Martin Gillingham At least two of Australia’s top rugby league clubs are trying to tempt troubled Wallaby winger Andrew Walker into making a return to the 13-man game. It’s barely five months since Walker was the toast of Canberra when he kicked 21 points for the Brumbies in their 36-6 triumph over the Sharks in […]

David Macfarlane Unisa will receive its government subsidy this month but the university’s controversy-ridden council continues its open defiance of the government. Unisa staff fear the council’s stance jeopardises the university’s future, in particular the role defined for it in the national higher education plan. Confrontation between Minister of Education Kader Asmal and the Unisa […]

Relations between the ruling party and religious leaders strained over arms deal and what action to take on HIV/Aids Jaspreet Kindra President Thabo Mbeki has joined the chorus of African National Congress criticism of church leaders, suggesting that they have abandoned the common struggle against the legacy of apartheid. And in a further salvo in […]

Who is Winnie Madikizela-Mandela: an ambitious rabble-rouser, or a champion of the poor? An ungovernable spendthrift, or a misunderstood woman persecuted for her criticism of government? Madikizela-Mandela spoke to Sipho Seepe, RehanaRossouw andDrew Forrest about the economy, Aids, the arms package, the tripartite alliance, women, her debts and her fraud case Rehana Rossouw: What do […]

Evidence wa ka Ngobeni and Gregory Mthembu-Salter The South African government was under such pressure to respond to former president Nelson Mandela’s request to deploy a protection force to war-torn Burundi that it invoked an emergency provision in the Constitution to belatedly inform Parliament of the decision. Last week opposition parties raised concerns about the […]

The troubled Road Accident Fund cannot seem to steer clear of controversy Nawaal Deane The deputy chairperson of the cash-strapped Road Accident Fund this week announced his resignation amid internal clashes and allegations that his own firm’s work for the fund constituted a conflict of interest. The controversial selection of an assessor who has a […]

analysis Duncan Hindle Khulekani Mathe raises important issues about the role of adult learners in policy formulation processes, and the extent to which their needs are addressed in those processes (“Is anybody out there listening to the learners?”, October 5). The Department of Education appreciates his comments in this regard, but wishes to respond. Mathe […]

Mail & Guardian reporter Food becomes theatre this month when Gauteng launches its annual Gourmet Festival in an attempt to steal some of the limelight from the Cape as the fine dining province of the country. Indeed, the festival aims to promote itself as a positive part of what its press release refers to as […]

Three cheers for the bravery of our communications minister comment Suzanne Vos Very early last Thursday morning, the day of Parliament’s debate on the Telecommunications Amendment Bill, I received a telephone call at home from African National Congress MP Nkenke Kekana, the (genuinely excellent) chairperson of the National Assembly’s Portfolio Committee on Communications. He uttered […]

Reigning Horse of the Year Celtic Grove makes his third appearance in five weeks in the R500000 grade 1 November Handicap over 1600m at Gosforth Park on Saturday, and his legion of followers will be hoping he picks up the winning trail again. Certainly, the David Ferraris-trained gelding seems to have a better chance at […]