<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Compassionate Confronter]]></title><description><![CDATA[Confronter Journal]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/all-articles</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 15 Apr 2026 02:18:21 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[“You cannot treat people like garbage and worship God at the same time.” Jy kan nie God aanbid as jy ander soos vullis behandel nie.]]></title><description><![CDATA[by HJ Bestbier Morele Progressie of verval? Hoe kan ’n mens se wêreld skuif van sensitiwiteit na afgestomptheid; van sorg na misbruik of van menswaardigheid na onmenslike optredes teenoor ander. Min mense word een oggend wakker en besluit om skielik ongenaakbaar, onbeskof of wre ed te wees. Hierdie skrywe is nie bedoel as ’n veroordeling nie, maar dit poog om morele beweging te beskryf - hoe ons siening van mense soms stadigaan skuif en dan iets ontmasker in ons instinktiewe optredes teenoor...]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/you-cannot-treat-people-like-garbage-and-worship-god-at-the-same-time-jy-kan-nie-god-aanbid-as-jy</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69b14c3b8a12938a4bcf3d47</guid><category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:54:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_0dde38b3c7dd4ad683c0458243583916~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>HJ Bestbier</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[SONA 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[By Chris Botha mense help my dink asseblief want ek verstaan dalk verkeerd ek hoor ons president sê ons land se munisipaliteite faal en hy gaan nou van bo af ingryp ons president is egter eerstens die president van ‘n politieke party wat dominantheid gewoond is maar wat toenemend beheer verloor afhanklik word van koalisies en met alles só misluk dat als waaraan hulle vat vrot dit lyk vir my of demokratiese sentralisme wat die party se verklaarde beleid is en die nasionale demokratiese...]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/sona-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">699038529f4f0b75dffdd4b7</guid><category><![CDATA[Poetry & Arts]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 14 Feb 2026 08:59:39 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_20400e957f83475db1880651818b0f48~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris Botha</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘n Gedig Vir Janneman]]></title><description><![CDATA[By Chris Botha Vroeër vanoggend [i] , ek was nog in die bed, kry ek ‘n WhatsApp-boodskap van my vriend Janneman [ii] . Janneman is onlangs verkies tot vise-voorsitter van ‘n affêring.     Janneman skryf vir my: ”Jy wat so lekker met woorde omgaan moet tog asseblief eendag as die inspirasie jou beetpak ietsie skryf oor die praters en makers. Ek dink vinnig maar net aan al die saampraters, teenpraters, grootpraters, twakpraters, geenpraters, moeilikmakers, vredemakers, twismakers, geraasmakers,...]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/n-gedig-vir-janneman</link><guid isPermaLink="false">698f730d6e0eff1a48596938</guid><category><![CDATA[Poetry & Arts]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:55:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_be56b43cc6f241cea5c84f437a20069c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris Botha</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[BRIEF EXPOSITION OF THE LATEST SERIOUS AND VIOLENT CRIME TRENDS IN SOUTH AFRICA]]></title><description><![CDATA[A sharp, accessible snapshot of where South Africa’s crime landscape stands now. Drawing on the latest SAPS data and ISS analysis, this article tracks recent shifts in violent and commercial crime, probing the surprising decline in some violent offences alongside an alarming surge in commercial crime.]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/brief-exposition-of-the-latest-serious-and-violent-crime-trends-in-south-africa</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6980cfeb423a54390b979411</guid><category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 21:27:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_06b749b9b2904b69b35b1103c6de527f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Dr Johan Burger</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Mirror and the Ghost: Navigating the Illusion of AI]]></title><description><![CDATA[By Dr Arie Verburgh  Introduction We live in the age of the “digital other.” For the first time in history, we can talk to a machine, and have it talk back – not like a robot from an old movie, but with fluency, wit, and what appears to be understanding. As I sit here in Stilbaai, using these tools to refine my own thoughts, I am struck by a paradox: these systems are incredibly useful, but inside, they are completely empty. If we are to use tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini wisely, we must...]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/the-mirror-and-the-ghost-navigating-the-illusion-of-ai</link><guid isPermaLink="false">692531bb8c513b4f517eaceb</guid><category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2025 04:54:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_6a8534a5ff85426dad5f59c90c82c7f9~mv2.avif/v1/fit/w_626,h_358,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Arie Verburgh</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Emfuleni in Decline: How Service Delivery Collapse Betrayed a Community]]></title><description><![CDATA[Billions in debt, sewage spilling into the Vaal, and protests on the streets - How Gauteng’s steel heartland became a symbol of municipal failure By Gerhard Janse van Rensburg Emfuleni Local Municipality has collapsed under the weight of corruption, debt, and neglect. Once Gauteng’s steel belt powerhouse, it now struggles with sewage spills, broken infrastructure, and mass protests. This is the story of how South Africa’s industrial heartland became a symbol of municipal failure. Image from:...]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/emfuleni-in-decline-how-service-delivery-collapse-betrayed-a-community</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68f61bf876646ed86e46ebdc</guid><category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 20 Oct 2025 11:34:37 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_aef5ed25cede43788d7651694657111b~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_608,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Gerhard Janse van Rensburg</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[‘n BIETJIE GELUK VIR MKHWANAZI?]]