3:50:34 pm - Wed 22 May

Pandor has the last word, and the debate winds up after much heckling and name-calling.

What do we have after 90 minutes of debate, the first debate of “public importance” in 13 years? Electioneering, petty politics and nothing in the way of answers.

Dissatisfied? You’re not alone.

A the playground brawl comes to an end. I never want to grow up. That way I can be an MP #Guptagate

— Spearchucker (@YolisaMkele) May 22, 2013

The way ma mom js went on her knees and prayed fo the #GuptaGate debate parliament

— Jama ♥ (@Maphelo_H) May 22, 2013

Verbal attacks flying all over. Parliament is one crazy show #guptagate

— Ntombizethu Zulu (@ZethuZulu) May 22, 2013

These parliamentarians are like a bunch of pre-school kids. I wonder if the speaker doesn’t have a headache already #Guptagate Parliament

— Pemmy (@pemmymatsunyane) May 22, 2013

what an awful display of rhetoric,vacuity,petty political point scoring&general sloppyness of thought todays Parly proceeding was #guptagate

— ebrahim fakir (@EbrahimFakir) May 22, 2013

3:44:40 pm - Wed 22 May

Pandor really lashes the opposition. She says the opposition is not interested in the truth but is consumed by hatred of our president, and that it will call this a “cover up”.

“This is their usual response to a truthful report based on their hatred of the ANC … This opposition fails to accept the truth. This opposition fails to accept that ministers did nothing wrong,” she says.

3:42:08 pm - Wed 22 May

Pandor’s vehemency draws lots of comments from viewers.

Honorable Minister Naledi Pandor is the sharpest ANC MP by far! She attacks and tears down the opposition with precision. #GuptaGate

— Bra Ntswembu (@Duncan_Thabiso) May 22, 2013

I wish naledi wasn’t part of this government.She’s above it #guptagate —Simphiwe (@Simzqb) May 22, 2013

No, ms. Pandor, I think the majority of your comrades are bad apples. The good apples are in minority. #GuptaGate

— WhitneyCristal Prins (@WhitneyPrins) May 22, 2013

3:41:18 pm - Wed 22 May

Home Affairs Minister Naledi Pandor is really unimpressed with the opposition and the quality of their debate.

“The opposition is not interested in the truth. The opposition wanted this debate only to attack the government and president,” she says.

She accuses Maynier of being on a fishing expedition and has been since he was made an MP, adding. “He’s hoping to catch a bog fish before elections.”

Then she calls Lekota “an angry person”, saying “He has been an angry person since 2007 – he did not like the weather in Polokwane.”

3:40:42 pm - Wed 22 May

Viewers are showing a lack of faith in parliamentary process. Can’t say I blame them.

Perhaps if we ignore the #guptadebate ,the #GuptaWedding & #Guptagate will disappear? Nothing will happen so why debate it?

— Angelo Coppola (@angelo2711) May 22, 2013

3:39:53 pm - Wed 22 May

The DA’s spokesperson on police, Dianne Kohler-Barnard says that “a troop of terrorists could have entered the country and nobody would have batted an eyelid”.

After Dikobo twice used the term “heligupta”, Kohler-Barnard has now coined another Gupta-related term — “Gupta-itis – a condition brought on by media heat”.

3:35:58 pm - Wed 22 May

Jacob Dikobo of Azapo has a poor choice of words, saying “If South Africa was a woman, we would say our country has been raped by this scandal.”

MPs don’t take kindly to this and raise a point of order, saying rape is a serious issue in the country and should not be taken lightly. The sentiment is echoed on Twitter.

Oh for fucks sake Azapo. Saying “if South Africa was a woman we would say she had been raped”. Really unacceptable.

— Rebecca Davis (@becsplanb) May 22, 2013

3:27:14 pm - Wed 22 May

Is this Minority Front MP Roy Boola in sucking up mode?

“True leaders are the ones that add value to South Africa and it’s obvious President Zuma will never let South Africa down!” he claims.

“Political parties must not be hypocritical. Name dropping is evident the world over,” he says.

3:22:18 pm - Wed 22 May

The full ministerial report is not up on the Mail & Guardian website. You can read it in its entirety here.

Some highlights:

• For technical reasons, the landing held “potentially catastrophic consequences” if anything went wrong.
• Gauteng SAPS paid aprox R47 000 in overtime to fully staff blue light brigade to Sun City.
• protocol chief Bruce Koloane said he was “under pressure from no 1 on this”
• a private and “unvetted” company was allowed onto Waterkloof – to do decorations.

3:17:19 pm - Wed 22 May

I’m not entirely sure what PAC president Letlapa Mphahlele is talking about. All I heard was “our politicians are receiving money dripped in blood and cocaine”. Okay then.

3:16:50 pm - Wed 22 May

Twitter reaction is amusing as always.

It was sold two weeks ago to Guptas! “@carienduplessis: Van Wyk: The ANC is not for sale. Our country is not for sale. #Guptagate“

— Khulekani Dumisa (@SirKhule) May 22, 2013

3:12:27 pm - Wed 22 May

UCDP president Sipho Mfundisi now speaks, says political accountability has been sacrificed to the dustbin of expediency and that in a real democracy the ministers involved would have been fired by the president for putting their guard down

“Are we to believe that a military installation is not a national key point, but the private residence of our president is,” he asks.

3:10:01 pm - Wed 22 May

Van Wyk says the DA is suffering from a serious case of election fever and government envy.

“When the public protector comes to the same conclusion as this report, I will demand the opposition apologise,” she says.

3:08:22 pm - Wed 22 May

Van Wyk is in full on protection and deflection mode.

She asks whether Helen Zille “enjoyed the curry” when she visited the Gupta household and received a cheque for the DA. DA MP Sandy Kalyan gets to her feet and looks as though she’s getting ready for a bout of fisticuffs.

@annelizevanwyk says the ANC will never allow a security breach in south Africa. Opposition screams “but you did.” #guptagate #guptadebate

— James Styan (@jamesstyan) May 22, 2013

ANC MP van Wyk clarifies that when she asked “Did you enjoy the curry?” just now, she was addressing the question to Helen Zille #guptagate — Rebecca Davis (@becsplanb) May 22, 2013

“Did you enjoy the curry?” #guptagate haaaaaaayi!!!

— Lebogang Kambule (@lebo_k) May 22, 2013

Van Wyk asked if they “enjoyed the curry”. It’s about to get real #Guptagate — Spearchucker (@YolisaMkele) May 22, 2013

3:04:34 pm - Wed 22 May

ANC MP Annelize Van Wyk takes the floor. She’s passionate, she’s angry and she’s getting quite a lot of time to say her piece. People start to wonder whether Speaker Max Sisulu has forgotten to look down at his watch.

Van Wyk says the fact government reacted decisively is a sign of a maturing democracy and that there were no attempts to sweep the matter under the carpet.

3:02:04 pm - Wed 22 May

Now a moment of levity from one Twitter user.

Is it me or has vuyo mbulis memorial been planned to deflect interest from #GuptaGate #GuptaDebate

— Wayne Alexander (@DaddycoolWayne) May 22, 2013

Hmmm, perhaps that was a bit too soon.

3:01:15 pm - Wed 22 May

ACDP president Kenneth Meshoe requests an independent commission of inquiry to get to the bottom of the incident

“Why would officials risk their career to defy ministerial orders to allow this plane to land?” he asks.

2:59:01 pm - Wed 22 May

FF+ MP Groenewald takes the podium and says that the Guptagate scandal is not only an embarrassment for the ANC, but an embarrassment for the entire South Africa.

But he has strong words for the DA too. “Helen Zille and the DA hands are also not clean. If she goes to the Guptas house and eat there, her hands are not clean,” he says.

And then a real zinger from Groenewald: “Dear President, Selebi said Agliotti was his friend. If you carry on this friendship you’ll be finish & klaar.”

2:53:42 pm - Wed 22 May

Now some criticism of the IFP from Twitter. A bit of a case of the pot calling the kettle black wouldn’t you say?

The IFP is so concerned about the #Guptagate, its president attended the wedding, days after the scandal broke. #Hypocrites

— Andisiwe Makinana (@andiMakinana) May 22, 2013

The IFP MP cites Prince Buthelezi as a leader with integrity. Okay. Why did he go to the wedding after the scandal broke? #Guptagate — Andisiwe Makinana (@andiMakinana) May 22, 2013

2:51:24 pm - Wed 22 May

The UDM’s Bantu Holomisa says the moment the Gupta name is mentioned the government is sent into a tailspin. He says it’s a plain lie that the Guptas did not receive permission from government to land this plane and that the relationship between the government and the Guptas has allowed them to use South Africa as a cash cow.

2:49:33 pm - Wed 22 May

In case you missed the Free State connection in the Guptagate scandal, this is the M&G’s story on how permission was granted for the landing — via an invitation extended by one low level provincial official to another.

2:47:49 pm - Wed 22 May

Here’s a bit of a reminder of those called on to account for the scandal, most of whom avoided sanction following the ministerial report.

2:46:21 pm - Wed 22 May

The ANC Youth League is certainly not impressed with the debate.

#guptagate someone shut the gate on these idiots trying to run our lives.

— ANCYL (@ANCYL_) May 22, 2013

2:45:53 pm - Wed 22 May

Joe Mcgluwa of the Independent Democrats says that he’s never seen the ANC so embarrassed as he has today. And so begins a passionate, if amusing, admonishment of the ruling party, with much handwaving.

“Minister Cwele, state security under your leadership has become a laughing stock!” says Mcgluwa .

2:42:26 pm - Wed 22 May

Lots of reaction on this issue on Twitter, where #Guptagate is now trending.

#guptagate The ANC can put up a veneer of shock & ignorance, and can try blame administrators, but we all know this is about JZ’s friendship

— Brett Herron (@brettherron) May 22, 2013

Anc is being exposed seriously #GuptaGate #GuptaDebate #NationalAssembly — katlego mathibe (@katlego_mathibe) May 22, 2013

no one occupies the moral high ground in the #guptadebate , its just above sea level… #Guptagate

— Angelo Coppola (@angelo2711) May 22, 2013

2:41:40 pm - Wed 22 May

IFP MP Albert Mncwango steps up and takes the opportunity to campaign for an IFP leader, saying the IFP would never stand for corruption.

