loose cannon Robert Kirby Dear Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Here, as instructed, is the second totally independent interim report of the Special South African Election Observer Mission to Zimbabwe. As our mission leader, Dr Sam Motsuenyane, confirmed last Sunday on SABC-TV, our election observer mission was most cordially welcomed on our arrival in Harare by members […]

Matthew Krouse The newsroom of The Bystander is in its usual state of chaos, buzzing with hacks who can barely produce a line. In reality, it’s a set buzzing with local luminaries, working like hell to keep the canned laughter bubbling along. Scoop Schoombie’s second season is under way, having begun on February 12. And […]

The state is acquiring hi-tech tools to boost service delivery but this will also increase social control Stefaans Brmmer Minister of Home Affairs Mangosuthu Buthelezi on Monday called himself a “libertarian” who believes in vigilance “to ensure that once acquired, liberties and freedoms are not placed in jeopardy by subsequent actions of government”. That said, […]

Piere Strydom looks to have bagged the rides on the winners of both the juvenile sprint features at Turffontein on Saturday. In the R100 000 Storm Bird Stakes for colts, over 1 000m, the champion jockey is aboard Mike Azzie’s highly regarded National Currency, an easy odds-on winner in a strong field in his only […]

Sizwe samaYende and Justin Arenstein Mpumalanga has hit the headlines repeatedly as its controversial health MEC refused to allow an NGO and doctors to provide anti-retroviral drugs for rape survivors. This week Sibongile Manana was attacked by opposition parties and civic groups for her refusal to deviate from the national government line and make nevirapine […]

Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang had the approval of the ANC’s top leadership in repudiating Gauteng’s announcement of a rollout of drugs.

SUDANESE Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail on Monday voiced his country’s opposition to any US strike on Iraq as part of Washington’s “war on terror.” “We refuse any strike on Iraq. If Iraq is hit today, Sudan will be tomorrow and other Arab countries the day after tomorrow,” Ismail told reporters on arrival in the […]