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Mail & Guardian
5 days ago
- General
- Mail & Guardian
Unpacking South Africans' response to ‘the 59ers'
(Graphic: John McCann/M&G) It is Tuesday evening. I am seated with a friend and my son in our favourite restaurant in Bloemfontein. My son listens to our conversation as I note that the 49 Afrikaner migrants (or 59 as some reports suggest) incorrectly and problematically afforded refugee status through executive order by the Trump administration have landed in the US. Their departure is called the 'Great Tsek' on social media. We laugh conspiratorially. South Africans respond to most situations with a trademark humour that inspires much hilarity. We repeat the in-joke in multi-cultural and multi-classed spaces — taxis, buses, lecture halls, at a Sunday braai, in a coffee shop, between co-workers — we evoke the reality of co-created belonging through humour. Our humour, a shared South African-ness irrespective of historicised divisions of race, class, creed or gender, masks our discomfort, or psychological and emotional pain. Whether we are supporting Tyla's right to self-define as coloured — while ridiculing and stereotyping colouredness — and interrogating black Americans' failure to unpack the context of coloured in South Africa, or vituperatively disowning Elon Musk, South Africans have a unique, enmeshed and complex affinity and loyalty to each other. Amorphous and responsive, this loyalty is an organic response to a perceived threat, or a show of appreciation or forgiveness — recall our troetelnaam (pet name) for our president: Cupcake. South African humour and loyalty are revealed on TikTok, Instagram and X. On these platforms we deconstruct the perceptions and slights of 'ordinary' South Africans as we digest and metabolise the news together, as South Africans, and as global citizens in conversation with other global citizens. We find solace in our derision, and the truth etched onto the edges of that laughter. The phrase 'Great Tsek' is an incisive commentary on the double-edged nature of the 59ers' departure. As South African stayers imagine saying that, they remind us of a socio-cultural memory in which white Afrikaners would chase black people from their farms with the word 'voertsek' (go away, get lost). And in return, based on commentary from a few of the emigrants, we can duly imagine the 59ers exclaiming 'voertsek' as they took off from OR Tambo International Airport. The phrase, Great Tsek, thus points to a rejection that is mirrored by those who stay (are left behind) and those who leave. Amid the laughter M, a young black woman who has experienced the harrowing loss of dispossession of family-owned land in the Free State through apartheid's legalised appropriation of land, comments: 'I'm laughing, but they're still South African, man! What are they going to experience there? It doesn't matter that they are white. I worry about them. They are us.' As a national human collective — South Africans — we don't want to be rejected, or 'left behind'. It is a typical human response to excise the offending parties from our collective. But still there are those among us, like my friend, who compassionately tries to understand the reasons for the 59ers' departure, and hopes that they haven't made a mistake that will have enduring negative repercussions. The reasons for emigration are multiple, but this particular departure underscores a severance of ties with the land of their birth, our South African humour, and much more that embodies a particular national expression of humanity. The 59ers are not Europeans; much less American. They are South Africans; and we are a complicated mengelmoes (mixture) of peoples who embody various amalgamated traditions, languages, orientations, humour, oppressions and battle scars. Violence, risk and resilience are endemic to the South African narrative, no matter which ethnic tributary you lay claim to as you arrive here on the shores of a contemporary South Africa that is being lived in the trenches and robustly debated on the streets of social media. Those who speak, who stay, who worstel (struggle) with the inadequacies of the state, birth South Africa's next chapter in which every lineage and narrative have value. We navigate turbulent racialised, ethnicised and citizenship currents, potholed roads and jagged promises of well-being for all in rickety boats, maladapted vehicles and kaal voete (bare feet) together. We are not necessarily seasoned or adequately equipped; and the shoreline of our dreams is unfamiliar, with the horizon blurred and distant. But for those who stay, the vision of a South Africa that supports the well-being of all her citizens inspires us to put our shoulders to the wheel, and to live not only for ourselves but for others. Each one who voluntarily remains behind assumes an active role in envisioning, dreaming, crafting, moulding and building South Africa's next chapter. Each one. And so, during supper when my son asks what the word 'colonisation' means I try simply to chart South Africa's convoluted history. His response — 'not all white people are like that' — is not a negation of our past. Rather his words confirm, as a seven-year-old, that his immediate and direct experience does not align with our 'black and white' histories. They offer a moment of pause, as I come to terms with what my lineage has experienced pre-apartheid, what I have experienced during and post-apartheid and the future my son is living into existence. He demands from me, and you, a conscious recognition of how far we have travelled as South Africans to be here — constructing our futures with clear sight of our histories. His words defy an easy, glib and uncontextualised narrative of what makes us South African. And, like M, he inspires us to accept that we are complex and incomplete as South Africans, whether at home, or in the US, without each other. Professor Joy Owen is the head of the department of anthropology at the University of the Free State.