“The IFP understands the importance of doing the right thing and being seen to do the right thing,” he says.

“We are on dangerous grounds when our citizens are asking, who really runs this country?” He adds that the president’s silence on the matter is disturbing.

2:39:17 pm - Wed 22 May

Lots of reaction to Lekota as well from the Twitterati.

The more Lekota speaks, the more I hear the Jaws theme #Guptagate

— Bhavna Singh (@bhavsingh) May 22, 2013

#Lekota says it seems our country is run by rumour mongering… This is not the country mandela spent 27 years in prison. #GuptaGate — Christian Steyl (@TRHumanist) May 22, 2013

Lekota “this admin runs th country like South Africans have chicken memories ” #Guptagate

— Guptagate(@SIYANDAH500) May 22, 2013

2:38:38 pm - Wed 22 May

Cope MP Mosiuoa Lekota follows and he’s not pulling any punches either.

Lekota says “We know nothing, nobody in the executive is responsible but rather “some character” that nobody had heard of.

Lekota says that the ministerial report makes a startling revelation — that the president or his ministers aren’t running the country or enforcing laws.

The ever colourful Lekota adds: “This is an executive that runs the country as if South Africans have a chicken’s memory.”

2:32:55 pm - Wed 22 May

Now Twitter responds to Maynier’s performance.

This sitting is truly warming up nicely, poppe gaan lekker dans! #Guptagate #Parliament

— Kingsley Raseroka (@Cartier__King) May 22, 2013

Watching #guptagate live from Parliament, and all I can think about is how good our government is at writing@trevornoah ‘s material! azem! — Alan Thomas Shenton (@alanshenton) May 22, 2013

This is like watching keeping up with the Kardashians with fat people #Guptagate

— Spearchucker (@YolisaMkele) May 22, 2013

2:32:10 pm - Wed 22 May

Maynier is really having a field day.

Comrade Maynier dancing at the podium now. #Guptagate

— Andisiwe Makinana (@andiMakinana) May 22, 2013

2:31:17 pm - Wed 22 May

Maynier says that when the Guptas say jump, the President says “How high?” so why should we be surprised when the Guptas say jump, officials say “How high?”

Maynier says that in the end ministers are responsible and ministers must be held accountable, adding “Ministerial heads must roll.”

And that’s even before he accuses Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula of acting as though she’s running a spaza show.

2:29:32 pm - Wed 22 May

Maynier is out to cause maximum damage with his statement — he says President Jacob Zuma is responsible for creating a culture of undue influence in government and accuses Zuma of being beholden to “sugar daddies”. Ouch.

Maynier refers to the Guptas and Shaiks as President Zuma’s sugar daddies. #Guptagate

— Andisiwe Makinana (@andiMakinana) May 22, 2013

2:28:31 pm - Wed 22 May

People are upset that Zuma is not present at the debate and are making it known on Twitter.

Jeff protecting his master #Guptagate

— Guptagate(@SIYANDAH500) May 22, 2013

Zuma is absent in the National Assembly #Guptagate

— Musse (@MussedaMane) May 22, 2013

Zuma should have, in all honesty, been part of the #GuptaGate parliamentary debate. It’s important for the president to show leadership.

— Kgaugelo S. Mametja (@De_Imperial) May 22, 2013

2:27:36 pm - Wed 22 May

No one in the presidency every gave any instruction to Bruce Koalane, the chief protocol officer who arranged permission for the landing, to do so.

Radebe says that the Indian official who received an invitation to the Free State — the invitation that made the visit legal — went to the Free State three days before the wedding, and left the country separately from that delegation.

2:27:21 pm - Wed 22 May

Radebe says the entire incident has been used as a tool to garner support for “certain political parties”.

Radebe takes his seat and gives way to DA MP David Maynier, who speaks for the opposition party on defence matters and who has been very vocal on the issue since it was made public.

2:25:58 pm - Wed 22 May

Radebe says that the report on the ministerial investigation into the matter was given to the public protector and that it was made public today. Cue reporters frantically dashing to their computers to check whether they’ve received any such email.

2:25:45 pm - Wed 22 May

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe now takes the floor, says he’s speaking on behalf of the justice cluster.

Radebe says there’s been a number of misrepresentation of facts, and that opposition parties choose to appoint themselves “prosecutor judge and jury” altogether.

He claims they’re reached a verdict without any facts.

2:25:24 pm - Wed 22 May

In case anyone forgot why the Guptas had 270 people flown into the country to begin with, it was for this festive affair.

2:23:37 pm - Wed 22 May

Watson says: “The president’s absence from the house is also notable this afternoon. This is much like his absence from leadership.”

ANC MPs do not take kindly to his comments.

2:22:55 pm - Wed 22 May

Watson says government has used officials as scapegoats and makes a mockery of accountability, the defense force, police, international relations and so forth.

This is a reference to the fact that Justice Minister Jeff Radebe saying on Sunday that permission for the landing was acquired through “name-dropping”.

2:21:25 pm - Wed 22 May

DA chief whip Watty Watson kicks off the debate. He points out that this is the first debate of public importance since the year 2000, and that it’s “chilling” that South Africans had been denied this opportunity for 13 years.

Watson says parliamentary debates are often restricted to “dedications, congratulations and celebrations” and steer clear of scandals.

2:05:27 pm - Wed 22 May

In just a few minutes Parliament will hear a debate into the so-called Guptagate scandal. Expect lots of pointed questions about how the Guptas got permission to land a chartered jet carrying passengers, who arrived in the country to attend the wedding of Vega Gupta to Aakash Jahajgarhia, at the Waterkloof Air Force Base, attempts by opposition parties to draw the president’s name into things and attempts by the ruling party to keep his name out of it.

5:26:13 pm - Fri 1 Mar

The audience is heading to the Inda-bar. That’s a wrap.

5:25:41 pm - Fri 1 Mar

Fin.

5:23:52 pm - Fri 1 Mar

John has just wrapped with the observation that there is a public perception (backed by empirical evidence) that advertising standards have dropped. ‘It’s creative people who will make the change. You’ve got to take responsibility.’

5:18:04 pm - Fri 1 Mar

John: How do you speak to contemporary audiences? Start an interesting conversation across mediums.

5:16:27 pm - Fri 1 Mar

John: TV is having a golden age. An important consideration for client campaigns. An TV spot is being show for The Guardian. Brilliant, witty, memorable: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDGrfhJH1P4

5:12:11 pm - Fri 1 Mar

We’re being shown an historic BBH Levi’s print campaign shot by Richard Avedon.

5:09:59 pm - Fri 1 Mar

We’ve just been taken through the evolution of a print ad into television, using Boddington’s as an example.

5:04:07 pm - Fri 1 Mar

John: Humour is the enemy of authority.

5:02:56 pm - Fri 1 Mar

John is critiquing Benetton’s famously controversial Pieta and Newborn Baby campaigns as being too cynical. They went beyond irreverence

5:00:31 pm - Fri 1 Mar

Warhol was a great example of doing irreverence the right way.

4:58:27 pm - Fri 1 Mar

John: There can be problems with irreverence. As communicators, we can’t just pull something down and put nothing positive back in its place.

4:57:26 pm - Fri 1 Mar

John: We are presented with choice on an alarming level. Even something as simple as buying a pair of shoes. We, as communicators, need to find a way to make people look at what we’re doing, and not the other person. Irreverence forces you to think, to consider, and is therefore very powerful.

4:55:34 pm - Fri 1 Mar

Irreverence results in new thinking. It infects architecture too. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water House; The Guggenheim. The goes on with Gehry and the Bilbao

4:52:55 pm - Fri 1 Mar

We’re being taken through various eras of art and typography and culture expressed in mediums considered ‘irreverent’ for the times – from the Bauhaus to Elvis. Irreverence is challenging, which in turn inspires change and creativity and the new

4:45:57 pm - Fri 1 Mar

John: Michelangelo was the ultimate art director: he disagreed with the client, he was late, and he came in over budget.

Fantastic!

4:44:38 pm - Fri 1 Mar

A little bit of blasphemous humour – he’s just looked up for the lightning bolt.

4:42:46 pm - Fri 1 Mar

He’s giving us the dictionary definition of irreverence, and says that the phrase sums him up completely: cheeky, disrespectful, a complete lack of respect for the establishment…

4:40:22 pm - Fri 1 Mar

One of his fundamental influences has always been irreverence.

4:39:43 pm - Fri 1 Mar

John: I don’t want you to think “Jesus Christ”, I need to go out there and get a creative philosophy. Hit Google! (Audience laughter).

4:38:30 pm - Fri 1 Mar

John: Creativity can be defined as an expression of self.

4:37:42 pm - Fri 1 Mar

John has constructed his talk around his creative philosophy. John: I don’t believe you can be a successful creator unless you have fundamental beliefs and feed those into your works. Your creative beliefs are fundamental to your success.

4:36:15 pm - Fri 1 Mar

Oh lord, it’s Mick Jagger meets Bill Nighy! Fabulous.

4:33:53 pm - Fri 1 Mar

We’re here. The last talk of the final day of the Design Indaba. We’re in the presence of advertising legend Sir John Hegarty so the conference is, appropriately, going out with a bang.

Sir John Hegarty is a creative and founder of Bartle Bogle Hegarty advertising. n the first two decades of BBH’s history, Hegarty was responsible for ground breaking campaigns for Levi’s. The now-famous phrase “Vorsprung Durch Technik” for Audi was coined by Hegarty and continues to be widely recognised. BBH now has offices in London, New York, Singapore, Sao Paulo, Los Angeles Shanghai and Mumbai with Hegarty overseeing the creative output of all these offices. Hegarty has won Gold at every industry awards including D&AD, Cannes and British Television. He has been awarded the D&AD President’s Award for outstanding achievement and was admitted to the US One Show Advertising Hall of Fame. He has also been voted as one of the most influential people in fashion, thanks to his work with Levi’s. In 2007 Hegarty was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his services to the advertising and creative industries. In June 2011, he launched his book Hegarty on Advertising – Turning Intelligence into Magic. In the same month, Hegarty was honoured for his creativity at the Cannes International Advertising Festival, being the first recipient of the inaugural Lion of St Mark’s Award.

