Wonder Hlongwa The investigative task unit head, Bushy Engelbrecht, this week applied to have part of Sifiso Nkabinde’s trial held in camera. Engelbrecht said six witnesses fear that if their identities become known in the course of testifying against Nkabinde in an open court, their lives will be in danger. The former African National Congress […]

Government’s hands-off approach has ensured an economic success story, writes Tim Trulock For 27 years, the former president of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, nationalised not only the large flagship companies, but also many small, nickel-and-dime operations. The government became the major shareholder in Zambia and then proceeded to run it into the ground, destroying not only […]

Robert Kirby: Loose Cannon Question 3: a) What event was this British woman talking about in 1997 when she said: “A kind of floral fascism was at work … in a country ruled by grief police?” b) Around the same time a BBC camera chose to zoom in on a greeting card reading “God created […]

bias Ann Eveleth Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Kader Asmal undertook this week to launch an inquiry into allegations that building consortium Group Five refused to consider highly qualified candidates for senior posts because they were black or female. Executive recruitment firm Dick Muller CC blew the whistle on the construction, engineering and works […]

trade David Sharrock in Tangier Ask any teenage northern Moroccan male what his future will be and he will tell you he has three options: to escape across the sea to Europe; become a contraband dealer; or get into the hashish trade and end up either rich or in prison. Mohamed, who has tried all […]

Computer crime costs South Africa more money than heists and robberies, yet there is no law against hacking, writes David Shapshak South Africa lost an estimated R326-million to computer crime last year, more money than in robberies or violent cash-in-transit heists, according to police statistics released this week. And police are expecting an increase in […]

The IBA is keeping a close rein on Voice of Soweto, writes Maria McCloy The community radio station Voice of Soweto is pulling out the stops to comply with orders set down by the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA). Voice of Soweto is currently broadcasting on a temporary 30-day licence after a tussle with the IBA […]

Mail&Guardian reporter THE third bidder for a private television licence comes under the spotlight today. Station for the Nation (SFTN) will be questioned on its bid which is led by Gladwin Marumo with the controlling consortium pulled together largely by the Thebe Investment Corporation, one of the country’s leading black investment holdings companies. That gives […]

Monica Hilton-Barber : Slice of life The golden glow of goodwill between different South Africans may have dimmed and the initial dream of racial integration become more distant since the initial euphoria following the elections four years ago. But the rainbow is still bright and beautiful in many parts of the country. Number 23 Van […]