Bull

Former Chief Whip Tony Yengeni was released from Malmesbury Prison on 15th January.

He conducted a traditional cleansing ceremony at his parent's home in Gugulethu. The ceremony involved the slaughter of a bull and there was a huge outcry from animal lovers and the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) after my photograph (see above) appeared in the local and national press.

Sandile Mamela - spokeperson for the Minister of Arts and Culture is quoted in the Cape Argus "This is definitely not an SPCA matter, because it is not about cruelty to animals. Instead, it is about man's search for meaning, purpose and the redefinition of the relationship with the cosmos, God and his ancestry...
It is the constitutional right of all indigenous families and communities to perform rituals that reconnect them to their ancestors. That promotes peace of mind in their lives."

Comet

Last week I photographed Comet McNaught which is still visible in the skies over Cape Town in the late evening.

Grootma

Sinna Matshikha (nee Jason) born 1st April 1912 and died 8th January 2007 - my aunt affectionately known as 'Grootma' (great mother). She was my mother's eldest sister and the only one left in her family.

Here she was working as a domestic in East London. The photograph was taken in 1935. The girl's name I think is Nola. I tried to track Nola down through several magazines last year for an updated reunion photo - but it was not to be. Rest in peace.

Hot Tip

Coleen Sullivan (middle) dumped fiance Justin (left) for the Earl (right)

Last month I received what is known in this business as a 'hot tip' - insider information that is very reliable.

Then last Saturday, the Daily Mail newspaper (UK) broke the story of Earl Spencer's budding romance with WDTN news anchor Coleen Sullivan. I got the first picture of the two of them together in Cape Town. The Sun's headline was 'Slimy Spencer with new beauty'...


Ten years ago Charles, Earl Spencer took me to court here in South Africa. The charge was 'invasion of privacy'. The Earl was attracting considerable media attention at the time from the fallout after the breakdown of his first marriage and his numerous affairs.

The general background of the case is relayed below (from the Freedom of Expression's Institute's website. They took up my case.

20. SPENCER v JASON
Freedom of expression issue at stake: law of privacy
The Cape Supreme Court issued a temporary interdict restraining photographer Fanie Jason from, among other things, photographing the Earl of Spencer without his consent, unless such photographing occurs while he is attending a "public function as a public figure". Two issues were at stake: The threat to the principle that a public figure can be photographed at any time in public; and the assertion that Lord Spencer, Princess Diana's brother, is not a public figure. Both did not bode well for freedom of the media. At the trial judges's order, the matter was ultimately settled and the principle that the media has the right to photograph public figures in public places was agreed by the Earl. The settlement was made an order of Court.

Status of the case: Settled