of flourishing freedom — it was a symptom of fracture. South Africa now has over 300 registered political parties — yet fewer than 10 have national traction. We're not voting for progress. We're voting ourselves into paralysis. The curse of constant change At its best, democracy delivers leaders with conviction, vision, and staying power. Ours has delivered musical chairs in council chambers. Coalitions without cohesion. Tenders without delivery. When I worked as an auditor at the Auditor-General's office, one control weakness showed up again and again — like a cracked windscreen: leadership instability. Even after I left in 2017, the pattern only worsened. By 2021, more than 60% of municipalities had acting CFOs or municipal managers — a staggering sign of churn. Leadership turnover was so high that institutional memory evaporated. People weren't leading — they were placeholders in a revolving door. As of the 2023-24 financial year, municipal finance units had a 19% vacancy rate. One in five municipalities lacked a permanent Chief Financial Officer. At those with disclaimed audit opinions, CFOs averaged just 39 months in office. No staying power. No accountability. No traction. You can't drive straight when someone new grabs the wheel every few kilometres. And you can't deliver clean audits with a finance team that's understaffed, underqualified and under siege. Loot first, plan never Insecure leaders aren't just ineffective — they're dangerous. When leaders don't believe they'll last, they don't plan for the next decade. They loot for the next weekend. We see it in rushed appointments. Inflated procurement. A feverish obsession with 'eating' before the next reshuffle. Public office becomes less of a calling — and more of a countdown. A democracy with no traction doesn't crawl — it slides. And then it crashes. Kigali was different In October last year, I landed in Rwanda en route to Kenya. Even at the airport, I felt it. The floors gleamed. The lights worked. Staff moved with purpose. There was no fear — only focus. Yes, Rwanda has flaws. Authoritarianism must never be romanticised. Civic space is tight. Dissent is risky. But Kigali has achieved what our metros have not: clean governance, functional infrastructure, digitised services and national coherence. They've done more with less. We have more media freedom. More mineral wealth. More civil society. But far less traction. What kind of democracy do we want? South Africa doesn't need more parties. It needs more purpose. If democracy is to survive here, it must be reimagined — not copied from the West, not just shouted through loudhailers. We need a democracy driven by direction, not just defended by default. Here's what that looks like: Vision-led coalitions — not stitched-together survival pacts. Electoral reform — with thresholds and constituency-based candidates. Longer-term mandates — built on delivery, not popularity. Technocratic support — that reinforces, not replaces, political will. Civic education — that teaches power, responsibility and constitutional literacy. Even America — democracy's supposed gold standard — is now cracking. Trump's return, institutional gridlock and mass polarisation prove one thing: liberal democracy slows collapse — but rarely drives renewal. If that's true for the US, what hope do we have — a nation still weighed down by inequality, broken institutions and a leadership culture built on loyalty over competence? Sona: the president in the passenger seat President Cyril Ramaphosa's latest State of the Nation Address laid bare this dysfunction. Behind the gloss of unity stood a driver propped up by passengers with different destinations. A coalition government with no shared GPS cannot drive straight. It jerks, stalls and veers under the strain. Ramaphosa, hemmed in by factional warfare and surrounded by ministers entangled in scandal, increasingly relies on commissions of inquiry to do the work leadership should. But commissions are like substitute drivers — they steer the headlines, not the country. Graveyards of good intentions Shivambu's split from MK isn't just a subplot. It's a symptom. A democracy without vision produces factions, not futures. And when ambition replaces clarity, the people bleed — in potholes, broken classrooms, understocked clinics. South Africans are tired. Tired of manifestos with no memory. Tired of leaders with no compass. Tired of being asked to vote with hope — and rewarded with heartbreak. The final bend That night in Pietermaritzburg, after the crash, I sat slumped on the curb, the rain mixing with the sweat on my face. I remember thinking: How did I get here? I had no map. No plan. Just a tank full of ego, a broken suspension and enough alcohol to believe I'd make it. That's where we are as a country — behind the wheel, dazed, swerving between ideology and improvisation. The warning lights are flashing. The tar is slick. And unless we sober up — politically, morally, strategically — we will just crash again.
