Wonder Hlongwa Alleged KwaZulu-Natal warlord Sifiso Nkabinde claims he has not been eating properly in prison for days as he fears he is being poisoned. Prison authorities deny his allegations. In a telephone interview with the Mail & Guardian from the Westville prison in Durban, Nkabinde says he is scared and is consulting doctors. He […]

The fugitive film director Roman Polanski may return to Los Angeles after nearly 20 years abroad to face punishment for having sex with a 13-year-old girl. The most important part of the deal between his lawyer, prosecutors and a judge is that the 63-year-old Polish auteur does not serve time. It was fear of imprisonment […]

Design of the Week: Ferial Haffajee Taxis have always been rather utilitarian affairs, usually in white or a watery baby- blue. Used to shuttle people to work and back and nothing more. But Philips has found another use for them. The company has jazzed up 21 taxis in bright, modern, uncluttered murals to advertise its […]

tribe The Uwa people of Colombia have a way of life dedicated to saving the planet. For them, the prospect of oil companies drilling their lands portends the end of the world. John Vidal reports The Uwa are one of South Americas more remote and mystical people. They have lived in the foothills and cloudforests […]

The death-knell is tolling for the eight- hour day and the five-day week, reports Simon Caulkin With employment back at the top of the political agenda, it might seem an odd time to write a notice announcing the death of the job. Isnt Europe debating how to create 12- million new jobs in the next […]

The recent deaths of two dancers highlight the stress and pressures of the dance world, write Charl Blignaut and Hazel Friedman In two weeks the Pact Dance Company will premiere a new season of their work in the Wits Theatre in Johannesburg. It will be a harrowing evening for the critically acclaimed company from Pretoria. […]

Madeleine Wackernagel : Taking Stock Everyone, taking their cue from the governor of the Reserve Bank, is referring to 1997 as the year of consolidation: the rand has stabilised, domestic demand is cooling down, and inflation is finally below double-digits. Best news of all, there is room for an interest-rate cut. Grounds for optimism, it […]

Jeremy Cronin (SACP deputy general secretary) and Blade Nzimande (SACP acting chair) reject Peter Mokabas proposal that the form of the ANC-SACP alliance be re- examined Peter Mokabas view that South African Communist Party members should be ejected from the African National Congress (an organisation they have helped to build over 70 years) has excited […]

Robert Kirby Loose cannon This week I intended to continue the genial deconstruction of Political Correctness which I began last week. However, a conversation I overheard while fly-fishing on the Upper Berg River late last Sunday afternoon has made me postpone. These were more immediate voices. By masterly presentation of a Size 18 Black Gnat […]

minefield Steve Morris : Rugby For Nick Mallett there exists in his first weeks as national coach something of a Bermuda Triangle: a judicial commission that demands he carries a law book in one hand, a domestic competition that clearly has not delivered all the best sides of the season to the knockout phase, and […]