Steven Friedman Worm’s eye view The elections were, for two reasons, a fitting end to the political year. First, they allowed voters to pronounce on the government strategy which has dominated much of 2000. Second, because the electorate’s message seems to have been misunderstood as it has been for much of the year. The substantial […]

Barry Streek A fault line tore through the ranks of liberal whites this week as many rallied to sign the “declaration of commitment by white South Africans” and distanced themselves from the Democratic Alliance whose leaders have emphatically rejected the statement. The list of those pledging themselves to the declaration reads like a who’s who […]

THE World Bank is lending Ethiopia up to $800m to help rebuild its shattered economy after two years of bitter border war with Eritrea, Bank officials have said. Between July 2000 and July 2001 the World Bank will have lent the eastern African country between $700 and $800m. World Bank representative to Addis Ababa, Nigel […]

A misconduct commission looking into magistrates’ behaviour has found alcohol abuse to be a ‘big problem’ Khadija Magardie The country’s magistrates’ courts are experiencing severe bottlenecks in hand-ling and finalising cases a situation unlikely to be helped by lurid tales of tipsiness in the courts. The Magistrates’ Commission this week said that 60% of disciplinary […]

Andrew Muchineripi soccer The honeymoon ended this week under the grey skies of Johannesburg for coach Carlos Queiroz as foreign-based players trickled into camp for an African Cup of Nations qualifier with Liberia at FNB stadium on Saturday. There will always be a post in the diplomatic service for the widely travelled native of Mozambique, […]

Barry Streekcricket As a cricketer, Robbie Armitage, who represented South Africa in 1983, was known for his fighting qualities, his determination and his style. When he died in Grahamstown last Saturday night at the age of 45 after a long battle with cancer, he again demonstrated those same qualities. He had gone to Grahamstown to […]

When villagers at Civitavecchia witnessed tears of blood falling down the face of a souvenir Madonna, they proclaimed it a miracle. But soon, experts were branding it a cunning hoax and a row ensued Alix Kirsta What strikes people most when they first see the weeping Madonna of Civitavecchia is her size. The white glazed […]

Libby Brooks Body Language Her head is thrown back, exposing her lovely throat. She cups one breast. Her emerald-shaded eyes are closed, but her legs are open, feet arching into opulent gold stilettos. The pose is strikingly erotic. It has power to excite and, it would seem, to offend. The advert for the Yves Saint […]

David Beresford Another Country The first confidence trickster I came across was, I think, one of my brothers. I must have been six or seven years old and was harbouring certain suspicions about Santa Claus. I cannot remember what prompted the doubts; maybe it was a certain falsity of the “ho! ho! ho!” offered up […]

Andy Capostagnorugby The point has been made in The Times of London that this year’s Springbok end-of-season tour lacked a focal point. There was some good rugby played, there was a lot more bad rugby played, but after four Tests and a high-profile festival game, Harry Viljoen’s first go at coaching the Springboks was about […]