Of all the current social and demographic trends revealed by South Africa’s latest census, arguably none presents the country with a bigger challenge than the rapid pace of urbanisation it exposed. Added pressures around poverty, housing, unemployment, crime, social and municipal service delivery all increases pressure to the point of bursting. 

Telkom is the latest casualty in a long list of troubled state-owned enterprises (SOEs). While nationalisation has replaced privatisation as the dominant debate in South Africa’s economic policy arena, global financial woes have also made privatisation a non-starter. Yet it is obvious that  the state is unable to run its massive enterprises efficiently and profitably. 

The Global War on Terror, with unmanned aerial vehicles or drones as its weapon of choice, has become a self-sustaining industry. But concerns about the legality of drones are growing and the United Nations has plans for a dedicated investigations unit to examine the legality of drone attacks in cases where civilians are killed in so-called 'targeted' counter-terrorism operations. 

The global economy and financial systems seem to be heading for what could turn into a perfect storm in 2013. The United States encountering a fiscal cliff at the end of December this year on top. Then there is the lingering financial crisis in Europe, major stresses in the financial and banking industries, talk of a 'triple-dip' recession looming in Britain. 

We attended a long time friend and colleague, Frans’, retirement party, last Saturday, in an idyllic farm setting among the hills surrounding the small town of Riebeek West. The large contingent of friends, colleagues and acquaintances from the past entailed a severe memory test of  putting names and faces together. I started thinking about  the origins of the concept of retirement and the pension that usually goes with it. It would lead to interesting discoveries about the history of man’s development and our progress as a social species. 

South Africa’s quest to stay at the summit of the world cricket test rankings started in shaky fashion at the Gabba in Queensland. Their Australian hosts dominated the first cricket test with the bat, and to a degree, with the ball. The match was drawn but Australia holds the psychological advantage in the lead up to the test at the Adelaide Oval starting on 22 November. 

Andrew Surman, a South African-born midfielder of Norwich City, has rejected Gordon Igesund’s offer to represent Bafana Bafana at the African Cup of Nations in 2013. Yet, although South Africa was denied his gifted presence, Bafana Bafana seems well equipped to set up the strikers against the best that Africa has to offer.

The Springboks recovered from an indifferent start and staged a superb third quarter turnaround to score thirteen unanswered points and achieved an important morale-boosting 16-12 win against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday. But there is room for improvement.