Madeleine Wackernagel : Taking Stock I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, especially at this time of year, but spare a thought for the growing numbers of unemployed for whom this is definitely not the season of joy. News from the Central Statistical Service this week was glum: employment in the mining and […]

FRIDAY, 12.30PM MERRILL Lynch, the merchant bank, has been awarded the post as lead transaction adviser for the partial privatisation of South African Airways. The public enterprises ministry said it had initially received 11 applications for the position, with a shortlist of four having been drawn up last month. Public enterprises ministry adviser Kennedy Memani […]

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is likely to bounce back from the apparent public humiliation of her last-minute withdrawal from the deputy presidency race – after garnering paltry support on the conference floor – by coming out tops in elections for the national executive committee (NEC). The result – due out on Saturday – will ensure her survival […]

Howard W French in Abidjan When Madeleine Albright began her first tour of Africa as United States secretary of state, the aim was to open a new era in relations by embracing a “new generation” of leaders that Washington has cited as examples for others to follow. But by the time Albright flew out on […]

Howard W French In a cavernous hall that once served as the VIP bar of an overthrown dictator’s ruling party, several dozen shabbily dressed children shout out the refrain “Jesus Christ lives!” as they are led through prayers by an evangelist preacher. Just five months ago, nearly all these children lived on the filthy streets […]

Steve Morris : Rugby As South Africans we perhaps expect too much. Fed a diet of riotously innovative Springbok rugby as the year closed to blot out the uncertainties of the early months, we will look at the coming Super 12 season and measure players in the new year against the staggering successes in Europe […]

THURSDAY, 6.00PM: SHARES on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange ended mixed on Thursday as gold stocks were boosted by the rally in the bullion price, but industrial shares ended lower due to profit taking and futures-related trades. At the close the gold index had bounced 21,4 points to 760,6, but the industrial index had dropped 29,7 […]

WEDNESDAY, 4.30PM: SIX security guards were murdered in a military-style attack on two armoured cash delivery vehicles carrying R10-million on Wednesday morning. The attack, remarkably similar to an R17-million heist in July this year, involved a gang of 20 robbers armed with AK47 automatic rifles. The gang placed a spiked chain across a road near […]

WEDNESDAY, 12.00 NOON: BAFANA BAFANA coach Clive Barker said his charges will go for a kill in their Confederations Cup Group B match against Uraguay in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday nights. South Africa’s 1-0 loss to United Arab Emirates on Monday has put pressure on the African Champions to win this game at all costs […]

WEDNESDAY, 12.00NOON: BUSH Bucks narrowly beat Supersport United 1-0 in a Castle Premiership match at Umtata Stadium on Tuesday. The score was goalless at interval. The introduction of Mzawuthethi Nogwaza for the off-form Vincent Skhosana inspired the home side to victory. Bucks immediately took control and their commitment paid off as Patrick Mayo connected a […]