Deon Meyer’s distinctive thrillers have done well in Europe, the US and South Africa, writes Yolandi Groenewald.
The FTSE 100 plunged more than 190 points on Friday morning and stock markets across Europe were left reeling from a global credit crisis despite more efforts by the European Central Bank to stem the panic. The ECB had already taken its boldest steps since the 9/11 terror attacks to soothe markets with a massive injection of funds.
Author Andrew Keen has a particular knack for phrasing his criticisms in a way that allows every blogger to feel personally slighted, writes Tim Dowling.
<i>African Writing Online</i>’s inaugural issue features Caine Prize winners Brian Chikwava, Helon Habila, local writer Zukiswa Wanner and others. Percy Zvomuya speaks to the editor, Afam Akeh.
Three people were arrested at Cape Town International Airport with cocaine valued at about R3-million in their stomachs, police said on Friday. Police took them for X-rays after they stepped off a flight from South America at 9am on Thursday, said Inspector Bernadine Steyn.
President Thabo Mbeki must convince his counterparts in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) that the time has arrived to impose limited sanctions against Zimbabwe, says acting Democratic Alliance leader Joe Seremane. In his party’s weekly online newsletter, he said Mbeki had to admit the talks he brokered had ”gone nowhere”.
About a dozen protesters gathered outside the Johannesburg High Court on Friday to protest against how rape victims are treated by the law. Some protesters held placards and had their mouths taped shut, while others chained themselves to the court fence. ”Reporting rape equals being raped again in court,” read one placard.
A hearing involving murder accused Najwa Petersen was postponed in the Wynberg Regional Court on Friday as psychiatric reports to determine whether she’s mentally fit to stand trial for the murder of Taliep Petersen have not yet been completed. The South African Broadcasting Corporation reported that the widow did not appear in court on Friday.
Authorities in Zimbabwe raised the official price of a loaf of bread in a bid to ease chronic shortages, state radio said on Friday. A loaf of bread will now cost ZÂ 000, up from ZÂ 000, the country’s Industry Ministry said in a statement read aloud on state radio. The price of some other basics has also been hiked, including salt, beef and cement.
Sierra Leone holds presidential and parliamentary polls on Saturday, the first since United Nations peacekeepers left two years ago and a watershed in its recovery from an 11-year civil war fuelled by blood diamonds. The war spawned images of drug-crazed child soldiers who hacked off people’s limbs.