OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Monday 7.30PM. THE trial of Brigadier Jack Cronje and Captain Jacques Hechter was provisionally removed from the roll of the Pretoria High Court pending the outcome of an amnesty application before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The former security policemen are part of a group of five who gave evidence before […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Harare | Friday, noon A NEW publishing consortium, including Independent Newspapers, plans to launch various titles in Zimbabwe to compete with the parastatal Newspaper Group and Zimbabwe Newspapers. Weekly local papers are planned for all major cities, as is the resurrection of the Daily News, banned in 1964 by Ian Smith’s white government. […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Sunday. 1.00PM. THE 1998 Currie Cup season seems intent on producing upsets and surprises with every match, and even relatively small sides are staking their claim to the trophy. The Golden Lions’ competition woes continue after they were beaten 19-17 by the MTN Falcons at the Bosman stadium in Brakpan […]

Orange Farm – to build houses Evidence wa ka Ngobeni A four-roomed house was once an impossible dream for an unemployed single mother living in an Orange Farm shack. But this week Sinaila Shabani and her four children moved into their dream house – built by 22 volunteer Irish students and residents of the sprawling […]

Niki Barker A major British film company has based itself in the safari town of Hluhluwe in northern Zululand to make the film version of Kuki Gallman’s book, I Dreamed of Africa. Confirmed leads are Oscar-winning actress Kim Basinger (LA Confidential) and Vincent Perez (Swept from the Sea). Hugh Hudson (Chariots of Fire, Greystoke) will […]

Phillip Kakaza Live in Johannesburg Difficulties with the political situation at home in Kinshasa, Zaire, prompted them to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. Their first stop was Cameroon, second Kenya and then Namibia. They later settled in South Africa where, on arrival, they were faced with humiliation. But The Fantastique Guys, a 12-piece band, never […]

Douglas Rushkoff Online So far, only my Melbourne sponsors have let me keep the original title of the talk I’ve been giving around the world this month: Why Futurists Suck. I shouldn’t have been so surprised that 500 concerned Australians would fill the cavernous Malthouse Theatre to participate in a free exchange about our collective […]

Mail & Guardian reporter The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has come a teeny bit closer to determining which date it should set for South Africa’s second democratic elections. It’s not firm yet – but the IEC said this week the Constitution provided for the National Assembly elections to be held within 90 days of the […]

Howard Barrell The Angolan government has moved troops and heavy artillery into position for a large-scale offensive against rebel Unita positions in the central highlands of the country. South African-based security analysts expect an assault to commence in the next few days. The government in Luanda is understood to have sought, and got, the permission […]

Barbara Ludman SA 98-99: SOUTH AFRICA AT A GLANCE (Editors Inc) This slim little volume is a publishing success for its owners – former Star editors Harvey Tyson and Richard Steyn; Rex Gibson, last editor of the Rand Daily Mail; and George Trail, a former United States diplomat. This is its fourth edition; there are […]