@Pigspotter : Hero or Villian of the Twitterverse?

IOL News called him " ... the talk of the town ... ".

My Digital Life asked the question "If @pigspotter's actions results in preventing a crime from being committed (Speeding, traffic infringements) then surely what he is doing is legal."

On Friday (2010-09-17), Johannesburg Metro Police laid a charge against @Pigspotter. 

According to the Mail & Guardian,  his charges include " ... crimen injuria, defeating the ends of justice and defamation of character ...".

This comes as no surprise as earlier in the week Metro Police spokesperson, Wayne Minnaar, in an interview with News24, had threatened to arrest for the said charges.

During the past week, local and international media (TimesLive,  Newser.com, India Times, Herald Sun, Earth Times), online and otherwise have carried this story. With all this attention, @Pigspotter now has 15 101 followers compared to the 6 000 followers he had on Twitter at the beginning of the week.

The reality is that this is no longer a one man issue but has become voice for the dissatisfaction South Africans have with their police force in general. One only has to briefly glance at Pig Spotter's Twitter page to see this.

The general public is actively contributing to the tweets that Cliff (aka @Pigspotter) makes.

The Twitterverse's response to the news that charges have been laid against Pig Spotter has been phenomenal. 
These are some of the tweets:

1.   Mokola_coza :
   
   
   
   So #JMPD has laid charges against #Pigspotter? Wonder If they have laid any charges lately against all the corrupt #JMPD cops. #JMPD sucks.
   
2.   shona
   
   
   
   @pigspotter #pigspotter cops on rivonia onramp south, sandton side.   
3.   freshfishjhb
   
   
   
   Saturday Star Headline; "PIGSPOTTER ROASTED" If our mate @pigspotter is done-for then lets use #pigspotter instead. YES/NO? 
4.   mikestopforth
   
   
   
   if we keep updating #PigSpotter or replying @PigSpotter with updates do we also get charged? #incomparablystupid --> http://is.gd/fgfF0 
   
5.   LewEvil
   
   
   
   It's a sad day for freedom of speech. We'll be toy-toying outside the court! Viva @pigspotter #pigspotter 

Clearly, should he get prosecuted the "Robinhood" effect will come into effect and the twitter masses will carry on the torch. How the @Pigspotter saga is going to end, one cannot tell but one thought keeps popping up in my mind. 

One should never underestimate the power of social media, especially if the issue in question resonates with the general public. - TMH

'Lights please?' - The Dark Continent No More

I'd like to think I stay reasonably abreast of technological advances as well as innovative concepts through my weekly consumption of tech-related Internet portals.

In most cases, I will either read then shelve the information in the back of my mind; other times I am moved to tweet about it, hopefully getting  the word out to like-minded folks.

 On rare occasions, I will try and assimilate this new knowledge / technology into my own projects either to improve them or just to see how the implementation would work in a South African context.
Sadly, though, being based in South Africa can limiting in terms of what one can do to leverage new technologies in the Information Technology and Communications (ITC) sector.


South Africa has, traditionally, always been last on the queue for everything in terms of new technology - stoves, mobile phones, auto mobiles, computers and we won't even mention the subject of broadband but I’m sure you get the idea.
Most will argue that implementing new technology is expensive as a rule anywhere in Africa. This being so due to low technology penetration.

They would be mostly right, it is indeed costly. However there are innovations that piggy-back off the existing infrastructure, a good example would be the telecommunications networks.


On closer examination, a different picture emerges as you find that the bottle-neck in technological progress moves from being socio-economic to just being economic.


You may find a single entity fighting to keep a monopoly on ITC systems or  entities run by "dinosaur" executives afraid to embrace the ever-changing information technology landscape. A classic case of 'don't mess with a working formula' syndrome. In some cases the "dark continent" is simply being overlooked as a market by key decision-makers because of misconceptions.

It's interesting to note that those business entities, like MTN, who dared to venture into Africa, have been rewarded with healthy profits as locals of various age groups embraced those technologies whole-heartedly.
Even my 83-year-old grandmother has joined the technology bandwagon, she doesn't part with her mobile phone. Introducing her to Nintendo’s Wii gaming console should make for interesting results.

These are exciting times and the message to all players in the ITC field is simple: Adapt or 'go out gently into the night'.
The consumer is now in the driving seat, Nokia and Apple know know all about that. The former only realising that after losing considerable market share in a short period of time. - T. Bengu

Takemehome Team @ The 2010 World Cup in South Africa

Almost a month after the first FIFA World Cup final was held in South Africa, the Takemehome Team has released their short movie showing the world cup experience through their eyes.



These clips follow the first clip above, previously posted by the guys at Takemehome. Driving through Soweto, we managed to dispel the stereotype of violence associated with Soweto.



Instead, Sowetans are revealed as a friendly people with a sense of humour and a passion for soccer (or football if you insist. :) )
As some will realise, one can visit Soweto and come out unscathed, it is quite an experience to see how the other half lives.





A special thank you to all members of the public, foreign visitors as well as hip hop artists, such as Amu, Swatta Kamp, Slikour, Prokid, HHP and Mr Selwyn, for their "phat" tracks that we use in the movie.

We want the World Cup again, at least sometime in our lifetime. lol ... South Africa should be proud of hosting the best World Cup ... wait for it ... EVER! :)





Ayoba is the only word that summarises World Cup 2010 South Africa!