There is much to commend the idea of a monument which celebrates the triumph of freedom in South Africa and remembers those who sacrified and suffered to achieve it. Think of Auschwitz standing for all to visit and be reminded of the pledge of survivors, repeated by Mandela in his inauguration address: “Never, never again.” […]

Barney Pityana, chairman of the Human Rights Commission, in The Mark Gevisser Profile WHEN Geoff Budlender visited one of the many trials of Barney Pityana in the early 1970s, he ran into his fellow student-leader’s mother, whom he did not recognise but who clearly seemed to know him. She revealed herself as Budlender’s aunt’s domestic […]

A new draft Bill will reopen the abortion debate, reports Gaye Davis DRAFT legislation giving women the right to have their pregnancies terminated on request is expected to go before Cabinet in April. Minister of Health Dr Nkosazana Zuma this week confirmed a draft Bill was being finalised by her department but said she could […]

It’s business as usual at the Community Bank, despite reports of a solvency crisis. But potential investors may take more convincing, reports Madeleine Wackernagel Reassurances have been flowing thick and fast that all is well at the Community Bank (CB). Drawing on the lessons of the African Bank debacle, the government took rapid action. The […]

Playing Francois Pienaar out of position was the wrong move, but Chris Rossouw moving from hooker to eighthman was a success for Transvaal RUGBY: Jon Swift THERE are those who still believe fervently in the school of thought so successfully propagated by the late Danie Craven that if a man is what the Doc called […]

Sevens South Africa’s team for the Hong Kong Sevens tournament is largely unknown and they’ll be coming up against some big names RUGBY: Adrian Oosthuizen SOUTH AFRICAN rugby fans will be hoping that some of the sparkle which saw the country emerge as world champions in 1995 will rub off on the team of exciting […]

plans to sue Gauteng Philippa Garson THE Gauteng Education Department is facing legal action for closing down a private school without giving reasons. When George Zachos opened a private high school next to his marketing college in Johannesburg, he didn’t bargain for the “nightmare” he claims he suffered, a nightmare he has “no words to […]

With a code of conduct coming into existence, MPs will be compelled to disclose their financial interests. Philippa Garson reports WINNIE Madikizela-Mandela’s mysterious financial circumstances will come under the spotlight when the code of conduct for parliamentarians comes into effect. Her financial position has been the subject of intense speculation following disclosures in court records […]

Marion Edmunds FEAR of the arbitrary powers of the secretive Immigration Board is preventing a public outcry about the way Home Affairs officials process applications by foreigners for work, study or residence permits in South Africa. And for the first time the Transvaal Law Society convened a “desperation” meeting with officials this week to tackle […]

Gaye Davis, Rehana Roussouw and Madeleine Wackernagel SOUTH Africa got its first black finance minister late on Thursday — in the person of Trade and Industry Minister Trevor Manuel. In a Cabinet reshuffle sparked by the resignation of Chris Liebenberg, Deputy Minister of Finance Alec Erwin will now take over Manuel’s portfolio, while ANC MP […]