Dan Atkinson and John Cassy SHARE WORLD The Internet’s huge, hyperactive gossip and rumour machine looks almost certain to come under scrutiny from the British Financial Services Authority (FSA) amid rising concern about its power to move share prices and even to distort markets. Scams such as “pumping and dumping” – in which Internet noticeboards […]

Fiona Macleod First they were blamed for the Cape fires, now they’re being blamed for the floods. Experts say the huge forests of alien trees planted in the catchment areas of Mpumalanga have exacerbated the flooding that ravaged the province this week. Mpumalanga produces 39% of the country’s timber. Commercial timber, mostly pine and gum […]

SATURDAY’S triangular one-day series final betweeen South African and England has been moved back a day to Sunday, with Monday as the reserve day, after week long rains in Johannesburg. Both captains agreed that the rain-sogged Wanderers grounds would not be ready for the scheduled Saturday match. England are in the final after Wednesday’s match […]

Being the kind of person who doesn’t walk under ladders with a whole stack of ease, I’ve got a big problem with the outcomes- based extremity of chain letters. To me they’re generally just an unwanted dose of bad ju-ju. By deleting or ripping the thing into tiny shreds on receipt, I always preclude myself […]

Jubie Matlou If the newly built Rockey Street Market in Yeoville is anything to go by, then the face of informal and street trading is set to undergo an unprecedented fundamental change. Informal and street trading in Johannesburg has a rich history that is interlinked with the country’s migratory labour system just before the turn […]

Neil Manthorp Cricket Will out-of-form Hansie Cronje drop himself for tomorrow’s final of the Standard Bank triangular series? The answer, of course, is no. The captain might be struggling badly with the bat but he will as surely lead his team out at the Wanderers on Saturday as the sun will come up. Mind you, […]

Steven Friedman WORM’S EYE VIEW Our politics now is a little like a Hollywood western; if you want to be taken seriously, you have to talk tough. The most obvious examples are Minister of Safety and Security Steve Tshwete and his colleague in education, Kader Asmal. Tshwete is given to denouncing criminals and human rights […]

Riaan Wolmarans Gauteng’s party scene has recovered from its January slump with two exciting dance events planned for this month. Love and thumping beats are in the air on Saturday February 12 when Mother Productions presents From Mother with Love. It takes place at a new venue, the Warehouse Complex at 11 North Reef Road, […]

BAFANA Bafana have been offered a whopping R500000 cash bonus if they beat Nigeria in their African Nations Cup semi-final match on Thursday. Bafana have already earned R500000 from backers Castle Lager after beating Ghana in the semi-finals. Should the team win the trophy, they stand in line to pocket another R1-million for their efforts.

Durban’s drowned and Cape Town’s still smouldering, but you’re all right – you’re well insured. Or are you? Gavin Foster looks at some disputes between insurers and their clients ‘One of the problems is that people today often buy their insurance directly from the companies rather than use a broker,” says Michael Bennett, the South […]