I read the news today oh boy | About a lucky man who made the grade | And though the news was rather sad | Well I just had to laugh | I saw the photograph
I shy away from local media... in fact, I tend to avoid the 'local' in general. It's supposed to be a microcosm of the bigger picture but, more often than not, any reflection of our global situation is lost in the depressing detail of single-issue reporting.
Should such reportage dominate? Probably, and that's what's so depressing.
I checked the news today. Oh boy. The English army had just lost Helmand province. Nah...it was worse. This is what passes for global news in South Africa:
"Zanu-PF is the instrument of evil in Zimbabwe. For the future wellbeing of Zimbabwe, Zanu-PF must be eliminated. We need to be cleansed," says Judith Todd.
Well, there we go. That's the international scene then. Knowing the Sunday Times (which today tells us of a Chinese tourist falling into a DRC volcano) yesterday proclaimed Zimbabwe Collapses, I'm extremely pleased my mother-in-law left the country for good a couple of weeks ago.
Now there's just my sister-in-law and her family to worry about...
I can't find a link to the story on the 'collapse' (how the hell does a country 'collapse'?) at the Times's weird Web site, but I did find a good interview with Paul Wolfowitz, Wolfowitz sounds alarm — World Bank boss points to role of poverty in fostering terrorism...
Here's a wonderful Wolfowitz quote:
"What you see tragically too often is that countries, out of a kind of doctrinal dogmatism, get themselves on a path and they continue on that path even when policies are not working."
Nah...he's not speaking his self-made U.S. foreign policy — he's pointing fingers at the South African economy. Here's another:
"It is certainly possible — and to start with criticism at home the United States certainly did this in the past — to prop up bad governments that are ruining countries."
He's not speaking of the U.S. at all. He's reminding us of Zaire.
He pontificates on corruption as well. Maybe the Sunday Times doesn't know who Wolfowitz was. Or is. Someone shoulda told them. It coulda been an extremely interesting interview.
Anyway, I was looking for local news this morning. I found it. Brace yourself.
He blew his mind out in a car | He didn't notice that the lights had changed | A crowd of people stood and stared | They'd seen his face before | Nobody was really sure if he was from the House of Lords.
Boy found hanging from line
A 10-year-old Pietermaritzburg boy has been found hanging from his neck from a clothesline, police have said.
Girl uses web to make noose
Boy found hanging by shoe laces
Teacher hijacked at school
A Durban teacher has been hijacked and robbed at school premises as she arrived at the building in the morning for work.
Nqakula: We have a problem...
Man claims he was hijacked
Man hijacked by bogus cops
Builder beaten to death in cell
A Pretoria building contractor who was locked up for being drunk in public, has been beaten and kicked to death in a cell in Grabouw, near Cape Town.
Sheldean protesters: Kill him!
Farmer tortured to death
'Party gang' steals five 4x4s
A gang of robbers who hit a luxury resort, partied and drank for hours before fleeing with five 4x4 vehicles, cash and electronic equipment.
Lawyer's 4x4 stolen in gang hit
Clean sweep nets stolen 4x4s
Armed gang hits Kosi Bay lodge
Three die in N12 accident
Three people have died in an accident on the N12 near the Golden Highway bridge in Johannesburg, metro police say.
Biker killed in tree crash
8 die, 15 hurt in N1 pile-up
2 killed, 2 injured in M1 crash
CT airport terminal evacuated
An unattended bag has led to the evacuation of Cape Town International Airport's domestic terminal, the airports company says.
'Airport security under threat'
Bomb scare at CT airport
20 held for drunken driving
Johannesburg metro police have arrested 20 motorists for drunken driving, says spokesperson Wayne Minnaar.
MPL nabbed for drunk driving
'Drunk' taxi driver injures 1
Women drunken drivers on rise?
Rock-climber hurt in fall
A rock-climber has been airlifted to a hospital in Centurion after falling 15m down a gorge at Wilgepoort, near Bronkhorstspruit.
Dutch hiker rescued in KZN
Cop dies after abseiling injury
Monray's life 'hung from tree'
Ambulance rushes dog to vet
Paramedics have rescued a boerbull that was found hanging by its testicles from a palisade fence at a home in Bosmont, Johannesburg.
Criminals injure police dogs
Dbn car blast 'a suicide'
A 44-year-old man has died after he blew up his car with commercial explosives in Durban in an apparent suicide, KwaZulu-Natal police say.
'Bits of my dad were everywhere'
Pedestrian mangled on N1, JHB
A pedestrian has been killed after being struck by a car and then torn to pieces by other vehicles on the N1 in Johannesburg.
