Relatives gathered at Johannesburg International airport to bid goodbye to loved ones they may never see again as they headed for Iraq to act as human shields. The 35 human shields are South African men and women driven by faith and the belief that they will return home.
With its prayers unanswered of avoiding a war in Iraq, South Africa must hope for a short, sharp operation. President Thabo Mbeki’s principled stand against the forceful disarmament of Iraq has put South Africa’s relations with two of its most important friends in the balance.
Most prominent music stars are quiet on their views on the war in Iraq, reports Alexis Petridis.
The North Sea Jazz Festival cuts across classes and genres, writes Bruce Kadalie.
The start of the American invasion of Iraq and the consequent collapse in oil prices to three-month lows should result in the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) agreeing to cut interest rates.
<b>Movies of the week:</b> Shaun de Waal discusses Roman Polanski’s <i>The Pianist</i>, starring Adrien Brody, and rapper Eminem’s <i>8 Mile</i>.
Cape Town may be buzzing with culture, but it needs effective marketing, writes Guy Willoughby
The national archivist and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development last year deliberately lied to the Mail & Guardian about the whereabouts of 34 boxes of missing Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) documents.
These will be dark days for everyone. Darkest for those caught up in combat — whether they are the civilians whose homes and families are about to be bombarded in an unprecedented display of ”shock and awe”, or the uniformed men and women dropping the bombs.
A report on the girl allegedly abused by Premier Popo Molefe says she manifested symptoms of sexual abuse. The report, which is being used to back the child abuse claims, recommended Molefe be kept away from the child pending the findings of the court.