Charl Blignaut On stage in Johannesburg From the parking lot already, it is obvious that this is not going to be a regular evening at the theatre. There are large, mounted candles burning outside on the lawn of the Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereenigings’s Trap der Jeugd national monument building in Cottlesloe, Johannesburg, and there are […]

Andy Duffy The Ministry of Education wants to spend R200-million this year to boost leadership skills in the provinces – a plan that will also give national officials far greater control over the often chaotic management of provincial education. The plans include setting up a rapid response unit to defuse provincial crises in areas such […]

away Ann Eveleth The Government cannot achieve its land reform targets within existing legislative, procedural and resource limitations, according to the findings of a multi-pronged research project conducted by the National Land Committee. Market-based restrictions, misconceived legislation, narrow legal definitions and a lack of co- ordination between different government departments are some of the obstacles […]

Sechaba ka’Nkosi A new wave of violence is threatening to uproot a fragile peace that has held together for more than four years in the East Rand squatter camp of Phola Park. The recent outbreak has been characterised by assassinations and taxi ambushes in the area, resulting in more than 20 deaths and scores of […]

The annual Loerie Awards acknowledge excellence in 18 advertising and marketing categories. But, asks Brenda Atkinson, do the ads actually work? Show me someone who hasn’t been seduced by an advert in their lifetime, and I’ll show you a badly cut pair of Levis. Much as we might hate to admit it, we are critical […]

Christopher Reed in Los Angeles After an acrimonious debate, the San Francisco school board has become the first in the United States to require students to read books by “authors of colour”. The measure caused conflict when proposed by two black members, who initially insisted that seven of the 10 required books on high school […]

Alex Dodd Backing down whiskies in preparation for provocative choreographer Robyn Orlin’s Orpheus … I Mean Euridice … I Mean the Natural History of a Chorus Girl, I overhear embarrassed whispers: “What did Orpheus do again? My mythology’s so kak.” About one minute into the show I guess that a refined understanding of Greek mythology […]

Mungo Soggot A Canadian mining company has accused De Beers of trying to hijack its rights to mine a lucrative diamond field in the Northern Province. The company, Southern Era Resources, also believes old-guard government officials have conspired against its bid for a mining permit at the Marsfontein field. De Beers apparently passed over the […]

The issue of child criminals has become a major source of embarrassment for the government, writes Andy Duffy The Western Cape is poised to scrap special schools for hundreds of child criminals, despite the growing number of children in jail. Provincial education department officials have told staff at several of the 15 reform schools and […]

Shaun de Waal CD of the week In the early Sixties, Ornette Coleman spearheaded a revolution in jazz, and this is the album that gave that new movement its name. Free Jazz is one of a handful of works re- released in deluxe (that is, fiddly sleeve-within- sleeve) packaging to celebrate the 50th birthday of […]