The M&G's cryptic crossword

Welcome to the Mail & Guardian’s new cryptic crossword. Compiled by Professor George Euvrard of Rhodes University, it has been piloted in Grocotts Mail for the past 18 months as the first South Africanised cryptic crossword. The perspective is proudly South African, decolonised, and full of local references and words.

Although it’s still in the classic English cryptic crossword tradition, forget “artist” being “RA” (Royal Academy) or a “river” being “Exe”.

Here you will need to delve into your Dictionary of South African English (free online at dsae.co.za) to confirm bhuti and windgat, and to take out your South African atlas to check the spelling of Nossob!

The solutions will appear in the next M&G, but in the meantime you can also come here to see explanations of each solution (at the right time), as well as engage with other solvers and the compiler on particular clues, solutions and related crossword matters.

JDE 196

Across:

1. NUISANCES One’s caught in subtleties which create troubles (9)

NU (1’S) ANCES

6.
HEWER Chopper can be where? (5)

whereanag

9. TACIT Silent jerk hides bill (5)

T (AC) IT

10. CERVANTES Writer spreads secret about bakkie (9) 

secret anag, about VAN

11. RUMPELSTILTSKIN Bum the Spanish film on support for literary imp (15)

RUMP + EL + (SKIN after STILT)

13. SHEARERS Distributors stock English clippers (8)

SH (E) ARERS

14. ENRAPT New parent in ecstasy (6)

parent anag

16. HEE-HAW Unlimited cheer thawsheart of ass by the sounds of it (3-3)

CHEER + THAWS

18. VANISHED Ridiculously vain woman had disappeared (8)

vain anag + SHE’D

21. AUTOMATIC PILOTS They flyby reflex, terribly spoilt (9,6)

AUTOMATIC + spoilt anag

23. TEMPERATE Clement will soothe by making tea (9)

TEMPER +  tea anag

25. IRKED Annoyed I worked with love having evaporated (5)

I + WORKED

26. YO-YOS Toys therefore with initial year-on-year turnover (2-3)

(SO + Y + O + Y) backwards

27. DESPAIRED Gave up on small couple in action (9)

DE (S + PAIR) ED

Down: 

1. NOTER He enters as a composer? (5)

double description

2. INCOMPETENT Unqualified, living quietly in temporary accommodation (11)

INCOM (P) E + TENT

3. CANT BEAR Can’t not begin to carry aardvark (3,4)

CAN’T + BEAR

4. COCKSURE Rooster certain to be arrogant (8)

COCK + SURE

5SPRUITWatercourse can trip us unexpectedly (6)

trip us anag

6. HEARTEN Encourage X after catch (7)

TEN after HEAR

7. WIT Comedian with husband leaving (3)

WITH

8. RESONATED Struck a chord to send ear into spasms (9)

to send ear anag

12. KWASHIORKOR Thousand to clean one rook? That’s about right for this disease (11)

K + WASH + 1 + rook anag + R

13. SCHMALTZY Soppy school-mother lazy, taking time for first assembly (9)

SCH + MA + L T/AZY

15. PANCREAS God cares about organ (8)

PAN + cares anag

17. AIMLESSS alem is drifting, lacking direction (7)

salem is anag

19. IKIRIVA One karretjie first, stuck on one reel top with one varkpan in front - a wheelbarrow! (7)

1 + K + 1 + R + 1 + V + A

20. STRAND Strain half and make thread (6)

STRAIN + AND

22. SIDED Agreed to face final demand (5)

SIDE + D

24. MAY Can it be late autumn? (3)

double definition