Rattling the cage
Subtitle: reflections on democratic South Africa
By: Brent Meersman
Publisher: Picador Africa, and imprint of Pan Macmillian South Africa
Published: 2021
Place of publication: Northlands, Johannesburg
Language: eng
Number of pages: 295
ISBN-13: 9781770107724; 9781770107731
Subjects: Post-apartheid era; Apartheid; Reconciliation; Social conditions; Politics and government
Description: "Most South Africans have strong views on our past and present, often based on how we have been personally affected by history, and an understanding of the challenges that face us as a country. But how well-examined and solid are these positions? Have your views been properly thought through? Are you correctly informed? Do you even have the facts straight? Rattling the Cage takes the reader on an informed tour of the South African reality: from the highs and lows, the successes and failures, FW de Klerk's gaffes to Fees Must Fall, the Oscar Pistorius trial, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, triple BEE, global warming, the Covid-19 pandemic, gay rights in Africa, and veganism. Among the questions Meersman asks are: Do South Africans still believe in their Constitution and democracy? Why do so many young South Africans say Nelson Mandela was a sell-out and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was a dismal failure? Is outlawing hate speech and criminalising racist behaviour really a good idea? Why do communities still burn down their schools? How did the Marikana massacre happen in the democratic era? Why are African immigrants increasingly unwelcome in South Africa? Can our media be trusted to tell us the truth? And how do we embrace climate change? History, big-picture philosophy, grassroots journalism and a novelist's eye - animated by a genuine sense of moral indignation at the current state of the nation - come together in these essays to provide critical perspectives on and insights into South Africa's recent past and current political, economic and social undercurrents. No matter what your views are, you are sure to find your understanding of the country deepened, challenged and sometimes changed."--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
Table of contents: title: Mandela funeral; title: Do we still believe in miracles; title: Democracy without freedom; title: Not that different from apartheid; title: The descent to Marikana; title: Born free and uneducated; title: Sadness an joy: retracing the social transition; title: Truth and reconciliation; title: Apartheid for immigrants; title: Anger and surprise: rethinking protests; title: Burning the anger; title: Unsurprised by crime; title: Dignity and humiliation; title: Fees and faeces; title: Free but speechless; title: Why we don't care about the media; title: It's un-African; title: Why aren't you a vegan; title: Climatic climate change