Bridget Hilton-Barber : Unspoilt places The views at Itala Game Reserve in KwaZulu- Natal are so gorgeous they should be prescribed by optometrists. From the highveld plateau in the east to the Ngubu Basin in the west, the land falls steeply and spectacularly a drop of almost 1 000m. The drive from the nearest village […]

William Feaver : Style News of construction gangs working on a Damien Hirst pop-up book has been joshing around in the art world for some time. Paper sharks leaping off the page have been rumoured. Sniffer footnotes. Paint sachets and spinning-tops. Would there be blister packs of meaningful pharmaceuticals? The specifications (334 pages, over 700 […]

A new series of short films is focusing world attention on African film. Andrew Worsdale previews, Janet Smith speaks to the South African director So Be It, the Senegalese short film that won the Silver Lion at Venice a fortnight ago, is just one part of a series of African movies creating a stir at […]

Martin Kettle in Washington An international group of doctors said this week it would try to accelerate the fight against Aids by volunteering to become human guinea pigs in a trial of a vaccine containing the HIV virus. The announcement immediately triggered extensive offers from members of the United States public to join the volunteer […]

Mungo Soggot A new mystery backer has leapt to the support of Allan Boesak and hired President Nelson Mandelas family lawyers to brief senior counsel for the alleged fraudster. Ismail Ayob, the senior partner at Ismail Ayob and Partners and longtime attorney for the Mandela family, says his firm is acting for a client from […]

Cosatus business arm aims to seize economic power for the majority, writes Sechaba kaNkosi Tumelo Motsisi passionately dismisses any notion that he is a capitalist in a socialist movement. He sees no contradiction between the Congress of South African Trade Unions confessed ideology of socialism and his role as head of the federations business arm, […]

Ferial Haffajee After five years of talking, the SABC and the Performing Arts Workers Equity (Pawe) have signed a landmark agreement. For the first time, South Africas artists and those who work in the sector, will have a detailed performance contract which guarantees better and safer working conditions as well as a slice of the […]

Nelson Mandela has raised hopes for a negotiated end to the Indonesian occupation of East Timor. In the interim, the political battle continues. Peter Cronau and Matthew Brown report The Indonesian government is using its embassies worldwide in a campaign of surveillance and intimidation against East Timorese activists and their supporters, claims Nobel Peace Prize […]

Whether or not Mother Nature inflicts El Nio on South Africa this year, new legislation aims to distribute water fairly, reports Ann Eveleth Water affairs minister Kader Asmals move to regulate farmers water rights this week is just the tip of the iceberg on an innovative plan to turn South Africas water priorities upside down. […]

Ellen Bartlett South Africa has long operated under the assumption that it is running out of water. The year 2020 is the oft-projected point at which the country will no longer have enough water to meet its needs. In looking towards a future of high demand and dwindling supply, water resources planners have considered such […]