invasion Swapna Prabhakaran Some political allies of the African National Congress have remained strangely silent in the wake of the destruction of Maseru that resulted from South Africa’s military intervention in Lesotho last week. While the ANC’s highest organs have supported the intervention, its alliance partners appeared unable to draft a quick response. Human rights […]

Robert McCrum talks to his long-time friend Salman Rushdie as he emerges from the shadow of the fatwa `I didn’t expect to survive,” says Salman Rushdie. “I didn’t expect to live.” We are sitting alone in the office of anti-censorship group Article 19’s director, Frances D’Souza, in the aftermath of a sweaty press conference at […]

Howard Barrell Over a Barrel When good intentions land you belt- high in excrement with nothing firm underfoot, it is probably best to delay wondering what persuaded you to walk into it. Self-flaggelation can come later. Now is the time to plan a way out – so that you emerge as dry as possible, preferably […]

Samuel L Jackson has played some seedy lowlifes in his time, yet we love him. It’s the drawling charm, the cool … But don’t be fooled: this is a man who kicked a 20-year drug habit to vie with Hollywood’s aristos. And he’s not done yet, writes Jim Shelley Now that his name has started […]

So how was it for you? Did the earth move? These are, traditionally, the questions couples ask each other in the languid aftermath of sex. Now, thanks to recent events in Washington, another and more urgent query needs to be added to the lovers’ lexicon. Have we just had sex according to commonly understood and […]

politics Cameron Duodu: LETTER FROM THE NORTH The Democratic Republic of Congo has always aroused two contradictory emotions in me as an African: the ecstasy created in the soul by appreciation of some of the best music on the continent, and the fear and anger aroused in the mind by irrational, blood-spattered politics that resurfaces […]

A group of leaders are exploiting a lull in the fighting in Central Africa to broker a peace agreement, reports Howard Barrell African leaders have been involved in a series of hush-hush meetings and manoeuvres over the past fortnight aimed at giving fresh impetus to the search for a comprehensive agreement to end the continent’s […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 9.15pm. GRIQUALAND West remained firmly in entrenched in their position for a Currie Cup semi-final berth after a good 33-14 win over South Western Districts at Outeniqua Park in George on Friday evening. The men from Kimberley led 21-9 at halftime. The match was, however, not as one-sided as the […]

Keep South Africa Beautiful closed its files this week after its funds dried up, writes Wonder Hlongwa South Africa’s biggest waste management and environmental awareness organisation has closed shop because of corruption, mismanagement and lack of funds and direction. The closure of Keep South Africa Beautiful comes at a time when government departments are struggling […]

Tangeni Amupadhi Mpumalanga police have failed to trace a former Delmas mental patient who they say might help in the investigation of the beheading murders of at least four people. The police said Johannes Mohale- Monareng (alias Mohlala), who cut off a child’s head and tried selling it in 1990, was last seen at his […]