A private college has rescued Woodmead High School, writes Thokozani Mtshali Woodmead High School, the first multiracial school in South Africa, has been rescued from closure. The school has a debt of R3-million, accumulated over the past three years. Its teachers and students were convinced that the institution would close its doors this year. But, […]

Waters Nick Paul Grey’s the next black and has been for some time now. The Seventies are still the Seventies, only more so. And the Blue Waters still belongs in that decade, the muted pastels of its Eighties revamp (albeit executed in the Nineties) notwithstanding. And it’s still the same place it was when Claire, […]

Wonder Hlongwa Selling human body parts is a lucrative business in South Africa. Prices for eyes, breasts, brains or genitals range from R1 000 to R10 000 – depending on the body part up for sale. The macabre practice is shrouded in mystery. Most traditional healers are afraid to talk about this thriving bloody commerce. […]

to haunt Maties Deon Wiggett The University of Stellenbosch has appointed its retired vice-rector into another position, raising fears that the institution has a special relationship with former Broederbonders. Professor Christo Viljoen, who retired in March, will head the newly established Office for Intellectual Property. The position was not advertised. University representative Douglas Davis says […]

Ferial Haffajee South Africa’s delegation to the annual World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings in Washington this week jet home on a buoyant note. Certainly they are more buoyant than their East Asian and Latin American counterparts, who return to economies more damaged by the quakes in the world system than South Africa […]

Belinda Beresford South Africa’s Constitution should give employees more protection against curious employers than that enjoyed by workers in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. But the extent of those rights to privacy entrenched in the Constitution have yet to be tested legally. Labour consultant Andrew Levy says employee privacy is […]

Tim Radford Mauritius was the death of more than just the dodo. It may have been home to the world’s only lightweight, racing tortoise – until humans arrived. Jeremy Austin, of the Natural History Museum, told the British Association festival of science in Cardiff recently that the three Mascarene islands of Reunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues, […]

The makers of South Africa’s foreign policy need a long, hard think, suggests William Boot The king of Lesotho is seldom permitted to make public utterances. But sometimes his private observations are passed on by friends and advisers – like what he said when he returned from the recent Southern African Development Community (SADC)summit in […]

HRC David Beresford The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has suffered another body blow with the resignation of Helen Suzman, the fourth commissioner to walk out of the prestigious body headed by the controversial lawyer and theologian, Dr Barney Pityana. Suzman said on Thursday that her resignation would take effect at the end of the year. […]

Ferial Haffajee South Africa’s television war is in full throttle with people in the industry at each other’s throats – and the only victors are likely to be viewers. The quick and dirty war has featured an arsenal of snitching to the authorities, comparative advertising campaigns, staff poaching and a drive to snap up the […]