></title><description><![CDATA[By Chris Botha Image from: https://www.ewn.co.za/2025/09/18/mkhwanazi-implicates-mps-business-figures-and-police-in-madlanga-commission-testimony Met rolbal, sò vertel my vriend Jack Collier, is daar drie dinge wat tel indien jy die spel wil wen. Jy moet jou bal op die regte lyn afstuur sodat die bal so sal draai dat dit die witte, jou teiken, sal bereik. Jy moet egter ook die bal die regte lengte laat rol anders gaan dit òf kort van die witte stop, òf verby die witte stop. Wanneer jou lyn en...]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/n-bietjie-geluk-vir-mkhwanazi</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68dc4def3b3a4a5a159581cd</guid><category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2025 21:44:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_b27dd3ef273640cca79528cec4767c7e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_630,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Chris Botha</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What's happening in Europe?  - The situation at the end of 2024 ]]></title><description><![CDATA[By Gerrit Jan Bouwhuis Introduction In the past months, several reviews of political developments in Europe were presented.  In this article I will give an update. The trends  can be summarized as instability and intensified conflict. I describe the current political situation in several countries and in the EU organization. A broad outline is used to present what I see as the political essentials. Only a few numbers are used in this article. These can be found in the previous articles,...]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/what-s-happening-in-europe-the-situation-at-the-end-of-2024</link><guid isPermaLink="false">676548e9d361a658c7ffd1c6</guid><category><![CDATA[What's Happening in Europe?]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:46:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_0233aeb2930942759769d420968c934e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_800,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Gerrit Jan Bouwhuis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What's happening in Europe?  - The European Union: a critical opinion ]]></title><description><![CDATA[By Gerrit Jan Bouwhuis In nine contributions to this journal several developments in Europe were addressed. Two articles addressed...]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/what-s-happening-in-europe-the-european-union-a-critical-opinion</link><guid isPermaLink="false">671f4fec308bae76c894f47a</guid><category><![CDATA[What's Happening in Europe?]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 28 Oct 2024 09:03:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_f982032c63bd4024ae75825abb3c7453~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Gerrit Jan Bouwhuis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What's happening in Europe? - How does Europe look like in the summer of 2024?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Gerrit Jan Bouwhuis The pollictical leaders of renew. In eight contributions to this journal several developments in Europe were...]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/what-s-happening-in-europe-how-does-europe-look-like-in-the-summer-of-2024</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67189a1bbe9f36249f782db2</guid><category><![CDATA[What's Happening in Europe?]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 23 Oct 2024 06:48:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_699d700e1df94cf98294920fce024017~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_711,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Gerrit Jan Bouwhuis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Koffie met die Munisipale Bestuurder]]></title><description><![CDATA[Deur Adv Hanlie Linde, Professionele Munisipale Bestuurder sedert 2012 Soos ek hier sit en skryf is dit al 99 dae sonder enige beurtkrag...]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/koffie-met-die-munisipale-bestuurder</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6708f38d6fd59569538abd10</guid><pubDate>Sat, 13 Jul 2024 22:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_de53f573706c4c2f94171c30cf66e871~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_299,h_168,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Adv Hanlie Linde</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[MY WHATSAPP ACCOUNT WAS HACKED]]></title><description><![CDATA[By Johan Ferreira On a Monday evening, whilst relaxing with a glass of red wine, the familiar sound of a WhatsApp message on my cell phone pinged. I looked at the screen and was pleasantly surprised to see that the sender was an old friend and colleague, Johan Deyzel from Kimberley.   When I opened the message, the message read that he was busy installing a new phone, and that he accidentally gave my cell phone number to the service provider to send a one-time-pin (OTP) to him. The OTP number...]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/my-whatsapp-account-was-hacked</link><guid isPermaLink="false">667e3f577464cd50c48fbc7d</guid><category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 28 Jun 2024 05:10:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_11da6209762442e99ec3ad459e6e85d7~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Johan Ferreira</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[WHAT'S HAPPENING IN EUROPE?​- THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS FOR THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT]]></title><description><![CDATA[This article focusses on the results of the elections for the European Parliament (June 6 until June 9) in the 27 member states are reported]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/what-s-happening-in-europe-the-results-of-the-elections-for-the-european-parliament</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6673d63076499148f18d5a09</guid><category><![CDATA[What's Happening in Europe?]