EDITOR’S NOTE

THE colours of our national flag are all over the paper today. There is perhaps no need to remind you that it is Heritage Day but every reason to mark it.

There’s always a note of ambivalence for some Zulu people like me who grew up knowing this as Shaka’s Day. But, fortunately, most of us are unity- and peaceloving people. I guess there’s no harm in celebrating the coming together of the different colours that make our new nation united in its diversity.

We devote pages 8 and 9 to Heritage Day and VVO Mkhize expresses some strong feelings against “braai day” (page 20). It’s complicated. The cure for our ailing economy may have been found. Some KZN farmers can’t wait for legislation allowing the growing of dagga (see page 6). Don’t ask what they’ve been smoking. At this stage we do need to consider every cure – carefully.

And there’s a spreading number of eateries who are growing their own veggies and herbs (page 13). That’s real “fresh from the garden” stuff.

Driving along the Sevenmile bridge in the Florida Keys is an experience no visitor should miss. But your visit should not coincide with something like hurricanes Irma or Maria. A man from Queensburgh lived to tell his tale of surviving them (see page 18).

And what do you make of the latest moves and utterances by the “Rocket Man” and the man who recently created a new African country, Nambia? Our Russian writer analyses these developments (page 20).

Our Big Issue (page 21) is on KPMG. One of our regular contributors argues that simply blacklisting the firm will punish thousands of innocent professionals who have nothing to do with the sordid sagas and will not solve our problems. Another believes we’ve won the battle and need to continue fighting to win the war. Happy Heritage Day!