MONDAY, 12.00NOON: THE South African men’s hockey team lost 4-3 to Argentina in the final Test in Buenos Aires on Saturday after a controversial goal with the score on 3-3. South African coach Giles Bonnett after the match called for an FIH panel of neutral umpires to referee in future. This was after umpire Guillermo […]

MONDAY 12.30PM: ZAMBIAN President Frederick Chiluba has turned down an appeal from President Nelson Mandela to pardon former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda and to guarantee his safe return home. The Sunday Times of Zambia reported that Mandela telephoned Chiluba asking him to forgive any offences that Kaunda may have committed, and to allow him back […]

Andy Duffy One of South Africa’s top policemen has given controversial businessman Vito Palazzolo a written undertaking that a long-running police probe found nothing on him. The extraordinary statement, written in consultation with Palazzolo, badly damages and may even derail attempts by the Italian and South African authorities to investigate Palazzolo for alleged criminal activities. […]

Despite acclaim, the Second Johannesburg Biennale is likely to close early. What, asks Brenda Atkinson, went wrong? After more than a year of political foreplay and a consummation between Art and the Public that never quite took place, the second Johannesburg Biennale faces closure a month early, following the last-minute withdrawal of funds by the […]

When Tokyo Sexwale looks back on his tenure as premier, he will have few regrets, writes Charlene Smith When Tokyo Sexwale delivers his last speech before the Gauteng legislature, he will take responsibility for all the successes and the failures of the Gauteng government. He will also, privately, reflect on what he calls the complex […]

Steve Morris : Rugby It is arguably ironic in the extreme that the return of the Springbok rugby team from their victorious tour of Europe should have both enegendered an armed truce and signalled the departure of the other collection of young men who have done this country so proud. The sight of Minister of […]

empowerment Madeleine Wackernagel : Taking Stock If it weren’t so tragic, it would be farcical. The great black empowerment dream has turned to dust – and not just because of the slump in the gold price, which, granted, didn’t help. What transpired at the JCI board meeting this week is a tale of mismanagement and […]

FRIDAY, 12.00NOON: THE South African cricket team scored one for the record books on Thursday when they beat New Zealand by a single run at the Bellerive oval in Hobart, Tasmania. The South Africans won the toss and elected to bat first in the 50-over match. Tight bowling and good fielding by the Kiwis held […]

With the ANC’s 50th national conference fast approaching, supporters will be out in force to signal the changing of the guard from Mandela to Mbeki Govan Mbeki fills in a few pieces of the puzzle which constitutes his son, and South Africa’s next president, to David Beresford Govan Mbeki’s voice offers a hint of a […]

FRIDAY, 12.00NOON: SOUTH African golf star and US Open champion Ernie Els is still in contention for the Johnnie Walker Super Tour and is currently placed third, behind Nick Faldo and Jasper Parnevik after the second round, played in Bangkok, on Thursday. Els, the defending champion, joined Faldo and Parnevik in scoring 1-under 71s to […]