The west stereotypes Asian men as weak, subservient, effeminate. No wonder they’re fighting back BODY LANGUAGE Tania Branigan ‘Hitler has only got one ball, Goering has two but very small. Himmler is very sim’lar, and Goebbels has no balls at all.” When World War II troops sang that ditty, the words were tongue- in-cheek. Sixty […]

Launches, feuds, withdrawals, hi-tech gadgets and future predictions were just some of the highlights David Shapshak A week may be a long time in politics and it can also be a very busy time for the information technology industry. Last week as Africa’s telecommunications came under the spotlight at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecoms […]

Drew Forrest A newly released study on a powerful Lebowa chief’s land grab before the 1994 election sheds a harsh light on the abuses and conflicts that could follow the large-scale transfer of communal land to traditional “communities”. The study, by Aninka Claassens, analyses events in the Northern Province area of Rakgwadi, near Marble Hall, […]

CRICKET Peter Robinson South Africa and India will risk the wrath of the International Cricket Council (ICC) by dispensing with the services of controversial match referee Mike Denness for the third match starting at SuperSport Park on Friday. United Cricket Board (UCB) chief executive Gerald Majola said the South African and Indian boards had agreed […]

Zakes Hlatswayo grew up in Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal. His working background includes fieldwork for the South African Council of Churches’ youth training programmes and coordinator for the Association for Community and Rural Advancement. He is currently director for the National Land Committee an NGO that advocates land reform and restitution. Other newly elected officials are: First […]

Jaspreet Kindra State-owned aircraft were used for 2314 unscheduled flights in KwaZulu-Natal in the past financial year, the province’s Director General, Richard Sizani, has revealed. At the same time, the province’s Auditor General, Barry Wheeler, has reprimanded Premier Lionel Mtshali, King Goodwill Zwelithini and members of the provincial cabinet for unscheduled and unplanned flights over […]

analysis Mike Muller and Junior Potloane Last week’s Mail & Guardian article about the privatisation of Nelspruit’s water (“Water privatisation test case ‘a total debacle’”) appeared while we were travelling the back roads of Bushbuckridge or Botlhabela municipality as the neighbouring municipality is now known visiting water schemes. We did not go to Nelspruit because, […]

Niki Moore The paper war continues between political parties in Mandeni on the Zululand south coast, piling another controversy on to the collapsing Inkatha Freedom Party-led local government. The latest crisis has been sparked by the council’s apparent determination to ram through the appointment of disgraced academic Musa Xulu as the town’s new municipal manager. […]

analysis Raymond Suttner Many commentators have said one should not be surprised that the African National Congress wishes to form some form of cooperation agreement or alliance with the New National Party. Some see this as confirmation of a “truism” that even freedom fighters, once they get involved in “normal” politics, are prepared to bed […]

I was not surprised when I was watching e-tv and I heard a quote from President Thabo Mbeki saying those who are sceptical or don’t believe the arms deal investigation results are those who believe that blacks are corrupt. I want to say unequivocally that I fiercely oppose what Mbeki has said. Fortunately, I happen […]