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Trump meets Ramaphosa: Did we all watch the same show?
If you were a consumer of international media, you would have wondered the next day if their reporters had seen the same Trump and Ramaphosa showdown. Many sports lovers make a point of getting the papers – or logging onto their favourite news sites – the day after a game to reaffirm what they watched less than 12 hours before. It's a bizarre phenomenon, but it's part of the burden that fans shoulder, including – for some – an obsessive desire to find out the minutiae of their sports stars' lives from their pre-match rituals to their innermost thoughts on anything from Covid to the Cup final. Sometimes though, you'll pick up the paper the next day and wonder if the sports reporter watched the same game that you did. There's a huge gulf between what we think we see – and what we think others see. But it's not just sport that gets this treatment. Now that US President Donald Trump has rendered Oval Office meetings with visiting presidents into something like a spin-off series of The Apprentice, there would have been many South Africans who watched the Wednesday night televised meeting between Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa to find out if their eyes had deceived them or not. If you were a consumer of international media, you would have wondered the next day if their reporters had seen the same show. If you had delved into the cesspits of social media, you would have been depressed, confused or strangely buoyed, depending on your algorithmic bias. ALSO READ: SA must growl back at global bullies like Trump South African media were more nuanced, as you would hope, with some a lot better than others. It's a feat of modern communications – and says more than we need to know about the comprehension levels of our neighbours, friends and family – that, to mangle Winston Churchill, so much could be spun by so few. There was very little middle ground; the meeting was declared a victory by the CR haters and a massive triumph by Cupcake lovers. To be fair, the bar had been set low after the televised February mauling of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Our championship golfers lined up the realpolitik putts they needed to, while EFF leader Julius Malema's bête noir Johann Rupert chimed in with a contribution that was simultaneously fêted and condemned. So, who won? As the great Springbok Boy Louw famously said: 'Looks (sic) at the scoreboard.' If we stay in Agoa and Trump makes it to the G20, there will be no question at all, but given what the pre-match predictions were before last Wednesday, even a draw would have counted as a win. NOW READ: Why Cyril Ramaphosa failed in the US
Japan Times
23-05-2025
- General
- Japan Times
Tuxedo cat Cupcake is a special treat
Always ready for an elegant gathering, Cupcake wears her tuxedo at all times in the hopes she'll be invited out on the town (or at least away from the shelter). This cat has taken life's sudden upheavals in stride, such as when her former owner was hospitalized and she lost her home. Shipshape and well-groomed, Cupcake was considered 'unfriendly' when she first came to ARK. But over time, she has proven to be very affectionate — just discerning. She just wants to give and receive affection on her own terms, when the time is right. She expresses herself vocally and knows how to assert herself around other cats. As the only cat in her former home, she seems to be accustomed to the lifestyle. Perhaps best suited for a household without other cats, Cupcake has demonstrated that she is full of affection — just on her own terms. | Kanae Shirai Cupcake arrived at ARK less than two months ago right around her 10th birthday. The shock and disbelief at suddenly losing her home must have been very difficult emotionally. One ARK insider and something of a 'cat whisperer' says, 'When Cupcake finds a home with someone who will cater to her needs and give her affection when she wants it, she's going to be a very happy cat.' A cupcake with a twist — lots of flavor and spice, not overly sweet — this girl will be a devilishly delightful sweetheart for someone who knows how to treat her. If you are interested in adopting, email ARK at Tokyoark@ or call 050-1557-2763 (English or Japanese) Monday to Saturday (bilingual) for more information. Animal Refuge Kansai (with offices in Kansai and Tokyo) is an NPO founded by U.K. native Elizabeth Oliver. It is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abandoned animals. All animals are vaccinated, neutered and microchipped. Prospective owners are required to undergo a screening process. Web:
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
After bankruptcy, closure beloved Mexican brand set for comeback
