PUSSY RIOT DETENTION EXTENDED

You don' stomp on Superman's cape

You don' spit into the wind

You don' mess around with that ol' Lone Ranger

And you don' mess around with Putin

A FESTIVAL LIKE NO OTHER

Reflecting the richness and diversity of South Africa's cultural tapestry, the National Arts Festival is set once again to entertain, astound and invigorate in its 38th year.

The popular and inspiring National Arts Festival returns to the traditionally quiet, Victorian and intellectual city of Grahamstown bringing the customary - and always unprecedented - excitement and bustle in its wake, as visitors and artists make their annual pilgrimage from the rest of South Africa and the world to celebrate the finest in artistic endeavour.

Taking place from 28 June to 8 July, it has been dubbed South Africa's cultural crucible offering the established artist significant public exposure - and unknown talent the opportunity for discovery. It has become renowned as a springboard for artistic excellence.

Seeking to impart the resounding and unforgettable vibrancy the Festival generates, the slogan for this year's event is aptly named '11 Days of Amaz!ng'. Here is a sample of what to expect from this extraordinary show.

Theatre

The 2012 Main Theatre programme boasts two world premieres and a list of world-class productions.

The Blue Iris

Athol Fugard's latest work is billed a love story of tender and personal revelations.

Trapped

A drama - and the first play-script of Princess Zinzi Mhlongo, winner of the 2012 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Drama.

Little Foot

Described as a multi-media event that promises to be a unique piece of storytelling, actor Neil Coppen continues to challenge the boundaries of contemporary South African theatre in Craig Higginson's latest play. It is due to be performed at the National Theatre in London before the 2012 Olympics.

Manolibera

Actors interact with the characters and become part of the story in this multi-award winning production by Italian-based company Scarlettine Teatro, who take their audience into the world of the comic book.

Red

John Logan's 2010 Tony Award winning play explores the creative process and inner conflict of famous American artist Mark Rothko.

Race

Race, sex, lies, class, shame and guilt feature in the Playhouse Company's production of David Mamet's fast-paced play.

This year, the National Arts Festival will present the biggest Fringe offering in its 38-year history. An estimated 390 Fringe productions are expected during '11 Days of Amaz!ng' and with an average of 295 productions showing on any one of the 11 days, theatre-going audiences will be spoilt for choice. Among street theatre, outstanding musicians, art exhibitions, the Village Green craft market and pop-up restaurants and stalls one cannot but be comprehensively entertained.

Dance

Contemporary dance is given more exposure at this year's Festival, with a rich tapestry of international influences and a space for young, cutting-edge choreographers to display their potential.

Baily Snyman explores the fears, anxieties and denial of militarised gay people in the sensitive production Moffie. It is billed as delving into both the historical and contemporary understandings of homosexuality in the armed forces.

Two pieces, considered a key turning point in the history of dance, Pudique Acide and Extasis, are presented by French choreographers Mathilde Monnier and Jean-Francois Duroure in a double bill duo.

Cutting edge digital art and evocative stage design feature in Inter.Fear - a production by Athena Mazarakis and Hansel Nezza, who explore fear in its various facets in our contemporary lives.

Two other productions likely to appeal are Cape Town City Ballet's Giselle and Eastern Cape Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts & Culture's Rhythms of the Eastern Cape, a production signifying the regional government's commitment to preserving and promoting indigenous knowledge systems and culture.

Award-winning artists' productions

Jeffrey Jay Fowler directs Hope is the Saddest, a bittersweet story of a childlike young woman who draws all her life lessons from the lyrics of Dolly Parton.

Amsterdam Fringe's award-winning 2011 production Bye Bye World features Anne Gehring and Vera Katelaars dealing with an upheaval in their perfectly normal lives.

An evolving relationship between two men into a deep, lasting, unexpected and little understood friendship is the subject of Janna Ramos-Violante's Callum's Will.

Tara Notcutt, James Cairns, Albert Pretorious and Rob van Vuuren deliver a dark but delightfully twisted psychological thriller in an unexpected take on the classic children's story The Three Little Pigs.

Among the best of solo theatre is likely to be:

Conversation with Pieter-Dirk EISH - featuring the doyen of South African political satire, Pieter-Dirk Uys.

