”I still believe in looking for the voices, perspectives and experiences of black people.” Drew Forrest speaks to Unisa vice-chancellor Barney Pityana, who gives vent to his worries about tertiary mergers, the media, black intellectuals and the state of South Africa’s democracy.

The dusty high-rise sits on a corner of Port Elizabeth’s ageing freeway network above the city’s taxi rank off Govan Mbeki Drive. Out in Madiba Bay lie one or two boats at anchor — one of them belonging to the man I’ve come to see. Mike Loewe visits former activist Mkhuseli Jack’s world in all its glorious, laid-back unpretentiousness.

Propping up the corner of the Keg & Sable, the Old Reliable held forth: ”The problem with Mugabe is that he is not a good dictator.” He drained his beer and pushed the glass across the bar with a satisfied nod. The barman, taking the nod for a signal, rummaged in the refrigerator and triumphantly came up with a refill. He deserved it; the line was a good one.

The detective who investigated Germany’s infamous cannibal case told a court on Monday that he had stumbled upon a vast cannibal scene in Germany — involving several dentists and other professionals.

Commonwealth leaders tried to close ranks over Zimbabwe on Monday as the threat of further splits in the organisation led politicians from across the spectrum to either criticise Robert Mugabe or insist that the decision to keep his country suspended was just.

President Thabo Mbeki has appointed Eddie Funde as the new chairperson of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board, communications department spokesperson Jerry Majatladi has confirmed.

Israeli advisers are helping train US special forces in aggressive counter-insurgency operations in Iraq, including the use of assassination squads against guerrilla leaders. US forces in Iraq’s Sunni triangle have already begun to use tactics that echo Israeli operations in the occupied territories.