Gregory Mthembu-Salter United Nations Security Council members are currently adding the finishing touches to a resolution on the deployment of a UN force in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This follows a request for troops from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and an impassioned appeal for assistance from African heads of state and government representatives, […]

Guy Willoughby speaks to Marthinus Basson about his latest collaboration with poet/playwright Breyten Breytenbach Marthinus Basson – design-directorial supremo, arts propagandist, all-round theatre maestro – is snatching coffee and koek between final rehearsals of The Life and Times of Johnny Cockroach, his latest explosive collaboration with poet-turned- playwright Breyten Breytenbach. Restlessly pacing the noisy Nico […]

Web Watch At www.dogdoo.com you can send, anonymously of course, a box of dog turds to your worst enemy. It’s worth visiting just to read the thank-you letters and recommendations. Fan clubs, theatre troupes, football teams and similar groups can get organised on the Web using the free service at www.SmartGroups.com. Features include a message […]

Andrew Muchineripi Soccer The first round of the African Cup of Nations delivered 21 goals, seven enjoyable matches, more highs and lows than normally found on a weather chart, and further proof that the only certainty in football is uncertainty. Ghana and Cameroon set a lively pace in the opening match and it has barely […]

Sharon Gill Choosing a healthy bottom line and attacting new members has seen medical schemes develop some innovative products in the past few years. “We really changed the rules of the game. We structured a wellness programme called Vitality, because if people lead a healthy lifestyle, it will lead to reduced healthcare costs,” says Neville […]

Deon Potgieter Boxing Acknowledged as one of the top 10 South African boxers of the past century, “Baby” Jake Matlala is intent on earmarking a place in the top 10 list of the new century as well. He meets the power-punching Hawk Makepula for the vacant World Boxing Organisation (WBO) junior flyweight title on February […]

Tom Roach Yachting For this year’s millennium race the weather in the South Atlantic has not followed the expected pattern. Instead of spending days on end sailing downwind under huge spinnakers, crews found themselves battling fickle winds on their beam, or from ahead. Frequent sail changes, often several times an hour, kept them on their […]

Andy Capostagno Golf It’s nearly February and the major golf tours around the world have shaken off their winter torpor and are heading towards full swing. But a few big names have stayed on in South Africa for this week’s Dimension Data Pro-Am at Sun City. Defending champion Scott Dunlap is absent, having earned his […]

The public protector’s report into former minerals and energy minister Penuell Maduna’s claim that the auditor general covered up the theft of R170-million of oil could turn into a classic text of how conspiracy theory is arrived at: find some “facts”, develop a thesis and then ignore anything that contradicts it. It is worth reminding […]

Medical aids are going to have to come to terms with picking up the bills for members’ HIV/Aids treatments, reports Sarah Bullen The medical aid industry by its own admission does not have a proud record of being proactive in addressing the costs of HIV/Aids. With South Africa boasting the highest HIV infection rate in […]