Yoweri Museveni has made great strides in dismantling the vestiges of colonial rule in Uganda, but Mahmood Mamdani questions the long-term stability of outlawing political opposition WHEN Yoweri Katuga Museveni came to power in 1986 at the head of the National Resistance Army (NRA), he pledged ”Fundamental Change” to the people of Uganda. Ten years […]
Peta Thornycroft WAR matriel from South Africa is being supplied to Angola’s Unita movement, according to reports by the Institute for Security Studies. One of the institute’s senior researchers, Jakkie Potgieter, says he has seen military supplies being off- loaded and stored in northern Mozambique for shipment to Unita forces along Angola’s border with the […]
Seamus Deane ANGELA’S ASHES by Frank McCourt (Flamingo, R66,95) FRANK McCOURT’S memoir has been published to loud acclaim, especially in the United States, where it won a 1997 Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. It recounts the story of his family, starting in New York and thence transferring to Ireland, specifically to Limerick, during […]
Rootedness leads to parochialism and xenophobia. Only by abolishing these fake map lines can one gain a sense of genuine belonging, argues Ronald Suresh Roberts ‘WHY are you in this country?” This question is a recurring oar-splash in every foreigner’s South African voyage. ”Aren’t you homesick?” ask the sympathetic. ”Bugger off back to wherever,” say […]
IFP-ANC TALKS The second round of peace talks between the ANC and IFP began in Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday. The talks are a continuation of the June 8 talks, when the ANC presented its proposals to the IFP, offering a senior national government post to IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi and a special amnesty package for […]
THURSDAY, 12.30PM THE Cabinet on Wednesday finally approved the policy proposals in the Defence review, paving the way for the SA Navy acquire its long-awaited new submarines and corvette warships. The cabinet’s approval of policy proposals on defence posture, functions, force design, human resources and part-time forces gives the navy the green light to acquire […]
THURSDAY, 8.30AM THE Johannesburg Stock Exchange celebrated the biggest trading day in its history yesterday, when just under R2,8 billion in shares were traded. Market speculation pointed to London-based SBC Warburg as the source, acting as principal in buying shares from an unknown South African institution for sale to an overseas company. Warburg refused to […]
THURSDAY, 11.00AM MINERAL and Energy Affairs Minister Penuell Maduna told Parliament yesterday that the Strategic Fuel Fund, the state-owned body that negotiated apartheid oil purchases, could not account for R173-million spent in oil deals by the National Party government. Maduna said wrongdoers will be uncovered in an investigation by private auditors Ntsaluba Nkoni Sizwe and […]
WEDNESDAY, 4.30PM A DRAFT Bill to make the SA Revenue Service autonmous from the public service was presented to parliament on Wednesday. Sars staff will become an institution outside the public service, but staff will remain members of the government pension fund. An advisory board consisting of a commissioner, two senior Sars employees and up […]
THURSDAY, 1.00PM: THE SA Professional Golf Association has called for clarity over broadcast sponsorship rights to the 1998 SA Open golf championship, after rival cellphone networks Vodacom and MTN both claimed exclusive rights. The PGA board has called for copies of the contracts between the SA Open and the two rival sponsors. The PGA’s executive […]