Bill Buford: GRAFFITI The literary news in New York has been of acquisitions. The most noteworthy, of course, is the acquisition of Random House by Bertelman’s. The Pierpont Morgan library has just been given a gift of rare “American literary properties” collected by Carter Burden, a New York businessman with an interest in the media […]
Michael Billington: London theatre I have measured out my life in productions of Uncle Vanya – two in particular, by Laurence Olivier and Peter Stein, will haunt me to my grave. Katie Mitchell’s RSC/Young Vic co-production may not be on quite the same exalted plane, but it remains a treasurable occasion, penetrating the memory for […]
Dear Phillipe:…It certainly has not taken you long to become a household name in South Africa. One week to be precise. Snubbing the media, intimidating and humiliating players. What a start! I know you were critical of the South Africa media long before you set foot on our soil because I read your interview with […]
Janine Stephen Is clearing alien vegetation pouring money into a bottomless pit? Not if it is done correctly. But if no follow-up work is done, you can be back at where you began within a year. South African National Parks (SANP) was given R5-million in January on behalf of Working for Water, to clear areas […]
THURSDAY, 5.15PM: FORMER state president PW Botha was itching for his trial to continue on Thursday afternoon, but it has been postponed to June 1 to allow his lawyers time to examine additional documents presented by the prosecution. Botha said: “This case was set for four days. Come let’s go on.” He told advocate Piet […]
Lynda Gledhill At Coronation hospital in Coronationville on the West Rand, tiny infants, born premature and just days old, lie inside incubators struggling to breathe as nurses check their vital signs and mothers sit by their sides. Outside this ward, the hospital is struggling to overcome new hurdles and re-emerge as a viable, respected medical […]
Andy Capostagno Cricket People tell me I have a nice job. Go to as many rugby and cricket matches as you like, don’t pay to get in, write a few lines about the match and spend the rest of the day relaxing in the pool on one of those inflatable chairs with a hole in […]
A decade ago the satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys portrayed a beer-paunched yob drunkenly staggering around the stage, yelling: “I’m a white South African – so fuck you all!” The audience would giggle nervously at their recognition of this familiar bully, the quintessential macho rugger-bugger, reckless, brainless and loud, flaunting his bigotry at all those unfortunate enough […]
Metro fm’s new station manager, Romeo Khumalo, is broadcasting’s most eligible bachelor. Janet Smith met him at The Museum Store The Museum Store in Raedene, Johannesburg, is a sinful place. It inspires one to break at least three of the 10 commandments. Lying, stealing and taking the Lord’s name in vain are irresistible in this […]
Andy Capostagno Rugby The Coastal Sharks have got a bye this weekend. Time to relax at home instead of living out of a suitcase abroad. The whole squad will revel in their free time. Well, maybe not the whole squad. One man will have time on his hands that he could well do without. That […]