Symptoms of how the economic crisis is affecting countries across the globe are starting to threaten the existing socio-political order and stability. The conditions, in fact, appear to becoming endemic. From the United States to South Africa increasing proportions of the population are losing faith in the existing order.

This past weekend an ex-girlfriend of mine – whom I still greatly respect and therefore do not refer to as an “old girl friend” as one sometimes tends to do – visited us accompanied by her significant other. As often happens in our home the conversation at some point drifted in the direction of the origin of words and expressions. In the process the interesting term “fidelity” came up. 

South Africa’s immediate former Minister of Home Affairs Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was sworn in as the first woman chair of the African Union Commission (AUC) in Addis Ababa last week. She will be facing both huge expectations and huge challenges in her new role with one hand tied behind her back. 

The global financial crisis, triggered in 2007 by the United States housing bubble bursting, has recently passed the five year mark with no end in sight. The crisis, described by many commentators as the worst since the Great Depression of the 1930s, is unlikely to pass without causing more pain for ordinary middle class people and those in the lower economic strata. 

When Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan tables his medium term budget policy statement (MTBPS) in parliament tomorrow, (Wednesday, October 24) he will do so in a quagmire of domestic and global economic uncertainty. Coming in the face of a tranche of negative global economic news, domestic labour turmoil, political uncertainty and very recent credit downgrades, it is probably his toughest assignment yet as holder of the country’s purse strings. 

John Plumtree was understandably up-beat after Patrick Lambie masterminded another Sharks victory and guided the Durban-based team to their third consecutive Currie Cup final on Saturday against Western Province on their home ground in Durban. If you are a teary-eyed Bulls or Lions supporter looking for reasons why the teams could not clinch it, the word accuracy comes to mind. 

President Jacob Zuma’s recent “social dialogue meeting” on the state of the economy showed up the desperate race between positive and negative signals on the state the South African nation. Amidst also strong global echoes, the proposals that emerged from the meeting are welcome gestures, if perhaps a tad symbolic. However, a firm new social contract is probably needed to come to grips with challenges faced. 

Wednesday looms large for Bafana Bafana and coach Gordon Igesund when the final draw for the African Cup of Nations will be made. They would hope to benefit from for a favourable and friendly draw, and even then they still will have some big challenges to advance to the playoffs. 

Gerald Majola stole the limelight during the past week in South African cricket, almost by default. The suspended Cricket South Africa (CSA) chief executive was dismissed for his part in a bonus scandal following a disciplinary hearing, the organization announced on Friday. He was  found guilty on nine charges, including accepting bonuses, not declaring them to the board, and wrongdoing regarding his travel claims.