Peter Robinson Over the past few weeks South African cricket has been twisting and turning in mostly self-inflicted agony. But now we know the “Hansiegate” scandal not to be the product of bumbling Indian policemen or even, as was suggested at one stage, a devious Australian plot, what exactly is to be done next? In […]
Howard Barrell OVER A BARRELL Helen Suzman was speaking with little fear of contradiction. “Some odd characters,” she told the assembled Democratic Party faithful on Monday, “have been joining the party.” She had the good grace this week – at a ceremony to name the DP’s parliamentary caucus room in Parliament after her and to […]
Justin Arenstein Former Mpumalanga premier Mathews Phosa has assembled a rogue’s gallery of disgraced politicians and shady financiers to fund his new R390-million casino hotel development in Maputo. The deal is one of a series involving Phosa and other prominent Mpumalanga figures under investigation by South Africa’s Scorpions unit and police commercial crime teams. Scorpions […]
Paul Kirk A trio of former Durban policemen who openly flaunt the sizeable fortunes they amassed while in the service of the organised crime unit were arrested this week for, among other things, running an extortion racket. The suspended head of the KwaZulu-Natal organised crime unit, Piet Meyer, and two of his closest friends – […]
Olympics Mark Ouma Having learned from her mistakes at the Atlanta Olympics four years ago, Gabriela Szabo plans to fulfil her dream of becoming an Olympic champion in Sydney next September. The 1999 World Female Athlete of the Year, Szabo intends to continue her success this year. What has never come to light before is […]
Grant Shimmin OLYMPICS With many of the athletes who’ll be their national team-mates in Sydney in September already named, the battle to get to this year’s Olympics is just beginning for most of the country’s finest track and field exponents as the European season gets into full swing. In fact, the sport’s biggest circuit could […]
In the diamond area of Sierra Leone, rebels and members of the pro-government militia mine side by side Chris McGreal in Kenema The rebels were easy to spot. The three young men in stylish clothes, wearing sunglasses in the light drizzle, quickly caught the eye of the Lebanese businessman. He beckoned the youths toward an […]
Mercedes Sayagues Why was Grace Mugabe sulking during her husband’s final campaign rally in Harare last Saturday? It could have been the low turnout – a mere 5E000 compared with the 100E000 who greeted Robert Mugabe on his return from exile 20 years ago. Or perhaps it was the three-hour delay in starting, while frantic […]
Steve Bunce BOXING When Cindy Zamudio torched the toilets at her high school in Los Angeles she had no idea she was on her way to the boxing ring. She was ready for a career in prison. Zamudio is 18 years old and 121kg. She is the super-heavyweight amateur champion of the United States and […]
Growing up in abject poverty has never left general secretary of Cosatu Zwelinzima Vavi; it has informed who he is Glenda Daniels When Zwelinzima Vavi pours me tea from a hot enamel teapot, he uses his tie to protect his fingers from getting burnt. Standing, he looks down from an impressive 6 foot 4 and, […]