Robert McCrum HANNIBAL by Thomas Harris (Heinemann) When we last heard from Dr Hannibal Lecter he had just escaped from the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane and was looking forward to his next meal. “I’m just having an old friend for dinner,” he said as he watched his hated prison psychiatrist disembarking from […]

Several familiar faces are missing from the South African team to meet Italy on Saturday – and their replacements have the talent to keep them on the sidelines, writes Andy Capostagno Nine changes and four uncapped players on the bench. You could be forgiven for thinking that Nick Mallett has gone mad. But it is […]

Howard Barrell Like any politician, Thabo Mbeki has his fair share of detractors and enemies. But Zanele Mbeki, his wife, appears to have only admirers. Across the worlds she inhabits – business, development work and politics – she attracts superlatives. “An excellent person”, “of deep conviction”, “very smart”, “dignified”, “lovely” – these encomiums come from […]

Aaron Nicodemus It was a bright Sunday afternoon when Tsepo Molemohi (11) went to play his favorite game – soccer – on a field between Central Western Jabuvu and White City in his Soweto neighbourhood. Before he left, he kissed his mother goodbye. Tsepo, with his soft voice and wide smile, always told his mother […]

IN BRIEF FRESH UGANDAN ATTACK A REBEL group which killed 80 students and abducted 50 more in western Uganda this week has struck again, killing five more people. The Allied Democratic Forces fighters killed a man, his two children and two Ugandan soldiers in Kabarole district on Wednesday. Earlier this week the ADF attacked a […]

With South Africa’s second democratic elections concluded, it is clear that the country has reached the end of an era.

Alex Dodd Imagine spending 25 846 hours in a prison cell anticipating a noose tightening quickly and irrevocably around your neck – punishment for a crime you did not commit. This is the nightmare that came true for Duma Khumalo, who spent seven years in prison – three of those on death row for the […]

challenge If the bullion price stays at its current level for any length of time, South Africa could face even more severe unemployment, report Donna Block and Mungo Soggot One of the first major challenges for the Mbeki presidency will be the potentially massive ramifications for South Africa’s economy stemming from the collapse in the […]

Libby Young The last year has seen South African cyberspace grow up. The number of users has passed that crucial one million benchmark, Web addresses are starting to appear on bumper stickers and no business card is complete without an e-mail address. So what’s been happening to South Africa’s search engines? Newcomer Max, , from […]