Wednesday, July 2, 2025

News of the Day

News of the Day: September 27, 2017

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Cosatu strikes take over downtown Durban today in the spirit of anti-corruption, anti-state capture, and of course political advancement for the upcoming ANC elections.

According to this Sunday Times article, (https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2017-09-27-cosatu-gets-moving-on-its-ambitious-national-strike-against-state-capture/), Cosatu is marching for the president to appoint a judicial commission to look into state capture, and for the proceeds of state capture to be funneled into projects for helping the poor.

However, according to an article by Mercury, (https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/cosatustrike-durban-march-gains-momentum-11373968), many Cosatu affiliates at the marches have been seen wearing shirts supporting Cyril Ramaphosa’s presidential campaign today.

It is probable that the accumulation of Cosatu’s and the general public’s discontent with state capture naturally flows hand in hand with Cyril Ramaphosa’s political platform. In that case, today’s events are more than just political presence at a march to promote an upcoming election, but perhaps the surfacing of a widespread discontent with the current state of the economy which transcends political, and even trade union lines.

 

News of the Day: September 26, 2017

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With the African National Congress national elective conference only a few months away, can the ANC rally behind whoever is elected? Can the party prevent factional splits until December arrives?

After continued criticism of the president, and a vote of no-confidence in August, former MP Makhosi Khoza has chosen to resign from the ANC. Is Khoza an outlier in the ANC constituency or the manifestation of a greater discontent within the ANC as a whole?

Come December the ANC will have at least six individuals contending for party leader. By the end of the conference one individual and one faction will rule the ANC. From there the ANC will be tasked with reuniting, opposing factions conceding to the majority, and the possible replacement of President Zuma. Failure to reunite could cost them their first loss in South Africa’s 2019 general election.

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/zapirocartoon/goodbye-anc/

 

 

 

Become a part of the art at 3D interactive exhibition in Cape Town

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By Sealy McMurrey

Capetonians are capturing moments of themselves hiking the Grand Canyon‚ featuring in The Last Supper‚ and riding a camel without breaking a sweat.

An interactive 3D painting exhibition by world-renowned American pavement artist Kurt Wenner‚ currently on display at the V&A Waterfront‚ is making all of this possible.

Incredible Illusions is different to most art shows.

Instead of the typical museum instruction to “look‚ but don’t touch” people are encouraged to interact with the paintings for a photograph that will make it look like they’re actually there.

Wenner said that the art was chosen specifically “to provide an interactive experience to the public”.

“I wanted to share to [with] them the possibilities art offers to change our environment with imagination‚” he added.

Sealy McMurrey at 3D artist and inventor, Kurt Wenner’s “Incredible Illusions” exhibition at the V&A Waterfront Watershed. Photo by Ruvan Boshoff

Cape Town is the first international city to host Wenner’s travelling showcase.

Wenner said he got the idea for the showcase after setting up a museum in the Playa Del Carmen in the Mexican Riviera‚ and decided to start the showcase in Cape Town because of how impressed he was with the city when he first visited some years ago.

“I grew up in Santa Barbara‚ California‚ which is similar in many ways‚ although I must concede that Cape Town is even more elegant and spectacular. Naturally‚ I was delighted with the opportunity to display my work in such an enviable venue.”

For those who crave a more scholastic angle‚ there is also an educational zone that provides a history on pavement art and shares the crucial role that geometry plays in the creation of 3D interactive artwork. More creative museum-goers can learn about the foundation of 3D art and make their own masterpiece at the Art Jamming zone.

While Wenner was aware of the political situation in South Africa‚ he said that he generally avoided politics in his art because he felt “that my message is one of inclusion and hope rather than protest”.

“The whole world seems to be unstable at the moment and there is certainly plenty to protest about across the globe.”

The exhibition started on April 4 and runs until July 23. — TMG Digital/TimesLIVE

Read this article online here

Cupcakes fuel protest march to Parliament

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By Alexa Cole and Sealy McMurrey

Photo By: Esa Alexander

Cupcakes decorated with political slogans proved to be a popular snack among many in the crowd waving posters‚ banners and flags.

Charly’s Bakery makes hundreds of cupcakes every day‚ and since Thursday night‚ the bakers have been creating specialty cupcakes in response to the protests against President Jacob Zuma.

Cupcakes were decorated with slogans such as “Recall Parliament”‚ “SA Must Rise”‚ “Divided We Fall”‚ “United We Stand”‚ “Cry Our Beloved Country”‚ as well as images of the South African flag.

Bakery owner‚ Jacqui Biess‚ said‚ “Cupcakes are a wonderful way to mobilize people”.

The bakery has a strong presence on social media‚ with over 100 000 followers on Facebook. Biess said she began advertising the cupcakes on Thursday night on social media and quickly started seeing retweets. “We had no idea if it would be dead today‚ but we’ve had a really good turnout‚” said Biess.

Cupcakes with slogans aren’t new to Charly’s. Biess said that whenever a big event happened‚ she and her daughters brainstormed when to write on their cupcakes that would elicit a giggle and have them flying off the racks.

Previous notable cupcakes have included “Honorable Speaker” in response to the Economic Freedom Fighter’s Julius Malema and his antics in Parliament. “Don’t touch me on my studio” was another in response to former AWB leader André Visagie’s infamous interview on the SABC and “Vote” cupcakes were a hit during the elections.

Read the published story here.

Court backing for recreational dagga use a win for addicts‚ says Anti-drug Alliance

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“The Anti-drug Alliance believes the High Court ruling‚ in favour of recreational dagga use‚ is “a win” for drug addicts. The alliance’s coastal director Andrew Stoller said that dagga could now be used as an “exit drug” in rehabilitation programmes.”

The alliance’s coastal director Andrew Stoller said that dagga could now be used as an “exit drug” in rehabilitation programmes.

“The argument has been used that it is a gateway drug but we have found that it can be used as an exit drug‚” said Stoller.

He said that in their experience in working with alcoholics dagga was used to effectively remedy addiction.

He said the judgement also meant that medical companies could start testing the plant’s medicinal effectiveness.

Judge Dennis Davis ruled in favour of Dagga Party leader Jeremy Acton who brought an application to decriminalise the private use of dagga and growing the plant.

Western Cape High Court rules in favour of private dagga use
Davis declared the limitations on the private use of dagga “unjustifiable” in terms people’s constitutional right to privacy.

“I smoked about ten joints‚ went into my heart and made my plea statement. I listened to the cannabis and used it to express my truth‚” said Acton outside the court in Cape Town where a crowd of about fifty pro-dagga activists sang – some even lit dagga pipes.

“Cannabis won this case today‚ I was just the vehicle‚” said Acton.

Emily Rizzo is on an SIT Study Abroad program and produced this story in association with Round Earth Media

– TMG Digital/The Times

The Original Bunny Chow

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Patel’s created the original bunny chow, Durban’s famous dish, and still makes the best bunny in Durban. They have been serving bunny, made of a carved out loaf of bread with spicy vegetable curry in the center, for over 85 years. In the middle of down town Durban, this hole-in-a-wall restaurant is where to find some of the most delicious food in the city. And you must eat the bunny the way it was meant to be eaten, without utensils. Rip the four corners of the loaf and use the bread as your fork!

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