Howard Barrell: OVER A BARREL What’s in a word? Probably not a great deal more than the user puts into it. The idea of rigid definitions is discredited, and the way in which a word is commonly used is little more than a rough guide to its meaning. So it is often not easy to […]

The David Gleason Column This is the last column I shall write this year – and I have to say I’m rather glad 1998 has come to a writing end. It has been a brutal year for me personally, but also for many thousands of South Africans who have been trampled upon, caught by the […]

Sanctions against Burundi are falling away, writes Gregory Mthembu-Salter Sanctions imposed by East African countries against Burundi in the wake of the military coup in July 1996 are nearing their end. Of the six original participants, Kenya, Ethiopia and Zambia abandoned sanctions months ago and the Rwandan government believes their usefulness is over, leaving only […]

One defeat provoked less than subtle expressions of white supremacy, two released emotions constrained by the excesses of the likes of Eugene de Kock and Craig Williamson. Naively increduluous they asked each other: “You mean our side did that? Well there was communism you know.” On the Talk At Will show, where they feel most […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Luanda | Friday 5.00pm. UNITA rebels shelled the town of Malanje in northern Angola early on Friday, Catholic radio station Ecclesia reported. Several people in two neighborhoods were reported injured in the attack. On Thursday evening several shells landed within a kilometre of the governor’s residence in Malanje and dozens of civilians were […]

For organised crime in Asian betting scams, read artistocratic mega-punters in English sport 250 years ago. Gambling scandals are nothing new – especially in cricket, write Kevin Mitchell and Luke Tansey Any suspicion that there is a mole in the England cricket team leaking confidential information of varying quality and relevance to an illegal bookmaker […]

A Bill aimed at protecting indigenous knowledge appears to be more intent on gaining full control over the information garnered, writes Rachel Wynberg Legislation aimed at protecting and promoting South African indigenous knowledge has developed within the context of Deputy President Thabo Mbeki’s “African renaissance”. The intended outcome is to transform indigenous knowledge and technologies […]

A blind photographer. It sounds like a joke, or a novelty turn. But though Aids has robbed John Dugdale of his sight, he is still producing outstanding work, writes Ben Widdicombe John Dugdale lives in one of New York City’s prettiest streets, a curving brownstone avenue lined with lazy trees and 100-year-old town houses. The […]

political home Chiara Carter The National Party in the Western Cape looks set to lose several key politicians to the Democratic Party. The big prize is former education MEC Martha Olckers, set to leave after first being deposed as a provincial Cabinet minister and now featuring low on the regional lists. A number of other […]

On the first day of Christmas the taxman sent to me an exhaustive tax inquiry. On the second day of Christmas my lawyer sent to me, two final demands and an exhaustive tax inquiry. On the third day of Christmas Woolworths sent to me, three maxed accounts, two final demands and an exhaustive tax inquiry. […]