OBITUARY: DURANT SIHLALI: "It was with shock and deep sorrow that I learned of the death of Durant Sihlali. I knew this exceptional man and artist well, and enjoyed many hours together with him looking at works and talking art." Colin Richards reflects on the life of the visual artist.
These 12 stories were originally published in Toronto during Rayda Jacobs’s 27-year exile from her own country (<i>The Middle Children</i>, 1994). As she mentions in the acknowledgements, they are "of especial significance because they are ‘fledgling stories’ — stories written while I was living in Canada, longing for home". Shirley Kossick reviews her latest collection of short stories.
The South African government will by July launch the Batho Pele Gateway portal which will provide streamlined government services online, says South African President Thabo Mbeki. In his state of the nation address to the newly elected Parliament on Friday, Mbeki said these would be available through public information terminals in post offices and multi-purpose community centres.
<i>Beyond the Walls</i> (Bowline) sets out to document musically the horrors of the Holocaust and the ability of the human race to survive and triumph against all odds. The melodies are taken from music created in Holocaust camps and the album tries to pay homage to survivors, as well as the creativity of musicians under awful conditions. In this, it succeeds admirably, writes Nicola Mawson.
In a state-of the-nation address remarkable for its emphasis on targets and delivery, President Thabo Mbeki on Friday signalled government’s intention to roll up its sleeves and get down to the business of building a better South Africa. He committed government to raise the rate of investment in South Africa’s formal economy, and implement a detailed programme to respond to the challenges of the informal economy.
The manager and two waitresses of a restaurant in Johannesburg’s Cresta shopping centre were seriously injured following a fire on Friday morning, Johannesburg emergency services reported. The fire apparently broke out at the Beef and Lobster Company, situated on the ground floor.
Further allegations of abuse of power have emerged against National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka — this time from within the prosecuting authority itself. The allegations come a week before Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana releases his long-awaited report on whether Ngcuka abused his authority while investigating Deputy President Jacob Zuma.
With a new Cabinet in place, there are fears of a shakeup among directors general (DGs), who are in the front line of government service delivery. In the past, political and personal differences between Cabinet ministers and their DGs have often led to the latter leaving the civil service. Labour DG Rams Ramashia left his job earlier this month because of clashes with his minister.
Nelson Mandela lunched here every day as a young lawyer. The owner claims to know Fidel Castro. But Johannesburg’s oldest Indian restaurant is now a shadow of its former self, almost struggling for survival. Located deep in the heart of the city’s now seedy central business district, Kapitan’s — founded in 1887 by Madanjit Ranchod’s great-grandfather — owes much of its colour to the present 77-year-old owner, a bon vivant and a great raconteur.
Like many other directors general (DG), Lindiwe Msengana-Ndlela (38) has received lucrative offers from the private sector, with huge financial incentives, but she has chosen to remain in the government. Msengana-Ndlela says she is humbled by the chance to serve the people. ”I have received lucrative financial offers but I could not accept them. I am committed to play my role and serve my term.”