A hundred years ago Marlow, the steamboat captain in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, mused about the rape of the Congo, then in full fury under the Belgian King Leopold. The conquest of the Earth, which “mostly means taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is […]

At the bloody dawn of a new millennium, Jonathan Steele foresees no escape for the world from warfare and suffering that branded the 20th century an Age of Barbarism This has been, as Eric Hobsbawm put it, ”without doubt the most murderous century of which we have record by the scale, frequency and length of […]

1 Babylon 2 The dragon (Satan) 3 One third 4 Twelve foundation stones and 12 gates representing ”the 12 apostles of the lamb” 5 One thousand years; after which he will be ”loosed a little season” 6 ”The first creature was like a lion, the second like an ox, the third had a human face, […]

An unknown genius on the Internet has written the definitive management guide to re-engineering the Santa operation The recent announcement that Donner and Blitzen have elected to take the early reindeer retirement package has triggered a good deal of concern about whether they will be replaced and about other restructuring decisions at the North Pole. […]

The historic town of Weimar has played a pivotal role in shaping the German identity. John Matshikiza recently spent some time there Another week, another airport. I was staring at an empty carousel revolving before me at Frankfurt International. My luggage wasn’t there, and I was beginning to do the now-familiar trot around every baggage […]

THE death toll in the ongoing carnage on South African roads since December 1 had reached the 500 mark by Wednesday afternoon, Arrive Alive said. In a statement it said 500 people have died in 335 accidents. Of those killed 229 were passengers, 136 were drivers and 135 pedestrians. KwaZulu-Natal still has the highest death […]

ARCHBISHOP Desmond Tutu, who is currently in resident in the United States, is to be honoured by the New York Stock Exchange by ringing the closing bell of trading on December 23. The ringing of the bell forms part of the stock exchange’s Bridging the Millennium programme, a series honouring distinguished leaders of this century […]

HOLIDAY traffic to Cape Town has been diverted to Rawsonville after a mudslide caused by heavy rain blocked the tunnel on the N1 just outside the city. Traffic officials said on Wednesday night that they were unsure when the tunnel will be re-opened. No-one was injured in the mudslide.

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Tuesday 7.30am A GOVERNMENT-appointed team investigating the South African diamond industry urged Monday a thorough overhaul of the country’s diamond controls and its gem valuating system. A report released here by a task team appointed by the Cabinet earlier this year also called for a review of the composition, role and […]

A SENIOR Northern Province policeman was denied bail on Tuesday when he appeared for allegedly raping and indecently assaulting under-aged girls. Senior Superintendent Shimanyana Frans Lebese, 49, of Lebowakgomo, was not asked to plead in the Potgietersrus District Court on Tuesday on three charges of rape, and three of indecent assault. He was denied bail […]