4:14:22 pm - Fri 1 Mar

Final blog coming up in about 15 minutes – advertising guru Sir John Hegarty will close this year’s Indaba. There should be some good sound bytes so come back.

4:03:25 pm - Fri 1 Mar

A standing ovation for Adjaye.

4:02:45 pm - Fri 1 Mar

We have just seen a slide show of interior and exterior projections for the various spaces, ending in a space dedicated to Martin Luther King. Adjaye’s vision is extraordinary and emotive, extremely moving.

3:59:19 pm - Fri 1 Mar

Work is underway on the project and the site has been determined – it is where a slave market used to be. From Adjaye Associates website:  ’Physical references to America’s extensive and rich African heritage are made throughout the design; topping the entry-level porch are two superstructures, shaped liked crowns that are inspired by an African headdress’.

3:54:29 pm - Fri 1 Mar

Adjaye: We had to make a new kind of architecture for this museum.

3:53:38 pm - Fri 1 Mar

The final project being discussed is the Smithsonian National Museum of African American Culture and History (NMAACH).

3:52:43 pm - Fri 1 Mar

3:51:54 pm - Fri 1 Mar

The cantilevered structure is concrete and entirely clad in glass. White marble is the main material in the public spaces. There is also an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

3:49:09 pm - Fri 1 Mar

3:44:38 pm - Fri 1 Mar

The Moscow School of Management is being discussed. It is the first management institution on a scale of Harvard Business School and the likes.

3:40:05 pm - Fri 1 Mar

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver. Gallery spaces have been designed with specific media in mind.

3:32:13 pm - Fri 1 Mar

Sorry, tech issues. We’re back.

We’re onto Public Projects.

3:22:43 pm - Fri 1 Mar

Despite its modernity, a few original foundations and walls have been retained and ‘framed’ as design features.

3:22:02 pm - Fri 1 Mar

The house was designed for an art collector and unfolds as a spatially complex series of interlocking spaces. The entrance is a gallery space – and you can literally drive a truck into the front door (to accommodate larger pieces of art being taken inside).

3:19:38 pm - Fri 1 Mar

Across the pond to New York. A fabulous carriage-house squashed between to two tall buildings.

3:18:40 pm - Fri 1 Mar

Adjaye created a live-work space for an artist. No interior materials other than glass and white concrete screed.

3:16:19 pm - Fri 1 Mar

Next project: Dirty House. The second house David ever made. It is located in the East End, a place heavy on industrial live-work spaces.

3:14:16 pm - Fri 1 Mar

There is a secret roof terrace for the couple to escape the heat in summer… and their children for a few moments.

3:13:17 pm - Fri 1 Mar

Architecture that expresses a humanity is important to Adjaye.

3:12:05 pm - Fri 1 Mar

The audience is being shown a private residential commission, The Sunken House.

3:11:17 pm - Fri 1 Mar

The ‘New Geographic’ map of Africa

3:09:51 pm - Fri 1 Mar

Adjaye is speaking about his journey that took place over 11 years documenting the architecture of Africa. According to Adjaye, the political map of Africa is the one that we have in our minds, but there is a ‘New Geographic’ map of Africa. Geography, culture and place are so inextricably linked. The Magreb; the Desert; The Sahel; The Forest; the Savanna and Grasslands, for example. Patterns can be seen, architecture that is connected by terrain, rather than geography.

3:00:57 pm - Fri 1 Mar

Adjaye Associates is dedicated to extensive research; experiments in product (furniture to emotive environments); the evolution of residential typologies; and public buildings.

2:59:00 pm - Fri 1 Mar

The Indaba is coming to a close, two speakers to go. Architect David Adjaye is coming up. Adjaye is the principal architect of Adjaye Associates, a global practice established in 2000. The firm has won a number of prestigious commissions, the biggest and most recent being the £160-million Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO.  Adjaye’s projects currently include the 0-million commission to redesign the Smithsonian National Museum of African American Culture and History (NMAACH). Adjaye often collaborates with important contemporary artists and curators to create unique spaces for art. He was awarded the OBE for services to architecture in 2007 and currently holds a visiting professor post at Princeton University School of Architecture. He is a RIBA Chartered Member, an AIA Honorary Fellow, a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council and a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Since 2005 he has published numerous books on architecture and has also exhibited widely.  Over the course of 10 years, Adjaye has travelled and photographed each African capital city, which culminated in Urban Africa: David Adjaye’s Photographic Survey, a unique geo-cultural catalogue profiling the African city in a global context. Adjaye has co-presented and hosted a number of television series and radio programmes for the BBC. A documentary of his career so far is currently being planned.

9:58:27 am - Fri 1 Mar

That was mind expanding. Further reading, if you’re interested, is at http://www.syntheticaesthetics.org.

See you this afternoon at 2.30 for architect David Adjaye.

9:53:42 am - Fri 1 Mar

There’s a world of division that is seen between design and art with that of science, technology, engineering and math. Science and the humanities are both inherently creative – we should see a real value to opening up that divide.

9:49:16 am - Fri 1 Mar

Daisy: We need to use design to open up new areas of thought. We need to ask better questions rather than just solving problems. By asking better questions, we will have problems to solve that are better.

9:47:59 am - Fri 1 Mar

Food designers and scientists have collaborated to make cheese out of human bacteria. The future is here, and it stinks!

Daisy on the importance of bacteria: We are what we eat. But maybe, in a Synthetic Biology future, maybe we eat what we are.

9:45:29 am - Fri 1 Mar

Workshops between designers and scientists have been important in investigating the future of Synthetic Aesthetics

9:34:43 am - Fri 1 Mar

Here we go: http://vimeo.com/19759432

9:33:11 am - Fri 1 Mar

We’re being shown a video about the E.Chromi project. I’ll try to find a link.

9:31:28 am - Fri 1 Mar

The theory so far is by and large a fiction, but it’s a really useful fiction

9:30:05 am - Fri 1 Mar

The impact of Synthetic Biology is going to be cultural, political, economic…

9:25:55 am - Fri 1 Mar

We should be looking at how to apply Synthetic Biology to solve problems – alternatives to fuel, for example.

9:24:52 am - Fri 1 Mar

Daisy: Biology and life with it is becoming a 21st century material for design. Is synthetic biology a design discipline of the future? Maybe.

9:22:55 am - Fri 1 Mar

Daisy: Four months after I graduated as an architect I lost interest and started being interested in things like bacteria grown in jelly.

As one does.

9:21:19 am - Fri 1 Mar

Daisy: We keep repeating mistakes over and over again with design. We need to do more than just problem-solving with design. We need to make things better

9:19:54 am - Fri 1 Mar

Daisy is showing wasteful everyday items – plastic bags, bottled water, the energy-saving lightbulb are all examples of how engineering and design can take a problem and solve it, but give us bigger problems in the long term

9:16:25 am - Fri 1 Mar

It seems Daisy was raised, or spent part of her youth, in South Africa.

9:15:14 am - Fri 1 Mar

A few empty seats. Good party last night, apparently.

9:11:57 am - Fri 1 Mar

Good morning. It’s the final day of the Design Indaba Conference and in a few minutes Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg – or Daisy to her friends and colleagues – will begin with a talk that should be utterly captivating. Daisy is an artist, designer and writer investigating futures for design. She studied architecture at the University of Cambridge, design at Harvard University and MA Design Interactions at the Royal College of Art, London. Working in unfamiliar spaces like synthetic biology, Ginsberg explores the implications of emerging technologies, seeking potential new roles for design within developing technologies. As Design Fellow on Synthetic Aesthetics, a project between Stanford University and the University of Edinburgh, Ginsberg has curated an international programme on synthetic biology, art and design since 2010, questioning how we might ‘design nature’. The project will be published by MIT Press in 2014. I’m hoping that she also speaks about her E. chromi project, a collaboration with an undergraduate team from Cambridge University that explored the following question: ‘What if bacteria could be used as a tool for detecting harmful elements in the environment for both humans and animals?’.

5:00:57 pm - Thu 28 Feb

One last word from Daan: The role of the designer and of creativity is needed more than ever.

And that’s a wrap. See you back here tomorrow.

4:59:11 pm - Thu 28 Feb

A standing ovation for Daan. He is amused!

4:58:35 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Daan: Reality is beautiful. But, we should be willing to go out there, to hack it, to engage ourselves in new types of making and imagination

4:56:22 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Daan: There should be a little bit Orwell with a little bit Da Vinci in every designer.

4:54:11 pm - Thu 28 Feb

A project for a Smart Highway that is in prototype stage in the Netherlands that will do away with street lights for a more sustainable road system: paints used for road-markings that glow in the dark and power up doing the day, for example. And graphics that change in colour based on temperature, indicating where the slippery spots on the road might be.

http://www.studioroosegaarde.net/project/smart-highway/

4:48:46 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Now we’re being shown a sustainable dance floor – where the kinetic movements of the dancers convert to electricity which makes the floor react (flashing lights Saturday Night Fever style) as well as powering other applications such as the DJ booth.

4:44:57 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Daan has just shown us a project initiated by the city of a Lyon, France, to ‘update’ some of its more historic buildings without physically altering their architecture or interiors. LOTUS 7.0 is a living wall composed of smart foils that fold open in response to human behavior. Walking past LOTUS, hundreds of aluminum foils unfold themselves in an organic way, the light highlighting areas of the building and details that one might have overlooked before.

4:39:36 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Daan is showing a beautiful series of images featuring LED lights that have been encased in crystals that grow around them. Biological engineering.

4:37:54 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Daan: Sharing information is part of our new economy.

4:37:33 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Daan says he is working on a new version for bankers that become transparent when you lie! Laughter and applause.

4:35:06 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Daan is showing images of the Intimacy 2.0 garments that turn more or less transparent in response to the wearer’s heartbeat. Intimacy 2.0 is made with leather and smart opaque e-foils that become increasingly transparent based on close and personal encounters with other people.Something of a sensual play, the garments basically respond to your elevated pulses by going transparent around the neckline.
Don’t wear this while you’re reading 50 Shades of Grey!

