RESIDENTS of Sierra Leone’s edgy capital Freetown, under threat of a rebel assault, “necklaced” two men they accused of spying for the rebels on Saturday. The victims were caught by a mob in the city centre and “necklaced” with blazing tyres in a method reminiscent of South African township “necklacings” of the eighties. A third […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Durban | Sunday 4.00pm. FRANKLIN Rose, who had to fight to win his place in the West Indies team, has been the bowling hero on Sunday in the third test, taking six wickets, and also having a hand in a runout. South Africa were a comfortable 262 for 5 until Rose took two […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Sunday 5.30pm. A SOUTH AFRICAN man is suing two cellphone companies, M-Tel and Vodac, for R502,5-million after doctors removed a brain tumour close to his right ear. Terry Hutchings of Pretoria, who has used cellphones ever since they were first introduced, is suing for R2,5 million on his own behalf and […]

UGANDAN President Yoweri Museveni defied UN sanctions and flew to Libya on Sunday, meeting President Moamer Gadhafi to discuss the DR-Congo conflict. The day before, Museveni’s bitter enemy, DR-Congo President Laurent Kabila, flew home after two days of talks with Gadhafi, starting on Christmas Day. Libya in September offered its services to help settle the […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Thursday 1.00pm. THREE fifteen-year olds were arrested on Wednesday in connection with causing an estimated R1-million worth of damage at a Western Cape farm. The youths allegedly went on a 20-hour vandalising spree at a farmhouse near Napier on Tuesday, damaging the furniture, computers, television sets and other equipment, newspapers on […]

KENYA moved a step closer to a new constitution on Christmas Eve, after President Daniel arap Moi signed an act to establish a commission, jointly nominated by political parties, civil society, religious and special interest groups, to draw up a new constitution. The commission, chaired by a judge, may begin sitting as early as February, […]

OWN CORRESPONDENTS, Huambo | Saturday 5.30pm. THERE was no Christmas respite for residents of the strategic central Angolan town of Kuito on Friday, as shelling by Unita rebels claimed 35 dead and 63 injured. One family lost eight members in the shelling as residents of the ruined town spent Christmas in shelters. Rescue services recovered […]

POLICE are searching for a Ventersdorp farmer who went missing after his bakkie was washed away in floodwaters after a massive storm hit the North-West province on Wednesday afternoon. Police spokesperson Captain Louis Jacobs said 130mm fell on the area in half an hour, flooding many roads. He said an unnamed 61-year-old farmer is missing […]

The ugly: Corruption Andrew Muchineripi South Africa scaled new heights this year by competing in the World Cup for the first time and achieving results that compared favourably with those of previous debutants in the football showpiece. A heavy loss to hosts and eventual winners France in the opening Group C game on a cold, […]

era Mail & Guardian reporters The past took on the future. Like a dying man who knows his time is nearly up, the 20th century picked this moment to have one last flourish – for old time’s sake. It had some scores to settle, some unfinished business to complete. Next year would be too late: […]