Neil Manthorp : Cricket South Africa’s domination of the World Series one-day competition in Australia has been almost embarrassing. Actually, it has been extremely embarrassing to Australia who have changed their squad and tried to adapt to the modern trends of instant cricket after half a decade of laurel- resting; they are still being stuffed. […]

Ferial Haffajee Gender commissioner and renowned Muslim cleric Faried Esack has been given state protection after a series of death threats from the supporters of the renegade community station Radio Islam. Members of VIP protection services provide 24-hour security to the man who serves as acting head of the Commission for Gender Equality. “I have […]

Craig Bishop `My neighbours still believe in it, but the politicians are destroying the spirit of ubuntu.” Arthritic and near-destitute, Sindiswa Frans does not think she will vote African National Congress next year. Many of the estimated 635 000 pensioners in the province who have not received their pension cheques for December and January may […]

of education Mail & Guardian reporter More popular and less pie-in-the-sky. Thats what The Teachers new editor Philippa Garson has set out to do with the publication she took over last month. Readers may not notice the subtle redesign, but the new columns and features tailor- made for teachers cannot go unnoticed. A Day in […]

Stefaans Brummer and Mungo Soggot Documents in the possession of the Mail & Guardian show that the deputy president of the Constitutional Court accused Mathole Motshekga, the man who is to be sworn in as Gauteng premier on Monday, of fraudulently administering international donor money. These, or similar, allegations have been known to senior African […]

Gwen Ansell At last, an overseas impresario is taking an interest in South African music. Euro Stages Peter Ultee who has also promoted opera, and folkloric shows from West Africa departed on Sunday with the 40-strong Sikulu Theatre Group and their production The Journey for a commercial tour that so far includes theatre bookings in […]

Anthony Kunda in Lusaka The detention of former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda in connection with the botched military putsch of October 28 last year has brought frustrating privations for journalists. The government has not introduced any new legislation to restrict the media. But the police seem to have become paranoid, especially about journalists from independent […]

Peter Makurube When you hear Philip Tabane play guitar you know you are in the presence of greatness. Tabane is the spiritual and creative force behind Malombo, a band that is a national institution or would be if South Africa cared much about original music. This weekend, those who do care will once again have […]

The arts and culture constituency is soon to engage with a new umbrella body whose aim is to promote the resourcing of the arts and to ask hard questions of government now that democratic policies have been implemented. Arts and culture consultant Mike van Graan is spearheading the establishment of the body known as the […]

In a post-painting art world, video seems to be the medium du jour, writes Brenda Atkinson If it is possible to distil one widely shared impression from the critical cross- currents of the second Johannesburg Biennale, and in particular of its showcase exhibition, Alternating Currents, it is this: there was a whack of video installation […]