In the dangerous game of media-bashing, in which some elements of the ANC have recently been indulging, the charge has been levelled that the press has failed to discharge its responsibilities. This week the cry was taken up by President Nelson Mandela who reportedly criticised the South African media for failing to expose the role […]

Too little, too late was the response to the announcement that the Transitional National Development Trust is finally to begin work, Rehana Rossouw reports MILLIONS of rand earmarked for education programmes have been held up by the failure of the Transitional National Development Trust (TNDT) to set up shop. The TNDT was established in October […]

Bantu Holomisa, deputy minister of tourism and environmental affairs, in The Mark Gevisser ‘My friend,” says Bantu Holomisa with his trademark imp-twinkle when asked about his role as deputy minister and his political ambitions, “you must remember that I have already tasted power. Absolute power. I’ve been there. I’ve had it all. Now I’m just […]

Racial divisions rocked the latest financial hearing on taxation for the future, reports Lynda Loxton The wide economic divide that still separates blacks and whites in this country was highlighted during this week’s parliamentary joint committee on finance hearings into the Katz Commission’s proposals on taxation. On the one hand, there were the multi-billion rand […]

After 13 years, Art Against Apartheid is in South Africa — and destined to hang in Parliament. But, asks HAZEL FRIEDMAN, is this where it belongs? FOR years it has borne the distinction of being the art world’s open secret: an international art exhibition assembled as a tribute to South Africa’s first democratically elected government. […]

Lynda Loxton In September 1994, Munich-based BMW chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder caused a stir when he warned the luxury automaker’s South African subsidiary that it either had to shape up to international standards or BMW would pull out. This week, a long process of painful adjustments to become more competitive, meet international standards in quality, productivity […]

CINEMA: Andrew Worsdale LET’S get one thing straight. Amblin Entertainment, those nice guys who gave the world ET and have now brought us To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, will never, ever, make a good movie about drag queens. They may have enough money to secure the most fabulous outfits in the world, […]

CINEMA: Andrew Worsdale IN 1982 Michelle Pfeiffer was the Pink Lady of Rydell High in Grease II and captured sap Maxwell Caulfield’s heart. Fourteen years later she returns to school in Dangerous Minds as LouAnne Johnson, a Waspy, liberal teacher and ex-Marine, who descends on an inner-city school and inspires the kind of delinquent youths […]

Justin Arenstein As anti-monarchist and labour protests in Swaziland continued this week, a prominent human rights campaigner claimed the country’s ruler, King Mswati III, appears to have been sidelined in a palace coup. Ironically, although the protests are directed against Swaziland’s Tinkhudla traditionalist system of government, the 27-year-old absolute monarch remains popular with the Swaziland […]

Most of the top players at the African Nations Cup already play for overseas clubs, but the Italian agents are here in force looking for new talent SOCCER: Mark Gleeson THEY peer like vultures from behind their designer sunglasses, puffing continuously on Marlboro Lights and scribbling on leather- bound pads.nnnStrangely, somehow, the posse of Italian […]