Wally Mbhele A former African National Congress member who was convicted in 1988 of the gruesome murder of four women considers himself abandoned by his party. Of the six people convicted in the case, four – including the ringleader – were given political amnesty in 1991. Another, Absalom Kobela, was released on parole last year. […]
Chris Gordon The United Nations has appointed a new special representative to head Angola’s peace mission. Issa Diallo is to take up his post at the end of August, as the UN faces spreading conflict in central Africa. Diallo’s appointment, announced at a joint commission meeting last Friday, follows the death of his predecessor, Maitre […]
the bears Donna Block Fasten your seat belts, we’re in for a bumpy ride. The market chaos we have been witnessing this week is the result of Japan’s dithering with its economic policy. Japan, which not so long ago was the economic envy of the Western world, has plunged into recession and its economy is […]
A war is brewing over alleged favouritism in the SABC’s commissioning procedures, writes Ferial Haffajee Independent television producers believe that the SABC secretly gave a multi-million-rand contract for breakfast television to a favoured firm while pretending to be taking submissions from its rivals. Questions are being asked about the role played in the deal by […]
What happens when a French philosopher decides to take on the truth commission? To find out, Chris Roper attended Jacques Derrida’s lecture on forgiveness at the University of the Western Cape `Pardon,” says the stylishly clad and devastatingly sexy Jacques Derrida. It is the first word of his lecture – one that will go on […]
Charl Blignaut On stage in Pretoria It is really only while I am hurtling along the highway back to Johannesburg from the Pretoria State Theatre that the full effect of Reza de Wet’s latest work, Yelena, begins to sink in. A leading South African playwright based in Grahamstown, De Wet has chosen to continue her […]
Stuart Hess Three employees of the Independent Development Trust (IDT) brokered more than R200 000 worth of business deals for their own company while in the employ of the organisation. This emerged in a Cape High Court application by Bonile Jack, Agnes Nyamande-Pitso and Baby Mogane- Ramahotswa, who are suing the IDT for more than […]
movies Philip French Stephen King’s movie career got off to a strong start in 1976 when his first novel, Carrie, provided Brian de Palma with his first hit and brought Sissy Spacek an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of a gawky teenager who uses her telekinetic powers to revenge herself on schoolmates and neighbours. Blood […]
oppression? There are people who would have us believe that our computers could destroy the planet – not by taking control of the nuclear arsenals or enslaving humanity, but by sapping our resources and literally polluting us to death. They may be right. I came across some shocking estimates in a bulletin produced by a […]
wealth Angella Johnson VIEW FROM A BROAD Is there a group of people more irritating, self-righteous and unnaturally enthusiastic than a bunch of sales folk trying to punt their wares? Well, imagine being trapped in a hall heaving with them. Not a great way to spend a Sunday, but who can ignore the lure of […]