This is bound to mean compromise and, assuming that the coalition will only involve two parties, the choice is limited: ANC plus DA or ANC plus MK. Hopefully the latter choice is not an option. The country does not need Zuma back in power.  As for the DA, a compromise over the proposed national health bill will be a priority, ideally supporting the concept of a real National Health Service alongside the existing private provisions. Beyond that, providing all elements of corruption are dealt with, there should be nothing standing in the way of a vibrant coalition between the ANC and the DA where the DA readily accepts  critical priorities of a country aiming first and foremost to uplift standards, create massive new jobs and encourage new overseas investment. This would not happen with Zuma!

There seems no limit to individual naïveté!

About 14% of all voters have opted to support Jacob Zuma in his new role as the leader of the MK party.

What this shows is the innate indoctrination of the mass of semi-illiterate population of this country.

It may be good news that the ANC has lost total majority of the votes, but it seems inevitable that the party will manage the resultant coalition.

We cannot assume that the future economy will improve. Rather, all we can take away is that Ramaphosa (who promised so much) has proved to be a failure; and that Zuma has extraordinary resilience.

From Johannesburg where we suffer a government out of touch with reality, wedded to anti-apartheid thinking.

I am not in favour of the death penalty: there have been too many misguided hangings. But in the case of the Hamas leadership I would definitely not hesitate to eliminate them on the spot!
The butchery which they orchestrated on Oct 7 knew no bounds.
And what part did Mr Netanyahu and his very right wing government play? I suspect complacency!
As for the subsequent war in Gaza, I think that Hamas may have gained an unexpected victory: the international hostility towards Israel and the ever-growing evidence of antisemitism, with an almost complete failure to understand and accept Israel’s determination to eliminate Hamas, have been painful to witness.
But Netanyahu and his extremely right wing government do not command respect or inspire support. Rather like Henry 11, one might say ‘who will rid us of these turbulent beasts?’

Turkey shouldn’t be in NATO. Geographically, historically and politically Turkey does not belong in NATO. Look at it on the map: the country straddles west and east. It does not sit easily among its so-called NATO counterparties; and politically it’s first allegiance fits more readily with Russia than elsewhere.

Kick out Turkey; bring in the Scandinavian countries, and Switzerland!

When the outgoing head of Eskom is subject to cyanide poisoning and is probably lucky still to be alive; And when perhaps half of Johannesburg is being deprived of water through sabotage, you know it’s time for a change.

So much was expected of Cyril Ramaphosa’s presidency, but so little has been achieved.

Either this country is going to the dogs, or there must be a new, fearless wolf in the wings!

Dear President

The only solution is to replace the entire existing management and executive teams with proven experience and reliable credentials. If they are all white, so be it if the country is to be rescued!

Hurry up, Mr President, there is no time to waste!!

The world may be in a more insecure place than it has been since the Korean and Vietnam wars in the 1950s and 60s. I wasn’t in tune in those days but my sense is that no one really imagined that either war would spread beyond their geographical locations. The same cannot comfortably be said about Ukraine/Russia today if only because the geography is nearby Europe rather than in the Far East.

So why do I feel entitled to offer my opinions? Maybe in order to be shot down!? I am not Mark Antony praising Caesar or seeking to promote my site, though I’d gratefully welcome readers!

I believe that it is becoming too easy to underestimate Putin. His health may be suspect but it’s worth remembering how fit he is, including swimming in icy waters.

He is also single-minded. The history of the Soviet Union is firmly ingrained in his brain. He seems determined to reconstruct some of the ground. He is concerned about the security of Russia and appears to have the traditional xenophobia which has been so typical of the Russian mentality.

With these points in mind and the humility which would impact a lost war against Ukraine, it would be wrong to rule out his use of tactical nuclear weapons, especially in light of the additional support being given to Ukraine by the West.

I think we are some way from seeing peace in our time.

We are in trouble in South Africa. As an immigrant who was not living here during the height of apartheid, I feel free to speak my mind.

The country has been growing steadily more corrupt ever since Mandela became President in the early 1990s. While he was indeed a notable figure for peace and stability, he was not an effective economist which is hardly surprising. The successive leaders have done nothing more than generate a realm of never ending corruption, aggravated in particular by Zuma and his Indian cronies.

Although Ramaphosa is apparently trying to reorder politics and behavior, he is hamstrung by so-called colleagues whose sole objective seems to be to line their own pockets.

The country does not have to replace the ANC as the governing party. It does, however, need to shed itself of all those whose priorities are so misplaced and govern fearlessly, bringing in ministers and managers drawn from the population as a whole.

Considering that the entire Jewish population is fewer than 16 million, the amount of attention (mainly negative) cast upon the Jews is remarkably disproportionate.

Orthodox Jewry is frequently identified by the attention given to education, frequently linked to large families.
Assimilated Jews, like me, may often be almost indistinguishable to the general population and seldom, if ever, be directly exposed to antisemitism.  But it’s there and may rear its head most unexpectedly.

Is it because we apparently have been too successful? Have too much money? Keep ourselves separate? Will someone please explain! It surely isn’t because we requested that Jesus should be crucified!? If he hadn’t been, he couldn’t have become the Christian messiah!

The official publication date for ‘Spare’ is January 10 but more than enough has already been written about this pathetic attempt at an autobiography. Probably if it were not published under the name of the prince it would have been ignored. As it is, the publicity has exceeded all bounds.

Such a shame; such a waste; so self-denigrating! Please don’t buy a copy!