Werner Menges An ambitious attempt to clean up an apartheid eyesore has landed Namibia’s former housing minister – the winner of a United Nations housing award – and top officials in the Ministry of Housing in the largest corruption trial since independence. The Windhoek High Court heard evidence about confused responsibilities, denials and disregard for […]

Managed currency funds provide limited-risk offshore investments, writes Dan Atkinson from London As the turmoil on the currency markets abates, there can still be few easier places to make or lose a million. Novice investors are ill-advised to take a ride on roller-coastering foreign exchanges. But managed currency funds will allow the adventurous to play […]

Mail & Guardian reporters Hollywood loves a spectacle – and a spectacular blockbuster goes straight to its heart. That’s why Titanic, the most expensive movie ever made and also a huge hit, has matched the record for the most Oscar nominations (14). That’s a tie with 1950’s All About Eve, though Titanic is beginning to […]

fiction Jeremy Cronin: Crossfire During the past months there has been kite- flying around the idea of a merger between the African National Congress and the Inkatha Freedom Party. Peter Mokaba, in the flurry of interventions he made prior to the ANC annual conference in December, punted the idea. The IFP’s Mangosuthu Buthelezi slapped down […]

Chris McGreal The Marquis Bernard-Alexis P de Menars, Prince de Bourbon-Vendome, head of the Universal Foundation, pursuer of “The Light”, looked genuine enough to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s inexperienced former finance minister, Mawampanga Mwana Nanga. The “marquis” arrived at Mawampanga’s office offering to help raise and administer $500- million for the cash-strapped former Zaire. […]

East dust Winnie Mandela The year is still in nappies but already we at the Mail & Guardian arts desk have spotted the most likely candidate to lift our coveted annual Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Award for Multiple Comebacks from poppet Wendy Oldfield. Yup, Jani Allan is back. Again. While Eugene Terre’blanche sank like a very large […]

Stefaans Brmmer and Ann Eveleth An extraordinary legal battle reaching to the office of Deputy President Thabo Mbeki is set to reach a climax in the Johannesburg High Court next week when ousted Zairean dictator Mobutu Sese Seko’s military elite demand continued safe haven in South Africa. The court hearing follows months of legal wrangling, […]

Ferial Haffajee : In your ear Nothemba Madumo is no shock-jock. Her Kaya Lifestyle on Gauteng’s Kaya FM is the epitome of easy listening. Aired each day between 9am and noon, Madumo’s blend of cool music and inspirational talk now has a loyal audience, according to the latest All Media Product Survey (Amps) figures. That […]

Computer crime costs South Africa more money than heists and robberies, yet there is no law against hacking, writes David Shapshak South Africa lost an estimated R326-million to computer crime last year, more money than in robberies or violent cash-in-transit heists, according to police statistics released this week. And police are expecting an increase in […]