SA Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni has stressed the importance of a strong independent central bank, saying that central bankers operated on a longer term time scale than politicians and did not face the same temptation to relax policy to achieve short term objectives. “By delegating decisions about interest rates and other monetary matters to […]

Robert McCrum The day before the 2000 Booker Prize shortlist was announced, I received a puzzling e-mail announcing the selection of JG Ballard (Super Cannes), Zadie Smith (White Teeth), Robert Edric (The Book of the Heathen), Amitav Ghosh (The Glass Palace), Michael Ondaatje (Anil’s Ghost) and Paul Golding (The Abomination). It was only when I […]

Neil Sonnekus KUBRICK by Michael Herr (Picador) Many people would have said it was impossible for film-master Stanley Kubrick to die of a heart attack; it was a contradictions in terms; the man didn’t have a heart. The noted but retired film critic Pauline Kael would have been one of them. But Michael Herr, author […]

The ICCTrophy tournament in Kenya has brought the excitement back to cricket Peter Robinson Let’s make one thing clear right from the start: the quality of cricket played during the International Cricket Council (ICC) Knockout 2000 tournament in Nairobi has been excellent. And this is a direct result of the knockout format employed for the […]

No Spark, Lessing or Ballard -the Booker Prize shortlist leaves the race wide open for a dark horse. Here is our quick guide to the shortlist The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood (Bloomsbury) Margaret Atwood finds herself shortlisted for the Booker for the fourth time with her 10th novel. The story has three interwoven narratives: […]

Michael Schumacher takes place in history as five-year plan bears fruit Richard Williams The forest of hands reaching out to Michael Schumacher after he lifted himself out of the Ferrari in the parc ferm’ at Suzuka on Sunday spoke of the true nature and significance of the win in the Japanese Grand Prix that gave […]

friday Cricket: International Cricket Council (ICC) Knockout Trophy, second semifinal, from Nairobi, at 8.30am on SuperSport1 (SS1)/ M-Net/CSN Golf: Alfred Dunhill Cup, from St Andrews, Scotland, at 11.30am on SuperSport Extra1 (what was the Olympic Elite channel, number 28 on most decoders) Rugby: Currie Cup, Super Eights, round four, Eagles vs Cheetahs at 4pm on […]

Deon Potgieter boxing For many years the title of “Mr Boxing” in South Africa belonged to the former CEO of the national boxing commission, Stanley Christodoulou. However, that title has now passed to Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves Promotions. Without a doubt, Berman is now the most powerful man in the sport in South Africa. […]

The fallen giants of South African rugby watch from the sidelines as the revamped Currie Cup brings back the excitement Andy Capostagno The Super Eight section of the Currie Cup comes to an end this week and, strange but true, it has been an unqualified success. Natal and Western Province have emerged as the teams […]

Neal Collins soccer Imagine how Ray Parlour feels. All those years in the shadows at Arsenal and when he bursts through to score the goal all England was praying for after 86 minutes and 59 seconds, the linesman’s looking the other way. >From the angles I’ve seen so far, there can be no question. Parlour’s […]