After severe disappointment at the Commonwealth Games, Okkert Brits has soared back to his best and is aiming even higher next year ATHLETICS: Paul Martin FROM shattering humiliation to glorious victory in the space of a fornight: it’s a Boys Own success story for the pole-vaulting African record-holder and now World Cup gold medallist Okkert […]

Gaye Davis investigates the roots and the immediate causes of the latest education crisis RAP artist Snoop Doggy Dog booming from an upper-storey classroom appeared to be the only source of enlightenment for pupils at Fons Luminis High School in Soweto’s Diepkloof Extension on Wednesday this week. “We’re relaxing,” a pupil shouted through a broken […]

NEUROLOGICAL disorders spotted among Unita soldiers in the late 1980s and described at a conference in Pretoria this week have given rise to suspicions that chemical weapons were used in the Angolan war. Dr Brian Davey told the first Africa regional seminar of the Chemical Weapons Convention that he had seen several patients after 1986 […]

Tough competition between cell phone companies is resulting in cheaper rates for customers, writes Annie Mapoma A PRICE war is raging between South Africa’s cellular phone giants, with both Vodacom and MTN planning cheaper rates and package deals. MTN began the fight for consumers’ cash with price cuts planned for October; Vodacom swiftly followed suit, […]

FINE ART: Ruth Sack `METALS seem to have been in fair supply for weapons and tools, but perhaps not in sufficient quantity to allow for much ornamental use, as only one bangle was found, and no other ornaments, of iron or copper …” So wrote archaeologist TM Maggs of findings from the Iron Age in […]

Art critic Ivor Powell is about to launch a glossy magazine of his own. He spoke to Ruth Sack A STRONG gust of air is about to blow through our art world. It’s called Art Ventilator, and it’s the inspiration of Jeff Chandler, president of the South African Association of Arts, and Ivor Powell, who […]

Media & Marketing Clive Simpkins A DEBATE is on about whether Occidental, Eurocentric, dominantly Caucasian lifestyle and attitudinal trends have marketing relevance in Africa. The emerging answer would appear to be “sometimes” or “partially” but largely “not much”, other than at the top end of the socio-economic scale. In this country this is a miniscule […]

Justin Pearce A FORTNIGHT ago, Cape Town’s independent theatre types were striking poses of grim resignation and talking about the imminent closure of the Long Street Theatre. Now the expressions have changed — and the shows are going on. The independent venue, which was started earlier this year, recently faced closure owing to a lack […]

The listing of publishing group Naspers forespells the growth of a major publishing group, writes Jacques Magliolo KEEN interest shown by banks and major insurance companies in the shares of newspaper and magazine publisher Nasionale Pers Limited during its listing this week came as a complete surprise to numerous industrial analysts. It signalled to the […]

The ANC’s parliamentary code of conduct is part of an internal power struggle, reports Chris Louw BEHIND last week’s introduction of a code of conduct for ANC MPs and MECs lies a struggle for the heart of the governing party. Elements in the three-cornered fight are President Nelson Mandela and his cabinet, ANC backbenchers eager […]