Peter Makurube Pretoria’s anomaly has always been that it is the headquarters of apartheid and jazz. On one side of the city they chilled out to Bles Bridges and other nostalgic musicians. On the other side the spirit of Malombo won the hearts and minds of the people. Gradually,after all these years, Pretoria is learning […]

I’d hate to think what would have happened to artist Steven Cohen if he’d waltzed around this year’s national arts festival with his banner decorated with the words: “Give us your children. What we can’t fuck, we eat.” No doubt Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Lindiwe Sisulu would have had him for breakfast. Conversely, had […]

designer Sir Norman Foster is the architect who’s come closest to establishing a universal style for the age. His latest project, Hong Kong airport, opened last week. Liz Jobey reports Sir Norman Foster rang back. “Sorry, we got cut off as I walked into the Savoy,” he said. “I was on my way to a […]

Andy Duffy A senior commander in the government’s fight against HIV and Aids is to step down. Rose Smart, the former nurse who revived the HIV/Aids and STD (sexually transmitted diseases) Directorate following the Sarafina II scandal, wants to leave in November when her contract expires. “It is a 12-hour day, seven-days-a-week job. I don’t […]

Stuart Hess Police investigating a complaint against artist Mark Hipper dropped the probe this week when the country’s chief censor read them the film and publications Act. Police telephoned Dr Nana Makaula, CEO of the Film and Publications Board, to arrange to take a statement following a complaint lodged by the National Council of Child […]

rots Wally Mbhele An accomplished military intelligence (MI) agent, Nigel Barnett – who infiltrated Mozambique in 1984 and operated there until his dramatic arrest last year – was granted bail despite documentary proof that he was a spy for apartheid South Africa. Barnett’s release by Mozambican prosecuting authorities has raised more questions about why Robert […]

Swapna Prabhakaran Like most of Richmond’s remaining residents, Mabel Nxumalo is a portrait of strength. She has a solid, hard- worn look about her and though there is a deep grief in her eyes, there are no tears. A week ago her sister, two of her sons and her daughter-in-law were shot dead. They were […]

David Shapshak Satire – apart, of course, from chicken – is Nando’s speciality. Its advertising has always piggy-backed on current issues and ridiculed or satirised them. Humour, you see, is their secret ingredient. It has arguably sold them more chickens than their famous Portuguese sauces. Remember the just-recognisable grey- haired global leader with a predilection […]

Charl Blignaut On stage in Johannesburg `There’s one sure way to beat the racist bastards of this world,” conclude Bessie (104) and Sadie (102) Delaney somewhere near the end of their marathon tale of growing up black and surviving a century of civil injustice in the United States, “and that’s to outlive them”. To have […]

Mandy Collins At some stage, hopefully, most of us will progress from owning the most dilapidated car on the block to buying a new or good second-hand car. This usually means trying to understand the world of car finance. The cutting-edge option is time-share. Reportedly, some people have paid R20 000 for a share in […]