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Mr Rod, a friend in toil and play
Phakamisa Mayaba goes on a road trip with his friend, the inimitable Colesberg figure Tiago Rodrigues. Read more >>
New book casts light on Rhodes's last days
Sue Morrell Stuart writes about a new book which casts light on Cecil John Rhodes’s last days in a seaside cottage in Muizenberg. Read more >>
The karretjie mense: a history of movement, survival and change
Olivia Schaffer writes about the karretjie mense, the rapidly vanishing nomads of the Karoo. Read more >>
Lessons from Caracas
South Africa’s stance on Venezuela is leading it even further down a perilous foreign policy path, writes R.W. Johnson. Read more >>
Christmas thoughts on Toverview
Phakamisa Mayaba looks back on his journey with Toverview over the past two years. Read more >>
Dancing in the streets: from Soweto to the Waterfront
People dancing in the V&A Waterfront and a deep memory prompts Riaan de Villiers to write about Reconciliation Day. Read more >>
'Choosing a slower life'
A video interview with Antony Osler — legal practitioner, farmer, Zen master, author, poet — on the Youtube channel ‘Reflections on Life’. Read more >>
A dream or a bird?: the red meat guys and the Christmas poem
Riaan de Villiers does some literary sleuthing about a Christmas poem, and discovers things are not what they seem … Read more >>
From windmills to turbines
Based on an item in the Bailey archive, Maeder Osler writes about the ever changing processes surrounding water and the land that tie people in the Nuwe Hantam together. Read more >>
The kids must just be clued up on the socials
Opportunity or delusion? Phakamisa Mayaba responds to Destine Nde’s article about young people chasing fame and fortune on the internet. Read more >>
Tributes to Duncan Innes
Duncan Innes, NUSAS president in 1968/9 and leader of the famous Mafeje sit-in at UCT, has passed away. Read more >>
The return of Prince Mashele
Prince Mashele has returned to the public stage — but is he as fiercely independent as he once was? Phakamisa Mayaba looks at his latest interview by the billionaire Rob Hersov. Read more >>
Tilting at windmills: Don Quixote and today's internet hopefuls
Today’s young internet addicts and the medieval figure of Don Quixote have quite a lot in common, writes Destine Nde. Read more >>
The unravelling of MAGA and Donald Trump
Our correspondent in the US, JAY H. Ell, unpacks the intricacies of the political process surrounding Donald Trump – and concludes that he and his MAGA campaign are steadily unravelling. Read more >>
The Bailey land holdings in the 'Nuwe Hantam'
The mining magnate Sir Abe Bailey bought up huge tracts of land in the ‘Nuwe Hantam’ east of Colesberg, traces of which still exist to this day. Read more >>
Colesberg in mourning over young woman's murder
Phakamisa Mayaba surveys the national scourge of gender-based violence, which has reached into Colesberg. Read more >>
Social media abuzz as Ramaphosa stands his ground
President Cyril Ramaphosa has scored big on social media for standing his ground against Donald Trump at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, writes Phakamisa Mayaba. Read more >>
A spoonful of sugar
Katherine Osler interviews the extraordinary sculptor Nanette Ranger at Creation Wines in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley. Read more >>
SA provides all the ammunition that Donald Trump needs
The ANC government has only itself to blame for its bad relations with the US, writes R.W. Johnson. Read more >>
Bafana Bafana: heading for glory at last
Bafana Bafana finally seems poised to realise its full potential on the African and world stage, writes Destine Nde. Read more >>
If Mamdani had stayed in South Africa
Despite the adulation of the Left, Zohran Mamdani would have made a political career in the DA, argues R.W. Johnson. Read more >>
Karoo hosts spectacular leisure events
The Karoo has become an increasingly popular venue for spectacular sports and other leisure events, writes Destine Nde. Read more >>
'A new world, yet to be born'
The finding in the renewed inquest into the death Chief Albert Luthuli is just another manifestation of the ‘fantastic follies’ flourishing in the dying days of ANC rule, writes R.W. Johnson. Read more >>
David Muller brings out a full Karoo moon
The one-person actor David Muller entrances his audience on the fabled stoep at Hanglip Farm. Witnessed by Phakamisa Mayaba. Read more >>
Heritage and its preservation in the town of Colesberg
Curators should preserve and commemorate all aspects of Colesberg’s history, including its precolonial past, writes Nicky Rademeyer. Read more >>
Solidarity's welcome to Trumpless G20
It’s difficult to tell whether Solidarity dances to Pretoria’s or Washington’s tune, writes Phakamisa Mayaba. Read more >>
Of budding township artists and an unlikely poet
Unathi Asiya, the Hantam Trust’s inspirational music teacher and choirmaster, has set her sights on a new goal, namely to open up the world of the arts to youngsters in Colesberg’s Kuyasa township. Report by Phakamisa Mayaba. Read more >>
Thabo Mbeki dreams about the presidency
Thabo Mbeki has raised eyebrows by proposing that South Africa’s presidents should be directly elected by voters. R.W. Johnson unpacks the implications. Read more >>
A jewel in SA's tourism crown
Destine Nde writes about an exceptional game reserve and tourism facility that is fully aligned with the goals of South Africa’s tourism policy. Read more >>
