Over the last week or two things went seriously sour for First National Bank (FNB) with its corporate branding 'You can help' campaign. The expression that comes to mind is that it turned into a proper 'cock up'. 

South Africans might have to make their peace with the fact that the full truth about the 1999 Strategic Defence Procurement Package (SDPP), generally called the 'arms deal', may never be known. At the same time, the stakes have risen in the Democratic Alliance’s application to force the release of the so-called 'spy tapes', relating to President Jacob Zuma’s alleged involvement in the arms deal. 

The next general election in South Africa is still over thirteen months away but the country is already fast moving into election mode. With parliament officially starting its 2013 session next week Thursday, it can be expected that most important debates will be conducted by all parties with one eye on their day with the voters in April 2014. 

Following his return to active politics as deputy president (DP) of the African National Congress in December, the enigmatic former labour leader and politician turned billionaire businessman, Cyril Ramaphosa, has been widely hailed as a kind of political hero who will save South Africa and the ANC. But the hype around Ramaphosa and the assumption about his powers is rather fanciful and way off the mark. 

The incidence of protests in South Africa continues to grow. In line with global trends it is creating a dangerous revolutionary climate. On the back of mounting protest statistics, at least one popular international website describes the country as the “protest capital of the world”. 

Details of the health department rot were initially revealed as part of a forensic investigation commissioned by Eastern Cape Premier Noxolo Kiviet and health MEC Sicelo Gqobana. Damning reports of nepotism, corruption and fraud amounting to R1.4 billion in the Eastern Cape’s health department have prompted calls by the opposition for drastic intervention.

South Africa basks in the glory of a sensational 211 run win against Pakistan in the first test at the Wanderers. And it was a hard-earned victory as Pakistan is by far a team of real stature. 

It was a case of déjà vu for South Africa, as Bafana Bafana crashed out of the African Cup of Nations against Mali; the same opponents who defeated them in the 2002 tournament. This time it was their level of composure that saw South Africa go down 3-1 in a penalty shootout.