Itumeleng Mosala takes issue with last week’s article by Dr Mamphela Ramphele DR MAMPHELA Ramphele (Mail & Guardian September 8 to 14) makes several serious claims that need challenging. I am a member of the Azanian People’s Organisation; in fact, an immediate ex- president, but, contrary to the opportunistic claims of Ramphele, I was not […]

Marion Edmunds and Ann Eveleth The recently released hardline Inkatha Freedom Party constitution calls for a provincial army, exclusive provincial policing powers and the right to refuse intervention in the province by the South African National Defence Force. It also claims exclusive powers over all constitutional, legislative, judicial, and financial matters and paves the way […]

Indications are that the RDP is more entangled in financial wrangles than in development and reconstruction, argues Nicoli Nattrass The Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) has two public faces. In its general, and more rhetorical manifestation, it refers to South Africa’s supposedly integrated developmental vision. More practically, however, it boils down to the activities of […]

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 […]