Cedric Mayson Spirit level The dominees deserve a wry vote of thanks for admitting to the flat-Earth theology still followed by many Christians in South Africa. Last week they stated in Synod: “The Dutch Reformed Church accepts the Bible in its totality and in all its parts as the word of God … On the […]

Alexander Sudheim While most major music festivals tend to arrive in the world as humble, diminutive creatures that take many years to swell into significance, Awesome Africa has entered the scene at the top end of the market in impressive style. Only two years young this week, the festival formerly known as Living Treasures has […]

Denise Ford HIV-screening tests in state hospitals are usually referred to as “rapids” because they are fast and readily available. Positive “rapids” are usually sent on for a slightly more sophisticated test, Elisa (enzyme-linked immunoassay). It is customary to send two samples for each patient to minimise the chances of errors leading patients being given […]

How the European champions’ reckless spending, driven by their rivalry with Barcelona, has had a damaging effect on the game Paul Wilson Their home strip is pristine white, they have won the European Cup more times than any other club, and they stand for everything that is currently wrong with football. Real Madrid began their […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Harare | Friday ZIMBABWEAN police have released four officials of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change who were arrested during a raid on party offices on Thursday morning. MDC youth wing chair Nelson Chamisa and Gandi Mudzingwa, personal assistant to MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai, and Join Nkatazo and Socks Ncube were released. MDC […]

David Macfarlane Sharp disagreements among some of South Africa’s leading education experts this week indicate the Ministry of Education’s planned shake-up of higher education will be marked by bitter conflict and tense political infighting. The Council on Higher Education’s (CHE) recent recommendations for fundamental changes were the subject of a divisive panel discussion hosted by […]

Three patients on life support systems died when the power failed at Baragwanath hospital Evidence wa ka Ngobeni The Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, South Africa’s largest hospital, appears to have covered up a deadly power failure that crippled the overcrowded institution this month depriving it of life-support systems for several hours. At least three patients […]

Proposed anti-terrorism laws could see prescribed detention for anyone suspected of involvement with terror attacks Marianne Merten The government is pinning its hopes of stemming the wave of terror attacks in the Western Cape on new anti-terrorism laws giving security forces draconian powers. Justice officials say the draft Bill could be fast-tracked and tabled in […]

Confusion reigns about the president’s exact stance on the link between HIV and Aids Belinda Beresford, Jaspreet Kindra and Nawaal Deane The African National Congress has launched a damage-limitation exercise to counter a groundswell of criticism in the scientific community, divisions in the ANC-led alliance and public bewilderment about its stance on HIV/Aids. Triggered by […]