Belinda Beresford International human rights activists are preparing to launch a boycott campaign on the internet against South African petroleum company Engen. The “boycott Engen” campaign is being directed at Engen’s majority shareholder, national Malaysian petrochemicals company, Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas). Engen is 80% owned by Petronas. Petronas is one of several multinational energy companies […]

Former President Nelson Mandela says a landmark draft agreement has been worked out between rebels and the government that could finally end the long-running Burundi civil war.

Marianne Merten Western Cape MEC for Education Helen Zille practises her Xhosa speech en route to open a computer room in Khayelitsha township. A last-minute call to a language teacher clarifies pronun- ciation and grammar as her driver Ishmael Hendricks negotiates the shack-lined roads and barely held together minibus taxis. Intlanganiso Senior Secondary School – […]

Barry Streek Former homeland leader Prince James Mahlangu, appointed to a senior government post in Mpumalanga after defecting back to the African National Congress from the United Democratic Movement last month, handed the UDM a medical certificate on his departure stating he had brain damage. Mahlangu, a former ANC MP who joined the UDM last […]

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 […]