Thembi Mtshali-Jones in Mother to Mother - a portrayal of the tragic killing of Amy Biehl.

Omphie Molusi in Itsoseng - a damning indictment of government indifference and cynicism.

David Butler as Herman Charles Bosman in the delightful character ensemble Post Office.

Sunday Morning - James Cunningham makes a gruesome life-changing discovery.

Musical items to consider are:

Award-winning South African soprano Kelebogile Boikanyo.

The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra performing Camille Saint-Saens and Paul Dukas.

Chanticleer Singers - music inspired by the indigenous peoples of South Africa.

Stunning Armstrong classics by Prince Lengoasa and friends in Louis Armstrong & Friends.

Two Trios and a Quintet - virtuoso string, percussion and wind ensemble.

Space does not permit a comprehensive list of the outstanding array of artistic talent that will grace the 2012 National Arts Festival. Each year the base expands and provides a laudable platform to encourage eager and aspiring artists to excel and carve a niche on the global stage.

The vibrant, pulsating spirit produced by the energetic artists and collective throngs is an endearing and lasting testimony to the beautiful undercurrents of the nation in its celebration and enjoyment of Art.

A TALE OF TWO MEMBERS

I was interested to learn that former crime boss, alleged fraudster and purveyor of nepotistic favour, Richard (I needn't remind you of the shortened version of the name) Mdluli, is on sick leave suffering from emotional stress. This could be the reason why he is so often seen behind sunglasses.

But my interest was really piqued by the fact that if this is true, certain investigations may be getting close to the bone forcing the embattled soul into hiding. Whatever the reason, it seems this artful dodger doesn't want to be seen officially hanging around at present - in the way his esteemed friend and crony has been doing on canvas of late looking not unlike an aloe in full, virile bloom albeit somewhat wilted.

Speaking of which, that dangling member has given not a little offence to the ruling party (an organisation of delicate sensitivity when it suits) whose presidential spokesperson, Mac Maharaj (he of fox terrier proclivities), was 'amazed' at how the artist (God bless him) denigrated the holy 'person and office of the president'.

How a self-enriching humbug can be denigrated escapes me - as it did obviously City Press editor Ferial Haffajee who, with a swift kick to the genitalia in question, was reported saying the esteemed president has done more to impugn his own dignity than any artist ever could. It seems like vitriol and vilification run like water off rogues' backs but humiliation - that is clearly another matter.

All this fiasco might just suggest some hope for South Africa at Mangaung - and I cannot wait for Zapiro's take on the spear of destiny.

FREEDOM DAY - A TIMELY REMINDER

Yesterday, Freedom Day brought back a memory that in 1994 I stood in a rural queue between Addo and Uitenhage waiting to cast my vote in the historic 1994 elections. Those in the queue were ebullient with hope for what they imagined would be a golden age for South Africa.

As you can imagine, it was a colourful queue of all shapes, sizes and hues. The line was unbelievably long but the people were patient, respectful and amiable. One chap, who said he originally hailed from the Western Cape, had us in paroxysms of laughter while he regaled us with superb jokes, none of which were political nor intended to be. An old man, a few metres in front of me, had to sit down because he couldn't control his laughter.

I think the comedian's name was Bennie, but it doesn't really matter because he served as the entertainer for all who could hear him. Those just out of vocal reach tried to compress the queue to get closer to Bennie's performance and, like a good performer needing to reach his whole audience, Bennie moved up and down the queue to ensure as many as possible enjoyed the hilarious entertainment. He knew he was good but it wasn't ego driving his performance. He just wanted to make people laugh and asked for nothing in return.

During Bennie's intermissions, there was always chatter, people talking to each other, smiling and laughing, something they had been unable to do for forty years. They were just a bunch of good, ordinary people.

Immediately behind me was an elderly black mama with a toddler on her back. I asked her where she lived and she shyly told me that it was a township not far from Addo. I was curious as to how she had arrived at the polling station and she explained that a taxi had brought her as far as the tarred road and she had walked the rest of the way. I knew the junction she referred to and estimated that she must have walked about 10 km with the toddler on her back. She had come because she had rightfully expected a promising life to open up for her after the oppression of apartheid. And the journey to get to the polling station had been in no way daunting.

