Ernst gets his shine as new media hit and miss
The right-wing Afrikaner ideologue Ernst Roets’s favourable exposure in the US has been enabled by the emergence of alt-right media personalities who have abandoned the basic principles of journalism, writes Phakamisa Mayaba. Read more >>
Sandra Antrobus: a tribute
Sandra Antrobus, who — together with her husband, Michael — played a key role in the restoration of Victorian buildings in Cradock’s iconic Market Street, passed away on 4 April. Our friends Julienne du Toit and Chris Marais of Karoo Space have written a tribute, which has appeared in Litnet, among others. To access it, click here.
Strange turns in the world of informal work
In the face of mass unemployment, casual work in South Africa has taken some strange and sometimes risky turns. Phakamisa Mayaba meets some Colesberg people who are trying to make an honest living. Read more >>
My Joplin jalopy
Jasper Cook reminisces about the cars he’s owned over the years … and picks the one he’d buy all over again. Read more >>
Mbeki and the Foreign Affairs conundrum
R.W. Johnson dissects the first inaugural Aziz Pahad Memorial Lecture, delivered by former president Thabo Mbeki. Read more >>
Ex-MPs sitting tight while VAT increase looms
Only in Mzansi … While the mass of poor people are agonising about the effects of a possible VAT increase, writes Phakamiza Mayaba, numerous former MPs are refusing to vacate their subsidised parliamentary housing. Read more >>
GNU is the ANC's last chance to survive
Without the GNU, writes R.W. Johnson, the ANC will continue to decline until it loses power altogether. Read more >>
The Democrats: a pulse detected
Jay H. Ell reflects on Trump’s presidency, rising protests against him and Elon Musk, and the revival of the Democratic Party. Read more >>
Honeybee hunters with a sweet tooth
Karen Sternberg tells a gripping tale about the activities of predatory wasps, or ‘Banded Bee Pirates’ (BBP), in the Wolwekraal Nature Reserve outside Prince Albert in the Great Karoo. Read more >>
Budget 2025: end of the road for the GNU?
Has the DA miscalculated? Phakamisa Mayaba unpacks the turmoil around the passage of the 2025 Fiscal Framework, including its implications for the fragile GNU. Read more >>
Time travel on SA Railways
Jozi to Colesberg in six hours … Jasper Cook takes us on a high-speed rail run which never happened, but should have … Read more >>
The GNU, its critics and its future
An in-depth review by R.W. Johnson of the Government of National Unity and its uncertain future. Read more >>
Green fingers in the eastern Karoo
The green-fingered Zimbabwean teacher Charles Gavaza and his family have planted a remarkable vegetable garden at the Hantam Community Education Trust east of Colesberg. Read more >>
Kumbaya in Franschhoek
The renowned author Fred Khumalo has been excoriated by black critics for attending the Franschhoek Literary Festival. Phakamisa Mayaba explores his motives, and makes a case of his own. Read more >>
Trump and Musk: a world turned on its head
Jay H. Ell — a university friend of Maeder Osler’s who lives and works in the United States — provides valuable insights into the dynamic surrounding Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Read more >>
De Gaulle and the perils of foresight
In the age of Trump, Charles de Gaulle’s insistence — to the point of France acquiring its own nuclear weapons — of the need for both France and Europe to achieve maximum independence from the US sounds increasingly prescient, writes R.W. Johnson. Read more >>
'Are you good there? Are you managing?'
The Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, visits Helen Joseph Hospital. Read more >>
Donald Trump and Motsoaledi's Damascus moment
The Pepfar shock has given South Africa another wake-up call. At least, writes Phakamisa Mayaba, it seems as if the minister of health has begun to listen. Read more >>
Trump's return and the 'madman' theory of diplomacy
A lamb on the spit leads Riaan de Villiers to evaluate the chaotic return of the Sentient Naartjie in terms of the ‘madman theory of diplomacy’. Read more >>
Finally! The money man brings out the books
Godongwana’s budget, writes Phakamisa Mayaba, shows that the days of an ANC free to do as it pleases are over. At least, the modest increase in pensions translates into extra mealie meal, or two more bags of chicken. Read more >>
Africa, don't unite !
Rather than trying to unite, writes R.W. Johnson, evidence suggests Africa should rather try to Balkanise. Read more >>
Oudtshoorn's beating heart
Destine Nde journeys into Oudtshoorn, and discovers all sorts of things about a new shopping mall and the booming ostrich industry. Read more >>
Why the k-word at the Afro brother?