Pedestrian killed by truck
'Drunk' taxi driver injures 1
SABC reporter dies in crash
A veteran SABC sports reporter and TV anchor has died in a car crash on the N12, the broadcaster has announced.
'We shouldn't support despots'
The DA has criticised the government's stance that Zimbabwe should be included at the Africa-Europe summit in Lisbon.
Pahad: Africa will back Mugabe
Mugabe won't stop summit
IMF: Zim is Africa's sore thumb
Low turn-out for JHB Live Earth
The Life Earth concert in Johannesburg has attracted an audience of about 6 000, while organisers estimated attendance at 10 000.
Drumbeat for climate change
1000's turn out for Live Earth
Can Live Earth stay green?
Women thrown from car, killed
Two women were killed after being thrown from their vehicle along the M1 highway in Johannesburg, paramedics says.
Fire guts Kruger Park office
A fire has gutted the the aministrative offices at the Pretoriusskop camp in the Kruger National Park. The incident may be linked to the ongoing strike.
Strike not affecting parks
Daughter of SAA CEO drowns
The 15-month-old daughter of SAA chief executive officer Khanya Ngqula has drowned in a Durban North swimming pool, the Sunday Times has reported.
Child drowns in swimming pool
Jhb bid to keep pools covered
Umlazi murder may have taxi link
The murder of a family in Umlazi, south of Durban, may have been linked to taxi violence, KwaZulu Natal police said.
Family killed in Umlazi shooting
'Kidnap' SMS: Woman arrested
2 killed, 2 injured in M1 crash
Two women have died and two men sustained serious injuries in an accident on the M1 freeway in Johannesburg.
Man murdered in 'secure' flat
Car sliced in two
Biker killed in tree crash
A motorcyclist has been killed when he crashed into a tree next to the R21 in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.
8 die, 15 hurt in N1 pile-up
Car crashes into truck in Dbn
Family killed in Umlazi shooting
Five members of a family, including a child, have been shot dead in Umlazi's D-section, south of Durban, SABC news has reported.
Toddler killed in Pta crash
Commuters dodge bullets
'Prove McBride guilty'
The DA's call for police chief Robert McBride's suspension is unfounded, says Ekhurhuleni Metro.
Suspend McBride, says DA
Restraining order for McBride?
2010 reports upset Nqakula
Charles Nqakula's department has said there are "none as deaf as those who wan't to hear", after complaints about a safety strategy for 2010.
2010 soccer cops must be fit
Nqakula: 2010 safe from crime
Toddler drowns in bin
A three-year-old boy has died after falling into a water-filled rubbish bin, Eastern Cape police say.
Toddler drowns in bath
'Quiet' toddler was drowning
Toddler drowns in septic tank
Initiation: Death toll rises
At least 17 initiates have died in four provinces since the "circumcision season" started, health officials say.
More bungled circumcisions
'Septic penises fell off'
Three arrested for kidnapping
Three men have been arrested for alleged kidnapping, robbery and assault, Gauteng police say.
Pta kidnap victim rescued
Man shot, girlfriend gang-raped
Two held in Jhb for abduction
Cuban-trained medics graduate
A fourth batch of South African medical doctors who were trained in Cuba, have graduated at the University of Pretoria.
Manto calls for shorter MB ChB
SA med students back from Cuba
'Kidnap' SMS: Woman arrested
A middle-aged woman has been arrested after claiming in an SMS to her son that she'd been kidnapped, Durban police say.
False kidnap: Woman arrested
Sisters held for fake kidnap
Baby boy 'sold'
A Durban social worker has been arrested for corruption after she allegedly sold a baby in an illegal adoption.
Thousands of SA kids abandoned
Kidnapped baby 'a gift'
Children's Act 'misunderstood'
Giving access to contraceptives to children as young as 12, has been "misinterpreted", officials say.
Child Act 'pushes promiscuity'
Divorce: Kids can choose parent
Man in court for hijack hoax
A man has appeared in Kempton Park Magistrate's Court after he allegedly falsely reported his car stolen, say North Rand police.
Woman in court for hoax hijack
Man held for hijack hoax
Herders scare off kidnappers
Two men are accused of holding a domestic worker hostage for six hours after plundering her employer's house.
Robber breaks blind man's ribs
Three arrested for robberies
Robbers linked to teens' attack
Robber 'can't be re-tried'
A man has been found guilty of holding up a Nelspruit restaurant with a gun and then returning unarmed later that night to steal more money.
