Niren Tolsi

@NirenTolsi

Niren Tolsi is a freelance journalist whose interests include social justice, citizen mobilisation and state violence, protest, the Constitution and Constitutional Court, football and Test cricket.

Stories by: Niren Tolsi

News

13 August 2018: Former NPA head Mxolisi Nxasana. Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo requested that he appear at the commission of inquiry into state capture at short notice. (Photograph by Gallo Images/ Sowetan/ Alaister Russell)

Former NPA head tells Zondo of dirty tricks campaigns

Bigwigs in the prosecuting authority played their part in Zuma’s godly game by destabilising the NPA and ensuring the prosecution of people considered enemies of the former president’s regime.

By: Niren Tolsi
13 Jun 2019

News

24 May 2019: Former South African president Jacob Zuma in court facing charges of fraud, corruption and racketeering from more than 13 years earlier. (Photograph by Themba Hadebe/Pool via Reuters)

Advocates go toe-to-toe in Zuma case

A letter purportedly proving that a high-level meeting took place in 2003 to discuss Jacob Zuma’s prosecution is the latest twist in the former president’s appeal for a permanent stay of prosecution.

By: Niren Tolsi
24 May 2019

News

20 May 2019: Former president Jacob Zuma outside the high court in Pietermaritzburg after applying for a permanent stay of prosecution regarding 16 charges of money laundering, fraud, racketeering and corruption. (Photograph by Gallo Images/Phill Magakoe)

Stay of prosecution or of justice?

Jacob Zuma’s lawyer says he is the victim of a ‘pattern of behaviour’ that has made his name synonymous with corruption, while Zuma takes pot shots at Cyril Ramaphosa.

By: Niren Tolsi
22 May 2019

News

23 August 2016: eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede during her inauguration at Durban City Hall. Gumede was the first woman to be elected mayor of the metro. (Photograph by Gallo Images/The Times/Jackie Clausen)

The Iron Lady of Inanda

eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede is facing charges of fraud, racketeering and corruption that implicate 62 city councillors. But how did she rise to such a powerful position?

By: Niren Tolsi
17 May 2019

News

23 April 2019: A soldier stands guard behind Catholic priests and other clergy members during a mass funeral at St Sebastian's Church in Negombo. Sri Lankan authorities declared a state of emergency on Monday. (Photograph by Carl Court/Getty Images)

Sri Lankans mourn a country at odds with itself

As Sri Lanka reels from the Easter Sunday attacks, it must also confront its history of violent atrocities, secessionist sectarianism, ethnic populism and corrosive power politics.

By: Niren Tolsi
24 Apr 2019

News

3 April 2019: Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng chairing the JSC interviews.

JSC confounds at ConCourt interviews

It’s up to commissioners of the JSC to interview candidates for the judiciary in a manner that determines their suitability, but recent interviews for judges did not comply.

By: Niren Tolsi
5 Apr 2019

News

25 March 2019: (Left to right) Mlungisi Ncalane, Mbulelo Mpofana, Zweliphansi Sikhosane, Mlululeki Ndobe and Sandile Myeza seated in the uMzimkhulu Magistrates Court at their bail hearing.

Unravelling the machinery of political murder

Part two of a series on political killings in South Africa details this week’s cross-examination of some of those accused of the murders of KwaZulu-Natal local politicians.

By: Niren Tolsi
29 Mar 2019

News

19 March 2019: From left, Zweliphansi Sikhosana and Harry Gwala District mayor Mluleki Ndobe in the uMzimkhulu magistrates’ court. They stand accused of murdering ANC Youth League leader Sindiso Magaqa in 2017.

Political assassination the currency of corruption

Part one of a series on political killings in South Africa delves into the breakdown of integrity at party branch level in KwaZulu-Natal, and the subsequent rise in corruption and murder.

By: Niren Tolsi
25 Mar 2019

Sport

16 February 2019: Kusal Perera of Sri Lanka looks skyward in celebration during day four of the first Test match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. (Photograph by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

Fast track bullies must learn Sri Lankan lesson

The Proteas have flown close to the sun all summer. It’s to be hoped that the defeat by Sri Lanka triggers the changes needed for South Africa to reach the top of the World Test Series.

By: Niren Tolsi
20 Feb 2019

Sport

15 December 2018: Dimuth Karunaratne of Sri Lanka executes a pull shot during day one of the first Test match against New Zealand at Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photograph by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Sri Lanka in search of the maverick within

The Lions are in search of their lost bite to make up for the drop-off in their results since their roaring success in Sri Lanka against the Proteas.

