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 […]

When it comes to advertisements in magazines, women are being discriminated against by the ad industry. Surely, the time has come for equality in advertising, writes Ricardo Dunn Women’s magazine publishers believe they can’t secure advertising for products that have traditionally been thought of as “male” because of the prejudice among advertising agencies and clients. […]

Eddie Koch Evidence at the Eugene de Kock trial this week provided insight into the tremendous psychological pressures members of the police death squads at Vlakplaas operated under — and the therapeutic effects offered by their opportunity to tell the truth. “They beat me up to the point of submission, to the point of death […]

South Africa’s World Cup squad is a blend of experienced players mixed with stars of the CRICKET: Jon Swift THE SELECTION of the tour squad for the World Cup in Pakistan is an intriguing combination; a mixture of those with the experience of abject failure on the Indian sub-continent and those still carrying the aura […]

Stefaans BrUmmer WERNER VAN GREUNEN — who this week implicated Deputy President Thabo Mbeki when he claimed to have spied on “National Party” and “Broederbond” municipal officials in Gauteng — was a National Intelligence Agency (NIA) “source”. But it appears his brief went no further than to report on threats against last November’s local government […]

CABARET: Malu van Leeuwen ‘DOES anyone have a serviette? I’m doing what ladies do — glowing.” A napkin makes its way to the stage; Irit Noble delicately wipes the dewy pearls from her face and neck. “If anyone wants this they can have it for five bucks.” No takers, but a generous round of applause […]

Karen Harverson South Africa’s first national lottery — expected to generate billions-of-rands in turnover a year — should begin operating by Minister for General Services Chris Fismer will appoint consultants before the end of February to advise on the format of the lottery as well as to make changes to the National Lottery Act to […]

Labour wants a greater say in the decisions made on the mines, report Karen Harverson and Vuyo Mvoko No one is arguing with Anglo American Corporation’s call last week that cost and productivity changes are needed at Free State Consolidated Gold mines (Freegold) to avoid the threatened closure of five of its shafts and the […]

KwaZulu-Natal’s embattled monarch finds himself between a rock and a hard place as negotiations for an imbizo gather momentum, writes Ann Eveleth There are few indications that the multi-party imbizo (mass gathering of the Zulu nation) planned for KwaZulu-Natal will achieve its nominal purpose of promoting peace and reconciliation in the blood-soaked province. Strategically planned […]