Iden Wetherell Televised scenes of demonstrators being teargassed and robust editorials in the country’s leading daily have so angered Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe that he has ordered a radical shake-up of the state-owned media that will see his already tight grip reinforced. Traditionally a faithful ally of Zimbabwe’s entrenched political establishment, the government media have […]

Steve Morris : Rugby The acid test for South Africa’s new regionalised Super 12 system does not come on Friday February 27, when the southern hemisphere’s provincial championship kicks off in Cape Town where the Western Stormers face Wellington at Newlands. Neither will it really come should one of the local composite teams make the […]

Arthur Goldstuck HOGFATHER (Corgi Books, R51); JINGO (Victor Gollancz, R112) both by Terry Pratchett Some authors annoy their fans intensely by producing a book every year or two, filling up their bookshelves and depleting their wallets. If Terry Pratchett’s six-monthly release-schedule has a similar impact, none of his fans have voiced even a hint of […]

morality Sexual scandal in politics has always been attended by hypocrisy, most frequently on the part of the media in their efforts to justify the public ventilation of private activities. When a British minister of defence, John Profumo, bedded a prostitute and was caught, the British press justified its prurient coverage of the scandal on […]

Belinda Beresford Guardian of the rand and watchdog of inflation, the Reserve Bank probably has as much impact on every South African’s finances as anything the government does. But, unlike Nelson Mandela, the bank is not national property. Unlike most of its counterparts across the globe, South Africa’s central bank is a private company which […]

Philippa Garson Etienne Marais, a director in the Safety and Security Secretariat found guilty last week of sexually abusing two girls, will face a disciplinary hearing or be dismissed, unless he resigns first. Marais, chief director of liaison and communication, was found guilty of masturbating in front of two girls, aged seven and 12 at […]

Belinda Beresford Investor or tourist, gift-giver or generous parent bailing out stranded offspring, how can you best get your money out of the country? The quickest way of taking money overseas is to use your credit or debit card, although this can be expensive. Internationally, credit-card transactions are operated in dollars. A withdrawal in yen […]

Attempts at reconciling the ANC’s Gauteng region have failed dismally, writes Sechaba ka’Nkosi Fresh allegations of serious misconduct and abuse of authority hit the inner circles of the African National Congress’s Gauteng region this week, less than two months before the party holds its provincial conference. At the centre of the furore is Safety and […]

Melvyn Minnaar Potable pleasures The nickname they have in common, promises pleasure. But whereas the white stuff offers play with a pinch of peril, the black substance carries a free-and-easy, “all-ages” prescription and a registered trademark. To the contemporary tune of Always Coca- Cola, Coke is hailed as universal libation of fun with a long […]

FRIDAY, 10.30AM: ALL-Africa pole vault record holder Okkert Brits has been suspended from competing in Friday night’s European indoor meeting in Germany after Athletics South Africa informed the International Amateur Athletics Federation that he is on SA’s team to take on Russia in a Test match in Pretoria on Saturday and therefore does not have […]