It's all about the consequences
Jasper Cook writers about a song titled ‘Bodhlumlilo (Belching Fire)’ recorded by the African Jazz Pioneers, which has gained renewed significance at a time of belated inquests and commissions of inquiry about events in the apartheid era. Read more >>
Palestine: the terror continues
Despite undertakings by Western leaders – including Donald Trump – to prevent this, Israeli efforts to annex the West Bank continue, write Terry Bell and Gideon Levy. Read more >>
Francesca Albanese: the woman who won't shut up
Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories who delivered the 23rd Nelson Mandela lecture in Johannesburg last week, displays the same ‘dogged commitment to freedom and equality than Madiba’, writes Phakamisa Mayaba. Read more >>
European immigration crisis: the colonies coming home to roost
The widespread immigration crisis in Europe is the direct result of the infamous ‘Scramble for Africa’, writes Destine Nde. Read more >>
Julius Malema and the age of impunity
Riaan de Villiers writes about the book MALEMA: Money, Power, Patronage, by Micah Reddy and Paul van Wyk. Read more >>
A Karoo welcome to the master storyteller David Muller (a.k.a. Oom Schalk Lourens)
The storyteller and entertainer David Muller will present two one-person shows on Hanglip Farm and at the Hantam Community Education Trust in the first week of November. Read more >>
Mugabe, Gaddafi, al-Qaeda and the ANC
R.W. Johnson traces the linkages between Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, Muammar Gaddafi and al-Queda, which, he argues, forms a backdrop to the ANC’s later involvement with Hamas and Hezbollah. Read more >>
HCET vegetable garden continues to instruct and inspire
 Grade Three learners at the Hantam Community Education Trust east of Colesberg visit its remarkable vegetable garden, managed by Charles Gavaza. Read more >>
From Terra Nullius to telescope: whose map is the Karoo?
A provocative essay by Hannah Hall, an honours student at Stellenbosch University and a participant in the ‘Cosmopolitan Karoo’ research programme. Read here >>
'Ready and willing': an interview with Herman Mashaba
Phakamisa Mayaba talks to ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba about his plans for the forthcoming local government elections. Read more >>
The condition of Africa
Africa continues to provide ample grounds for pessimism, as exemplified by The Economist‘s infamous cover of 2011 — but all is not lost, writes R.W. Johnson. Read more >>
Mbulelo Kafi psyches up the Pixley matrics
Leading Colesberg figure Mlulelo Kafi recently delivered an inspirational address to prospective matrics in the Pixley ka Seme education district. In this interview, Phakamisa Mayaba asks him about the underlying message, as well as his ideas about education and local development. Read more >>
The Gaza Peace Plan in full
Much has been written about the Gaza Peace Plan announced by US president Donald Trump on 29 September, but the plan itself has not been as widely publicised. Read the full text here >>
The Gaza Peace Plan:challenges and prospects
Prospects for successful implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan largely lie in the hands of neighbouring Arab states, writes R.W. Johnson. Read more >>
Is Britain going to the dogs?
David Willers examines this increasingly popular media theme — and concludes that despite the current turmoil, the British centre will probably hold. Read more >>
Xolani Khumalo: from busting crime to mayoral hopeful
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has turned political convention on its head by selecting the drug-busting TV presenter Xolani Khumalo as the party’s mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni, writes Phakamisa Mayaba. Read more >>
Keir Starmer's dilemma
Following his landslade election victory, British PM Sir Keir Starmer has been increasingly beleaguered by the rapidly changing face of British politics, centring on the explosive immigration issue, writes R.W. Johnson. Read more >>
Nigeria: a hard road to national unity
On 1 October, Nigeria celebrated its 65th Independence Day. Destine Nde recounts its hard road to independence and national unity. Read more >>
Own goal or knockout punch?: Helen Zille and the media
Helen Zille continues to give her adversaries the sharp edge of her tongue. Phakamisa Mayaba asks whether her (in)famous comments will stand her in good stead in seeking to conquer the City of Johannesburg. Read more >>
Charlie Kirk, Trump, Kimmel and the Epstein Files
Jay H. Ell unravels the complex dynamics surrounding Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump, and the ubiquitous Epstein Files, which are due to be debated in the American Congress. Read more >>Â
USEFUL LINKS
Hantam Community Education Trust
Karoo Space: At the heart of South Africa
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FROM A ROOM WITH A VIEW
Riffs and links, mostly by Maeder Osler, from an Old Waenhuis in the Northern Karoo which he still visits from time to time. Latest:
Theatre and festivals: some takeaways
Herman Charles Bosman lives on
Oom Schalk Lourens hits the Hantam
Bodorpe en onderdorpe: the local government challenge
Revived sheep festival speaks to Colesberg’s vitality
What price accountability?: ANC local councillors and the media
JUST SAYING
NOTABLE COMMENTATORS
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 >>
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.