Raincoats are the only protection schoolchildren in Meadowlands have from the clouds of dust that blow off a disused slimes dam, writes Ferial Haffajee The children wear raincoats. Not to keep out the rain, but to ward off the dust. It blows and then settles everywhere. In the ceilings, on the rose-bushes and in the […]

FRIDAY, 1.00PM THE US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has joined the fray over callback operations in South Africa. The commission says it has “serious concerns” over the manner in which the SA Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Satra) is seeking to ban South African callback operators from offering cheaper international calls to consumers. The FCC is braodly […]

The ANC in the Western Cape did not jump. It was pushed. Andy Duffy reports The African National Congress in the Western Cape is struggling to justify a decision that has opened the door to the partys eviction from the provincial Cabinet. Senior party members are putting a positive spin on the ousting, talking about […]

Sarafina II Minister of Housing Sankie Mthembi- Mahanyele blithely claimed this week that the auditor generals report on the Motheo housing project scam cleared both her and her department of any wrongdoing. Her interpretation suggests that either she didnt actually read the report or she chose to overlook its salient features. The auditor general found […]

The Angella Johnson Interview I am told Alex Mukulu is Ugandas top playwright. He is also an accomplished actor, director, singer, songwriter, guitar player and an incredible pain-in-the-arse especially before hes had lunch. We were supposed to meet in the lobby of the Equatoria Hotel in Kampala, but I was 10 minutes late, thanks to […]

Nkabinde begins Wonder Hlongwana Richmond residents have high expectations of the trial of alleged warlord Sifiso Nkabinde. They say they want to know who gave him guns, ammunition and money. They also believe the 18 counts of murder he is facing are just a drop in the ocean. Half of the charges Nkabinde faces in […]

Greg Bowes Im whisked off without a notebook and completely unprepared to meet New Yorks deejaying legend Frankie Knuckles. Inside Johannesburgs South Station Stuart Hs opening set thunders along like a steam train and the kids parade around in expensive labels and somehow still manage to look completely bland. In a room behind the DJ […]

Gustav Thiel The contention by Minister of Safety and Security Sydney Mufamadi that serious crime has decreased has been challenged by the Institute for Security Studies, which says there is undoubtedly a rise in crime. Mufamadi based his optimism on crime figures for the first six months of the year, released last week. The figures […]

FRIDAY, 3.30PM TRUTH and Reconciliation Commission chairman Archbishop Desmond Tutu and new National Party leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk met for an hour on Friday morning to discuss relations between the NP and the TRC, although there was no immediate out of court settlement. However, both men described the meeting as constructive and said discussions will […]