4:34:00 pm - Thu 28 Feb

DUNE was placed in a nondescript public tunnel – the reaction of the pedestrians who encountered it is pure delight.  Check out the video here:  http://www.studioroosegaarde.net/project/dune/

4:32:08 pm - Thu 28 Feb

He is showing a video of his DUNE project – a public interactive landscape that interacts with human behavior. This hybrid of nature and technology is composed of large amounts of fibers that brighten according to the sounds and motion of passing visitors.

4:29:19 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Daan: I am a hippie with a business plan. * Laughter

4:28:57 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Daan: Technology has become our second skin.

4:27:57 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Daan is going to speak about the future of design – he is a believer in techno-poetry: where the world of innovation is merged with that of the imagination.

4:24:55 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Day two of the Design Indaba conference is about to wrap with a talk by Daan Roosegaarde – an artist and innovator interested in exploring the dawn of a ‘new nature’ evolving from technological innovations. Studio Roosegaarde is his design lab based in both Rotterdam and Shanghai, employing a team of designers and engineers. Roosegaarde has won the Dutch Design Award, Design for Asia Award and China’s Most Successful Design Award. He has been the focus of exhibitions at the Tate Modern, the National Museum in Tokyo, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and various public spaces in Rotterdam and Hong Kong.

2:46:26 pm - Thu 28 Feb

It might take a while for the audience to come out of our collective trance. See you back here around 4.10pm for the last speaker of today, Daan Roosegaarde.

2:43:26 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Incredible. I don’t think that anyone inhaled for the duration of the performance.

2:41:41 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Nicholas and the musicians have just left the stage. Lots of applause. Lights going up. Still applause. Oh, hang on, standing ovations.

2:40:35 pm - Thu 28 Feb

The stitch is important in his work – a metaphorical and literal stitching together, a rebuilding, of our ripped apart country.

2:36:22 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Hlobo: My work is very sexually charged.

2:36:03 pm - Thu 28 Feb

We are seeing images of the mythical Impundulu creature that he has interpreted in his work.

2:34:22 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Hlobo: I find Joburg a very inspiring city. It is why I stay there. Without Joburg, South Africa would be very different. And it’s not beautiful, so you really need to look to find the beauty.’

2:33:29 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Hlobo has emerged from the ‘cocoon’ gourd. It’s him who is doing the singing/chanting.

2:32:29 pm - Thu 28 Feb

It seems Hlobo had a complicated relationship with his mother. Much confusion about his culture. Conflict. The archetypal tortured artist?

2:29:35 pm - Thu 28 Feb

In the video we are being shown a piece of performance art by Hlobo in which he is suspended from the ceiling by a bed/hammock hybrid – a work that for him brings to mind memories of his brother

2:27:37 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Hlobo: ‘When I was a child I was an artist, even before I knew what an artist was. I was the one who would always ask to draw on the chalkboard, cats and pumpkins. Then it became more serious’.

2:26:30 pm - Thu 28 Feb

The text on screen is clearly taking the place of a live narrative. Hlobo: ‘I write and sketch with art’

2:25:33 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Haunting music, a gourd-shaped cocoon (white) has slowly descended onto the stage.

2:24:31 pm - Thu 28 Feb

A video is being shown, no audio, just subtitled text, Hlobo’s stream of consciousness. We see young Xhosa initiates, text describing the attitude towards these young men in society: ‘they are treated like dogs, basically’.

2:22:16 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Seems like we’re in for some performance art. Hlobo is being accompanied on stage by two jazz musicians, the auditorium is dark, just a voice singing.

2:20:48 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Hello again. We’re back after an extended lunch break during which the Design Indaba Expo was officially opened. I managed a whirlwind look-see, but if you’re in Cape Town this weekend it’s worth a visit. http://www.designindaba.com/events/design-indaba-expo-2013

Now for Nicholas Hlobo; a South African artist fast gaining an international reputation for his experimental use of materials. Hlobo is a Johannesburg-based artist. Born in Cape Town in 1975, Hlobo has a B Tech degree from the Wits Technikon, Johannesburg (2002). Designing sculptures which tend to provoke due to their structural illusions, Nicholas Hlobo has gained international recognition and a firm following. Working with a variety of materials, using rubber and ribbon as the main component, Hlobo creates truly unique and eye-catching pieces, which have led him to win many awards and exhibit at numerous exhibitions worldwide. Hlobo has had solo exhibitions at the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo (2011), in the Level 2 Gallery at Tate Modern, London (2008), and at the Boston ICA as part of theMomentum series (2008), among other institutions.

12:26:09 pm - Thu 28 Feb

This was the highlight of the conference so far. Alex’s new cookbook is launching now in the foyer. I’m off!

See you back here at 1.50 for Nicholas Hlobo.

12:24:50 pm - Thu 28 Feb

The woman next to me and I have tears. The word inspiring is so overused, but here, there’s nothing else to say.

12:24:03 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Alex: This is a dish of ants with pineapple, lightly frozen. I didn’t do anything here. God is the chef. We must respect.

Audience is going crazy!

12:21:50 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Alex: Our relationship with food must be reviewed. We need to use the entire animal. This is respect.

The audience applauds.

12:20:40 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Alex: We throw away lots of good food. Less than 1% of a whole cattle goes to the restaurant.

12:19:33 pm - Thu 28 Feb

It’s all about cultural norms, perceptions.
Alex: Sometimes to be creatives, you must put your first concepts away.

12:17:54 pm - Thu 28 Feb

We’re moving onto insects as a food source. Local Amazonian ants that taste like lemongrass.

12:17:10 pm - Thu 28 Feb

A depressing clip of the rainforest being destroyed, deforestation, fire… A subject close to his heart, of course.

12:15:47 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Watching the ‘making of’ videos of the creation of a various dishes is a real ‘wish you were here moment’. We’ll check later if there are any links to view them. It’s food porn deluxe, that’s all I’m saying.

12:13:20 pm - Thu 28 Feb

A green papaya dessert with green papaya, frozen Amazonian fruit, served with frozen yoghurt powder. A completely (and deliberately) colourless dish. Beautiful.

12:11:06 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Alex: Sometimes creativity is two steps forward, one behind.

12:08:35 pm - Thu 28 Feb

More food videos, showing some of the dishes at D.O.M. Manically exciting. This particular dish uses manioc (cassava), highly poisonous if not cooked correctly. The audience laughs… nervously.

12:05:35 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Another video: inspired by and designed to represent and impart the ‘flavour and fragrance’ of the burning of the Amazon rainforest.

Never mind Protest Art, this is Protest Food!

12:03:39 pm - Thu 28 Feb

His restaurant, D.O.M, only does tasting menus. A video is being screened about secondary flavours and being playful. For example, one gets three glasses of water with your meal, each differently flavoured.  All designed to evoke a sensation and sense of surprise.

12:01:03 pm - Thu 28 Feb

Alex is relating a story about the duality of interpretation: how, when his sons come home from soccer practice and take off their shoes, it’s the most vile smell. But it brings to mind (and nose) the cheese that he uses in his restaurants. Sensory associations, depending on the context, can be incredible or ‘fucking disgusting’.

11:57:47 am - Thu 28 Feb

Alex: Take the BBQ flavour and scent – it is one of the oldest most primitive associations we have. It is the human key. Something that links us all. Even vegetarians!

11:56:04 am - Thu 28 Feb

Alex: Old ideas can be more intelligent, exciting and modern than new ideas.

11:54:16 am - Thu 28 Feb

Alex: Creativity for a chef is not to do something that no one has  done before. It’s to do something really surprising. There is a difference

11:51:56 am - Thu 28 Feb

Up on stage with him is acclaimed South African chef Margot Janse to ‘help him with his English’. Sounds perfectly articulate to me.

11:50:30 am - Thu 28 Feb

Aw bless. He’s nervous!

11:48:59 am - Thu 28 Feb

11:45:03 am - Thu 28 Feb

Hi from the second day of the Design Indaba conference. If you’re here for the live blog to read about chef Alex Atala, things are running a little late. Time to make a quick cuppa or watch that (short) YouTube video. See you in two.

5:37:07 pm - Wed 27 Feb

John’s wrapping up by saying that designers can always be trusted to do the right thing. Lots of applause, and we’re out of here until tomorrow. The crowd will be heading to the Design Inda-bar for a few drinks and some serious tunage to kick off the Design Indaba Music Circuit.

5:34:34 pm - Wed 27 Feb

The talk has ended to enthusiastic applause.

5:33:08 pm - Wed 27 Feb

Organisations have evolved into organisms. A metaphorical way to imagine it is that we cannot approach organisations as the pyramid structure anymore; they are more like an octopus. Its eight tentacles have the ability to do things on their own; they don’t have to ask the brain for permission.

5:26:52 pm - Wed 27 Feb

John is discussing the challenges of leadership. Ironically, with more connectivity, we are less connected on a human level

5:21:59 pm - Wed 27 Feb

Design and designers, in the context of advancing technology, is essential. Art education needs to be pushed into innovation. It begins with acknowledgment and support from government.

5:15:34 pm - Wed 27 Feb

John: A traditional leader wants to be right. A creative leader is optimistic. They hope to be right.

5:14:38 pm - Wed 27 Feb

John: Creative leadership loves to learn from mistakes. A traditional leader loves to avoid mistakes.

5:13:43 pm - Wed 27 Feb

John: Things have become more chaotic because of the reduction of the hierarchy. We’ve become a heterarchy.

5:12:03 pm - Wed 27 Feb

John is discussing various forms of leadership. ‘There’s an easy way to lead, he says. ‘It’s called being a dictator’. But John says his ultimate ‘Sex and the City’ question is ‘how do creative people lead?’. He’s discussing another influential book in his life: Orbiting the Giant Hairball by Gordon Mackenzie.

5:08:04 pm - Wed 27 Feb

More laughs: John feels ‘tied’ to Barack Obama as he became president of the Rhode Island School of Design at the same time as Barack Obama became president of the USA.

