THEATRE: Gwen Ansell THE poet sits mute in a chair while the secret policeman berates him for writing poems which incite “raised fists at memorial services in Regina Mundi”. Not surprising, you might think, in a play staged as a tribute to the late Steven Bantu Biko, murdered 19 years ago. Only halfway through the […]

ANC members who are under investigation by the party are involved in the company alleged to be behind the bid to pay for the ill-fated Aids play. Stefaans BrUmmer and Ann Eveleth report THE investment company named in this week’s controversy over the ill-fated R10,5-million Sarafina II rescue bid is run by a motley crew […]

Mail & Guardian Reporters PUBLIC Protector Selby Baqwa’s baptism of fire over the Sarafina II debacle has drawn a mixed reception from political parties and commentators. The Inkatha Freedom Party slammed his performance, saying Baqwa had been “unfair to the public which demands transparency”. The party’s health study group deputy chair, Jeanette Wilikazi, said he […]

Shaun de Waal DURBANITE folkie and sometime leader of The Utenstils, Syd Kitchen, plays jazz-singer/guitarist on City Child. The opening song is a charming if ambivalent miniature of growing up “to city freedom” and “city hatred”, and from there on the songs flow easily one after the other. In terms of its sound, the album […]

THEATRE: Andrew Wilson OPENING night of Return To The Forbidden Planet at the Victory Theatre was a riot. Amid tables sagging under schnapps and snacks, the audience, before the show, mingled with crew members of the space ship that was to take them on a lavish rock-and-roll space adventure. Two hours later they left with […]

Next week the world will gain insight into the mind and motives of South Africa’s most accomplished assassin as he enters the dock, writes Eddie Koch Colonel Eugene de Kock, the man billed as South Africa’s most accomplished assassin, will round off one of the country’s most extraordinary murder cases when he goes into the […]

Madeleine Wackernagel Trade and industry minister Alec Erwin has confirmed that long-awaited discussions over the new competition legislation begin in the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) today (Friday), two years after the government first drew up plans for a new framework. Says Erwin: “In terms of an agreement reached between Nedlac and [former […]

With Alan Greenspan changing his views on inflation, a split in the Federal Reserve may be a possibility, reports Mark Tran in New York It is time to reassess Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan’s image as a party pooper. The usual view of Greenspan is that of an anti-inflation hawk, quick to tighten and slow […]

WARRING factions in the African National Congress Women’s League have been told to patch up their differences and come together to jointly plan a crucial and long-overdue national conference to take place before the end of December, when fresh leadership elections will take place. The move marks the start of what ANC leaders hope will […]

Sandton businesses and residents are boycotting rate hikes. But residents of Alexandra — a Sandton suburb where people are more used to boycotts — told the M&G they thought Sandton residents should pay up ` It is very infair for the government to increase rates by 300%. I think the residents of Sandton are right […]