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 12 Jun 2024 22:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_4dfacc7ed1fc4f099904d446eb694d6e~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_547,h_363,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Gerrit Jan Bouwhuis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[BOOK REVIEW: SAME AS EVER: TIMELESS LESSONS ON RISK, OPPORTUNITY, AND LIVING A GOOD LIFE BY MORGAN HOUSEL]]></title><description><![CDATA[Morgan Housel shares in the twenty-five chapters of his book the things that never change and serve as universal truths. In Lyzette Schwella]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/book-review-same-as-ever-timeless-lessons-on-risk-opportunity-and-living-a-good-life-by-morgan-h</link><guid isPermaLink="false">66752e21510d508c7ef31a07</guid><category><![CDATA[Book Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 10 Jun 2024 22:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_ca7304715d134843a5af2e697e12e03b~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_253,h_391,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Lyzette Schwella</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[WHAT'S HAPPENING IN EUROPE? - THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why is it unnecessary for Europe to see itself as the guiding continent for climate policy? 
]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/what-s-happening-in-europe-the-european-parliament</link><guid isPermaLink="false">66752f6b55915cce3e2e2fc6</guid><category><![CDATA[What's Happening in Europe?]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 04 Jun 2024 22:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_d7599bb6a6ab457bb66eb897386aa786~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_960,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Gerrit Jan Bouwhuis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[EXPERIENCE BASED PERSPECTIVES OF AN “OLD ACADEMIC” ON “FALSE EMPIRICISM” AND “FEIGNED WOKISM” IN SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE: SHALL THE TWAIN EVER MEET?]]></title><description><![CDATA[By Erwin Schwella CONTEXT It is famously, or maybe infamously said that: Old academics do not die, they just lose their faculties; and  Academic battles are so fierce because the stakes are so low! In context to what follows, this may be two initial and further false antinomies.   In my South African academic and professional social science career of close to 50 years, from being a carefree if not careless student, to becoming a more cautious academic as a perpetual student, paradigms shifted...]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/experience-based-perspectives-of-an-old-academic-on-false-empiricism-and-feigned-wokism-in-soc</link><guid isPermaLink="false">667531092dc029cab3e9383a</guid><category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 01 Jun 2024 22:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_3db23ef6ad9d4d288d044b63321c620f~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_576,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Erwin Schwella</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[WHAT’S HAPPENING IN EUROPE? - CLIMATE AND ENERGY POLICY]]></title><description><![CDATA[By Gerrit Jan Bouwhuis Five previous articles addressed subsequently: the post-war changes in Europe (immigration and the development of...]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/what-s-happening-in-europe-climate-and-energy-policy</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6672ec668250ef183bdc0872</guid><category><![CDATA[What's Happening in Europe?]]></category><pubDate>Fri, 24 May 2024 14:45:49 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_29d9f5cdadea49fea637374b5dcf420a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_559,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Gerrit Jan Bouwhuis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[BOOK REVIEW - CAN WE BE SAFE? THE FUTURE OF POLICING IN SOUTH AFRICA BY STUURMAN, Z]]></title><description><![CDATA[By Leon Du Plessis TITLE: Stuurman, Z. (2021). Can we be safe? The future of policing in South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa:...]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/book-review-can-we-be-safe-the-future-of-policing-in-south-africa-by-stuurman-z</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6672ef93d9b4c47803f98c6e</guid><category><![CDATA[Book Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 20 May 2024 14:53:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_1b0f754e4cb947ebab7e999b115ea691~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_249,h_383,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Leon Du Plessis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[WHAT'S HAPPENING IN EUROPE? - THE WAR IN UKRAINE]]></title><description><![CDATA[Who are the culprits in the Ukranian conflict? Russia and Putin? Or the USA? G]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/what-s-happening-in-europe-the-war-in-ukraine</link><guid isPermaLink="false">66752d4dff39070f1c23a63f</guid><category><![CDATA[What's Happening in Europe?]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2024 22:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_8e4009eaf1f845d8999059cf86244a5f~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_407,h_280,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Gerrit Jan Bouwhuis</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[BROKEN GATES: REVEALING THE FAILURES OF SECURITY VETTING]]></title><description><![CDATA[By Karel van der Molen Security vetting is a critical process employed by governments worldwide to safeguard their national interests, protect sensitive information which they hold, and to mitigate security risks, both from within and outside of their borders. This has been the case over many centuries (see “Security Vetting – an introduction and some initial thoughts” - the first article of this series) where there has been a need for governments, organisations, and institutions to put in...]]></description><link>https://wixwedsite.wixsite.com/confronter/post/broken-gates-revealing-the-failures-of-security-vetting</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6672eb27908cee409c884548</guid><category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2024 22:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f47a7d_50cbdc0ccbfb4dc2b31240bff28d6052~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_478,h_210,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Karel van der Molen</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>