Stefaans Brummer THE all-pervasive influence of South Africa’s securocrat chiefs in the mid-1980s — through an intricate web of covert propaganda projects — has been revealed in a classified State Security Council document released by former spy Craig Williamson. The 1984 document audits “strategic communication” (stratcom) projects run by the police, the military and the […]

Annie Mapoma MANAGEMENT at two of Johannesburg’s most popular flea markets, Rosebank and Bruma, are surveying their traders and intend taking serious measures against those who threaten the city’s flourishing flea market industry by overpricing. The issue was brought to light when customers complained they were being ripped-off by certain traders, especially on items like […]

The Markets Jacques Magliolo Does anyone actually know what is going on out there? The markets are becoming more confusing and complex by the day. Investors have to keep track of a vast amount of changing Johannesburg Stock Exchange and company law regulations, market movement, fundamental issues as well as the factors which affect these. […]

Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi resorted to the politics of tantrums this week when he led a walkout from parliament. But more important than criticising this return to his pre-election ways is to understand why he is doing it and President Nelson Mandela’s somewhat limited options in dealing with it. The immediate concerns that lay behind the […]

Colin Jackson THE nation’s broadcasting heritage can be summed up with the Broederbond’s cherished term, “consensus broadcasting” — which meant not challenging the regime. The old SABC left no established editorial values, because they only formally accepted that the role of the public broadcasting service was to shine the torch of truth. A critical and […]

ATHLETICS: Julian Drew WHEN Shadrack Hoff sliced more than five seconds off Matthews Temane’s eight-year-old national 5 000m record in Stellenbosch two weeks ago, it signalled the beginning of a new era for South African distance running. In the dark years of the apartheid inspired sports boycott distance running turned in on itself in this […]

Jacques Magliolo Newly acquired Billiton International made its debut in mining and financial giant Gencor’s first interim results. And, what an impressive start to its association it was. Billiton’s turnover, excluding associates and investments, amounted to US$1 074-million (R3 802- million) for the six months to end-December. Profit from operating companies (after depreciation) amounted to […]

Moveable Feast Marino Corazza FROM Benoni to Bedfordview, Florida to Ferndale, Swellendam to Sabi, cafes across the country are invested with same nostalgia. Their names refer to the places their owners emigrated from a long time ago — Mykonos, Apollo, Hellenic, Paphos, The Acropolis, like a travel brochure on Greece and the islands — while […]

THEATRE: Justin Pearce ART imitates life, life imitates art, and theatre imitates cinema ’cause movies are a whole lot more successful than plays … No, no, foul, unfair! It’s tempting to speculate that Ian Fraser’s venture into the world of vampirism, Story of an African Vampire, at the Pieter Roos Theatre at the Civic, is […]