5:07:01 pm - Wed 27 Feb

Funny guy, this John: ‘A few years ago I was a tenured professor. Basically a professor who doesn’t have to work anymore!’

5:06:02 pm - Wed 27 Feb

Another book he recommends: John Gardiner, On Leadership

5:05:05 pm - Wed 27 Feb

Two tomes that influenced John in his early years: Lisp Machine Manual and the Bauhaus

5:02:52 pm - Wed 27 Feb

John is discussing his book, Design By Numbers, an introduction to how programming works. ‘Programming is not very complicated. It’s just very boring’.

5:01:37 pm - Wed 27 Feb

Funny anecdotes about Paul Rand. Paul’s response to a question of John’s in the mid-90s as to what is bad design? ‘A bad design is superficial, pretentious. Basically like all the design you see out there today!’

4:57:30 pm - Wed 27 Feb

John is speaking about the designer who created the IBM logo, Paul Rand, reminiscing about his human, soft side.

4:53:36 pm - Wed 27 Feb

John: You have to have a mix of the serious and the jackass to synthesize true culture.

4:52:57 pm - Wed 27 Feb

Ha! John has just said that to follow dancing sperm is really hard. Someone needs to put that on a t-shirt.

4:50:23 pm - Wed 27 Feb

And there is the beauty of the Design Indaba… That you can segue from a music video featuring dancing sperm (presented by creative director Masashi Kawamura) to the last speaker on the programme, John Maeda. In all it’s been great first day at the conference. Perhaps a little less rock ‘n roll than a couple of previous opening days that I recall, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

So back to John Maeda, president of the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design. As an artist, graphic designer, computer scientist and educator, Maeda was named one of the 75 most influential people of the 21st century by Esquire and has been dubbed the ‘Steve Jobs of academia’ by Forbes magazine. His work is focusses on integrating technology, design and leadership into a 21st -century synthesis of creativity and innovation. His Twitter feed, @johnmaeda, was recognised as one of TIME Magazine’s 140 Best Twitter Feeds of 2011.

4:37:31 pm - Wed 27 Feb

Running a little late at Design Indaba. Hold tight for some insight from John Maeda, the last speaker of the day

2:29:33 pm - Wed 27 Feb

Oscar done. That was quick! Would loved to have heard more about the Tube Toys range and seen the finished products from the 10×10 project. I guess that’s what Google is for.  See you at 4.15 for John Maeda.

2:24:13 pm - Wed 27 Feb

His work pushes the boundaries of merging traditional and modern technology

2:23:13 pm - Wed 27 Feb

Another collaborative conceptual project, for an airliner: the shapes of knives, forks and spoons were cut out of plastic bottles, coated in copper, then again in tin to make them resistant to wear & tear and food acidity. Beautiful.

2:15:41 pm - Wed 27 Feb

He spent two months visiting  the store for objects for the project – to the point that certain customers thought he worked there and used to ask him where they could find specific things

2:12:51 pm - Wed 27 Feb

We’re being shown a photograph of the inside of the discount store where Oscar was sourcing a cheap object to redesign. One mother of an ugly plastic lemon squeezer…

2:11:31 pm - Wed 27 Feb

He visited a one Pound shop in his London neighborhood to find everyday objects to incorporate into the project. Oscar: ‘I like the simplification of a transaction for an object that costs one Pound’.

2:09:20 pm - Wed 27 Feb

Now Oscar is speaking about another project: 10×10 – ten objects in ten days

2:08:21 pm - Wed 27 Feb

The material (the paper) is like a sponge, collecting the ink and dispersing it to ‘colour’ the numbers, words or imagery, almost bringing the paper to life

2:07:21 pm - Wed 27 Feb

Oscar Diaz’s tube toys, which incorporate the packaging into the product.

2:04:57 pm - Wed 27 Feb

Oscar is relating his work on a calendar for an exhibition using paper and ink that react to the temperature outside. Colour reacts to the changes in the barometer, representing a more physical manifestation of the progression of time

2:00:29 pm - Wed 27 Feb

Apologies for the delay. Wretched wi-fi! But Oscar is on stage. He’s just starting speaking about a project involving sugar cubes…

1:46:02 pm - Wed 27 Feb

We’re back. And running a bit late, but not by much. Decks are currently being spun onstage as the post-lunch audience streams into the auditorium. Next up is Oscar Diaz. Here’s the lowdown:
Oscar Diaz is a product designer interested in understanding, exploring and questioning objects. Diaz studied art in Spain and design at the Ecole de Beaux Arts de Bordeaux in France. After working for designer Matali Crasset in Paris, he enrolled in the Design Products MA at the Royal College of Art in London, under the direction of Ron Arad. In addition he worked briefly in Japan, designing furniture, before returning to London to establish his own practice in 2007. Plain and playful, Diaz’s objects draw inspiration from the everyday things, which by a simple twist become something unexpected. Diaz’s clients include MUJI, the Institute of Contemporary Arts, Terra Plana, Veuve Clicquot and Phillips de Pury. Displaying a playful edge often seen in his work, Diaz’s Tube Toys range uses the packaging as an integral part of assembling the toys and was inspired by the phenomenon of children being as intrigued by the packaging of their toys as the toy itself.

10:08:34 am - Wed 27 Feb

See you back here at 1.30pm for the presentation by Oscar Diaz.

10:06:47 am - Wed 27 Feb

A question for Paula from the audience: ‘What happens if you just are faced with a situation and are drawing a blank?’
Paula: ‘Usually if I’m drawing a blank it’s because I’ve done the job a million times before. Or I’ve just got up and don’t have a brain in my head that day. And let’s be honest, we all have those days. And sometimes they go on for six months! But the real killer for me is repetition… Where I know what the client wants, what they’re going to say.’ According to Paula, the great work comes when the challenges are so great and one is so out of your comfort zone that the solution requires a real breakthrough. Discomfort can result in great inspiration, it would seem.

Paula has just finished. Good start to the Indaba.

10:01:11 am - Wed 27 Feb

The furniture is customized with type, signage has been punched-out into the walls, the donors wall is a series of elevated ‘bricks’ rather than a typical plaque.
Paula: It’s type city in there!

9:59:43 am - Wed 27 Feb

A project close to Paula’s heart is redesigning the identity for The Public – a theatre in New York. She has redesigned it three times already, although each time has been so subtle that no-on really notices

9:57:27 am - Wed 27 Feb

A current project is designing signage for a subway system for Tel Aviv. Creating 3 dimensional structures that can be used in a variety of ways – to show information, as seating, for shelter…

9:54:18 am - Wed 27 Feb

Paula is describing how she designed the new Windows 8 logo for Microsoft.

9:50:28 am - Wed 27 Feb

Maps as murals. (Paula Scher)

9:46:41 am - Wed 27 Feb

Paula is showing an incredible mural for a public school in Queens of maps, painted onto massive tiles and installed on several feature walls and in public areas such as hallways and stairwells. How inspiring for students to be surrounded by art at every turn

9:41:09 am - Wed 27 Feb

Images showing the use of type on buildings (public schools) as a creative and more affordable design solution

9:40:14 am - Wed 27 Feb

Paula is showing images of a small, run-down building for the arts in New Jersey that she was asked to consult on. No budget to renovate led to a Photoshop job that was rendered onto the building exactly as it looked digitally. It has never had any graffiti sprayed on it – unlike many of the surrounding buildings

9:37:53 am - Wed 27 Feb

Paula: Creativity is a small defiant act of misbehaving.

9:36:33 am - Wed 27 Feb

Paula is live! Says D.I is her favourite conference of all of them.

9:35:59 am - Wed 27 Feb

Paula about to take the stage. If you’re interested and have some time later, you can check out videos of some of her other talks at design conferences around the world on www.designindaba.com

9:33:32 am - Wed 27 Feb

The line-up being introduced. We can look forward to speakers from all ages and disciplines. Quite literally from a teenager to an octogenarian.

9:27:42 am - Wed 27 Feb

Interesting: the Design Indaba is being live broadcast to four venues across SA: Joburg, PE, Durban and Cape Town. Pretty cool – spreading the creative love.

9:19:59 am - Wed 27 Feb

The MC’s are introducing the event at the moment.

9:16:23 am - Wed 27 Feb

Good morning from the Cape Town International Convention Centre. We’re blogging from the Design Indaba Conference. While we wait for things to kick off, a little bit about the first speaker of the day: Paula Scher.

Scher studied at the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia and began her graphic design career as an art director at Atlantic and CBS Records in the 1970s. In 1984 she co-founded Koppel & Scher, and in 1991 she joined Pentagram Design as a partner. She is a member of the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame and won the prestigious Chrysler Award for Innovation in Design in 2000. Scher has developed identity and branding systems, promotional materials, environmental graphics, packaging and publications for a wide range of clients, creating images that speak to contemporary audiences with emotional impact and appeal.

Okay, here we go…

4:41:05 pm - Fri 22 Feb

Oscar Pistorius granted bail – Full story.

4:34:12 pm - Fri 22 Feb

#OscarPistorius Nair: I come to the conclusion that the accused has made a case to be released on bail

— Mail & Guardian (@MG_Reporter) February 22, 2013

2:40:51 pm - Fri 22 Feb

The ruling is about to begin…

2:21:13 pm - Fri 22 Feb

Listen to the ruling live, via EWN

2:18:57 pm - Fri 22 Feb

It’s almost time for the ruling.

1:19:53 pm - Fri 22 Feb

Pistorius trial: The legal principles that will decide the case bit.ly/X0KWBP A column by PIERRE DE VOS (@pierredevos)

— Daily Maverick (@dailymaverick) February 22, 2013

1:04:14 pm - Fri 22 Feb

Full story: Pistorius bail hearing closes, verdict due at 2.30pm

12:27:28 pm - Fri 22 Feb

Side reading: Ten things about guns in South Africa

12:06:00 pm - Fri 22 Feb

Nair has asked both sides to understand that ruling may not do justice to a week of argument. May delay on full reasons. #OscarPistorius

— Phillip de Wet (@phillipdewet) February 22, 2013

12:04:58 pm - Fri 22 Feb

Ruling is expected to be announced at 2pm this afternoon.

