Lesotho rebel soldiers this week invited reporter Sechaba ka’Nkosi to view their secret camps Rebel soldiers of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), who ignored this week’s ultimatum to report back to their bases, claim a large quantity of arms are in their hands at safe houses around the capital Maseru and in surrounding villages. The […]

Keep South Africa Beautiful closed its files this week after its funds dried up, writes Wonder Hlongwa South Africa’s biggest waste management and environmental awareness organisation has closed shop because of corruption, mismanagement and lack of funds and direction. The closure of Keep South Africa Beautiful comes at a time when government departments are struggling […]

politics Cameron Duodu: LETTER FROM THE NORTH The Democratic Republic of Congo has always aroused two contradictory emotions in me as an African: the ecstasy created in the soul by appreciation of some of the best music on the continent, and the fear and anger aroused in the mind by irrational, blood-spattered politics that resurfaces […]

CD of the week Adam Sweeting The idea that Brian Wilson could ever again approximate his own back- catalogue masterpieces has grown increasingly laughable. There was the critically-feted Orange Crate Art in 1995, but that was really a Van Dyke Parks project cunningly disguised as a Brian Wilson album. While it’s true that Wilson has […]

Paul Brown Evolution is saving elephants in Africa by producing herds with tiny tusks or none at all – which provides no profit for poachers and thus ensures the survival of the species. The phenomenon has been noticed in all parts of Africa where hunting has been going on longest, with both trophy hunters and […]

Several investigations are under way into NIA operatives allegedly involved in money laundering schemes, writes Justin Arenstein Police are preparing to arrest at least two members of a shadowy National Intelligence Agency (NIA) unit next week after they allegedly tried to cash stolen share certificates worth more than R180- million. The operatives have also been […]

There is an easy way to combat the burgeoning business of cellphone theft, write Belinda Beresford and David Shapshak Cellphones are particularly enticing to the brotherhood of thieves, whether acquired in muggings, hijackings or straightforward burglaries. Cancelling the SIM card will stop anyone else running up your telephone account with calls to friends and acquaintances […]

Samuel L Jackson has played some seedy lowlifes in his time, yet we love him. It’s the drawling charm, the cool … But don’t be fooled: this is a man who kicked a 20-year drug habit to vie with Hollywood’s aristos. And he’s not done yet, writes Jim Shelley Now that his name has started […]

Belinda Beresford Something is rotten in the state of South African business. The legacy of the old South Africa has been disrespect for the law and a culture of entitlement, and the past influences the present. Ahead of the latest round of awards to companies that do business honestly and openly, some of the seedier […]

A group of leaders are exploiting a lull in the fighting in Central Africa to broker a peace agreement, reports Howard Barrell African leaders have been involved in a series of hush-hush meetings and manoeuvres over the past fortnight aimed at giving fresh impetus to the search for a comprehensive agreement to end the continent’s […]