By: Niren Tolsi
9 Feb 2019

Editorial and Analysis

7 February 2019: President Cyril Ramaphosa and his wife (front right), Tshepo Motsepe, on the steps of Parliament before Ramaphosa delivered this year’s State of the Nation Address. (Photograph by Gallo Images/ Ziyaad Douglas)

ANC need not ask for whom the bell of blame tolls

Why and how has South Africa’s post-1994 parliament developed an attitude of such deference to the executive? The answer is discomfiting, and lies within the ruling party itself.

By: Niren Tolsi
8 Feb 2019

Editorial and Analysis

14 February 2018: President Jacob Zuma looks downcast at the Union Buildings in Pretoria as he announces he will be stepping down as leader of South Africa. (Photograph: Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko)

Zuma: Nine years of tainting and tweaking

Zondo commission evidence supports Jacob Zuma’s claims that his nine years as president were not wasted, but not in a good way.

By: Niren Tolsi
1 Feb 2019

Editorial and Analysis

23 January 2019: Former Bosasa chief operations officer Angelo Agrizzi at the commission of inquiry into state capture. (Photograph by Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Felix Dlangamandla)

Angelo Agrizzi’s capitalist capture

As more dirt is dished on the sleazy deals between Bosasa and government, Agrizzi reveals the rapacious heart of corruption.

By: Niren Tolsi
25 Jan 2019

Sport

1 January 2019: Proteas coach Ottis Gibson at work during a team training session at PPC Newlands in Cape Town. (Photograph by Shaun Roy/Gallo Images)

Gibson enjoys his Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Proteas coach, a former bowler himself, relished how South Africa’s fast four bullied Pakistan with speed, hostility and barrages of throat-tickling short balls.

By: Niren Tolsi
18 Jan 2019

Sport

4 January 2019: Proteas' Temba Bavuma raises his bat after reaching his 50 during day two of the second Castle Lager Test match between South Africa and Pakistan at PPC Newlands in Cape Town. (Photograph by Shaun Roy/Gallo Images)

Proteas are gunning for a series whitewash

Although the Proteas are 2-0 up courtesy of their four menacing fast bowlers, they still have some searching questions to answer about their fragile batting.

By: Niren Tolsi
11 Jan 2019

Sport

20 July 2016: Mohammed Amir of Pakistan during a nets session ahead of the second Investec Test match between England and Pakistan at Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester, England. (Photograph by Clint Hughes/Getty Images)

Pakistan is either good or ghastly

The team that shocks and entertains in equal measure is headed for our shores, but which Pakistan will show up? It seems they also don’t know.

By: Niren Tolsi
24 Dec 2018

Features

16 November 2018: A giant poster of acting Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in his hometown of Tangalle, Sri Lanka. (Photograph by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Sri Lanka, where Tamils fear to tread

After three decades of brutal civil war followed by an authoritarian, kleptocratic regime, the Indian Ocean island’s fragile detente is under threat again.

By: Niren Tolsi
12 Dec 2018

Sport

23 July 2018: Proteas' Theunis de Bruyn walks off after being dismissed on day four of the second Test match between Sri Lanka and South Africa at Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo. (Photograph by Isuru Sameera Peiris/AFP/Gallo Images)

Proteas’ habitual arrogance belies their status

South Africa’s cricketing woes point to one fundamental problem but there’s no telling when this will be resolved.

By: Niren Tolsi
3 Dec 2018

News

Dimitri Tsafendas, who assassinated the South African Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd by stabbing him to death during a parliamentary session, on 6 September 1966. (Photograph by Keystone/ Hulton Archive/ Getty Images)

Tsafendas and the tapeworm

It suited the apartheid narrative to label Verwoerd’s assassin as deranged rather than what he was, a freedom fighter who had slipped under the regime’s radar.

By: Niren Tolsi
14 Sep 2018

News

26 October 2013: The unmarked grave of Dimitri Tsafendas at the Sterkfontein cemetery in Krugersdorp. Tsafendas assassinated HF Verwoerd, the 'architect' of apartheid in 1966. (Photograph courtesy of Gallo Images/ Foto24/ Lisa Hnatowicz)

Tsafendas: Setting the record straight

Exactly 52 years ago today HF Verwoerd was stabbed and killed by Dimitri Tsafendas. A UK academic is attempting to debunk the apartheid state’s claim that Tsafendas was insane.

By: Niren Tolsi
10 Sep 2018