Vusi Mahlasela has just released his new album. He spoke to Glynis OHara Had a hard day? A hard week? In fact, a revolting month and an indescribable year? Well, you could always drown your sorrows in music, in this case in the minor-key, the healing, caressing notes of Vusi Mahlasela. As Peter Falk said […]

Allegations of corruption at the University of Zululand are misleading, writes Professor CRM Dlamini In the Mail & Guardian of August 1 to 7 1997 allegations of corruption were made against the University of Zululand. Although the headline was Concern over campus corruption, the truth of the matter is that these were mere allegations, and […]

Mercedes Sayagues Poor Agostinho Neto. The first president of independent Angola, who died on his birthday on September 17 1979, cannot rest in peace. When Angola recently commemorated his death declared National Heroes Day Netos widow, Maria Eugenia, phoned into a popular radio talk show called Book of Complaints at Luandas radio LAC. She complained […]

Mungo Soggot The jurists who select South Africas judges were happy to show their admiration for Judge Edwin Cameron this week as he effortlessly cruised through his interview for a position in the Constitutional Court. Well, it seems that you were so devastating in your replies that it was a technical knock out, said the […]

Chris Opperman and Peta Thornycroft A former journalist has made a sworn statement saying the South African government had propaganda plans to prepare the public for the sudden death of Mozambican president Samora Machel a year before his plane crashed into a hill just inside South Africa in 1986. The man is believed to be […]

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 […]