Category Archives: south african history

RIP Alf Kumalo

Posted on October 21, 2012 by

Veteran photographer Alf Kumalo died today. He died in his sleep, aged 82. Alf was a warm, good man. This is a blog post I wrote a year ago about Alf and one of this great friends. The press always … Continue reading →

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Mandela’s notes

Posted on September 24, 2012 by

Writing those first drafts of history is a cliché lumped on us journalists. But this here is a real first draft of history. Nelson Mandela’s scrawl, notes jotted in an exercise book. A speech imperfect in its scratched out words, … Continue reading →

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Hello USA

Posted on August 21, 2012 by

I watched its birth from the sidelines, I saw the pain endured in its writing and was blown away. That amazement was for the uncanny ability of the woman I love to draw on her earliest memories and weave them into … Continue reading →

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Recognition for a brave man

Posted on August 5, 2012 by

Siyanda walked to the podium and accepted a medal on behalf of a man he hardly knew. The medal was for bravery and it was for Siyanda’s father Looksmart Ngudle. Siyanda was a small boy when his father disappeared. As … Continue reading →

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Mandela’s lost interview.

Posted on July 18, 2012 by

With all things Mandela today, with the world celebrating the icon’s 94th birthday, here is a recently discovered article that was written about him. Journalist Peter Hazelhurst interviewed Mandela in May 1961 while the leader was in hiding. It was … Continue reading →

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More pictures from the Dawid Kruiper funeral

Posted on July 15, 2012 by
shadow portrait

This gallery contains 9 photos.

Some more pics snapped on my Blackberry from my time up in the Northern Cape province covering the Dawid Kruiper funeral. Enjoy.          

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The state funeral of Dawid Kruiper

Posted on July 4, 2012 by
._Shaun 11

This gallery contains 8 photos.

Dawid Kruiper was laid rest on Saturday amongst the red dunes of the Kalahari. He was famous for helping orchestrate a historic land claim for the Bushmen. Through his efforts the Khomani San were given six huge farms, that total … Continue reading →

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Premonitions of death in a fox hole

Posted on June 12, 2012 by

  Private Dick Borain went to war believing he was going to die. He was only 24, but could sense death waiting for him in the desert, outside of the dugout that he shared with my grandfather. Their dugout was … Continue reading →

Posted in artefacts from the attic, christie family, south african history, world war two | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Here lies Bobo

Posted on May 15, 2012 by

Sergeant Woodward’s grave lies in a dusty forgotten cemetery, but there is something strange about the resting place of this Scottish  soldier. For you see, Woodward has two graves, that would have been side by side if it wasn’t for a memorial in … Continue reading →

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Frank’s mean horse

Posted on March 16, 2012 by

He looked ugly and mean, so much so that no one picked him. When Frank Christie arrived late at the army depot, that horse was the only one left in the pen. He had to take it. Frank was my great … Continue reading →

Posted in artefacts from the attic, christie family, south african history | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment