Lyndon Johnson, when asked why he kept J Edgar Hoover on as head of the FBI, made the famous observation that “I’d much rather have that fellow inside my tent pissing out than outside my tent pissing in”. It is a philosophy which has governed President Nelson Mandela’s attempts to handle Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi for […]
John M. Goshko at the UN A move by the United States to pay some of its back dues will keep the United Nations from plunging into the deep financial abyss that senior UN officials had anticipated during 1996. But the US will remain the UN’s biggest debtor, and the world body still will have […]
Hazel Friedman and Janet MacPherson Pact unions have produced evidence suggesting that two of their representatives were involved in a sweetheart deal with Pact management to sell their comrades down the river. The Mail & Guardian is in possession of a cheque for R15 000 made out by Pact’s legal advisors to one of two […]
Rehana Rossouw President Nelson Mandela’s dream of a museum near his birthplace – Qunu in the Eastern Cape – has been given the green light, and should open to the public early next year. The museum is not intended as a shrine or a living monument to the president – its primary purpose will be […]
Anger over racist teachers and the department’s failure to provide English- language classes sparked the Vryburg riots, reports Justin Pearce Policemen were everywhere in Vryburg on Tuesday. Casspirs rumbled through the streets of the quiet farming town, and coils of razor wire surrounded the local Education Department office. Armed with shotguns and assault rifles, a […]
Admiration for Archbishop Desmond Tutu goes from strength to strength as we watch him setting about the Herculean task of cleaning out the Augean stables of apartheid-era atrocities. But even as we applaud him, we cannot help but worry about him. “Arch”, as he would have us know him, has made no secret of his […]
Mungo Soggot THE Taiwanese journalist barred by the United Nations from covering a conference in Midrand said this week it was the first time in his 30-year career the UN had banned him. Taiwan is not recognised by the UN which says it does not allow journalists working for Taiwanese state-backed news companies to cover […]
Gaye Davis All three issues outstanding appear in the draft Bill of Rights of the new Constitution. They are: l Education: The ANC and NP clauses agree on the right to education in the official language of one’s choice in public educational institutions, where reasonably practicable, and that national legislation and policy will play a […]
Cuba is reaffirming its Marxist ideology in an attempt to regain slipping state control of the economy. Douglas Farah reports from Havana Facing a freeze in Cuban-United States relations and slipping state control of the economy, Cuba’s ruling Communist Party has slowed moves toward free-market economics, raised pressure on dissidents and re- emphasised its orthodox […]
Mungo Soggot RESERVE Bank governor Chris Stals said this week he feared lifting exchange controls because of the heavy “pent-up demand” in South Africa to invest abroad that had built up in the past 30 years. Talking about the rand’s meltdown and the Reserve Bank’s relationship with the government, Stals rejected the view that the […]