Parents, schools and the government face the serious task of dealing with a crisis that is taking on epidemic proportions Melinda Ferguson The use of illegal substances among schoolchildren and teenagers has increased about fivefold over the past six years. According to the latest figures available from the South African Police Service, more than 60% […]
Neil Sonnekus CATCH ME A KILLER by Micki Pistorius (Penguin) Micki Pistorius is this country’s top profiler and has written a book about her six years’ experience in the South African Police Services. She tells us she has a kind of sixth sense (cryptesthesia) about these things and has apparently helped catch more serial killers […]
Boom Shaka’s best-known vocalist has launched her debut CD single in style Charl Blignaut You can say what you like about Lebo Mathosa – and, heaven knows, much has been said about Lebo Mathosa – but after last week even her most insistent detractors will be hard- pressed to overlook her singular talents and simply […]
Ivor Powell and Belinda Beresford The government has failed to implement the advice of scientists on a panel convened by President Thabo Mbeki himself to advise on HIV/Aids policy and treatment – the latest manifestation of its stubborn reluctance to accept evidence that anti-retrovirals are safe and effective. The Mail & Guardian has learned that […]
Thebe Mabanga in your ear The complaint that local music does not receive sufficient airplay is so old it has moral fatigue. The call has been made at various platforms by everyone in the music industry and an attempt to improve the situation has led to initiatives like South African Music Week (August 28 to […]
The Springboks finally got their game plan right against the All Blacks – now they face the world champion Wallabies Andy Capostagno ‘Is the sword still hanging over your head?” came the question in the media conference. “What sword would that be?” came the answer from Springbok coach Nick Mallett. If Damocles had indeed escaped […]
Neal Collins cricket There are disturbing rumours coming from the Garden Route … of braais, rounds of golf and huge cheques, all being enjoyed in the spring sunshine by a certain Wessels Johannes Cronje. Yes, Lord Hansie of Cronjegate is alive and well and thriving in Knysna, where he hobnobs with Ernie Els and his […]
Charlotte Denny Aid agency Oxfam has described the debt- relief package which the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are offering Zambia as a “fraud”. Confidential papers from the IMF obtained by Oxfam show that Zambia’s interest payments are set to rise from $136-million (about R952-million) in 1999 to $235-million (about R1E645-million) in 2002, […]
Gilingwe Mayende crossfire The article by Prof Ben Cousins last week (“Didiza’s recipe for disaster”), attacking Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Thoko Didiza on a range of issues, cannot go unchallenged. Cousins essentially argues that Didiza is undoing a lot of good achieved in the Department of Land Affairs during the tenure of her […]
Iden Wetherell South Africa is being asked to firm up its support for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s beleaguered regime by putting in place credit lines and trade incentives to help revive its northern neighbour’s ailing economy. But realities on the ground across the Limpopo could put paid to the best of intentions by Pretoria’s planners. […]