Hope was palpable in that queue of people. Mandela was a fine statesman who would right the evils of apartheid and provide a prosperous and happy life for all South Africa's citizens. And so it was - to begin with.

But the hopes of my queue have been dashed by the sleazy rogues who now hold sway. 

I am comforted, though, with the thought that the people in that queue haven't changed. They are still good people who will stop for a chat, a joke and a laugh. They are the backbone of South Africa - the grass roots. They are a universe apart from their politicians.

GWEDE MANTASHE - DICTATOR IN THE MAKING

Politicsweb columnist David Bullard took unerring aim this morning at one of our up and coming closet dictators, ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe, in his column entitled 'Show Comrade Godfather some respect ... or else!' - http://bit.ly/IUNT0h. If the glove fits, wear it, and it certainly does for the vilifying and magniloquent Mantashe. 

'Bully-in-chief' is a deserved and apt term to describe what Mantashe does. He is one of those ranting bullies (the type which is becoming disturbingly more prevalent in the ANC) who believes, it seems, that a democracy should be run by an authoritarian party and robust debate roundly discouraged as being of not much consequence. His recent ad hominem, and almost savage, verbal attacks against Nedbank chair Reuel Khoza for berating the ANC (deservedly) as a strange breed of leaders is a case in point. Admitting the current folly of his party would have made a favourable impression on his opponents - and Khoza. Instead, he foolishly and not surprisingly chose to defend the untenable. He is of the type which, when they're unable to command respect, begin demanding it.

People of this ilk are probably what Reuel Khoza referred to as a strange breed of leadership. They are dangerous and won't serve the interests of the country or its people. Mantashe, as his recent behaviour suggests, is someone who, if given half a chance, could turn into a full-blown dictator.

NEDBANK CHIEF WARNS AGAINST CORRUPT AND INCOMPETENT ANC JUGGERNAUT

Chairman of Nedbank and respected former academic, Reuel Khoza, warned in the bank's annual report that South Africa is widely recognised for its liberal and enlightened Constitution yet the emergence of a strange breed of leaders can be observed who are determined to undermine the rule of law and override it. 

The now inveterately corrupt and incompetent ANC, whose goal is unquestionably to remain in power for further self-enrichment through insidious means, has already announced plans to review the judiciary and the Constitution citing the reappraisal of the latter as necessary to remove  hindrances to social and economic transformation. And the 'ruling party, as they prefer to be called, is about to promulgate changes to the Protection of Information Bill that will seriously hamper investigative efforts of journalists to openly publish incriminating material. Their unstated purpose is clear to any intelligent observer: increase, by whatever means, ways to avoid detection so that corruption may continue apace and line the pockets of a venal cabal with filthy lucre.

Khoza's comments are timely and are the first by a chairman of a JSE-listed banking group since the government began announcing its 'review' strategies.

Khoza warned that the country's political leadership moral quotient is degenerating and that the nation is fast losing the checks and balances that are necessary to prevent a recurrence of the past. 

Writing on his website about the Constitution, Khoza says 'The problem I have with the revision of the existing Constitution is not over the principle that it should be revisited but over the credibility of those who are making these proposals. The editor of of the Financial Mail, Barney Mthombothi, recently wrote that when Mandela and Mbeki made changes to the Constitution it was not with any ill-intent but to make it better. This new lot is different. They don't want to change the Constitution. They want to gut it, to remove its entrails and thus change the trajectory of society.'

Reuel Khoza understands and knows the value of informed and visionary leadership. He has spent much of his life illustrating and demonstrating its key elements and what he is now called on to witness no doubt sickens him to the core. I hope other business leaders will follow his example by bringing the incumbent rogue leadership into the spotlight to reveal all its  inglorious ugliness.

GUGU AND KGALEMA

Well, it could be that our deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe and his statuesque, attractive partner, the delightful Ms Gugu Mtshali, may not be so cool after all. Alleged failed attempts to raid a R104 million cookie jar won't, of course, free you of guilt. As the worms crawl out of the can our usually unflappable and phlegmatic DP has called in the redoubtable Thuli Madonsela to crush them with Doom or whatever else is near at hand. He has, after all, an image to uphold. Not that lampoonist par excellence, Zapiro, would agree. http://mg.co.za/zapiro/fullcartoon/3638/