Politicians need to consider the social dynamics behind gun proliferation, argues Wits sociology professor Jacklyn Cock GUN violence is about contested social identities. This is evident in the case of the Kalashnikov assault rifle, the AK-47. I want to use this particular weapon to introduce some of the key themes in a sociological analysis of […]

Maria McCloy IF you’re one of the millions of South Africans who tunes in to any of an ever- growing number of music radio stations each day, it’s unlikely that many of the sexy, soothing, lively or witty DJ voices you hear belong to a woman. Or when you get down in the club of […]

The head of Durban’s port is accused of racist behaviour and using spy tactics against his fired deputy, reports Ann Eveleth THE head of South Africa’s busiest port is bugging the offices of his subordinates, undermining black empowerment and operating behind the backs of senior port management, according to allegations by port employees and suppliers. […]

Gustav Thiel TWICE every Sunday the congregation of the Deo Gloria church gathers in Pretoria to worship. Members of the church prefer not to disclose where they meet, except that it is in another church. They represent many deminations, coming together in the belief that the Bible should be the focus of their worship. What […]

Protesting students have accused Njabulo Ndebele of being slow to implement changes on the campus, writes Tangeni Amupadhi THE same forces who proclaimed University of the North Vice-Chancellor Njabulo Ndebele champion of transformation in tertiary education, have turned against him. Ndebele – who lost out in the three-way competition for the top job at Wits […]

Africa SOCCER: Andrew Muchineripi OVERCONFIDENCE will probably be the biggest threat to South African representatives Orlando Pirates, Jomo Cosmos and Bush Bucks when they launch their African club competition campaigns. Pirates have been paired with Rovers of Lesotho in the Champions League, Cosmos tackle Eleven Men in Flight of Swaziland in the Cup-winners Cup and […]

Marion Edmunds ROELF MEYER set off into the political wilderness this week to seek a black Messiah to lead a new movement capable of challenging the African National Congress in 1999, and salvaging the moderate faction of a fragmenting National Party. Talent-spotting for a new black leader, Meyer told the Mail & Guardian this week, […]

Mungo Soggot COLLEAGUES of Professor Sam Nolutshungu, the United States-based academic who turned down the vice-chancellorship at Wits University, say he used the Wits offer to land himself a better job with his current employer. They also say Nolutshungu, who rejected the Wits post at the 11th hour for “health reasons”, is not ill and […]

Anthony Kunda in Lusaka FREEDOM of speech in Zambia suffered a severe blow with the imprisonment last week of Masautso Phiri, special projects editor of The Post, the country’s only independent daily, and the separate arrest of three journalists for The Chronicle, an independent weekly. Phiri was tried and sentenced by a full bench of […]

coach CRICKET:Paul Weaver WHEN viewed from a distance, with his chronically arthritic right knee and a hairline that is receding faster than the tide at Timaru beach, it is possible that he has become shrouded in middle age, that quite suddenly he has been mugged by Methuselah. It is only when one gets much closer, […]