The Vita awards have been reorganised, but they could still do with a tweak or two, writes Brenda Atkinson If South Africa’s annual FNB Vita Art Prize can achieve the degree of angst, ecstasy and public attention surrounding its British counterpart – the prestigious and controversial Turner Prize – local contemporary art might just be […]

Wally Mbhele There is a distinct sense of urgency in the office of the African National Congress’s “chief executive”, secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe. With less than 15 months before next year’s general election, Motlanthe knows a difficult task lies ahead. He has to ensure the ANC scores a decisive victory at the polls on behalf […]

Belinda Beresford Banks want to train you to use virtual cash – electronic payments and cards – rather than banknotes and cheques. The carrots waved under customers’ noses include greater security and theoretical ease of use. The sticks include higher charges for those who insist on using the more traditional ways of paying. Cash-based transactions […]

Bongani Siqoko When Makhaya Ntini led the South African national cricket team on to the pitch in New Zealand recently, black South Africans were filled with pride. People who could hardly tell the difference between a goalpost and a wicket were glued to their television sets to witness the lad from KwaMdingi near King William’s […]

Bongani Siqoko There was a time when all the Letlake twins knew about squash was that it was a flavoured drink mixed with water. Now they have become national stars in the game. James and Jonathan Letlake, from Chiawelo in Soweto, have been playing for more than 10 years, winning many trophies and medals. They […]

David Shapshak Cloning’s advantages are numerous, from reproducing endangered animal species to breeding human organ transplant material. The public fears of cloning do not differ much from those expressed by science fiction writers in the last century, mostly the self-replication of dictators. Saddam Hussein could resist any American smart bombs’ attacks by cloning himself infinitely. […]

Mukoni T Ratshitanga While political parties are busy grappling with programmes on racial equity, authorities in the NorthWest appear blissfully ignorant of the damage that could be caused by their failure to change the names of places. On the N14 highway outside the town of Coligny, a sign points the way to Kafferskraal, 12km away. […]

Lizeka Mda: CITY LIMITS In Diagonal Street shopkeepers give a good impression of being eager for your custom. None of the sulky reception here, nor the grudging service that one often gets in the fancier stores. “Come in and see,” touts urge from surprisingly – for Johannesburg – uncluttered pavements. And if you should be […]

Neve Gordon in Indiana We had just left the headquarters of Arthur Andersen, a consulting and accounting firm that employs more than 50 000 people, as I said to my friend: “The proof is in the cubicle.” In 1996, short of space, Arthur Andersen had relocated to a nicer building in downtown Chicago. Many of […]

debate Comment The recent media hype around human cloning illustrates, starkly, why South Africa needs a year of science and technology to promote public understanding of the subject. The human cloning reports rival the Virodene “miracle cure” debacle – once again we have a media that fundamentally misunderstands the subject it is reporting on, but, […]