The Volkswagen Golf, now in its fifth incarnation, has been with us for 30 years. In that time, the mother and father of all hatchbacks aimed to become the Beetle of its era, and ended up outselling it. Twenty-two million volks have bought this wagen. And after 30 years of searching for flaws in the Golf, we still haven’t found one.
Because the stuff the financial sector works with — money — can roam the world, it can make itself scarce, hence artificially valuable. So governments must woo capital-owners by competing with other governments to enhance the share of the national cake that goes to people with money — especially by ensuring low wages and taxes. The financial sector has huge influence, yet contributes little to growth and jobs.
Two weeks ago, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan named the Danish civil servant Soren Jessen-Petersen as his new representative in Kosovo, almost five years to the day after Nato proclaimed its victory in its war against the Yugoslav army. A time, then, for celebration and moving forward? Not a bit. Violence will escalate in Kosovo if the UN’s new representative fails to get the international community to deliver support.
"People don’t want a war unless you absolutely have to have one, but the media would not present the possibility that there were alternatives — so therefore we went to war very much in the manner of a totalitarian society." That’s Noam Chomsky, responding to questions about the media’s role in the first Gulf War. CNN boss Chris Cramer assures Kevin Bloom that the network has no pro-American agenda.
Andy Roddick and Sjeng Schalken share a bond that goes beyond tennis. Two months ago, Roddick helped Schalken escape from a hotel fire in Rome that killed three people. Now their paths are crossing again — in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Roddick advanced to the final eight with a win on Monday.
After all the nice things we’ve said about Durban, they go and mess up the Banana City anyway. It cannot be more than a year since this column responded to outrage from some of the city’s more illustrious and intellectually grounded citizens and said some nice things about South Africa’s would-be Big Easy.
I once bought a beautifully preserved second-hand 2,5-litre Rover from a family connection. Its age and my poverty soon disproved the bargain — ”classic cars” and deep pockets go together, like leeks and potatoes. The previous owner had merely disposed of a problem. I think of that car when I contemplate some black economic empowerment (BEE) deals, reflects Reg Rumney.
South Africa’s First Lady Zanele Mbeki was the guest of honour at a quayside ceremony in the Cape Town harbour on Tuesday to name a new R250-million purpose-built coastal tanker, the Southern Unity. Just under 176m long, the tanker’s freshly painted red hull, blue deck and white superstructure loomed over the guests and dignatories.
Erasmus Magwaza and his boisterous trainer, Nick Durandt, could both eat humble pie on Friday night for looking down on Menzi Mdunge, who will challenge Magwaza for the South African lightheavyweight title at Durban’s DLI Hall. Durandt has already announced that his charge will seek international fights after beating Mdunge.
Monir Chaudan takes off his gumboots and wiggles two stumps at the end of his feet where his big toes should be. ”I went to work even when I lost these. If you don’t, you lose your job,” he says. Randeep Ramesh reports on India’s controversial ship-breaking business, where work is dirty, dangerous and ill-paid.