1996 BUDGET Few surprises and lacking in boldness Lynda Loxton There was a predictably mixed reaction from political parties to Finance Minister Chris Liebenberg’s 1996/97 budget on Wednesday. The African National Congress welcomed the fact that Liebenberg had not succumbed to the “short-sighted and insensitive free advice” of the likes of the South African Foundation […]
A high-ranking policeman faces charges in what is thought to touch on a much larger probe into police corruption, writes Stefaans Brummer TOP policeman Charlie Landman, head of Johannesburg’s Brixton Murder and Robbery squad, is facing charges in what well-placed sources say is “chapter one” of a probe into massive high-level police corruption. Transvaal Attorney […]
Gavin Du Venage THE Cape Town Olympic Bid committee is about to clinch the two crucial sponsorship deals that will bring it close to the R80-million it needs to fund its bid to host the 2004 Olympic Games. The two sponsors, almost certainly Sun International and South African Airways, are expected to announce their backing […]
RUGBY: Jon Swift THE pre-season form book on the Super 12 — at least the one written in this country — lies in tatters with only Northern Transvaal, on the strength of a single outing, looking competent to provide a South African challenge. Transvaal’s campaign is already in ruins. Three defeats in as many games, […]
CINEMA: Andrew Worsdale HOW to Make an American Quilt is based on a graduate thesis project at the University of California, by Whitney Otto, which eventually made it to the New York Times bestseller list. An affecting, bittersweet drama, it is one of the best in the set of “women’s movies” — Moonlight and Valentino, […]
murders case Ann Eveleth The special investigations team probing a spate of murders on KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast has in the past few weeks arrested a total of 18 people relating to 10 cases involving about 30 counts of murder — showing up local detectives who had failed to make progress in these cases. Senior police […]
The 18% excise duty increase on cigarettes displeases both anti-smoking lobbyists and the tobacco industry, reports Karen Harverson Anti-smoking lobbyists are disappointed at the 18% increase in the excise tax on cigarettes announced in the Budget on Wednesday. Total tax on cigarettes (including value-added tax) now comprises about 42% of the selling price compared to […]
Ann Eveleth many of the 20 accused in the Magnus Malan trial this week dropped their erstwhile stoicism and began to fidget nervously when a slight, bookish ex-soldier, Johan Pieter “JP” Opperman (38), took the stand on Tuesday. Former defence minister Malan’s jowls worked constantly during the proceedings in a bizarre facial exercise routine, while […]
POLITICS: An expert warns against moves to weaken local democracy The triumphant election of 30 000 councillors is already being undermined, argues Mark Swilling By the end of the local government elections in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape later this year, South Africans will have elected more than 30 000 councillors to over 800 separate […]
FINE ART: Ruth Sack GHETTO Opera House, massive and heavy, presides over Lucky Sibiya’s exhibition at the Everard Read Gallery. Into the multifarious sub-divisions of its architecture of bone, string, skin, paint, decaying machine parts, driftwood, rust, one is drawn without resistance or desire for explanation. Sibiya seems to be having some kind of party. […]