Zanu-PF land-grab policy Jaspreet Kindra African National Congress secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe this week endorsed Zanu-PF’s stand on land appropriation, denying the ruling Zimbabwean party was manipulating the issue for electoral purposes. Motlanthe said in an interview the situation in Zimbabwe had suffered from “misrepresentation of facts” by the media, claiming press reports had inflated […]
Jaspreet Kindra The African National Congress has spoken out against the building of a “black bourgeoisie” – contradicting the stance taken by President Thabo Mbeki on the issue. The shift in the party’s stance is spelled out in one of its discussion documents for the ANC general council in Port Elizabeth next month. The party […]
The major world city of Amsterdam offers visitors more than just its renowned red- light district, it also the home of jenever and the tulip Angus Begg St Annen Straat, Amsterdam. A moment’s eye contact with the dark, flabby and scantily-clad woman in the window makes me feel like the small boy who was caught […]
Glenda Daniels The Johannesburg Bar, one of the city’s oldest institutions, is on the verge of moving its permanent headquarters to Sandton following a steady exodus of advocates from the city centre. A circular drafted by the Bar council is doing the rounds asking advocates to indicate whether they’re staying or leaving, with most lawyers […]
Glenda Daniels A FIGHTING UNION: AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN RAILWAY AND HARBOURS WORKERS’ UNION by Margaret Kiloh and Archie Sibeko, (Ravan Press) This book is the only historical record of the South African Railway and Harbour Workers’ Union’s (Sarhwu) battles since it was formed in 1936. It provides a factual account, detailing […]
Nicky Blumenfeld In attempting to secure a record-company deal, an increasing number of artists in South Africa invest their own time and money, in the hope that their demo will be heard and their efforts acknowledged. Just more than a year ago as a radio presenter I received one of these self- made initiatives, put […]
There’s more to India for a South African traveller than just Mahatma Gandhi and cricket Lauren Shantall ‘Hello! What country?” So goes the “getting-to-know-you” mantra in India. You’ll hear it often enough if you decide to slake a Western thirst with the clichd promise of the East. Luckily for the South African tourist, this typical […]
AHM Scholtz published his first novel, Vatmaar, in 1995 at the age of 72. This acclaimed debut won the M-Net Prize, the Eugne Marais Prize and the CNA Literary Award. The panoramic tale of a small town in the Northern Cape has been translated into Dutch and German. Chris van Wyk’s new translation brings A […]
Thebe Mabanga IN YOUR EAR Johannesburg-based adult contemporary station Kaya fm 95.9 is steadily making inroads in winning over a fastidious and habit-driven audience – the black middle class – using retro sounds with a world music slant. Since its August 1997 launch, Kaya has entrenched its distinct sound. Its music selection is astute, yet […]
What took place this week at the Department of Education’s 123 Schoeman Street headquarters, soon to be renamed after Sol T Plaatjie, was profoundly significant. A team of educationists was given the platform to pronounce judgement on one of the government’s most flashy and therefore politically laden flagship projects – Curriculum 2005 – in the […]