The food revolution is changing the face of the world, report John Vidal and Mark Milner Six giant agrochemical corporations are poised to dominate world food production with genetically engineered food. The result could be millions of farmers unemployed, poor countries losing whole export markets, a consumer revolt in Europe, and concentration of farming in […]

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 […]

Fifty years on: Terror Lekota’s victory signals a resurgence of the left and the former MDM activists. Reports by Wally Mbhele, Marion Edmunds and Sechaba ka’Nkosi Former Free State premier Patrick “Terror” Lekota shot back from the political sidelines with a resounding landslide victory over Minister of Sport Steve Tshwete for the position of national […]

Lenin has made a comeback – on a T-shirt. Ferial Haffajee looks at new political designs The T-shirt. For long an integral part of South African life, a collection of T- shirts from the Seventies to the present can tell the history of this country. Often an important part of anti-apartheid campaigns, there was a […]

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 […]

Max Gebhardt It’s hard to believe Brian Gilbertson was once of the opinion that unbundling wasn’t in the best interests of Gencor. Especially if you consider that he has taken Gencor by the scruff of the neck and given it a well- deserved shake. The once massive industrial conglomerate is now nothing more than a […]

Gavin Evans : Boxing Boxing’s geriatric decade may be ready for a new twist when Thulane “Sugarboy” Malinga fights Britain’s Robin Reid for the WBC supoer middleweight title on Friday night. Throughout his career Sugarboy has been such an erratic boxer that you never know who is going to turn up – the brilliant dazzler, […]

FRIDAY, 5.30PM: FUTURES trades hijacked the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on Friday during the last two hours of trade as the December ’97 contracts closed out leading most of the major indices to be knocked lower as the derivatives market sold scrip, dealers said. At the close the all gold index had gained 4,8 points to […]

Ruaridh Nicoll The Himba chief stared at the anthropologist who had just asked him to describe what he did. A moment passed before he answered: “I attend meetings and I make love to my three wives.” The Himba wander the vastness of Namibia’s skeleton coast. They drink milk, wear calf- skins, and style their hair […]

Tracey Simbi While the image of South Africa’s farmers as white, conservative, khaki-clad, beer-swilling men persists, the reality is quite different – most are responding dynamically to changes in the industry and new black entrants are slowly making their presence felt. In fact, a silent revolution is taking place in agriculture. While some changes were […]