democracy SERGEANT AT THE BAR Politicians do not like limits placed upon their power. They have a vision, whether fuelled by greed or

Hutu detainees are fighting disease and hunger in concentration camps, while the Burundi army blocks attacks on the capital, writes Chris McGreal Josephine Ntahuga fears her son is dead. He was among 350 000 Hutus herded by Burundi’s army into dozens of camps beyond the capital, Bujumbura. Then he vanished. The army said he must […]

Kit Peel Linda Shaw’s Horoscope 2000, published last month, reveals a neurotic, feminine country in the hands of a man of overwhelming masculinity – a virile, dominant man handling a country with very low self- esteem. It’s Cosmopolitan magazine meets the cosmos, and it’s a lot of fun. Little Miss South Africa, let us call […]

Behind the beautiful, graceful film installations that won this year’s Turner Prize, hides an unassuming, bear-likeman. And, surprise, surprise, he hates talking about his art. Sabine Durrant reports To reach Steve McQueen’s Turner Prize- winning entries at the Tate, you have to walk through the rest of the shortlist first. Past Tracy Emin’s bed, onlookers […]

South Africa is about to start building the second-largest telescope in the world , writes David Le Page June 1 1998. A nervous astronomer sat in Parliament, waiting to hear then minister of arts, science, culture and technology Lionel Mtshali deliver his annual budget speech. Director of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), Bob Stobie, […]

Channel vision As any year draws to a close it is usual for columns, such as this one, to be devoted to retrospection. What was the best and worst television of the past year? Fortunately such solemn assessments will not be my responsibility this year. This is because my various deep moles in the halls […]

David Le Page It has been announced that the Internet, which is changing the way we work, play and seek sex, will also save the world. At least, it will slow down the United States’s generous and unstinting contributions to global warming. This is the finding of a report from the Centre for Energy and […]

Jubie Matlou Once a fortnight, Godfrey Debeila leads a delegation of the national executive of the Unemployed Masses of South Africa (Umsa) to the Democratic Party’s offices in the Gauteng legislature. The purpose is to meet DP MP Richard Pillay, who also serves as Umsa’s policy adviser and patron, to discuss Umsa’s projects, progress and […]

Peter Dickson Eastern Cape Premier Makhenkesi Stofile has hijacked the appointment of mayors in an effort to strengthen support for the African National Congress ahead of next year’s local government elections. Stofile has given himself the right to pick all the province’s mayors, a task that has traditionally been left to local councils. The move […]

Take part in the 2000 FNB Vita Art Prize nominations. The often controversial competition was introduced in 1996 in response to the need for wider acknowledgement of South Africa contemporary art. Put yourself in line to win a holiday for two, to a local destination, by nominating any artist countrywide for the FNB Art Prize. […]