The United States' presidential election is in full swing. Both the Republicans and Democrats have concluded their national conventions at a cost of a cool US$100 million each. Romney and Obama have been nominated as the candidates and the “biggest circus on earth”, as the US presidential election is often described, is on the road.

The events at Marikana, where unrest surrounding the Lonmin mine has already claimed at least 45 lives, are likely to be described as a defining moment in the history of post-apartheid South Africa. Marikana should be seen within the context that the country has been managing a social/political revolution since the early 1990s. 

With the proliferation of strikes, unrest and violence at South African mines dominating the local news, we went digging around to see what we could uncover about the origin and roots of the word 'mine' as in mining, and if there is a link to the word 'mine' as in “it belongs to me”. 

The Afrikaans saying, Bietjie, bietjie, maak meer, is a great way of explaining the government’s approach to reforming the pension industry. Although large-scale reform of the retirement industry has been debated for many years and was expected by most South Africans, especially the retirement industry itself, it appears that government has chosen a piecemeal approach.

The global economy, including the South African economy, seemed to be moving into strong head winds on a number of fronts. Europe’s leading economies appear to be moving into another recession, the United States’ debt burden is increasingly becoming unsustainable, a hard landing for the Chinese economy looks inevitable and world trade agreements could come under the pressure of protectionist policies in some countries. 

What can South Africa expect from Gordon Igesund who inherited the hottest seat in South African sport after the dismissal of Pitso Mosimane as coach of Bafana Bafana? He was presented with what many fans viewed as a poisoned chalice. But he brings an impressive record to the job. With an unfaltering belief in his style of play, he also finds a way to win.

It is yet another Cricket World Cup and South Africa is again in the dock, facing some sharp questions about their status as the perennial chokers of international cricket. To his credit, Proteas captain AB de Villiers did not dodge the bullet, but took the sting out of the attacks with some honest answers when probed about whether the Proteas would win the T20 Cricket World Cup starting today (Tuesday) in Sri Lanka, or whether they would be undone by their nerves come the moment critique. 

South Africa’s defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship on Saturday was less humiliating than their 28-0 drubbing in Dunedin in 1999, but not less painful. Mean while it does not seem as though coach Heyneke Meyer is ready to revise his game plan.