A powerful lobby is fighting for free commercial speech, writes Hazel Friedman Graham Langmead is an unashamed fag hater. But if there is one thing he hates more than fags it is any attempt to ban advertising them. And while he believes breast is best, he virulently opposes restrictions on advertising substitutes. Just in case […]

In an effort to protect its election chances, the ANC chose to shield warlord Sifiso Nkabinde despite his reign of terror in Richmond, write Sechaba ka’Nkosi and Wonder Hlongwa The African National Congress was warned five years ago that KwaZulu-Natal warlord Sifiso Nkabinde was an apartheid spy – but chose to shield him to avoid […]

After three years of controversial transformation at the SABC, we ask what it is getting right. Ferial Haffajee reports The SABC sealed its transformation this week with the adoption of a new logo. The logo symbolises a broadcaster in tune with the dictates of the market. The new broadcasting barons now have their eyes on […]

The African National Congress’s demand in response to the findings of the Dreyer Commission of Inquiry into the Mpumulanga housing scandal that those who tried to “drag” Minister of Housing Sankie Mthembi- Mahanyele into the scandal should apologise is laughable. The commission, as the ANC well knows, was precluded from probing into the minister’s role […]

Matthew Engel reports on the troubled heart of Kenya, once Africa’s greatest hope, now with its social fabric crumbling and an election due before the end of the year It is half way through the equatorial afternoon. In the wood-panelled parliamentary chamber, a grey-haired African in a dark suit gets to his feet on the […]

A new musical about the famous saxophonist Kippie Moeketsi is in rehearsal at Windybrow. Gwen Ansell watched It’s been said you can classify creative artists as Apollonian or Dionysian. The Apollonians are the cool intellectuals who think their shit out logically and fastidiously, eschewing guts and passion: it was probably their crew who invented New […]

Being portrayed by Brad Pitt in a Hollywood movie should have been the final triumph in Heinrich Harrer’s adventurous life, but his Nazi past caught up with him, writes Ed Douglas When the iron ore mines of Huttenberg closed in 1978 after 2000 years of continuous production, the village died on its feet. Some families […]

FRIDAY, 10AM: Dorbyl’s Chubby mine-clearing system, already sold to France, Uganda and Britain, is being tested by the US Army in Baltimore after modifications the Americans requested before committing to a substantial order. The system includes the Meerkat, a lead vehicle, and the Husky, as well as an armoured trailer called the Duisenpoot. Modifications have […]

FRIDAY 10AM: The owners of small and medium-sized businesses are “deeply pessimistic” about the cost, low productivity and general hassle factor of the low-skill labour market, according to survey results announced on Thursday by the South African Institute of Race Relations. The survey, conducted among 300 businesses, found the rate of unemployment 6% lower than […]

On the eve of the investors’ conference, Paul Jourdan puts the case for the government’s development initiatives Spatial development initiatives (SDIs) are a proven means of giving government more job-creating bang for its very limited bucks. It is too important and successful a strategy to be derailed by vested interests and narrow agendas. The furore […]