The writing of a new Bill of Rights provides the chance to bring a second revolution in citizen’s rights, argue Water Affairs Minister Kader Asmal and academic Ronald Roberts THE first rights revolution in South Africa has ended the political powerlessness of the majority of citizens. The second must overcome the continuing reality of economic […]

Mondli waka Makhanya FROM Wilmot James’ office in the Cape Town suburb of Rondebosch one can see the gates of the president’s Westbrooke residence. And if one gets there early enough, one can see a procession of ministers and officials exiting from President Nelson Mandela’s legendary early morning meetings. So it is quite apt that […]

Agents of the previous government’s National Intelligence Service have been displaying an unusual interest in the RDP, report Drew Forrest and Wiseman Khuzwayo THE National Intelligence Service (NIS) has taken it upon itself to police the reconstruction and development programme — provoking an angry response from President Nelson Mandela’s office and the office of RDP […]

Will their children should get an equal start in life? Four parents express their views. Pat Sidley reports THE routine business of choosing a school for a six- year-old has become a taxing dilemma for South African parents. Between the expectation of “a better life for all” and the terror of “falling standards”, sending a […]

Farouk Chotia ZULU king Goodwill Zwelethini has spurned Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s efforts at reconciliation. Speaking to about 10 000 people in kwaMashu last Sunday, Buthelezi said he had twice sent IFP deputy secretary general Mandla Zakhele “MZ” Khumalo (the sacrificial lamb for the Inkathagate scandal) to the monarch, offering two head of […]

# RENE MCLEAN: IN AFRICAN EYES (Triloka Records) Rene McLean is the very talented son of Jackie McLean, the American sax player of the bebop era who is still blowing up a storm. McLean, who plays flute and all the saxes, was taught by his father, and mixed with and was influenced by such luminaries […]

A blitz on gay-bashing in the South African Police Services is under way. Behind it are Gay Pride marchers — and the police force itself. Mark Gevisser reports POLICE recruits will soon go through a “diversity” programme to train them in sexual orientation awareness. The South African Police Services career-planning department is currently developing a […]

Quentin Tarantino’s new film, Pulp Fiction, opened the South African International Film Festival this week. The controversial director spoke to Andrew Pulver in London WHEN Quentin Tarantino strolled up the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year to take possession of the Palme d’Or for his second feature, Pulp Fiction, it wasn’t […]

CRICKET: Paul Martin IT sure ain’t gonna be no easy ride in this sheriff’s posse. Big Bob Woolmer is known in the cricket world as something of a radical, an intellectual, a man of ideas, new ideas. For one thing, he will be requiring from the South African cricket team the same sort of dedication […]

Mapula Sibanda PIETER MAYISELA was starting to lose hope of ever finding his younger sister, Fikile, who left their rural home in 1991 at the age of 19 to seek her fortune in the cities. “We are a family of 12 and our ageing parents do not work any more,” says Mayisela. “It is customary […]