English, SA art, Max Mamase, the 2004 elections, Jeremy Cronin

It is possible for political correctness to destroy a country, particularly one with as contentious a history as South Africa has. I was a critic of the ill-suited outcomes-based education from the start (and it failed), and was quick to respond to another pie-in-the-sky plan regarding the use of African languages. My letter on this issue appeared in the Sunday Times, with a response the next week. This segment also includes a couple of art reviews, a few letters based on issues leading up to the 2004 elections and another dig at the communist, Jeremy Cronin.

My letter in the Sunday Times on the need to boost English literacy, along with another by a traditional leader. (Please click on the text to see it in larger format.)

Over and above working as a reporter and then a sub-editor on the Herald, in Port Elizabeth, from about 1993 till 2010 I was the art critic. I often brought present-day issues into my reviews, like this one from March, 2004.

A letter in the Sunday Times of March 3, 2004, disagreeing with my views on language.

The blurring of state and party was the subject of this letter, which appeared in the Herald on March 15, 2004. I first met Max Mamase when he worked for Van Zyl Slabbert's Institute for a Democratic Alternative for South Africa (Idasa) in the mid-1980s. Like so many other struggle veterans, he was seduced by the perks of political office post-1994.

My review of a major exhibition at Port Elizabeth's premier art gallery, which appeared in the Herald on March 25, 2004.

Another letter, this time in the Weekend Post, during the 2004 elections. This appeared on April 4 of that year.

My dig at the 0h-so-self-righteous Jeremy Cronin.

Another letter I had published in the Herald attacking the ANC.

African Renaissance, Southern African literature, Rian Malan, Nelson Mandela, Tony Leon

Thabo Mbeki's much-vaunted plan for an African Renaissance rang rather hollow in the light of his support for Robert Mugabe's destruction of Zimbabwe. I tackle this issue in a feature published in the Herald, Port Elizabeth, in early 2004. Also featured here is a review of a book on Southern African literature, a letter attacking writer Rian Malan in the Sunday Times, a look at Nelson Mandela's role in the creation of the new South Africa, and a letter querying why Mbeki was scared to face Tony Leon in a televised debate.

The first part of my article on the African Renaissance, published in the Herald on February 2, 2004. The remainder is below. (Please click on the text to see it larger.)

The conclusion to my piece on the African Renaissance.

A review of Michael Chapman's Southern African Literatures, published in the Herald on February 4, 2004. It concludes below.

The last bit of my review of Chapman's book.

The Sunday Times devoted acres of space to an article by writer Rian Malan. The following week, they published my response, along with another by a black reader who was obviously supportive of Malan.

Ten years after the advent of non-racial democracy, I read through the key moments of Nelson Mandela's autobiography and discovered just what a pivotal part he played in bringing about the relatively peaceful transition. This was published on February 19, 2004. The article continues below.

The concluding part of my piece on Mandela.

In this letter I question whether Mbeki has the courage of his convictions.

George Steer, Colin Eglin, Irma Stern, Zubeida Jaffer, JRR Tolkien, Haiti, John Gribbon

Not many people would have heard of George Steer, but he was a redoubtable war correspondent, born in East London. My review of a book about him appeared in the Herald, Port Elizabeth, in 2003, along with another review of a book about the artist, Irma Stern, and an article in praise of veteran MP Colin Eglin. There is also a review of a memoir by journalist Zubeida Jaffer, a final look at the Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies, a sniping letter to the Sunday Times attacking Thabo Mbeki, and a review of a book about the Big Bang theory.

My review of Telegram from Guernica, by Nicholas Rankin, which appeared in the Herald on October 29, 2003. It looks at the extraordinary life of George Steer. The piece concludes below. (Please click on the article to read it in a larger format. It often requires a second click.)

The concluding part of my review of Telegram from Guernica.

When former PFP leader Colin Eglin decided to quit politics, I wrote this in tribute to him. It appeared in the Herald on October 30, 2003, and concludes below.

The last part of my piece on Colin Eglin.

This review of Remembering Irma Stern: A Memoir with Letters, by Mona Berman, appeared in the Herald on November 12, 2003.

My review of Our Generation, by Zubeida Jaffer, an autobiography, appeared in the Herald on December 3, 2003. It concludes below.

The last part of the Jaffer book review.

