Thomas Sotinel in Monrovia FOR the first time since the beginning of the civil war in 1989, the news from Liberia is good rather than bad. At the close of a summit meeting in Abuja, the Nigerian capital — which last week brought together the heads of state of the Economic Community of West African […]
Nana Rosine Ngangoue in Brazzaville Private newspapers and magazines have disappeared from newsstands and bookstores in Congo following a decree banning their publication. The decree also ordered the seizure of all copies of the prohibited papers. It was issued last week by the government, which accused media houses of violating a new press law passed […]
Angella Johnson Interpol has joined in the hunt for a British man who drove off with two customised Land-Rovers stored at a BMW showroom in Johannesburg. South African police would like to interview 23- year-old Danny Lydon, who was captured on video stealing the Camel Adventure vehicles a day before skipping the country. Lydon, who […]
FW de Klerk’s testimony before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission this week was widely billed as an “apology for apartheid”. In reality it was less a case of mea culpa than J’accuse. The African National Congress, he suggested, was more a hindrance to reform — which was firmly on track from 1978 — than a […]
The Human Rights Commission has been hampered by red tape, finances and now the resignation of Max Coleman, writes Gaye Davis HUMAN Rights commissioner Max Coleman cites “personal reasons” for his decision to resign from his post. But the word in human rights and legal circles is that his action was prompted by disillusionment fuelled […]
Ministers still refuse to set a timetable for privatisation and the lifting of exchange controls, writes Lynda Loxton The government dug in its heels this week in the face of mounting criticism about its economic policies and refused to give firm timetables for the key contentious issues of privatisation and the lifting of exchange controls. […]
A former Catholic altar boy is conducting a reign of terror in northern Uganda, targeting civilians and specialising in mass abduction, reports Robin Denselow MAJOR-GENERAL Salim Saleh peered through his Ray- Bans and pointed out beyond the army base to the green plains that stretch northwards from the little town of Gulu towards the Sudanese […]
The Virgin Group is looking to enter South African media by teaming up with local financiers, writes Jacquie Golding-Duffy Voice of Soweto, a local community radio station, has linked up with British billionaire Richard Branson in a bid to obtain a FM licence in Gauteng. The application for a Gauteng radio licence is part of […]
The Springboks are losing to the All Blacks and many people believe the black community in South Africa is also on the losing side, writes Nicola Byrne WHEN South Africa take the field on Saturday for their second match in the Test series against New Zealand, once again the only black players on the pitch […]
South Africa’s feature-film industry may be in a slump, but short films are positively blooming. ANDREW WORSDALE on the latest crop MOVIE myth has it that Wim Wenders broke the display window of a photographic shop and stole a wind-up Bolex to shoot his first film. Stanley Kubrick, asked how to get into the movie […]