Richard Calland THE consortium of management consultants hired by Parliament to investigate restructuring, at a cost of almost half a million rand, is racked by internal tensions, accusations against one partner of previous failures to deliver and the defection of a respected team member. The South African firm of Kenneth Mgqamqo & Associates joined forces […]

Neil Bierbaum SUPPLIERS of satellite dishes and decoders are advising consumers to wait for an expected reduction in import duties before ordering the new technology — but if there is a rush, manufacturers may not be able to meet the demand. The current 77,5 percent duty on satellite receiving equipment is expected to come down […]

The supreme court this week heard the heart-wrenching case of a mother suing her gynaecologist for allowing her extremely ill baby to be born. Pat Sidley and Annicia Reddiar report ‘THEY placed Alexandra on my tummy after the birth. Then a sister grabbed her and quickly took her to the furthest side of the room. […]

Philippa Garson ROSEMARY MANGOPE, daughter-in-law of former Bophuthatswana president Lucas Mangope, still reaps the benefits of her former job as executive director of the Mabana Cultural Centre in Mmabatho, even though she left the centre when she fled the homeland 18 months ago. After the homeland uprising, which toppled her father-in-law, she was suspended from […]

FINE ART: Ruth Sack SONGS and Monuments by Bongi Dhlomo is an exhibition of drawings, paintings and assemblages in which the central, recurring image is of an African headrest, standing alone and without context — as, of course, they now do in museums. Some of these paintings make it easy to think of headrests as […]

Social conditions in South Africa are ripe for an increase in serial killings, reports Justin Pearce Serial killing is one of South Africa’s fastest growing hobbies. Police psychologist Micki Pistorius, who has compiled a psychological profile of the Atteridgeville strangler, says half of known serial killings in South Africa have occurred in the past five […]

Professor Trance is coming to South Africa to teach us the healing power of trance dancing. SHAUN DE WAAL spoke to him FRANK NATALE, otherwise known as Professor Trance, is not the first to note the echo of ancient ritual in today’s dance culture. Rock-concert-goers, clubbers and ravers are engaging in a collective activity not […]

Humphrey Tyler THERE is just a hint of appealing eccentricity about Funky=D5s restaurant i= the new Bat Centre at the side of the harbour in Durban. This is not just= because the waiters wear funny waistcoats. Maybe it=D5s because the buildin= is not quite finished. There are no balustrades on the steps you climb to […]

Slam poetry is all about liberating the audience, discovered MALU VAN=20 LEEUWEN at its first hearing in Cape Town THE staid conventions of the poetry reading received their first warning of= a shake-up last week when slam poetry =D1 a concept imported from the=20 United States and Canada by two Cape Town enthusiasts =D1 was […]

Gaye Davis THE rumblings began almost as soon as the survey teams hit the=20 cobblestones in the Parliamentary precinct. It was, said Dr Mamphela Ramphele, director of Idasa=D5s Public Information= Centre (PIC), a historic opportunity for MPs and senators to prove they=20 were really as transparent and accessible to the electorate as they claimed= to […]