12:02:01 pm - Fri 22 Feb

Roux corrects his previous statement by stating that the prosthesis don’t need maintenance on a monthly basis, but often.

12:01:06 pm - Fri 22 Feb

Nair: does #OscarPistorius affidavit do justice to flight risk? [It doesn't mention a need for specific medical attention in SA.]

— Phillip de Wet (@phillipdewet) February 22, 2013

11:59:15 am - Fri 22 Feb

Roux is now addressing the flight risk issue as posed by the prosecution. He draws attention once again to the fact that it would be difficult and unlikely because of his well known face and celebrity status. He also mentions that Oscar’s prosthesis need maintenance.

11:54:21 am - Fri 22 Feb

The defence address some of the statements brought forward by Nel.
Roux suggests that the guns and cellphones were found on the bathroom floor as a result of Oscar entering with them and placing them there after he realised it was Reeva and found her.

11:51:02 am - Fri 22 Feb

As proceedings continue, the defence tries to illustrate that the charge should be culpable homicide. Roux: By Oscar’s own testimony, this is what he should be tried for.

11:43:35 am - Fri 22 Feb

To sum up:
The prosecution is arguing that Pistorius should have testified.
Nel: He was in possession of unlicensed ammunition regardless of whether it was his dad’s or not.
Nel: Oscar says Reeva slept on the right hand side of her bed but her bad and slippers were on the left
Nel: Nothing is stopping Oscar from fleeing and just carrying on with his life as usual, Julian Assange is the perfect example of this.
Nel: His disability should not excuse him
Nel: Pistorius planned murder that night, not necessarily weeks in advance.
Nel: Reeva sought shelterin the bathroom because Oscar was armed
Nel: President Zuma raised the issue of violence against women in his SONA address, this issue needs to be given attention.

11:36:57 am - Fri 22 Feb

3D walkthrough of Oscar Pistorius’s bedroom and bathroom [Video by Bruce Hong]

11:30:37 am - Fri 22 Feb

Reading for the break : Pistorius hopes to secure bail on fourth day of hearing.

11:28:52 am - Fri 22 Feb

The court is on a break now, when processions commence, Roux will have a chance to respond to the prosecution. The magistrate at this point seems slightly unconvinced about the argument that Oscar may be a flight risk. There have also been arguments surrounding his disability.

10:43:56 am - Fri 22 Feb

Nel is now questioning why Oscar didn’t look for Reeva. It doesn’t make sense to him, he says. How would Oscar just know that it was her that he shot? ( he references the affidavit here where Oscar mentions that he realized it was her).

10:34:27 am - Fri 22 Feb

The prosecution now addresses the defenses argument that Oscar was crying at the scene.

10:27:43 am - Fri 22 Feb

#OscarPistorius Nel: She didn’t say anything, not a word. The only reasonable thing would be ‘Oscar where are you, what’s going on’. – Mandy Weiner

10:20:55 am - Fri 22 Feb

So far, Nel has tucked into the proceedings by once again bringing the magistrate’s attention to the fact that Oscar did not elect to put himself on the stand and testify.

10:11:48 am - Fri 22 Feb

Day four of court proceedings is about to begin. It’s rumored that the prosecution won’t take long with their closing argument today.

4:11:03 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Again, Nel raises the issue of Oscar’s affidavit, and the state winds up the arguments for the day by stating that Oscar never offered himself up for cross-examination, thus, his version of events cannot be questioned by the prosecution on the stand.

4:04:58 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Nel: “What we have here are threats, and a dead woman.” On #OscarPistorius run-in with Batchelor.

— Phillip de Wet (@phillipdewet) February 21, 2013

4:02:32 pm - Thu 21 Feb

He now turns the argument toward the testimony of the witnesses as brought forward by the defence…

4:01:23 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Gerrie Nel illustrates how even in Oscar’s own version, the result is still murder. He recounts the amount of shots fired and amplifies his statement by saying you only shoot four times when the intent is to kill.

3:51:58 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Nel on #OscarPistorius version: “actions indicative of a man willing and ready to fire to kill… He stormed the danger.”

— Phillip de Wet (@phillipdewet) February 21, 2013

3:51:15 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Nel is now starting to question the legitimacy of the affidavit word for word, even going to the extent of re-enacting Oscar’s description of events. How could he not have noticed whether she was in the bed or not if he had to pass her twice?, he asks.

3:45:06 pm - Thu 21 Feb

#OscarPistorius … But I am an international athlete. OP shows “lack of willingness to take responsibility for his deeds”

— Niren Tolsi (@NirenTolsi) February 21, 2013

3:44:42 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Nel tears into Oscar’s affidavit at this stage, saying that it lacks responsibility on his part.

3:30:26 pm - Thu 21 Feb

#OscarPistorius Nel: gun next to cellphones “kill the version” how did OP get these in front of shower. Objective fact: fired & dropped gun.

— Niren Tolsi (@NirenTolsi) February 21, 2013

3:29:37 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel is now posing that the location of the gun and cellphone are incongruent with Oscar’s version of the story. How did they land up in the bathroom he questions.

3:24:01 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Gerrie Nel is up for the prosecution…

3:09:47 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Ten minute break, then prosecution will tell us why state thinks #OscarPistorius should be kept in jail for duration of trial.

— Phillip de Wet (@phillipdewet) February 21, 2013

3:08:30 pm - Thu 21 Feb

The argument has now turned to community reaction and social response. Nair wants to know if the public won’t be outraged at the release of Pistorius…

3:05:27 pm - Thu 21 Feb

As the defence continues, the magistrate makes reference to the Tasha’s incident where the gun went off as well as the threat incident …

2:58:53 pm - Thu 21 Feb

View from a fish eye lens Court C [Picture by Aki Anastasiou, EWN, Twitter]

2:54:23 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Read the article
The latest in court proceedings so far

2:52:36 pm - Thu 21 Feb

After a frantic rush by photographers to see exactly what the threat was, it is still unclear, court is in session again.

2:47:31 pm - Thu 21 Feb

In the midst of what seemed like Roux’s final statements regarding the bail application, magistrate Nair has adjourned the court because of a “threat” outside.

2:33:44 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Interesting. Roux dwells much on detail, but skips over apparent #OscarPistorius home in Italy entirely. So far, anyway.

— Phillip de Wet (@phillipdewet) February 21, 2013

2:32:12 pm - Thu 21 Feb

The Sarie article used as a reference in court earlier
Ons superster Oscar: “Roem nie altyd great’
Deur Charis Labuschagne, SARIE Februarie 2013

2:24:41 pm - Thu 21 Feb

And now, in defence of the argument that Oscar poses a flight risk:

2:14:56 pm - Thu 21 Feb

A lot of engagement from the magistrate in this portion of the proceedings. He wants to know crucial things and he’s sourcing information from the defence, looking for clarity: Could Reeva’s bladder have emptied as a result of the trauma (who’s to say she went to the toilet for this purpose), he also would like to know whether she could have responded when Oscar shouted at the intruder? Roux defends this statement and says she probably didn’t want to put herself in danger. Roux further admits that this case has a lot of possibilities but that the court needs to focus on probabilities.

2:00:12 pm - Thu 21 Feb

#OscarPistorius Roux: “Botha admitted he was simply wrong when he suggested there was deliberate firing at the toilet seat.”

— Niren Tolsi (@NirenTolsi) February 21, 2013

1:57:49 pm - Thu 21 Feb

The defence is starting to drive their argument home now. Going through the points alleged by the state and pointing out the lack of evidence to strengthen the bail application.

1:48:21 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Court is in session again…

1:44:21 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Side reading:

1:34:07 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Side reading:

1:16:59 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Outside the court, the media waits for Hilton Botha to exit. [Picture by Mandy Weiner, EWN]

1:05:35 pm - Thu 21 Feb

The court has adjourned for lunch, the defence will continue after the break and then the prosecution will present its own closing argument.

1:02:37 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Meanwhile the defence holds firm to its argument: If the state wants to prove that Oscar planned the murder of Reeva, then they need to take steps to do so because nothing thus far is aligned with those allegations. All the testimony which has presented so far has corroborated Osacr’s version of the story according to the defence.

12:59:32 pm - Thu 21 Feb

The case of Hilton Botha.
Hilton Botha was called back into court to continue his testimony on the second day of Oscar Pistrorius’s bail hearing.

12:52:17 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Roux lambastes Botha’s evidence, says it was weak and poor and state should never have argued this is schedule 6 crime #OscarPistorius

— Adriaan Basson (@AdriaanBasson) February 21, 2013

12:50:59 pm - Thu 21 Feb

The defence is revisiting the affidavits in their arguments for the bail application and consistently making reference to the fact that none of the forensic evidence at this stage contradicts any of the affidavits presented in court and that Botha himself corroborated a lot of it.

12:40:27 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Now Oscar’s defence – Barry Roux – will begin his argument…

12:39:04 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Botha has been thanked and excused by the magistrate. He steps down.

12:37:05 pm - Thu 21 Feb

There are now allegations by Nel that Oscar Pistorius does in fact own a house in Italy. He refers to a Sarie magazine article where it’s mentioned. This was brought to his attention by Botha, who called Nel about the article last night.

12:27:12 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Nair is revisiting some topics from Botha’s testimony yesterday. Seems to be pushing for some answers.

12:25:52 pm - Thu 21 Feb

#OscarPistorius Nair this incident took place on Valentines Day – did you obtain the detailed phone billing?Botha: I’ve asked for it. BB

— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) February 21, 2013

12:24:07 pm - Thu 21 Feb

The magistrate is questioning Botha again because he is unhappy about the lack of clarity and evidence. He asks Botha if he would like to answer in Afrikaans in order to communicate better, Botha says he will continue in english.

12:17:51 pm - Thu 21 Feb

Seems like the proceedings are about to get going again…

12:06:27 pm - Thu 21 Feb

While we wait, a pic of the motion the unknown woman wanted to bring – According to Mandy Weiner of EWN, she has since been identified as the the alleged “ex-wife of Pistorius’ orthopedic surgeon”.

11:40:45 am - Thu 21 Feb

Where is Hilton Botha?