TimesLIVE
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
The power of Klippies and Coke
Ever since the news of the49 Afrikaners landing in the US, I noticed I know precious little about Afrikaner culture and the Afrikaans language. This is despite my passing it in school and being a resident of Boksburg. To right this, I have borrowed from the out-of-favour red beret cum MK Party alleged usurper Floyd Shivambu and have embarked on a lis tening assignment to better understand the deep connections I share with my Afrikaaner broederen. Recently I was at a rugby game and spent the afternoon chewing on biltong, gyrating to Bernice West's Komma Nader and calling random people china. It was great. I have also been reliably informed that Klippies and Coke is a national treasure. One toppie went as far as telling me he could forgo water and food the entire day, but would be right as rain with this beverage in hand. His missus nodded in agreement, so it was hard for me to counter with half-cooked facts about alcohol poisoning and the dangers of being in the grandstands while under the influence. Falling to his death was the least of his worries. Seems my chinas just love having fun. They organise impromptu braais in the parking lot, they have all agreed the Toyota Hilux is God's gift to motoring, and will do almost anything for you when you mention Nelson Mandela. One thing I am battling with, however, are the very short shorts and high socks. We are in the middle of winter and though everyone and their dog is walking around in thick jackets and boots, I spotted a few chinas bare chested in khaki shorts traversing the isles of the stadium barefoot. The Springboks were thrashing the Italians so I figured they were high on Bokke fever. That night I had the strangest of dreams though. I woke up in a sweat and wondered if I should consult those people who read cards or decipher dreams. Ever notice how real dreams feel when you're sleeping, but when you wake up they are the height of nonsense? This was the case with mine. In the dream I had just woken up and was making a cup of coffee when I heard the gate open. I expected the alarm to go off and when it didn't, I raced to the keypad, saw it had been tampered with and pressed the panic button. Shortly after, Gert, a burly Afrikaans man, sped in and jumped out of his Renault Kwid, gun in hand. I peeped through the window and gestured in the direction of the criminals who were about to make off with my pot plants and garden sheers. That is when the dream took the strangest of turns. I love those plants, and I was itching to see Gert mete out some Bruce Lee style kicking and jumping, but he stopped abruptly, holstered the gun and calmy spoke in Afrikaans, urging the guys to stop what they were doing and leave at once. I was furious, but I don't know a word of Afrikaans. Yes, I could hear what he was saying, but speaking was another story. Dreams are like that. I peered through the door and yelled: 'Skiet hom, Gert, skiet hom.' That's when Gert looked at me, broke out in song and started dancing to Komma Nader. Soon we were all jorling and having a great time passing around Klippies and Coke. While I won't be wearing shorts in this weather anytime soon, I look forward to hosting a braai this summer. So don't be surprised when you hear me call you china, munch biltong relentlessly and forgo water for some Klippies.
News24
6 days ago
- Politics
- News24
Shivambu's break from MKP ignites youth mobilisation for new movement
Recent developments suggest that Floyd Shivambu may already be laying the groundwork for a new political formation. Tebogo Letsie
The South African
14-07-2025
- The South African
Two days on one charge: Why the Samsung Galaxy S25 is a writer's best friend
Home » Two days on one charge: Why the Samsung Galaxy S25 is a writer's best friend Samsung Galaxy S25 in mint. Image: Samsung South Africa I recently spent time with Samsung Galaxy's newest addition to the S series – the S25 – I have a simple verdict: it's a beast of a device and you should buy it you are a journalist, writer or publisher who is pressed for time. While it does not look too different from its predecessor, the Galaxy S24, it packs ease, smart features, speed and reliability that made my life and work easier. Let's start with the battery life, by far the most impressive offering of the Samsung Galaxy S25. I fully charged the phone at 17:00 on 11 June and by 16:30 on 13 June, it still had 13% left. That's nearly two full days of regular use – scrolling social media, instant messaging, taking pictures, checking emails and using WordPress – all without needing a charger. It's perfect for people always on the move (and a klutz like me who loses power banks and always forgets to pack a charger). The speed and responsiveness is just as impressive. Apps open quickly. Switching between apps or opening web links from another app is quick and seamless. I gave it a Herculean test by using the WordPress app – usually heavy and temperamental on Android devices – but it passed with flying colours, which means I didn't have to swear at it. One of the coolest features is the Circle to Search. Although not new to the Galaxy S series, it is a wonder to use on the S25. You just draw a circle around an element on your screen – be it an object, image or text, and the phone instantly (and I mean instantly) searches for it. It's quick, smart and surprisingly accurate. To give you an example, I took a picture of a CNN guest's face on my TV, long pressed the home button to bring up Circle to Search, encircled