Mukoni T Ratshitanga A University of Zululand employee is facing 82 internal fraud charges ranging over two years. The university “charge sheet” alleges that Anna Platt, an assistant buyer in the stores department, defrauded the university of R1,5-million between February 1995 and June 1997. Platt allegedly made out false orders for curtains and mattress covers […]
Peet Pienaar speaks to fellow-artist Judith Mason Iwent to see Judith Mason on a cold, murky day, and spoke to an artist who seems to have been quietly observing from the sidelines of the art world for quite a while. How would I contextualise her? I know her well, and know that what I know […]
Howard Barrell Over a Barrel Since this story is about the currency markets, let’s engage in a bit of speculation: you are the leader of a middle-income country of little importance to any but the people who live in it. South Africa would be a good example You are trying to transform your country. Your […]
Iden Wetherell When the Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Laurent Kabila paid a flying visit to Harare last week, he told reporters he was there for routine consultations with President Robert Mugabe. But the presence of Zimbabwe’s defence chiefs suggested a more pressing purpose. Mugabe is chair of the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) organ […]
Coenraad Visser Love and land. Love that is stolen; land that is stolen. Thirty-five years later, love that is returned; land that is returned. “A promise made, broken, and then restored.” That, according to Michael Williams, librettist and producer, is the simple theme of Roelof Temmingh’s new opera, Buchuland, which opens at the State Theatre […]
designer Sir Norman Foster is the architect who’s come closest to establishing a universal style for the age. His latest project, Hong Kong airport, opened last week. Liz Jobey reports Sir Norman Foster rang back. “Sorry, we got cut off as I walked into the Savoy,” he said. “I was on my way to a […]
Tangeni Amupadhi Sello Masinyane has been unable to sleep peacefully since July 8. Horrific images keep flashing in his mind; images similar to what happened to James Byrd Jr – a black man killed by Ku Klux Klan followers in Texas last month after being tied to a truck, dragged for kilometres and dismembered. But […]
Stephen Gray recently attended a conference in Botswana in honour of South African writer Bessie Head, who settled there Gaborone, June 17-18 Few remember the first round of this event. In April 1976, when she was still alive and with only half her work done, Bessie Head was invited here to the University of Botswana. […]
Kate Kellaway Profile: John Malkovich John Malkovich was in London with the cast of The Man in the Iron Mask, assembled for the film’s premiere. When I arrived at the Dorchester in the late afternoon, it was seething with musketeers in mufti (Jeremy Irons, Gabriel Byrne), and an uncrowned king (Leonardo DiCaprio). Malkovich arrived a […]
Andy Capostagno Rugby We live in strange times. Through the years of South Africa’s sporting isolation the apex of ambition in this country was to play against the British. The All Blacks provided the sternest rugby challenge, the Australians the same in cricket, but the cradle of both games was Britain and tours to and […]