A group of 32 South African actors have shaken up the staid Brits with the vigour of their show Paul Tilsley One minute to seven and the entire cast of the musical Umoja stand squeezed between costume rails and props in the cramped backstage area of London’s Shaftesbury Theatre. It is the first night of […]

The Springboks take the world’s biggest pack into their crucial game at Twickenham Andy Capostagno in London It is a melancholy fact that, while South Africa have lost only seven times to England in 95 years, five of those defeats have come since the end of isolation 10 years ago. If, as the bookmakers are […]

Grande Jete will attempt to become the second Cape-trained horse in three weeks to win a major feature in Gauteng when he lines up for the R2-million grade 1 Summer Cup over 2 000m at Turffontein on Saturday. Last season’s Cape Derby winner has assumed the mantle of race favourite after the scratching of Badger’s […]

There’s only one Harry Potter, and it’s British-born Daniel Radcliffe. Two owls play Hedwig: Gizmo and Sprout. Two versions of the film are being released. It is to be known as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in the United States. Any scenes that mention the philosopher’s stone were filmed twice: replacing sorcerer for philosopher. […]

The new land laws could disempower the poor Comment Ben Cousins In the run-up to a national conference on land tenure reform in Durban next week, the Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs has circulated a draft Communal Land Rights Bill. Activists and analysts are scrutinising the proposals for signs of government thinking and an […]

To understand Africa’s problems … comment Shyaka Kanuma Do the individuals who call themselves taxi drivers in this country wake up with a death wish each morning? Not only does the evidence suggest an emphatic yes, but apparently their death wish includes the innocent, docile sheep that commute in their vehicles! I am no stranger […]

We have taken careful note of the matters you raise. You will not be surprised to hear that we regret to inform you that these are not matters within the jurisdiction of the Commission. Some of the matters you raise, however, appear to be of such a serious nature that we have felt bound to […]

Drew Forrest Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Thoko Didiza may be in for a hot reception at the upcoming national land tenure summit after the release of a draft land tenure Bill branded ”deeply flawed and alarming”. ”At best, the draft Communal Land Rights Bill is a poorly thought-through measure,” the University of the […]

The justice system and law enforcement agencies can do little to control the sexual exploitation of children. As a prosecutor, I have watched defence lawyers use the full extent of their skill and powers to intimidate, badger, cajole and confuse bewildered little girls under cross-examination. I have watched magistrates routinely declare child victims unreliable witnesses […]

ABSA’S headline earnings rose by 22,8% to R1309-million compared to R1066-million for the same period in the previous financial year, the banking group said in a statement on Monday. Chairman Danie Cronje said the group was extremely pleased with the ”very satisfying results” , especially given fairly difficult trading conditions. The return on average shareholder […]