Mduduzi ka Harvey Members of the South African Police Intelligence Unit had to try twice before managing to bomb Khotso House in central Johannesburg, headquarters of the South African Council of Churches, in 1988. Affidavits by former Intelligence Unit members in the possession of the Weekly Mail & Guardian tell a story of careful planning, […]

A top-secret document discloses the names of African states that bought hi-tech eavesdropping equipment from Armscor, reports Eddie Koch ARMSCOR sold hi-tech “radio hopper” equipment to African states that enabled South African military intelligence officers to monitor sensitive diplomatic and military messages passed on by the governments of these countries. A top-secret document — which […]

TELEVISION: Luke Alfred CHRIS DU PLESSIS is a former Vrye Weekblad journalist and now director of CCV-TV’s Thursday night amalgam of local culture, Not Quite Friday Night. It contains all sorts of things — local music, off-beat interviews, comedy sketches. Last week’s programme featured one of the more bizarre forms of local subculture: a koedoebokdrolverspoeg […]

The Katz tax commission mostly makes sense, but some recommendations seem to have been hastily arrived at, reports Reg Rumney Most recommendations of the Katz tax commission were hailed by commentators this week — with some bothersome exceptions that pointed to hasty decisions and gave the impression of tinkering with the system. Under fire are […]

Ironically, NGOs face their most serious crisis in the new South Africa. Paul Zille suggests scenarios for their survival IF there is one aspect of the development debate in South Africa about which there seems to be complete consensus, it is the importance of non-governmental organisations. Yet, ironically, NGOs today find themselves in the most […]

# Danceworks, Principia, Patrol — Steve Martland Band/Smith Quartet (Catalyst) The new-music label Catalyst has had far more misses than hits so far, but these three pieces by Steve Martland provide a very good introduction to his musical world, which treads a canny course along the borders of minimalism, rock and jazz. Like his teacher, […]

TRADITIONAL leaders called for land restitution claims to be considered from 1652 instead of 1913 at the conference of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa in Midrand last weekend. Contralesa president Chief Phathekile Holomisa also expressed concern over the only-partial political freedom guaranteed traditional leaders in the interim constitution. “It denies chiefs their […]

Critical Consumer Pat Sidley MOST South African consumers had a magnificent year. The disenfranchised majority acquired and used that precious commodity — a vote — and got the government they wanted. This government in turn often proved more responsive to consumer needs than the last lot. Its interventions ranged from keeping the maize price at […]

Native tongue Bafana Khumalo `TIS a season to be jolly. `Tis time for even an angry young black man who is fast becoming a cynical old fart to dispense with the vitriolic poison pen and embrace all of humanity with enthusiasm, in a spirit of peace and love. I am happy. So much so that […]

Kader Asmal, water affairs and forestry minister, sets out the formidable challenges facing the ANC THERE are two powerful messages that Bloemfontein can give the nation over the next week. First, the ANC conference can confirm that the ANC is the natural party of government; second, it can be demonstrated that all South Africans are […]