There is something a little distasteful about the Independent Group’s “confession” to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission as to its sins during the apartheid era. Like its much-trumpeted “international advisory board” of consultants, the submission smacks more of a public relations exercise than a genuine contribution to South African journalism. The group’s apparent failure to […]

FINE ART:Hazel Friedman LAST year’s Unplugged exhibition will go down in South African art history as a supreme example of the “buddy system” at its worst. Initiated by artist Kendell Geers as a riposte to the traditional curatorial process – whereby the curator determines the content and presentation of an exhibition – Unplugged set itself […]

Lisa Buckingham and Alex Brummer A FRESH initiative to revamp bonuses and so stamp out the wildest risks taken by City of London derivative traders is expected to follow the $80-million scandal at NatWest Markets that this week helped to wipe nearly $900-million off the stock market value of the banking group. Anthony Bellchambers, chief […]

In a conversation with Benjamin Pogrund, Harry Oppenheimer reflects on his life in business and defends his companies’ stance on apartheid HARRY OPPENHEIMER carries his 88 years lightly. “I feel well and I enjoy life so I’m very lucky at my age,” he says. He’s a bit stooped and says his hearing is not what […]

JONATHAN ROMNEY speaks to cult Hollywood director Tim Burton about his freaks, frailties and fame – and his latest film Mars Attacks! TIM BURTON’S Mars Attacks! seems like a sure-fire recipe for box-office success – hordes of evil aliens, a cult director with a berserk visual imagination, and a prodigally illustrious cast (Nicholson, Close, DeVito, […]

Is there a place in the South African media for institutionalised ethnicity? Jacquie Golding-Duffy reports ‘WE are not anti-white, but pro-black,” says Abbey Makoe, chair of the steering committee of the Black Journalists Forum (BJF) – the lobby group recently launched and endorsed by Deputy President Thabo Mbeki and SABC chief executive Zwelakhe Sisulu. The […]

Sentiment has improved, but to capitalise on the turnaround, Trevor Manuel must define the strategy for implementing Gear, argues Madeleine Wackernagel SO, Trevor Manuel will get to present his first Budget after all, despite rumours of a Cabinet reshuffle earlier this year. Already he has quietened his detractors by showing the deficit target is on […]

Running at altitude, South African athletes are going to struggle to beat the qualifying marks for the world championships ATHLETICS:Julian Drew SOUTH AFRICA’S top athletes go to Potchefstroom’s peculiarly shaped Kenneth McArthur Oval this weekend knowing that a national title along with a performance which betters Athletic South Africa’s (ASA) qualifying standards will automatically gain […]

A joint-venture deal with Naledi Petroleum has exposed Sasol’s policy of taking over petrol stations ahead of deregulation, writes Mungo Soggot SASOL has been quietly buying up prime petrol station sites in Gauteng in anticipation of a relaxation of regulations that bar it from retailing fuel, the synthetic fuel giant confirmed this week. Sasol communications […]

Guest writer Pippa Green watches the truth commission catch fire THERE is a monument outside Pretoria’s vast municipal complex, a broken arch of triumph. Its dedication reads: “To all victims of terrorism.” It stands on the corner of Munitoria, a distinctly Pretorian name in a city where names like Cartoria for a major vehicle dealer […]