As we all jointly experience that strange feeling of déjà vu that seems to hang around our discussions about power, privilege, rape and Cosatu House, something strange and odd is happening. Something unique, new, and genuinely important. We are beginning to discuss the DA's candidate for the post of Gauteng premier. And not in a "let's see if someone cares" kind of way, but in a serious and important manner. And the possibility that Helen Zille herself may decamp from her Republic, and come on back to South Africa for a spell makes this all the more interesting. By STEPHEN GROOTES.

Strangely, the starting gun for the race to be nominated to be the DA's candidate for premier has been fired by someone who is hardly known on the national stage. Say the words "Jack" and "Bloom" to someone from KwaZulu-Natal, and you'll get a look, and a shake of the head. Say those words in Gauteng and you'll get a "ah, him, the health guy, riiight". Whether you love him, hate him, or, as the CEO of Chris Hani Baragwanath did once, ban him from your hospital, you have to admit he's a hell of a provincial politician...