Chris McGreal in Bujumbura BURUNDI’S overwhelmingly Tutsi army has killed several thousand civilians since the military coup three weeks ago. Its offensive against Hutus has concentrated on a swath of territory across the centre of the country, as well as land bordering rebel camps in Zaire. Survivors accuse the army of using mortars and heavy […]
After two years of political bickering over competition legislation, a quick settlement from Nedlac appears unlikely, reports Mungo Soggot A clash between old- and new-guard lawyers is set to hang over the latest round of the anti-trust legislation debate, which will soon be taken on by the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) — […]
Martin Thorpe PELE missed and Alex Ferguson reckons Nayim’s was a miskick. It took one of Manchester United’s young pretenders to show the world how to look up, take aim and score with a dazzling lob from halfway. And it came as no surprise that that man was David Beckham. If life is sweet for […]
Marion Edmunds The dispute over privatisation has shifted to the Department of Constitutional Development, with labour determined to block the contracting-out of basic municipal services to large multinational companies. Sensitive discussions are taking place between the department, provincial and national politicians, the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) and representatives of the multinationals. Lyonnaise des […]
CINEMA: Andrew Worsdale reviews Beautiful Girls EARLIER this year, “women’s movies” were a dime a dozen on circuit. From How to Make an American Quilt to Now and Then, their stories focused on women’s desires and dreams and how men messed them around. By the end of the ride you’d had a couple of chuckles […]
SERJEANT AT THE BAR The Constitutional Court is taken to task for assuming an old-style, chauvinistic attitude to international law South African courts have a long history of hostility towards international human rights law. During the apartheid era this was unsurprising, particularly because it was impossible to reconcile our domestic legal order with international standards […]
If Primus beer runs dry, Burundians will know the economy has collapsed, reports Chris McGreal from Bujumbura Perhaps the safest way to get around Burundi is to hitch a ride on a Primus beer lorry. While other vehicles run the gauntlet of Hutu rebels, and the army moves with trepidation in many rural areas, there […]
Tebello Radebe Chairman of the Association of Mortgage Lenders, Duncan Reekie, says rising interest rates and growing unemployment are the main reasons why the banks have not financed as many houses as expected. Reekie’s response follows widespread criticism levelled against the government for failing to deliver on its promises for houses. “The view of the […]
A former spy chief and transformation consultants Deloitte & Touche are connected. Mungo Soggott reports A controversial army general and former spy chief is at the centre of a row over a R50-million management consultant contract to transform the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Rival consultants have complained about the award of the transformation […]
Vivek Chaudhary in London The British Queen, thought to be one of the world’s richest women, could increase her income sixfold under proposals to scrap money given to the royal family by the government, in return for money generated from property owned by the family. The proposal is one of five under consideration that would […]