James Hall In traditional Swazi culture, when death or illness strike, a supernatural cause is suspected. A physical condition may be the agent of destruction, but it is set in motion by malignant people, invariably using witchcraft. When a Swazi king falls ill, those who are in close proximity to him, from palace staff to […]
The United States has put South Africa on a list of the worst infringers of copyright and trademarks Paul Kirk South Africa may soon face the possibility of United States trade sanctions unless the country cleans up its act with regard to trademark and copyright violations. According to a major international body that polices trade […]
Did Rudolf Straeuli make a mistake by fielding his B team against the Reds last week? Andy Capostagno Two years ago, when Alan Solomons picked a Stormers B team to play against the Highlanders in Dunedin there was an outcry. The whole point of the Super 12, screamed Solly’s critics, was that it pitted strength […]
Marianne Merten Since 1996 several wine estates have introduced black empowerment by, for example, allocating shares to farm workers. But research has found these schemes often flounder because the newly empowered workers lack business skills. Another key shortfall is?the lack of visible shortterm benefits for weekly wage earners who have?to wait for a return on […]
David Beresford Another Country This space has had to be used again this week to accommodate the heated debate over the merits, or otherwise of Another Country, the column that usually fills it. Regretfully, after receiving a letter from David Beresford’s representatives, we are compelled to regard the subject as having now been fully ventilated […]
Directors face the ultimate challenge as corporate raider Active Value moves in for the kill Alec Hogg Shareholders of Primedia are being asked to vote on five key proposals at a special general meeting called for early May. This is the climax to a year-long war of attrition and could result in wholesale changes of […]
These vehicles are not more than four years old, but some have rusted so badly that the doors have fallen off Paul Kirk Hundreds of armoured vehicles bought from a major British arms supplier are being scrapped by the South African Police Service. The vehicles, called Scouts, are being taken out of service as they […]
Cyril A Hromnk Crossfire Commenting on the closure of the Kung (Bushman) diorama in the South African Museum (“Unmaking the San”, April 6 to 12), Pippa Skotnes writes: “The challenge is not to get rid of the diorama, but to alter it … to find ways to displace and replace the stereotype it perpetuates.” She […]
Leadership battles are emerging in the ruling party. Jaspreet Kindra reports Former African National Congress Youth League leader James Nkambule, who is in the witness protection programme, told the Mail & Guardian this week that former Mpumalanga premier Matthews Phosa was aspiring to stand for the position of the party president next year. Nkambule, who […]
Melvyn Minnaar Drive over the famously precipitous Swartberg Pass and, instead of carrying on to the beautiful village of Prince Albert, take the R328 north,?back towards Klaarstroom. Old people call this Die Gang (The Passage), a?beautiful, fertile valley along the steep mountains. This is where some of the finest wine grapes may come from in […]