Sechaba ka’Nkosi Pressure by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has led to a decision by the African National Congress to smooth out differences with its communist and worker allies before the much-awaited Jobs Summit this week. The ANC took a strategic dive on macro-economic fundamentals and showed willingness to refocus its transformation […]

Postponing sex and `zero grazing’ are just some of the ways in which Ugandans are coping with HIV/Aids, writes Mercedes Sayagues Sophia Mukasa-Monico (38) is a smart, elegant, strong-willed Ugandan lawyer. As we sip a cold drink one steamy Sunday afternoon in Kampala, she tells me a story. Seven years ago, her sister died of […]

Oral poetry has always played an important role in South African culture, write Richard Bowker and Peter Makurube When President Nelson Mandela entered his birthday bash at Gallagher Estate in July, he was led in by the boy-poet Samkhelo Mcandi, waxing lyrical about Madiba’s greatness. All in impeccable Xhosa. He was following in the footsteps […]

The scramble to gag the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) final report has soured what should have been a crowning moment for South Africa. We had wanted to show the world and ourselves that we could take our violent and dehumanised past, stare it in the face, acknowledge it and move on. Instead, we have […]

Jim McClellan meets a man who wants to sweep away the concept of the home computer Here’s a question to ponder: how many electric motors do you have in your house? Probably more than you realise. But you don’t think of them as electric motors. Instead, you just get on with using your food mixer […]

CDs of the week: Phillip Kakaza Although this country still boasts a lively jazz tradition, so much of the best of it was shipped away to flourish abroad. The Blue Notes, founded by innovative pianist Chris McGregor, went to exile in 1965. Apartheid prohibited them from performing as a racially mixed band in South Africa. […]

Ann Eveleth: IN THE ACT The public health system must have heaved a sigh of relief when the Cape High Court turned down a challenge to Minister of Health Nkosazana Zuma’s Medical Schemes Bill. Cleared of the legal hurdle created by Business South Africa’s attempt to shift the debate into the National Economic Development and […]

ROB DAVIES, Johannesburg | Friday 9.35am. THE Giants of South African soccer, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, will clash in the first-leg semifinals of the multimillion-rand Rothmans Cup on Saturday, and fans can be sure that the battle will be one of epic proportions. What is certain is that the match will be a tight […]

Johnny Masilela MY WARRIOR SON by Mary Anne Fitzgerald (Penguin) This is the story of the relationship between Mary Anne Fitzgerald – who grew up in the United States and South Africa – and Peter Kepaeka, a Masai lad, allegedly an orphan, whom she adopted. She was working as a foreign correspondent in Kenya at […]

Andrew Worsdale Movies of the week With more than 29 shorts and 30 features, the fifth gay and lesbian film festival is expanding with massive hard-on proportions. This is because the “queer” film industry is doing so well, and is regarded internationally as the vanguard of cutting edge independent cinema. As more than 15 000 […]