Andrew Muchineripi : Soccer After the carefully selected, diplomatically correct words of Clive Barker, new Bafana Bafana coach Jomo Sono has hit the scene like a bolt of lightning from the blue. Sono resembles those gunslingers we worshipped as children at the bioscope. He walks with the same self-belief and is ready to let rip […]
Everyone involved in educating this country’s children, from Minister of Education Sibusiso Bengu to the most junior teacher, should be forced to sit an exam this week, a test containing a single question: define the word responsibility. If they can define it, they might wantto consider how the word applies tothemselves. For these people together […]
Robert Kirby : Loose cannon The Christmas hols done with, it’s time once again to reflect on how we did as a nation honouring this fine occasion. As of going to press, South Africa’s extermination road network was doing quite well in its disciplined attempt to outstrip last year’s carnage. With but a day or […]
Julian Drew : Swimming Eighteen months is a long time in swimming. At the 1994 world swimming championships in Rome Penny Heyns placed sixth in the 100m breastroke final in a time of 1:10.46 and fifth in the B final over 200m in 2:33.57. Those performances received barely a mention in the nation’s sports pages […]
Sechaba ka’Nkosi Newly elected African National Congress secretary general Kgalema Mothlante had a hectic first week at the party’s Shell House headquarters, drafting its anniversary statement and preparing the ground for talks with other political organisations. His orientation included daily two-hour meetings with his predecessor Cheryl Carolus, and a session with his new boss, ANC […]
As blame for the poor matric results is bandied about, schools are set to reopen with no hint of a resolution. Andy Duffy reports State schools open their doors next week on the eve of a potentially bruising and bloody battle between the government, the provinces and their union allies over the floundering education system. […]
FRIDAY, 2.30PM: A SIX-member International Monetary Fund delegation arrives in Zimbabwe on Tuesday for its second visit since November, to launch a US$183-million stand-by credit arrangement to prop up the country’s fast-deteriorating balance of payments position. It is expected that the funds will be disbursed in two tranches, with a first payment available immediately after […]
Neil Manthorp : Cricket Mike Rutherford of the music band Mike and the Mechanics wrote a moving tribute to his late father called The Living Years. It became a hit in most of the world, including South Africa. Hansie Cronje, the South African cricket captain, enjoys the song very much indeed and has included the […]
FRIDAY, 4.30PM: SRI Lankan spinning pair Muttiah Murilitharan and Jayanatha Silva on Friday ripped apart the Zimbabwe batting in the first Test, keeping the visitors to a paltry 140 runs. This leaves the Zimbabweans with a deficit total of 329 runs. The woes of the Zimbabweans did not end, however, and at the close of […]
He’s a white Californian with an internationalist musical style. Janet Smith speaks to guitarist Ry Cooder about his Cuban recordings An old man is dressed for the superb Havana afternoon: dazzling white shoes like ice- creams peeking out from his trouser bottoms; shimmering white hat slithered low over his brows. He lifts his hand to […]