The Soapbox | Where South Africans Speak Out

BY AKANYANG MEREMENTSI
Being the reasonable person I think I am, there are so-called stories and news that are not newsworthy and just not worth reporting at all. Or as people would prefer: that are not in the public interest. Before getting into the crap that some newspapers would report on or [...]

BY AKANYANG MEREMENTSI
Where do you start: nationalisation, disrespecting, swearing and even disgust at elders, shooting to kill, and labelling someone a “racist little girl”?
If anyone is to write a biography on Malema – that person would certainly have it both ways. This is because the process, not to forget [...]

BY AKANYANG MEREMENTSI
President Jacob Zuma had an affair with a woman who was not his wife. They both had a child, and as per cultural norms, Zuma did pay his dues and apologised to South Africa (and probably his wives too — one just wonders how they took the news) with the hope [...]

The Kate Moss-designed handbag collection from Longchamp is a hit according to Vogue. Like her prior Topshop collections, the bags are flying out the stores and around many celebrity arms. Well-known fans of the range include stylist Katy England who has the black Glastonbury bag, Peaches Geldof — who prefers the nude [...]

Our fashion blogger Green Eyes resumes her fashion column today with this fresh round up from the glitz and glam of the fashion world.
The Love Magazine Blog has an awesome collection of backstage photos from Milan’s fashion week. Go behind the scenes at Dolce & Gabanna, Prada, Armani and Gucci. Expect to see [...]

South Korean model Daul Kim passed away on 19 November. The model who walked the runways for Chanel and Dries Van Noten was found in her Paris apartment by her boyfriend. Vogue is reporting that there may be evidence to suggest the model took her own life. Sources are reporting a suicide note was left [...]

BY LARA MOSES
In a time where words take a backseat to visual poetry – stories that are told in a snapshot and painted emotion – the Cape Town Spoken Word Festival is definitely a risky but welcomed new addition to the Cape Town calendar. The festival ran over five days from 17 to 21 November [...]

BY LARA MOSES
As a student I worked the crappy shifts in a retail store. Five to nine pm after classes during the week and weekends, which included one Friday and Saturday shift till 11pm per month. Although this cut heavily into my study time, but more importantly my social life, I still smiled my fakest [...]

BY CRAIG PRINSLOO
Where oh where has she gone? So much emotion to contain, to hide from the world, until your soul burns with the passion of long lost moments. So much pain yet so much passion. From love lost or love gained, these emotions can only truly be expressed by a well-skilled musician, be it [...]

BY GARETH MORGAN
President Zuma’s address to the United Nations General Assembly last week included some strong words on climate change, but as with the cabinet statement released two weeks earlier, it did not go far enough.  The President reiterated the now well known position that the impacts of climate change will be devastating for Africa, and that it [...]

BY KHAYA DLANGA
Let me start off by saying that Caster Semenya is a chick until proven a dude. Oh, hang on, she has been proven to be a chick by her parents, her teachers and her friends, mind you.
The accusations of racism levelled at the IAAF have been a bit excessive. But one can understand [...]

The negotiations that will plot the world’s new climate change framework are less than six months away. But you wouldn’t think so if you listened to President Jacob Zuma’s first “State of the Nation” address. This is worrying as climate change should be on the mind of every leader, says shadow environment minister Gareth Morgan.

Today sees the launch of The Soapbox’s Creative Corner — a new category providing a platform for creative expression. Our first piece is a poem by Nikolai Tjongarero. Enjoy!

Today marks the resumption of our very special fashion column, What Kate Did, which charts the highs and lows of the fashion world.
We also have some very exciting news — we will soon be launching a new category on The Soapbox called “Creative Corner” which will showcase creative work, including poems and short stories (of [...]

South Africa is talking, and it’s talking on The Soapbox!
Our contributing editor Lara Moses exposes Hermanus’s dark side with a shocking story of drunken brutality and police complicity. Jade Adami recalls her time in deepest darkest London, and discusses what lured her home. Alex Matthews, The Soapbox editor, writes about the DA’s Young Leaders’ Programme.
In [...]

On Wednesday 7 October, Rhoda Kadalie, the renowned human rights activist and controversial columnist, will be a guest for the first ever Soapbox Session Q&A at the Open Innovation Studio.
Rhoda, who has exposed corruption and scandals in her Business Day column, will be answering questions about politics, the elections, human rights, the ANC… and the [...]