‘Foreign nationals’ have become the scapegoats for the nation’s failings — but those who shun them are depriving themselves not only of an interesting cross-cultural experience, writes Phakamisa Mayaba, but bits and pieces of their own history and culture as Nguni people as well. Read more >>
With the US gone, who is going to lead the Free World?
With the advent of the Trump administration, the US seems to have abandoned its leadership of the Free World. R.W. Johnson surveys the prospects for a new global order. Read more >>
Farewell to the ones who did it first
On 30 March 2025, the independent news website Vrye Weekblad will close down – yet another victim of dwindling media revenue. Phakamisa Mayaba reviews its storied past, and considers what this portends for media freedom going forward. Read more >>
Donald Trump is trying to turn back the clock of globalisation — but stands as much chance of bringing back the past as the eponymous Jay Gatsby, writes R.W. Johnson. Read more >>
The big stand-up: Godongwana and the VAT hike
People who travelled to the Cape Town Citiy Hall for the infamous budget speech that did not happen should claim back their money, writes Phakamisa Mayaba. Read more >>
Running out of road
The big story about this year’s national budget is not that it’s been delayed, writes R.W. Johnson, but that the government is running out of money. Read more >>
State of the Nation on Valentine's Day
Phakamisa Mayaba visits the Gariep Dam with a friend, and reflects on the state of the Rainbow Nation on Valentine’s Day. Read more >>
A welcome fallback in lean times
Destine Nde writes about the security industry and its valuable role in providing jobs in lean times. Read more >>
Wanatu? The US maybe?
Wanatu, expropriation, Trump … Phakamisa Mayaba pilots readers through a rich array of race- and language-based issues that have stirred up the nation. Read more >>
SONA and the chicken burgers
Riaan de Villiers goes to McDonalds, and despite swearing not to, takes a look at SONA. Read more >>
A wake-up call in Willowmore
Destine Nde traces the drastic – and partly surprising – consequences of a maggoty pork chop bought in a Willowmore supermarket. Read more >>
'Impossible monsters'
R.W. Johnson writes about fascinating new insights into the war between science and religion over the origins of the world and the human species — and uncovers an ironic twist in the tale. Read more >>
When Mmusi Maimane dropped in on the EFF
Flying under the media radar, Mmusi Maimane made a guest appearance at the EFF’s elective conference in December. A flawless performance, writes Riaan de Villiers, but for one pesky issue. Read more >>
BELA Act: kids first, politics second
It’s disappointing, writes Phakamisa Mayaba, that government efforts at redress ‘usually end up in a scrap between political ideologues’. Read more >>
The fairest Cape
R.W. Johnson ruminates about life in Cape Town, and concludes that, although it’s the jewel in the DA’s crown, the party has treated the city pretty badly. Read more >>
African fine dining and the hunt for a kasi chef
Phakamisa Mayaba invites somebody for dinner, which drives him to think about the current quest for African fine dining. Read more >>
Whither the GNU?
Among growing tensions, R.W. Johnson analyses the unequal power relations which, he argues, are emasculating the DA and paralysing the GNU. Read more >>
Jacob Zuma en die tempelpilare van moderniteit
Jannie Gagiano plaas die MKP en EFF se ideologieë in geskiedkundige perspektief, en meen hul pogings om die pilare van moderniteit weer om te trek staan maar min kans op sukses. Lees hier >>
Blink-182 and a ramble down memory lane
Phakamisa Mayaba explains why he bought an album by the Californian rock band Blink-182 in the strange early years after the end of apartheid. Read more >>
The magnificent Willow Limo
Destine Nde and his family tour the historic town of Willowmore with Oom Jim, Sweetness and Suzy. Read more >>
Liberation movements: decline and fall
R.W. Johnson traces the post-colonial degradation and governance failures of the southern African liberation movements, and suggests that in South Africa too the ANC’s politicial tenure is ‘nearing the end of the line’. Read more >>
Matrics out, Grade Rs in the house
Phakamisa Mayaba visits the S.S. Madikane Primary School in Kuyasa on the first day of school. Read more >>
Desperate problem, desperate remedies
In a bid to avoid taxing the rich, US president-elect Donald Trump has roped in billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to cut government expenses — but this will not, argues R.W. Johnson, resolve the country’s debt crisis. Read more >>
Die Stellenbosch-bestuur en die Wet van Transvaal
Buig of betaal … Jannie Gagiano plaas die Stellenbosch Universiteitsbestuur se self-opgelegde uitdaging om die historiese Wilgenhof-koshuis te ‘herverbeel’ in ‘n breër konteks van eise vir transformasie post apartheid. Lees hier >>
FROM A ROOM WITH A VIEW
Riffs and links by Maeder Osler from the Old Waenhuis on Hanglip Farm. Latest:
Conference on SA’s small towns and villages
Toverview’s next weakest link?
