Chiara Carter and Marianne Merten In the mythology of the Cape Flats’s Americans gang, the six white and seven red lines on the stars and stripes flag represent crisp banknotes stained in blood. Criminologist Don Pinnock says this representation, integrated into the gang’s initiation ritual, illustrates key elements of Cape gangsterism – money, violence and […]

Britain’s most famous wartime general has been tainted by revelations in newly released secret papers, reports Alan Travis from London The reputation of Britain’s most famous wartime general, Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, has been dealt a body blow by the disclosure of secret papers revealing that he advocated a racist imperial “masterplan” for […]

Cameron Duodu: LETTER FROM THE NORTH In its January 6 issue, The Washington Post reported: “United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has obtained what he regards as convincing evidence that UN arms inspectors helped collect eavesdropping intelligence used in United States efforts to undermine the Iraqi regime, according to confidants who said he is deeply […]

EGYPTIAN women will soon be able to buy a divorce even if their husband objects, under a draft law outlined by the government Al-Ahram newspaper on Thursday. Justice Minister Faruq Seif an-Nasr said that a new law on personal status is being drawn up to simplify legal procedures and it will go before Parliament shortly. […]

Is Antz producer Jeffrey Katzenberg taking revenge on former employer Disney?He spoke to David Eimer When Antz, the first animated feature from DreamWorks SKG, overtook the $67- million box-office take of Beavis and Butthead Do America in November 1998, it became the most successful non- Disney animated movie ever. Still riding high, Antz is the […]

FORMER Lesotho prime minister Ntsu Mokhehle died on Wednesday night at a hospital in Bloemfontein, Lesotho government officials confirmed on Thursday. The 80-year-old former head of state fell ill during celebrations to mark his birthday on December 26 and was rushed to hospital in Bloemfontein, where he remained until he died. Mokhehle was treated for […]

Kasia Boddy BIRDS OF AMERICA by Lorrie Moore (Faber &Faber) Like the birds they observe living “punishing, unblessed lives, winging it north, south, here, there”, Lorrie Moore’s characters are constantly searching “for a place of rest”. In one story a mother and daughter tour Ireland, searching for both “the past of America” and their lost […]

IT is illegal for any airline operating from Zimbabwe to quote air fares in United States dollars or any other foreign currency, Minister of Industry and Commerce Nathan Shamuyarira said on Friday. The government’s statement is in response to the Board of Airline Representatives’ Wednesday decision to quote air fares on domestic, regional and international […]

Andrew Muchineripi Soccer The festive-season feasting on turkey, ham and plum pudding surely led to much moaning and groaning on the training grounds of Castle Premiership clubs this week as semi-fit players prepared for a resumption of hostilities. Mid-table Cape Town Spurs and tail- enders Dynamos kicked off the second half of the 1998/99 league […]

IN a case of coals to Newcastle, buyers from Saudi Arabia are interested in acquiring 141 camels to be auctioned off by the Botswana police next month. Camels have been used for patrolling the Kalahari desert since last century. The Botswana police is cutting back its camel inventory from 171 ships of the desert to […]