Western Cape Premier Hernus Kriel gets a D for bedevilling race relations by playing the “swart gevaar” tune to keep his white and brown voters happy. The big question is whether the Western Cape’s above-average economic performance is because of him or in spite of him, and whether he can defend the last National Party […]

As we enter the third millennium, will the heavens open or will some nutter detonate an explosive device next to you? Charl Blignaut grapples with what the year 2000 means At the start of my research for this article, I eagerly typed the word “millennium” into a standard Internet search engine, hoping that it would […]

“Turning around a ship the size of the SAPS is a little bit like making love to an elephant: first of all … there’s very little pleasure in it, there’s every likelihood you could get crushed, and I know from my house doctor it takes years to see the result.” — Police CEO Meyer Kahn […]

The next generation: those who will be at the forefront of their fields in the years to come. In the first of what will hopefully become an annual Mail & Guardian feature, we have captured a snapshot of 100 people, groups and trends that will be leading the pack as South Africa heads for the […]

MONDAY, 3.30PM: SOUTH Africa drew their four-day Test match against Australia A at the Gabba on Monday. The visitors hit a second innings of 220 for seven declared, while Australia A finished at 122/1 in their second innings when the captains called a halt before the scheduled close. SA skipper Hansie Cronje said playing against […]

If 1997 will be remembered as the year in which broadcasting ruled media’s roost, then radio can crow loudest. Its revolution came in March when the Independent Broadcasting Authority dished out seven licences to the operators of new commercial radio stations: four in Gauteng, three in the Cape and a more recent licence in Durban. […]

Julie Burchill For me there was only one book this year and=20that was Andrew Morton’s Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words. The transcripts of the tapes she made are heart-breaking; hearty Sloane clich=E9s interspersed with cries of agony like something out of Samuel Beckett. The first paragraph of the first tape — “My […]

It was another year of vigorous reporting at the Mail & Guardian, a paper renowned for high-level investigations and intrepid coverage of the inner workings of government. The top 11 of the M&G’s major exposes in 1997 are detailed below. Secret details of parks deal January 10 to 16 1997. Justin Arenstein We reveal a […]

Looking good, spending money and having fun are what seem to interest most teens. But where they are from influences what they are into. Teenagers in 1997 were definitely down with sports labels like Nike and Reebok, Kangol clothes and hats, body piercing, platforms, the baggy hip-hoppy skater-boy look. There’s still a taste for expensive […]