Just because a company declares bankruptcy does not mean its brands aren't popular. A lot of times, a company runs out of money for reasons that have little to do with its products. Maybe it overextended itself by building too many factories, or perhaps it made other financial mistakes. Sometimes, successful companies take on debt as a way to cash out shareholders or otherwise free up capital. Related: Beloved local Italian restaurant closing after 58 years When Hostess went bankrupt a few years ago, people still loved its signature Twinkie, Cupcake, and Fruit Pie. Demand for those products remained high, but the overall company faced larger struggles. The same thing happened when New England Candy Company went bankrupt. That brand manufactured the controversial (as in some people love them and some people hate them) NECCO wafers, along with several other popular candy brands. In the case of a bankruptcy, whether those brands come back depends on what happens to the company's assets. Sometimes, whoever ends up owning the brands has no immediate plans to bring them back. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter They might sell them at a later date to a company that actually wants to manufacture the product, or that item might just be lost to history. Fans of a beloved taco brand were very worried that the bankruptcy and collapse of its parent company would mean the end of their favorite taco shells. New reports suggest that will not be the case. "Gladstone Food Products Company Inc., best known for their taco shell brand La Tiara, was put into receivership on March 18, 2025. The company, inclusive of property, equipment, brands and trademarks, is in the process of being sold through a closed auction process," according to a press release. La Tiara Taco Shells started disappearing from shelves in March. "Well this just ruined my day. The Best taco shells every that we have eaten for the last 15 years almost every Tuesday is permanently closed. We had new taco shells tonight and I asked why we didn't have La Tiara taco shells and April Mueller said I can't find them in the store so the problem solver in me said no biggie I'll order some online which lead me down the rabbit hole to finding out they closed. This is unacceptable," shared Scott Mueller on Facebook. Retail News: Wingstop makes big moves to fix a big customer complaintPopular restaurant announces more closures despite rising salesAldi acquires multiple locations from bankrupt retail chain Many others expressed their dismay the Gladstone had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection which ended product for La Tiara. "I can't find the La Tiera taco shells. I love them. So many other taco shells are tough, not crispy at all," Mona Lightfoot wrote. Now, fans of the brand have received some good news. Once Gladstone was put into receivership, Eric Moraczewski was appointed by the bankruptcy court to oversee the sale of the brand's assets. "Since the appointment, the opportunity has attracted significant nationwide interest from potential buyers," according to a press release. La Tiara, both its brand and its recipe, were part of the sale. Moraczewski shared in a May 20 court documents that a buyer had been found. He also shared that the sale would be free and clear of all liens, claims, and encumbrances. "The proceeds are expected to fully repay secured and unsecured creditors and return equity to the company," KMBC reported. It appears that a single buyer is purchasing the majority of the company's assets. No company was named, but court documents described it as a "large, publicly traded company." Related: Amazon CEO shares surprising info on a new customer trend Over 40 buyers made inquiries about the company. The bankruptcy court will meet on May 27 to decide on the offer. It's widely expected that the deal will pave the way for La Tiara taco shells to return to stores, but no specific information on that was shared. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Business Wire
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Founder Madeline Ronzoni to Launch First Nationwide Collection
FORT MILL, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- has teamed up with rug artist Madeline Ronzoni, Founder of Happy Rugs, to launch her first extensive collection of modern rugs designed to bring happiness into homes. This is the first time her colorful rugs, including Ronzoni's signature hand-tufted style, will be available to consumers nationwide with a major retailer. 'We're excited to partner with Madeline Ronzoni of Happy Rugs to bring her joy-filled designs to customers nationwide,' said CEO Johnny Nassri. 'Her passion for rug design aligns perfectly with our mission to provide quality rugs.' The X Happy Rugs collection features 26 of Ronzoni's most popular and new designs in over 100 SKUs, with a variety of shapes and sizes. The collection showcases her unique approach to rug design, including Ronzoni's popular accent rugs, which are pop-art-like rugs designed to add a jolt of positive energy to interiors. The bright hues and modern art-like rugs include Happy Rugs' unexpected, playful designs, including Fluffy Flower, Fruit Salad, Iced Coffee, Cupcake, Butterfly, Rainbow Weave, Strawberry, Jawbreaker Poppy, Happy Home, and even Ronzoni's take on Boba Tea, as well as abstract prints such as Wiggles and Wavy designs. The indoor rug collection also embraces new mediums for Happy Rugs. In addition to tufted styles, the line includes Ronzoni's distinctive designs using new rug materials for the brand, such as jute. Ronzoni, who has been designing and creating rugs since 2020, is thrilled to partner with and bring her designs to a broader audience. 'I've always been passionate about creating beautiful, high-quality rugs that bring joy to people's homes,' she said. 'Working with has allowed me to take my designs to the next level and make them accessible to more people than ever before.' 'We're excited to partner with Madeline Ronzoni of Happy Rugs to bring her joy-filled designs to customers nationwide,' said CEO Johnny Nassri. 'Her passion for rug design aligns perfectly with our mission to provide beautiful, high-quality rugs. Madeline's distinctive style also provides a fresh take on rug designs that our customers appreciate.' With prices starting at $49, the Happy Rugs collection is now available exclusively on For more information, visit