Having enjoyed the Lord of the Rings movies immensely with my sons, I was, however, disappointed that a key element of the story was omitted. This appeared in the Herald on December 29, 2003.

I was happy to see I had support in my criticism of President Thabo Mbeki in the Sunday Times of January 4, 2004.

I love books about the history of science, and John Gribbon's book, In Search of the Big Bang, provided me with much to write about. This appeared in the Herald on January 7, 2004. It concludes below.

The last section of my review of the Gribbon book.

Tony Grogan, G E Turley, the British Empire, Zimbabwe

I haven't used many of my art crits on this blog thus far, but thought I'd include a couple in this posting, because they have special significance. There is also a review of a book about the British Empire in the East and a couple of letters to the editor, mainly on Zimbabwe.

I grew up enjoying Tony Grogan's cartoons, so I was delighted to review an exhibition he staged in Port Elizabeth. This appeared in the Herald on September 4, 2003. (Please click on the text to see it larger.)

I recall, back in the 1970s, when I was writing avidly against apartheid in the East London Daily Dispatch, a certain W H Suckow would also contribute letters which often agreed with mine in sentiment. Anyway, I seemed to find a fellow kindred spirit in G E Turley.

My review of Robert Bickers's non-fiction work, Empire Made Me, which was published in the Herald on September 10, 2003. It concludes below.

The final part of my book review.

Another dab at the Zimbabwe issue. This wasn't dated, but would have been published around September, 2003.

I had some support among the correspondents this time. Again, Zim was the issue.

An exhibition by art students at Fort Hare sadly left much to be desired. This was run on October 8, 2003.

This time I used the Weekend Post as an outlet. This was run on October 25, 2003.

University freedom, Ranjeni Munusamy, The Reformation, Moshe Dyan

Should the vice-chancellor of a university publicly show allegiance to any given political party? This is the subject of my first column here, published in the Herald in 2003. Below it is the response of then Fort Hare VC Derrick Swarts. I also run a review I did of an interesting novel about the Reformation, and a letter I wrote again tackling the thorny issue of Israel, along with the inevitable responses.

My article critical of then Fort Hare vice-chancellor Derrick Swartz. It continues below. (Please click on the text to see it larger.)

The concluding part of my article on Derrick Swartz.

Prof Swartz, now vice-chancellor at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, was quick to defend his position. His article concludes below.

The last part of Prof Swartz's article.

This letter appeared in the Sunday Times on August 3, 2003. I took umbrage at reporter Ranjeni Munusamy's slanted views on Zimbabwe. Not surprisingly, she later became a close political ally of the likes of Blade Nzimande and President Jacob Zuma.

My review of Q, a novel by Luther Blissett, set at the time of the Reformation.

With daily reports of the ongoing violence which beset Israel at the time, I again wrote on this issue. My letter in the Herald was published on August 26, 2003.

On September 2, these responses were published.

The PFP / DP, Marguerite Poland, Morgan Tsvangirai

Instead of praising the liberal and anti-apartheid Progressive Federal Party of Helen Suzman, Van Zyl Slabbert and Colin Eglin, the ANC, post-1994, cosied up to their former oppressors, the National Party. I took issue with this approach in the Sunday Times - and even elicited some responses the following week. Also included here is a review I did of a Marguerite Poland novel, and more letters on the Zimbabwe issue.

My letter on the ANC's approach to the Democratic Party, successor to the PFP, which appeared on June 8, 2003. (Please click on the text to see it larger.)

Two responses to my letter, which appeared in the Sunday Times on June 15, 2003.

My review of Recessional for Grace, by Marguerite Poland, which appeared in the Herald, Port Elizabeth, on June 25, 2003. I subsequently heard that in a later edition of the book, a short extract from this was used on the cover. I am quite proud of that, and also cherish a short note which the author sent me thanking me for the review.

My concern for Mugabe's reign of terror grew as the decade progressed. This article, following the arrest of Morgan Tsvangirai, appeared in the Herald on June 23, 2003.

Another bite at the Zim cherry, which appeared on June 28, 2003.

Predictably, the ANC apologists took issue with my views. This, from Sbusiso Ndamase, appeared on July 16, 2003.

Grahamstown's Michael Whisson, like me, often took issue with the Herald's political correspondent, Patrick Cull.