Sister Marguerite to the rescue, part two
Sister Marguerite to the rescue, part one
Kleinmond – a mouth to flavour
It’s official – Toverview is growing !
J.P. LANDMAN
J.P. Landman is one of the most astute and accessible public commentators on current South African political and economic issues. For more info, and links to his newsletters and podcast, read here >>
R.W. JOHNSON
The renowned commentator R.W. (Bill) Johnson has generously made his columns available to Toverview. For an ongoing selection, click here.
TOVER JAZZ
Swinging in Cape Town with the renowned Parisian pianist Christopher Culpo. Read more >>
JASPER COOK
Besides contributing to Toverview, our esteemed friend Jasper Cook maintains a blog called Scazima, which is well worth visiting from time to time. Added to this, his son, Donovan, has started a YouTube channel called JAZZTRAINS, featuring conversations with Jasper about working as a fireman on steam engines, his international travels with the African Jazz Pioneers, ‘and everything in between’. The fourth episode appears below.
TOVER ART
Artwork made up of ‘dubbeltjies’ (devil thorns), found in a gallery in the town of Richmond in the Central Karoo. Read more >>
TOVER POETRY
Maeder Osler writes about the poetry of Frank Meintjies. Read more >>
HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS
Welcome to a new series aimed at exploring maps of the fascinating (and elusive) region known as the Karoo. We start with a colourful map on the KNK website. Read more >>
TOVER PORTALS
TOVERVIEW acts as a portal for an enterprising Colesberg journalist and writer, Phakamisa Mayaba.
Phakamisa Mayaba
Phakamisa Mayaba is a freelance journalist and creative writer who is building impressive content on his own website, eParkeni. To connect with this exciting site, click here.
GUEST WRITERS / GASSKRYWERS
ANTONY OSLER is a former folksinger, school teacher, Zen monk, human rights advocate and arbitrator. He is also the author of three books on Zen in South Africa. At present he lives on Poplar Grove farm in the Great Karoo with his wife, Margie, where they raise wool sheep and lead Zen retreats.
JANNIE (ROCKY) GAGIANO is ‘n politieke wetenskaplike, politikus, akteur en satiris. Hy was lank ‘n lektor in Politieke Wetenskap aan Stellenbosch Universiteit, en ‘n verkose lid van die Stellenbosse Stadsraad. Hy het in vroeër jare vir die Libertas Teaterklub opgetree, en ná sy aftrede vir die teatergroep Vleis, Rys en Aartappels. Hy is deesdae ook bekend vir sy vlymskerp satiriese pen.
Toverview is proud to welcome R.W. (BILL) JOHNSON as guest writer. A distinguished historian, political scientist and journalist, he is one of South Africa’s most prominent and most perceptive political analysts. In recent years, Bill and his wife, the Russian-born historian Irina Filatova, have become friends of Maeder and Les Osler, and have visited them on Hanglip Farm. Bill’s articles normally appear behind paywalls, but he has kindly agreed to make them available to Toverview. We particularly intend to publish his articles on the politics surrounding South Africa’s date with political destiny in the form of Elections 2024, thereby adding to the series launched by our local writer, Phakamisa Mayaba. To go to Bill’s posts, click here.
JASPER COOK: jazz musician, composer, Karoo-lover, raconteur and friend. He currently lives in Johannesburg, but has spent a lot of time on Hanglip Farm, and is dreaming of returning to the platteland. Read more about him here >>. Jasper has started his own website, AndThisIsJaz. Wonderful content, and technologically unique. (In his Other Life, he was a computer wizard.) It also contains his Hanglip Farm blog, again with important material about the farm, its ecology and sustainable future, and current efforts to revitalise cultivation, based on traditional farming methods in Zimbabwe.
JAY H. ELL is the psuedonym of a South African-born medical practitioner living in the United States. He served as president of the SRC at UCT in the early 1960s. He writes a blog titled ‘I Write What I Like’ – the title of a column he wrote in a student publication at UCT many years ago.
USEFUL LINKS
Hantam Community Education Trust
Karoo Space: At the heart of South Africa
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