11:38:51 am - Thu 21 Feb

Nel has announced that they were unaware of the impending case against Botha. The magistrate has adjourned for 15 minutes, because he would like to address the Botha issue and recall him. Botha resides in the building but not in the court room.

11:36:32 am - Thu 21 Feb

Magistrate Nair is now addressing the issue of Botha.

11:30:03 am - Thu 21 Feb

And the surprise for the morning…

11:26:38 am - Thu 21 Feb

The magistrate has entered the court and soon after Oscar Pistorius follows.

11:19:34 am - Thu 21 Feb

The NPA has just announce via eNCA that the decision to replace Botha as the investigating officer has not been made yet. That decision however relies with the SAPS. They make decisions regarding who should lead an investigation, however, the NPA has made clear that cases like these depend on a team of investigators, including ballistics and forensics teams who provide crucial evidence and not just on one person.

11:07:19 am - Thu 21 Feb

A lot of rumours surrounding Hilton Botha’s further participation in this case. No confirmation yet, so we wait for an official announcement.

10:47:09 am - Thu 21 Feb

Oscar Pistorius’s family gather in the public gallery ahead of the fourth day of court proceedings

2:51:53 pm - Wed 20 Feb

Botha steps down as the magistrate reads out the reasons why bail may be opposed. Court is adjourned and arguments will continue tomorrow morning at 11.

2:46:35 pm - Wed 20 Feb

Nel is now trying to establish some clarification on the flight risk issue, asking Botha whether he thinks he will flee or not. The court room seems amused by the whole “do you think he will run?” reference.

2:39:37 pm - Wed 20 Feb

Read the article on Oscar’s previous assault cases here.

2:38:02 pm - Wed 20 Feb

2:36:21 pm - Wed 20 Feb

A lot of confusion in the court now as Botha reveals he had met Oscar before because there was a prior incident at his house where he was arrested. A docket was opened but the matter was not carried further, say Botha. The magistrate would like Nel to question this – Why has it not surfaced before?

2:32:28 pm - Wed 20 Feb

The magistrate wants clarification on whether Botha recognised Oscar…

2:28:37 pm - Wed 20 Feb

Nel seems to be going hard at the cross examination. Asking Botha to consider whether he really believes his version of the story is true.

2:23:17 pm - Wed 20 Feb

Side read – Oscar Pistorius case: Bail isn’t denied as easily as you think (Daily Maverick)

2:20:01 pm - Wed 20 Feb

And with that, Roux is done with the cross-examination and Nel will now attempt to recover some step as he re-examines Botha.

2:17:24 pm - Wed 20 Feb

And not, Botha seeks to dismiss the Melrose Arch gun fire claim…

2:08:25 pm - Wed 20 Feb

The statement about the holster being found on the left hand side of the bed is being addressed now. Roux asks whether Botha noticed the medicinal patch on Oscar’s shoulder because he was having problems. It’s because of this problem that the pair had swapped sides sleeping on the night in question.

2:02:36 pm - Wed 20 Feb

Even though the statement Botha received said neighbours had heard a screaming female voice, the defence has now stated that the voice was in fact Oscar’s.

1:57:18 pm - Wed 20 Feb

The defence seems to be hammering home the idea that Botha’s testimony lacks some significant investigation and that some of his statements can not at this stage be backed up by forensic evidence because the tests have not been carried out as yet.

1:54:09 pm - Wed 20 Feb

Botha is questioned about the ammunition.

1:45:16 pm - Wed 20 Feb

Roux is now questioning Botha about his insinuation earlier that the accused could be a flight risk…
Botha further admits to telling Oscar’s family that he didn’t think bail should be opposed.

1:41:56 pm - Wed 20 Feb

#OscarPistorius Roux: Do you stand by everything you said in cross examination? Botha: I do.

— Mandy Wiener (@MandyWiener) February 20, 2013

1:40:57 pm - Wed 20 Feb

Back from the recess, court is in session again and investigating officer Hilton Botha remains under cross examination.

1:22:37 pm - Wed 20 Feb

Court is adjourned till 1:30. Here’s a pic of the floor plans as presented in court.
[Picture by Alex Eliseev, EWN]

12:50:10 pm - Wed 20 Feb

The cricket bat theory has been squashed.

12:47:54 pm - Wed 20 Feb

Roux now starts to question Botha about his allegation that there were no calls made to Net-Care.
Botha admits to not calling Net-Care and asking them whether a call was logged.

12:41:51 pm - Wed 20 Feb

Roux provides evidence that Reeva’s bladder was empty. Consistent with Oscar’s version of the story – That she had gone to the toilet.

12:32:39 pm - Wed 20 Feb

The defence is aggressively questioning Botha about the proposed witness who heard the argument. So far details have emerged that she was 600m away and she did not specifically say she heard Reeva’s voice.

12:25:15 pm - Wed 20 Feb

Botha is questioned about the testosterone samples which were found.

12:18:14 pm - Wed 20 Feb

Allegations surfacing now of more than 4 shots…

12:16:09 pm - Wed 20 Feb

In the cross examination, Roux asks whether Botha tested visibility in the bedroom at night with the lights off. Botha replies in the affirmative, and explains that it’s “pitch-dark”

12:08:31 pm - Wed 20 Feb

And it’s time for the cross examination.
To get all the details on what has happened so far, click here.

12:04:48 pm - Wed 20 Feb

The investigator now says that evidence showed Oscar kept his holster on the left hand side. That was Reeva’s side of the bed. He adds that it’s highly unlikely that Oscar was trying to protect Reeva or himself.

11:53:25 am - Wed 20 Feb

The state continues with their statement by making reference to Oscar’s prior encounters with guns and violence. The prosecution says there have been incidents in the past where Oscar has threatened violence, they also mention how a gun went off in Melrose Arch in his presence.

11:49:18 am - Wed 20 Feb

Lots of evidential testimony is currently being made by the state during today’s court proceedings which are contradicting Oscar’s statement yesterday.

11:42:52 am - Wed 20 Feb

11:39:53 am - Wed 20 Feb

The investigation seems to be making some strong observations on behalf of the prosecution. Seemingly incongruent with yesterday’s affidavit.

11:35:53 am - Wed 20 Feb

Photographers have now been allowed back into the court.
Botha is using the house plan to describe the events of the evening. According to Barry Bateman of EWN, the investigator says the Steenkamp would have to have been shot from inside the bathroom.

11:29:27 am - Wed 20 Feb

Court is in session again.

The house plans are being showed to the court.

11:12:15 am - Wed 20 Feb

A small group of protesters outside the court. [Picture by Mandy Wiener, EWN]

10:55:05 am - Wed 20 Feb

Court has been adjourned for a short break, while a floor plan of Oscar’s bathroom is set up.

10:46:26 am - Wed 20 Feb

He adds that investigations regarding the cricket bat however, are still ongoing.

10:45:57 am - Wed 20 Feb

There is no bloody cricket bat- as reported, so far. Botha thinks the cricket bat may have been used to try and break open the bathroom door.

10:44:05 am - Wed 20 Feb

Botha explains that they found tow iPhones near the gun. Neither of them were used to make the call to the police.

10:39:37 am - Wed 20 Feb

Hilton Botha explains the layout of the house. He describes the inside, and what he saw when he entered. He mentions that Reeva was wearing a black shorts and white top when they found her.

10:33:38 am - Wed 20 Feb

The state has called investigating officer Hilton Botha to the stand.
Yesterday, the defence read out an affidavit on behalf of Oscar, where he clearly stated it was not his intention to murder Reeva, even though that is the state’s accusation. News reporter Phillip de Wet was at the court covering the story. Read the details of yesterday’s proceedings here.

10:29:46 am - Wed 20 Feb

Today in court, the state prosecution will elaborate on its case against Oscar Pistorius after asking for a delay yesterday. Meanwhile, Oscar’s sponsors, Nike and Oakley have cut ties with the athlete albeit not indefinitely. Read more here.

3:09:30 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Media mob outside the court, [Phillip de Wet, M&G]

3:00:16 pm - Tue 19 Feb

The magistrate agrees to the prosecution’s request.

2:56:45 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Back after the short break- Oscar’s defence rests and the prosecution asks if the hearing can be postponed until tomorrow so that they have more time to deal with Roux’s application and take heed of the affidavits they brought forward.

2:50:43 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Court will resume again after another short adjournment.

2:42:26 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Correction: Reeva’s best friend is Samantha Greyvenstein (not Cruyvenstein)

2:32:21 pm - Tue 19 Feb

2:30:59 pm - Tue 19 Feb

The defence continues to read statements from Oscar’s and Reeva’s friends, hoping to prove that the couple were not arguing.

2:24:53 pm - Tue 19 Feb

According to @eNCAnews, Oscar called his friend Justin Devaris after the shooting. Justin’s statement is now being read in court while he attends Reeva’s memorial service.
Justin says he became close with Oscar after they both discovered they had a mutual love of cars. “I introduced Oscar and Reeva,” his statement further says, “it was obvious they were immediately attracted to each other”.

2:20:52 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Oscar’s friend Alex describes his relationship with Reeva as close and says they were very in love.

2:15:55 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Oscar confirms that the details of the affidavit which Roux has read on his behalf are correct.

2:14:53 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Oscar Pistorius: I dont know of any witnesses in this matter, and I wont interfere with any witnesses. (Source: Barry Bateman, EWN)

2:14:10 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Oscar Pistorius: After the shooting I did not flee the scene. I remained until the police arrived. (Source: Barry Bateman, EWN)

2:11:00 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Oscar Pistorius: I tried to help her but she died in my arms. (Source: Barry Bateman, EWN)

2:10:08 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Oscar Pistorius: I kicked the door open. Called paramedics and complex security. I tried to carry her down stairs for help.

2:09:42 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Oscar Pistorius: I walked back to the bed and realised Reeva was not in bed. Its then it dawned on me it could be her in there.

