The controversial clause on foreign investment went a little further than recommended Barry Streek The British government is “very concerned” about the decision by the African National Congress majority in Parliament’s safety and security committee to ban foreign investment in South Africa’s private security industry, saying it contravenes the 1998 agreement between the two countries […]

Neva Makgetla They say you should be careful about wishing for something, because you might get it. Business leaders should take this to heart. They insisted on restrictive, free-market policies and now they have got their wish. The result has been massive job losses, slow growth, falling investment and a plummeting rand. From the standpoint […]

Human rights must not be an afterthought Polly Toynbee Something horrible flits across the background in scenes from Afghanistan, scuttling out of sight. There it is, a brief blue or black flash a woman. The top-to-toe burqa, with its sinister, airless little grille, is more than an instrument of persecution; it is a public tarring […]

Thank you for publishing my letter in the above regard in your previous edition, but it is always a pity when editorial prerogative leads to the distortion of views publicly expressed. The primary purpose of my letter under your heading “US is the world’s greatest success story” (September 28) was not to sing the praises […]

Analysis Ewen MacAskill U nited States President George W Bush, who referred initially to the war on terrorism as a “crusade”, would do well to learn from the actions of the Arab warrior, Saladin, rather than the Christian crusaders. In 1099, when the Christian crusaders took Jerusalem, they slaughtered every Muslim and Jew men, women […]

October is dubbed welfare month and this year’s theme is the plight of the elderly. Pule waga Mabe visited a senior citizens’ centre in Soweto Thandisiwe Radebe (65) is still trying to settle down and make friends at the Ephraim Zulu Senior Citizens’ Centre in Soweto. She was admitted to the retirement home about four […]

Nigel Bruce If there is any area of agreement between business and labour in this country it is that the government’s macroeconomic policy, Gear, is not working. The growth, employment and redistribution strategy has produced some favourable and essential financial ratios (such as a low deficit before borrowing) and forced greater efficiencies by removing protection, […]

Mungo Soggot and David Macfarlane Health authorities in Tanzania have not approved controversial tests of an alleged new HIV/Aids treatment that South African researchers are conducting on Tanzanian soldiers. It has also emerged that the coal-based substance, oxihumate-K, that has been administered to HIV-positive Tanzanian soldiers for the past 18 months is used in the […]

You suggest you are “starting to feel sorry” for Minister of Home Affairs Mangosuthu Buthelezi, for the delayed enactment of the Immigration Bill (September 28). It is probably true to say that no piece of legislation has come under more intense public scrutiny and stonewalling tactics in the history of the new democratic dispensation. While […]

Glenda Daniels Congress of South African Trade Unions affiliates in the public service have accused the government of flouting bargaining procedures by making an improved pay offer to non-Cosatu unions outside the official bargaining forum. As a strike by potentially 500 000 public servants loomed, state officials hotly denied this, accusing Cosatu of having missed […]