the woman's face and boom – I had her name (Pam Bondi), designation and credentials in my hand. All of this in less than 10 seconds. Speech-to-text and transcriptions The speech-to-text feature has improved significantly in terms of accuracy. I first used it with the Samsung Galaxy S21+ and the results were poor. However, with the S25, it is a vastly improved experience. I recorded quotes by Floyd Shivambu, former uMkhonto weSizwe Party secretary-general, during his exit press conference in June, and it picked up his 'revolutionary English' with incredible accuracy. This is very useful if you're not adept at speedily taking notes. When it comes to photos and videos, the S25 does the job. Granted, I wasn't outside taking pictures of beautiful sunsets, but where it came in really handy was when I wanted to shoot pictures or footage from a TV screen, which usually ends in blurry mess. With the S25, my images were crisp and clear, with colours popping and motion handled well. See below The Samsung Galaxy S25 is a reliable, powerful smartphone that handles everything, from AI features to heavy apps, like a champ. It's fast, smart and keeps going without needing a charge every few hours. For South Africans looking for a solid premium phone that won't let you down, the S25 is well worth it. Processor CPU Speed CPU Type 4.47GHz, 3.5GHz Octa-Core Display Size (Main Display) Resolution (Main Display) 156.4mm 2340 x 1080 (FHD+) Technology (Main Display) Colour Depth (Main Display) Dynamic AMOLED 2X 16M Max Refresh Rate (Main Display) 120 Hz Camera Rear Camera – Resolution (Multiple) Rear Camera – F Number (Multiple) 50.0 MP + 10.0 MP + 12.0 MP F1.8 , F2.4 , F2.2 Main Camera – Auto Focus Rear Camera – OIS Yes Yes Rear Camera – Zoom Front Camera – Resolution Optical Zoom 3x, Optical quality Zoom 2x (Enabled by Adaptive Pixel sensor) , Digital Zoom up to 30x 12.0 MP Front Camera – F Number Front Camera – Auto Focus F2.2 Yes Main Camera – Flash Video Recording Resolution Yes UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) @30fps Slow Motion 240fps @FHD, 120fps @FHD, 120fps @UHD Storage/Memory Memory (GB) Storage (GB) 12 256 Available Storage (GB) 223.5 Network/Bearer Number of SIM SIM size Dual-SIM Nano-SIM (4FF), Embedded-SIM SIM Slot Type Infra SIM 1 + SIM 2 / SIM 1 + eSIM / Dual eSIM 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA, 4G LTE FDD, 4G LTE TDD, 5G Sub6 FDD, 5G Sub6 TDD Connectivity USB Interface USB Version USB Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 1 Location Technology Earjack GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS USB Type-C MHL Wi-Fi No 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be 2.4GHz+5GHz+6GHz, EHT320, MIMO, 4096-QAM Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth Version Yes Bluetooth v5.4 NFC PC Sync Yes Smart Switch (PC version) OS Android Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor Physical specification Dimension (HxWxD, mm) Weight (g) 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 162 Battery Video Playback Time (Hours) Battery Capacity (mAh, Typical) Up to 29 4000 Removable No Audio and Video Stereo Support Video Playing Format Yes MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM Video Playing Resolution Audio Playing Format UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) @60fps MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, DFF, DSF, APE Services and Applications Gear Support Samsung DeX Support Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Buds3 Pro, Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Galaxy Buds Pro, Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Buds+, Galaxy Buds3, Galaxy Buds2, Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Buds FE, Galaxy Fit3, Galaxy Fit2, Galaxy Fit e, Galaxy Fit, Galaxy Watch FE, Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Watch7, Galaxy Watch6, Galaxy Watch5, Galaxy Watch4, Galaxy Watch3, Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active2, Galaxy Watch Active Yes Bluetooth® Hearing Aid Support SmartThings Support Android Audio Streaming for Hearing Aid(ASHA) Yes Mobile TV No Price R19,999.01 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. 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Eyewitness News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
MK Party Gauteng hopes sanity will prevail for members who defected to Shivambu's Mayibuye Consultation
JOHANNESBURG - The Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party in Gauteng says it hopes sanity will soon prevail for members who left it to join Floyd Shivambu's Mayibuye Consultation process. Last month, Shivambu announced the national leadership of his new political organisation, which is dominated by former MK Party members, particularly from Gauteng. READ: Shivambu announces Mayibuye leadership committee comprising former MK Party members Shivambu's Mayibuye was established shortly after he was demoted from the position of party secretary general to an ordinary member. MK Gauteng spokesperson Abel Tau said the defection of members from the organisation has been a setback in uniting black political leaders and parties under one umbrella. 'We still hope that sanity will prevail that people will understand that MK is their home but MK is not just a political home but it is a weapon but which can finally get a two-thirds majority, go into parliament and legislate in a manner that can respond to the socio-economic needs of our people and finally liberate our people and make them players in the economy of their country.'
