Conditions for credible democratic elections do not exist in Zimbabwe, says an international pre-election observation team Mercedes Sayagues Zimbabwe’s parliamentary elections, to be held on June 24 to 25, have dim prospects of being free and fair. Even in the likely scenario that the violence engulfing the country will decrease as international observers arrive, the […]
OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 4.00pm. THE rand lost some of its earlier ground gained on Friday, and despite a stronger euro weakened to R7,16 by late afternoon trade. At the same time markets did an about-turn on Thursday’s gains. By 11am the currency was trading at R7,13 to the dollar, off the back of […]
Shaun de Waal CD OFTHEWEEK On his latest release, blues master Taj Mahal follows in the footsteps of his compadre Ry Cooder, with whom he founded The Rising Sons in the Sixties. In 1993, Cooder made Talking Timbuktu with Malian guitarist Ali Farka Toure, weaving blues motifs into a set of Toure’s songs, and coming […]
POLICE say two Golden Arrow busses were damaged near the N2 in Khayelitsha outside Cape Town on Friday morning. However no passengers were on the bus at the time of the vandalism. Police have stepped up their presence in Khayelitsha following an on-going bus feud in the township. Reports also said on Friday that a […]
There were many surprises at this year’s Cannes awards festival Fiachra Gibbons The controversial director Lars von Trier won the Palm d’Or in Cannes on Sunday night in the most flamboyant circumstances, insulting the head of the festival and assuring his leading lady – whom he called a “mad woman” only a fortnight ago – […]
Gregory Mthembu-Salter The newly established Cape Peninsula National Park (CPNA) this week shocked conservationists with its statement that there is no longer a place for most of the baboons on the peninsula. Acting manager Howard Langley said in a media statement that “just as the peninsula has lost its ability to sustain natural populations of […]
Bryan Rostron A SECOND LOOK ‘Those who stand in the middle of the road,” observed British socialist Aneurin Bevan, “get run over.” South Africa and Zimbabwe share the same lane on the great globalised highway of the 21st century: after driving on the left for many years, both Zanu-PF and the African National Congress opted […]
Andy Capostagno RUGBY A new Springbok squad with a new captain and a Super 12 dream final in the same week. It’s almost enough to make you forget that, once again, the lone South African team got eliminated in the semifinals. Almost enough to make you forget that, once again, South Africa’s Super 12 franchises […]
OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Thursday 1.20pm. THE rand continued strengthening of Thursday’s low of R7,20 to the dollar in morning trade, due to a stronger euro overnight. At the same time markets did an about-turn on Thursday’s gains. By 11am the currency was trading at R7,13 to the dollar. The overall was 0,47% or 33 […]
Barry Streek The government has underspent on its land reform and land restitution budgets by a whopping R1,4-billion over the past four financial years. This disclosure – given by Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Thoko Didiza in Parliament this week – comes amid widespread concern that the government has been too conservative in applying […]