Ann Eveleth A government probe into job reservation at a private construction giant blamed a single official for racist hiring practices, but ignored the role of three managing directors when it effectively exonerated the company. Thuso Ramaema, the department chief director tasked by Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Kader Asmal to probe allegations of […]
Hermann Wittenberg On show in Cape Town If you’ve recently seen too many clever installations, provocative experimental exhibitions or deeply relevant conceptual art, take a look at Till Mayer’s remarkable sculptural works at Cape Town’s Mau Mau Gallery. Vital Functions is an exhibition of wooden sculptures which not only display an unusual technical virtuosity but […]
The editor of Zimbabwe’s main daily newspaper, a nephew of President Robert Mugabe, collapsed in his office and died of a heart attack on Tuesday. Charles Chikerema (59) an avowed Stalinist who criticised white Zimbabweans through the state-controlled press, died after serving only nine weeks as the editor of the Herald newspaper. It was the […]
Victoria Brittain The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, has unveiled a plan for Africa that could bring an end to wars and destabilisation activity in at least seven countries: Angola, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia. Annan’s blueprint for action by UN member states would curb arms sales and covert arms trafficking, end […]
Bongani Siqoko The United Rugby Club, the only senior black club affiliated to the Golden Lions Rugby Football Union, is preparing to take the organisation to the human rights commission. Club chair and former vice-chair of the then Transvaal Rugby Union, Brian van Rooyen, says the club took this decision this week because its team […]
Charlene Smith The government has launched a R10-million marketing assistance scheme to help entrepreneurs market South African tourism more aggressively worldwide. The International Tourism Marketing Assistance Scheme run by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism compensates entrepreneurs active in tourism for some costs incurred when encouraging foreigners to visit South Africa. The scheme provides […]
Mukoni T Ratshitanga Northern Province Department of Education staffers welcomed the suspension last week of their Director General, Zachari Chuenyane. Staffers say Chuenyane, suspended by MEC for Education Joe Phaahla, was “incompetent, inefficient and severely lacking in management skills”. Cracks in Chuenyane’s hold on one of the province’s most senior posts began to show four […]
Robert Kirby: LOOSE CANNON It is hard to hush one’s scepticism when, within hours of the mindless shootings on the Benoni smallholding, up pop grave-browed politicians in various displays of rue and distress. Her face set in scrupulous wrath, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was in court when the gunman appeared. Her ex-husband was at the shoulder of […]
Peter Mokaba used his ministerial credit card to buy clothes, groceries and sweets, writes Andy Duffy An internal investigation by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has found that Deputy Minister Peter Mokaba spent thousands of rands of taxpayers’ money on personal expenses. Department officials reported late last year that Mokaba had used his […]
Anton Marshall On stage in Cape Town If it’s very difficult talking to comics about serious issues, it’s hell talking to comics about funny issues. Somewhere in Church Street, central Cape Town, there is a unique little coffee lounge that is called – well, The Coffee Lounge. It is unusual in that one floor above […]