2:07:48 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Oscar Pistorius: Because I did not have my legs on I felt vulnerable. I fired shots through the bathroom door and told Reeva to call police. (Source: Barry Bateman, EWN)

2:07:01 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Oscar Pistorius: I was scared and didnt switch on the light. I got my gun and moved towards the bathroom. I screamed at the intruder. (Source: Barry Bateman, EWN)

2:06:09 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Oscar Pistorius: I sleep with my 9mm under my bed. I woke up to close the sliding door and heard a noise in the bathroom. (Source: Barry Bateman, EWN)

2:05:31 pm - Tue 19 Feb

The statement continues… Roux will continue to read it on behalf of Oscar
Oscar Pistorius: I’m accutely aware of people gaining entries to homes to commit crime, I’ve received death threats. (Source: Barry Bateman, EWN)

2:01:03 pm - Tue 19 Feb

…Proceedings have come to a halt while Oscar seeks support from his family at the request of the magistrate.

1:58:24 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Oscar Pistorius: I was watching TV. My legs were off. She was doing yoga. At the end of the evening we got into bed. (Source: Barry Bateman, EWN)

1:57:36 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Oscar Pistorius continues his statement through his defence: On 13 Feb Reeva would have gone out with her friends, me with mine. She wanted to stay at home. (Source: Barry Bateman, EWN)

1:56:37 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Oscar Pistorius nothing can be further from the truth that I planned the murder of my girlfriend. (Source: Barry Bateman, EWN)

1:55:19 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Oscar Pistorius: I have been informed I have been acused of murder – I deny the accusation. (Source: Barry Bateman, EWN)

1:53:32 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Roux reads the statement on behalf of Oscar… According to Barry Bateman from EWN it says, “I make this affidavit of my own free will and have not been influenced”

1:50:56 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Court is in session again.
Oscar’s defence is asking the state prosecution to furnish them with evidence to support some of the allegations like the fact that Oscar and Reeva argued the night of the shooting.

12:39:46 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Nair has settled on a schedule 6 (premeditated murder charge) saying he cannot at this stage rule out planning.

12:25:45 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Nair is upset about having to rule on the case without receiving a certificate from the state stating that it was premeditated murder.

12:20:58 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Nair is going through the details of the case from both sides. First he voices the argument on behalf of the state and then reaction from the defence.

12:17:52 pm - Tue 19 Feb

According to M&G reporter Niren Tolsi, Oscar starts sobbing as Magistrate Nair is about to pronounce on the schedule of offence. If he is charged with schedule 5 it’s murder, if it’s schedule 6, it’s premeditated.

12:12:41 pm - Tue 19 Feb

The court seems to be taking a few minutes discussing the crowd control issue. The media are taking up a lot of space with their equipment, perhaps he should question the necessity of this since he’s already warned against taking pictures during the hearing?

12:10:46 pm - Tue 19 Feb

12:08:43 pm - Tue 19 Feb

Picture by: EWN Reporter

12:04:58 pm - Tue 19 Feb

12:03:13 pm - Tue 19 Feb

According to EWN, there seems to be a confusion about the use of the word “planned” in the court. Magistrate Nair questions the use of the word. The defence says “planned” means the same as “premeditated”, Magistrate Nair references this by reading up on some case law, he’s not convinced.

11:58:18 am - Tue 19 Feb

Once again a shuffle inside as journalists cram in. The court is packed.
(Picture by: Mandy Weiner)

11:53:11 am - Tue 19 Feb

The break’s almost over, hearing about to proceed again.

11:38:41 am - Tue 19 Feb

In the meantime, you can read the full update on the story by clicking here.

11:04:16 am - Tue 19 Feb

Court breaks the session, at this point the defence remains steadfast in its argument that this is not murder, nor premeditated murder.

11:00:17 am - Tue 19 Feb

The defence is once again arguing against the schedule six accusation. “How does the state know that he put on his prosthesis, walked to the bathroom and fired a gun? Is there a witness?” they ask.

10:53:43 am - Tue 19 Feb

Oscar seems perplexed by all of Nel’s statements. The prosecutor is being quite graphic, he’s not holding back when he describes the scene and Oscar seems to break down at the mention of Reeva’s name.

10:50:55 am - Tue 19 Feb

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel seems to be convinced that the shooting was premeditated. He’s posing some serious statements in court in an effort to substantiate the argument.

10:39:36 am - Tue 19 Feb

10:33:03 am - Tue 19 Feb

The advocate Barry Roux is going to argue that it was not premeditated murder by providing proof of previous cases where parents have shot kids or husbands have shot wives through doors without even knowing who they were.

10:26:47 am - Tue 19 Feb

Journalists seems to be waiting for the court to mention of the bloodied cricket bat as some newspaper reports have shown.

10:06:55 am - Tue 19 Feb

The fact that he thought she was a burglar seems unlikely according to the prosecution. “Why would a burglar lock themselves in a bathroom?”

10:04:07 am - Tue 19 Feb

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel opens by outlining the circumstances on the night of the shooting. He describes that there were two people in the house.

9:56:07 am - Tue 19 Feb

Oscar Pistorius appears in court today after another media scramble. Only a few journalists have been let in and photographers have been issued a warning about inappropriate snapping. They seem to be ignoring this though even though the magistrate has warned them that they will be held in contempt of court.

12:49:21 pm - Fri 15 Feb

That seems like it for today. We’ll keep you posted with any new developments on this story.

12:46:39 pm - Fri 15 Feb

As soon as the court is dismissed there’s a rush of media to the door, hoping to get a glimpse of Oscar or his family. He departs from the premises in a police van after being ushered out.

12:45:45 pm - Fri 15 Feb

Oscar will be held in the Brooklyn police cells until then, this is a departure from the way things normally run. Usually, suspects are held in their local prisons.

12:44:48 pm - Fri 15 Feb

Magistrate grants application for postponement of case, saying it will leave the investigation with more time to prepare. So the case is postponed until next Tuesday and Wednesday.

12:44:01 pm - Fri 15 Feb

When the “magistrate” reads out the charge of murder, Oscar cries, but then pulls himself back together, his sister seems to be praying quietly, while there is application going on to postpone the case.

12:42:59 pm - Fri 15 Feb

The magistrate has ruled against live coverage of Oscar’s bail proceedings. He will permit the broadcast of the judgment only.

12:42:37 pm - Fri 15 Feb

Oscar’s lawyer is against live coverage saying the bail proceeding is inquisitorial and therefore not finite.

12:41:51 pm - Fri 15 Feb

Media would like the proceeding to be televised mentioning the fact that the Schabir Shaik case was televised as well.

12:40:25 pm - Fri 15 Feb

The magistrate keeps calling for order but disgruntled journalist are scuffling outside the door, making a noise.

12:39:42 pm - Fri 15 Feb

Oscar arrives at court with a hoodie covering his face. His older brother Carl sits in the front row, the resemblance between the two siblings is uncanny.

11:07:10 am - Fri 15 Feb

Last minute formalities taking place in court. Proceedings seem like they’re about to get going. Oscar’s dad and sister amongst the attendees.

11:03:00 am - Fri 15 Feb

According to EWN correspondent, Barry Bateman (http://twitter.com/barrybateman), Advocate Gerrie Nel will be prosecuting the Oscar Pistorius case. He is the same state advocate who prosecuted Jackie Selebi.

10:51:37 am - Fri 15 Feb

At the courtroom. All media camera crew including photographers who have not been pre-approved have been asked to leave.

10:37:33 am - Fri 15 Feb

Pistorius arrives in court to face murder charge.

3:17:36 pm - Thu 14 Feb

Police spokesperson Denise Beukes has confirmed that Oscar will appear in court tomorrow and spend the night in jail. The dockets will only be seen in the morning and the case will be placed on the court row like any other case. It has to be seen tomorrow, even if it is after hours because court hearings need to take place within 24 hours of the reported crime. At this stage the prosecution is unclear but cases of this nature usually go to the National Director of Prosecutions.

2:03:03 pm - Thu 14 Feb

Oscar to appear in court after 2pm.

1:31:28 pm - Thu 14 Feb

According to EWN reporter Alex Eliseev, police have confirmed that they will oppose a bail hearing later today.

1:16:49 pm - Thu 14 Feb

Oscar’s attorney has indicated to police that he will bring a bail application this afternoon at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.

1:16:20 pm - Thu 14 Feb

According to Beukes, the victim has not been named officially because her family live outside the province and have not yet identified her.

1:15:41 pm - Thu 14 Feb

Forensic investigators are still examining the scene where Beukes says at least two shots were fired.

1:11:28 pm - Thu 14 Feb

Beukes also says voices were heardthe previous evening. An argument? “Perhaps”, she responds.

1:10:36 pm - Thu 14 Feb

Brigadier Denise Beukes, senior standby officer in the scene, says neighbours called police after hearing the shots. A 9mm pistol belonging to Oscar was found on the scene.

12:12:43 pm - Thu 14 Feb

Pistorius’s lawyer Kenny Oldwage has left the Boschkop police station, according to Sapa.

11:48:43 am - Thu 14 Feb

Eye Witness News reporter alexeliseev tweets: #Oscar Reeva’s agent tells Sky News the couple had a “healthy, fabulous relationship”, going out for a few months.

11:40:09 am - Thu 14 Feb

Pistorius kept a machine gun near his window, according to this Daily Mail article.

11:33:13 am - Thu 14 Feb

According to Stephen Tuson, adjunct professor at the school of law, Wits, claiming self-defence can only work if you are the subject of an attack which is unlawful. If the attack has commenced or is imminent then you are allowed to use reasonable force as is necessary to repel that attack.

11:27:45 am - Thu 14 Feb

Paralympian Oscar Pistorius’s father on Thursday said his son was “sad” following a shooting at his Pretoria home which left his girlfriend dead, Sapa reports.

11:12:23 am - Thu 14 Feb

Pistorius will make his first court appearance within hours.

10:54:00 am - Thu 14 Feb

Reeva Steenkamp’s last tweet:

10:45:16 am - Thu 14 Feb

Police have not named 26-year-old Pistorius as the suspect but confirmed that a woman, reported to be his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, had been found dead at the scene in the upmarket Silver Woods gated community east of Pretoria.

10:43:42 am - Thu 14 Feb

Stay tuned to this live blog on the shooting involving Olympian Oscar Pistorius. We keep you update with the news as it happens. It is a Valentine’s Day tragedy that has shocked the nation.