'It was like he wanted to die'
Restaurant robbers 'spooked'
Man hits head on roadsign, dies
A man was killed when he hit his head on an overhead roadsign while he stood on the back of a moving bakkie, paramedics say.
'Killer' truck 10cm too high
Anthrax scare in Alberton
Eleven people have been hospitalised after coming in contact with a parcel containing a white powder - possibly anthrax - at a post office in Alberton.
Anthrax scare via 'love letter'
'Letter' sparks anthrax scare
Health24: All about Anthrax
Genital cutter gets 18 years
A former law student who murdered his "friend" by bludgeoning him with a dumbbell and cutting off his genitals has received an 18-year jail sentence.
'Killer acted in self-defence'
'Genital slashing was intended'
Genital-cutter awaits verdict
2010 countdown begins in Dbn
Two "countdown clocks" to the 2010 Fifa World Cup have been switched on at Durban International Airport.
R70bn for public transport
2010 soccer cops must be fit
Nqakula: 2010 safe from crime
Thumbs up for stats release
Releasing the police crime-trends report this week is a step in the right direction, the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association has said.
'Law enforcement not enough'
SA crime rate 'shameful'
'Tourist safety major concern'
Drug plant closure under wraps
The Medicines Control Council says it is not allowed to disclose why Enaleni Pharmaceuticals had to close a plant in Durban recently.
HIV+ kids need more help
New malaria drugs for children
Strike not affecting parks
National parks were not affected by an employees' strike, SA National Parks has said.
Kruger Park beefs up security
The Vodacom strike
Health services 'almost normal'
Family saved from drowning
Four relatives have been rescued after a wave swept them off rocks and into the sea at Herolds Bay in the southern Cape.
Three pupils feared drowned
Search resumes for US swimmer
Police impound 'stolen' cars
Six cars suspected to have been stolen have been impounded in Mabopane north of Pretoria, say police.
13 arrested at roadblocks
Police impound 45 cars in blitz
Scrapyard owner gets hefty fine
Car crashes into truck in Dbn
A man has suffered serious head injuries when his car crashed into a stationary truck on the N3 highway in Westville, Durban.
5 killed as truck hits taxi
Truck crushes car with boy, 2
Truck flattens 3 cars, 3 dead
ATMs bombed in vain
Two automated teller machines has been bombed and a Fidelity Guards van has been held up in Gauteng, but in both cases no money was stolen.
ATM bomber loses arms
8 held for possessing ATM bomb
Cop wounded in ATM shoot-out
Car syndicate cracked
A car-theft syndicate operating in the Durban area has been cracked, police say.
Joburg hijacking syndicate bust
Cops find explosives in raid
Police bust hijack gang
Restraining order for McBride?
Three fearful Ekurhuleni metro policemen want a court order stipulating that the entire metro police and its chief Robert McBride do not come within 100m of them.
McBride cops to be released
Suspended McBride cops arrested
Metro cops to sue McBride
Man charged in Sonja murder
A 43-year-old man has been formally charged with the murder of two-year-old Sonja Brown of Rawsonville, in the Western Cape.
Cops mum on Sonja reports
Child thrown into pipe
Cops probe Sonja Brown 'murder'
8 die, 15 hurt in N1 pile-up
Eight people have been killed and 15 others seriously injured in a multi-vehicle accident on the N1 highway near Laingsburg in the Western Cape.
Bakkie crash kills councillors
Woman dies in Gauteng head-on
Jhb motorist burns to death
'He did it on purpose'
A Cape Flats council member says her grandchild was knocked down purposely in an apparent plot against her.
'Don't avenge councillor'
Councillor killed in riot
Cops say sorry to MEC
Four police officials, who apparently humiliated Eastern Cape safety and security MEC Thobile Mhlahlo by their actions on June 17, have apologised to him.
Baby born with four legs
A child has been born with four legs at the Lebowakgomo hospital outside Polokwane.
I saw a film today oh boy | The English Army had just won the war | A crowd of people turned away | But I just had to look | Having read the book
That's from one page of our premier news site. Now you know why I don't read the local papers. This stuff is produced day in and year out. The volume and staccato nature of it numbs one to accepting a new normalcy beyond that which Conrad's Kurtz could have imagined.
What is it that makes South Africans indulge or act out the darkest possible side of their natures? They seem to revel in or be addicted to violence.
Even without the papers — you can see it and think it and speak it. You can taste it and touch it and feel it. You can...I dunno...and I don't really want to know either.
I'd rather go for a walk.
Fuck 'em all.
Like Kurtz said.
I'd love to turn you on...
Beatles | A Day in the Life
