LAGOS police have arrested 13 people and banned northern cattle herders from using a 50-year-old market after a clash with oil tanker drivers this week left several people dead. The ban came after oil tanker drivers threatened strike action. The drivers regularly hold Lagos to ransom by strikes, using the chronic fuel shortage — in […]

Stephen Langtry The New Apostolic Church, which drew applause recently from Deputy President Thabo Mbeki for its proposed new national anthem, has a shady past which extends from a close relationship with the Nazi regime to support for apartheid. Confronted by this information, a representative for Mbeki, Titus Mafolo, said: “It is difficult for the […]

Sechaba ka’Nkosi Meet the Federal Alliance’s newest recruit and probably Louis Luyt’s most sensational catch. She is streetwise Elizabeth Rapuleng (50) of Zondi, Soweto. Rapuleng dumped the ailing New National Party only three days after party stalwarts such as Sheila Camerer organised a big bash to celebrate her birthday. Rapuleng joined the alliance last week […]

John Matshikiza:WITH THE LID OFF It’s late at night. I’m sitting at a bar in suburban Cape Town, minding my own business, when a bunch of formerly white men come bundling in, some with their wives. They are all badly dressed: grey shoes, flannel trousers, cheap leather jackets, white shirts and tacky ties. They are […]

Sechaba ka’Nkosi The African National Congress leadership meets this weekend to finalise the political future of candidates heading its election nomination list. With the party upbeat about the possibility of netting more than 60% of the vote in the general election, the crucial three-day meeting has drawn much interest because it has to decide who […]

Evidence wa ka Ngobeni Several foreign prostitutes have been deported from South Africa after seeking police protection from vicious assaults by their local counterparts on the streets of Johannesburg. Prostitutes from as far afield as Russia and China are working in Hillbrow, but many have now moved off the streets and into clubs for shelter. […]

Cameron Duodu:LETTER FROM THE NORTH Zimbabwe’s success as a nation means a lot to me, for I have invested a great deal of emotional capital in the country. I am one of the few non-Zimbabweans who can say I knew the late Herbert Chitepo personally; I knew the late Josiah Tongogara personally; I know … […]

David Shapshak Millions of South Africans could find themselves without electricity when the millennium rolls over as many local authorities are not ready for the year 2000 (Y2K) phenomenon. These power failures and blackouts – and the failure of other essential services such as water supply – could have “devastating” impacts, according to a confidential […]

A shortage of forensic pathologists and a lack of post-mortem facilities have caused several miscarriages of justice, writes Sue Blaine Statistics show that three in every thousand South Africans will die an unnatural death by murder, suicide or accident – 80 000 a year. A post-mortem must be conducted on every person who dies an […]

Emeka Nwandiko Bathed in fluorescent light, Lisa Bornman points a 9mm Taurus pistol at a red bull’s- eye and fires. Despite the debate raging in the country whether handguns should be banned, Bornman takes weapons training to protect herself. She is part of a growing legion of women who believe a gun is the means […]