HAWKERS shot dead a Pole spending his honeymoon in South Africa and raped his bride after driving her around in the boot of a car, police reported on Thursday. The attack brought swift condemnation from Free State Safety and Security Minister Casca Mokitlane, who said the attacks “negate all values by which human beings live.” […]

Barry Streek New steps to reduce legal costs through the employment of public defenders and the establishment of “justice centres” – seven to 10 will be started this financial year – have been disclosed by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Penuell Maduna. He said “a completely new approach to legal aid” will be implemented […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 2.50pm. THE price of gold plunged to the lowest level since last September on Friday as gloomy sentiment surrounding the precious metal was deepened by the global trend towards higher interest rates. Early on Friday, the spot price of gold fell to $270,05 an ounce, the lowest level since September […]

Cedric Mayson SPIRIT LEVEL Where do morals come from? The rules about right and wrong must have originated somewhere. Does goodness matter? Is it important that the ancient command to “love your neighbour as yourself” has been modernised to “use your neighbour for yourself”? Is it okay to kill people who kill people, to show […]

Barry Streek The people illegally resident in the endangered Dukuduku forest in KwaZulu-Natal have agreed to be resettled on two nearby farms which have been bought by the government for R10,5-million and are to be owned by a community trust, according to Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Ronnie Kasrils. “My department has worked with […]

Robert Kirby CHANNELVISION It would seem that the recent and rather bizarre practice of apologising for historical wrongs is still on the increase. And flatly refusing to apologise for past sins has become almost as fashionable. People have realised that beating their breasts and slobbering on about what wrongs were committed before they were born […]

Cameron Duodu LETTER FROM THE NORTH To anyone who takes even a rudimentary interest in African history, the name Asante stands out as one of the most valiant of the nations that attempted to halt the incursions of the European powers in the 18th and 19th centuries. In fact, it was not until 1874 that […]

SOUTH Africa’s wily former Test off-spinner Pat Symcox is one of the top candidates to take over as director of coaching at the United Cricket Board. The position was vacated in March by former international Jimmy Cook who has left South Africa for Hampshire. Business Day reports that Symcox has countered suggestions that he won’t […]

Questions have arisen over the involvement of two companies – African Defence Systems and Futuristic Business Solutions – in South Africa’s jobs for arms deals Ivor Powell Companies with close links to the head of the military’s weapons procurement committee have been awarded the lion’s share of local contracts in South Africa’s controversial R32-billion weapons […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 10.30am. GOLD Fields Limited, the world’s second largest gold producer, warned shareholders on Thursday that prices may move because the company is in discussions “with a number of parties.” “Shareholders of Gold Field Limited [JSE – GFL, Nasdaq – GOLD] are advised that, as a consequence of Gold Fields being […]