FRIDAY, 6.30PM: THE Truth Commission is to hold a special meeting on Monday to discuss the implications of claims by a witness (see below)that the commission’s own chief investigator was involved in a brutal attack on a Cape Town pub. “The holding of the meeting in no way questions the integrity or innocence of our […]

Mungo Soggot Parliamentary hearings confirmed this week that the only consensus between business, labour and government over the Basic Conditions of Employment Bill is that there is no consensus. Business South Africa (BSA) came in for a drubbing at the hearings as it battled to convince African National Congress MPs that the Bill would trigger […]

The Market Theatre turns 21 this year. We present 21 key moments in its proud history 1 On October 19 1976, the Market Theatre opens with Barney Simon’s production of Marat/Sade. (The former city market had been saved from demolition by its unique architectural features. Theatre people like Vanessa Cooke cheerfully dirtied their hands helping […]

V Roger Prabasarkar : Cricket South Africa’s series victory, sealed with an even more unlikely Test win in Faisalabad than was achieved against Australia in Sydney in 1994, made every tiny dispute, niggle, misunderstanding and irritation that had crept into the camp disappear in a spontaneous eruption of joy, relief and pride. When Allan Donald […]

Bongo Maffin’s new album brings together the old and the new in South African music – and could well be the next big thing. They speak to Maria McCloy speaks to the group The legendary Miriam Makeba’s 1950s hit Pata Pata was the last thing I thought I’d hear getting heavy rotation on radio or […]

FRIDAY, 5.30PM LESOTHO’S King Letsie III, who has occupied the throne since the death of his father Moshoeshoe II last year, was finally crowned on Friday, with a headband, feathers and animal skins over his blue military uniform. Fifteen thousand people — including such dignitaries as Britain’s Prince Charles, Nelson Mandela and Zulu king Goodwill […]

LAWYERS STUDY FOUR YEARS LAWYERS will only need to stuy for four years for their LLB degrees, rather than the current five. The Qualification of Legal Practioners Amendment Bill, which provides for an LLB-degree to be obtained in four years, also received unanimous support in parliament on Friday. NO FIREWORKS JOHANNESBURG’S eastern council, which controls […]

New radio stations in Mozambique speak of more than mere party ideology, writes Peta Thornycroft Mozambique is enjoying a boom of new radio stations where the freeing of the airwaves has been an audible peacetime dividend. There are now five new radio stations in Mozambique which, prior to elections three years ago, had only one […]

FRIDAY, 8.45AM: The long-awaited Rothmans semi-finals kick off on Saturday with Orlando Pirates hosting Mamelodi Sundowns at FNB Stadium at 3pm. On Sunday, Manning Rangers entertain Kaizer Chiefs at Chatsworth Stadium in Durban. Most of the coaches envolved in the semi-finals are less concerned with their opponents than with what they regard as the deteriorating […]

Tom Quoin : Design How would you like a well-chilled beer, early on a summer’s evening, while you’re perched more than 40m above the Midrand highveld? The stunning view will carry you from the restless Jo’burg skyline to the south through to the rows of craggy kopjes that cradle Pretoria. But you’ll need to strain […]