David Shapshak Products: HP PhotoSmart 1100 printer (R3 559), C200 digital camera (R2 875), and ScanJet 6300C scanner (R3 029); photo- quality paper – R60 for 20 sheets Digital cameras are one of those next big things that have initially failed to become the next big thing. They’ve suffered from being too pricey, and from […]

HEALTH ministers from across Southern Africa are discussing the cost of accessing anti-AIDS drugs at a special two-day meeting in Johannesburg. South African health department spokesperson, Lulu Sebake, said on Thursday that ministers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are meeting at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. They are also discussing the latest development […]

Barry Streek President Thabo Mbeki’s office will cost R70,6-million this year, nearly R45- million more than the annual cost of the office under former president Nelson Mandela. But there is a substantial difference: the new Office of the Presidency incorporates the old deputy president’s office as well as the old Office of the President. They […]

JOHN MEHAFFEY, Cardiff | Friday 11.30am. WITH perfect timing the elements of form, fitness, organisation and luck have combined for Australia to make them deserved favourites for Saturday’s World Cup final against France. Their immediate concern is coping with opponents who can make a mockery of any form guide, throwing logic out of the window […]

John Matshikiza WITH THE LID OFF It is true, as some readers have commented in this week’s Letters and Crossfire sections, that we have an uncomfortable problem of xenophobia in South Africa. As is pointed out, it is a xenophobia that is particularly nasty because it generally seems to be an intolerance exercised by black […]

pay Extraordinary evidence of foot dragging by provincial departments has emerged in cases of sexual abuse by teachers, writes Mungo Soggot Johannes de Beer was a headmaster in disgrace three years ago when he was suspended for sexually molesting his pupils. Seven months ago he was convicted by the courts for his crimes. Today he […]

PORT Elizabeth experienced the worst gale in its history on Thursday night. The SA Weather Bureau reported south-westerly wind speeds in Algoa Bay of 144km/h, roofs were torn off homes, trees uprooted and cars were lifted into the air and blown several metres. Bank and shop windows were punched out onto city centre pavements in […]

informant payouts Turning informant for the South African Revenue Service can take a long time to show financial rewards, reports Rowan Callahan A tax informant who supplied the revenue service with information that allegedly led to the recovery of over a million rand, has still not received his reward after a four- year wait. His […]

After Durban’s recent heavy flooding many roads in the city collapsed or were so badly damaged they cannot be repaired – and experts say it may only be a matter of time before South Africa’s entire road network collapses, Paul Kirk reports The backlog in repairing South Africa’s roads exceeds R53-billion and much of it […]

The assassination of Major Wezi Kaunda this week could have been a pre-emptive move to prevent an Angolan-backed coup d’tat in Zambia. Ivor Powell, Chris Gordon and Howard Barrell report Zambia is a political powder keg following the murder on Wednesday night of Major Wezi Kaunda, son of former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda. The Mail […]