Stephen GrayUnspoilt places Borakalalo means (in Setswana) the “relaxing-place”, and it encompasses what previously was known by red-faced fisherfolk as the Klipvoor resort. Boetie with his latest bait still wades out through the reeds to reel in a gasping silver, yellow-streaked common carp, with scales like rand coins – at his own risk these days, […]
David Beresford A LONG NIGHT’S DAMAGE: WORKING FOR THE APARTHEID STATE by Eugene de Kock as told to Jeremy Gordin (Contra Press, R89,95) The temptation is to recommend this book as required reading in South Africa’s schools, offering as it does an awful warning to future generations as to the consequences when society allows the […]
THE European Investment Bank acknowledged this week that European Union member countries have delayed ratifying South Africa’s accession to the Lome´ Convention for over a year, and the slow progress is holding up projects worth 550-million euros in which South African firms are involved. Despite frequent requests by South Africa and other African countries, Belgium […]
Lorraine Pace While out walking his dog one summer’s day John Payne met an angel. “It was an ethereal bright golden image, a bit like a shadow embossed on air,” says Payne of his encounter. “The angel was very tall, about 3m, and while no words were spoken I heard a message: ‘You are loved.’ […]
Who is James Bond, the gunman in a tux? And why do we love him so? As the latest Bond movie opens in South Africa, Peter Conrad considers a 20th-century icon The image is contradictory. A man in a tuxedo tilts a gun; his arrogant smirk indicates that he is ready to use it. But […]
Andrew Muchineripi: Soccer Arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates meet for the third time this season at FNB Stadium on Saturday, and after two drawn championship clashes there must be a result in the Bob Save Super Bowl second-round clash. The luck of the draw brought together at an early stage two teams the public […]
Chris Roper: CD of the week From the first smoky bars of the opening track, On Green Dolphin Street by the Dave Lithins Trio, you’re transported back to the freezing cold alleys, muggy venues and inexpressible intensity of the Grahamstown Arts Festival. A reminder of that peculiar evocative quality jazz has of perfectly encapsulating moments, […]
Brenda AtkinsonOn show in Johannesburg If the word “sculpture” makes you think of bronze, discreet formal objects and Platonic Ideals, and if the words “British sculpture” send you scrambling for your Jeff Koons catalogue, take a deep breath, lock your car doors, and head off to the Johannesburg Art Gallery. A Changed World – an […]
Ferial Haffajee You’ve always wanted a Landie? Virgin Atlantic gave away four Land Rovers each to more than 62 000 magazine lovers in a recent promotion. Well, OK, they’re one-dimensional and won’t take you very far, but the gimmick is clever and hey, a girl can dream! Net#Work, a medium sized ad agency, conceived this […]
Babak Dehghanpisheh An Egyptianwriter who converted from Islam to Christianity and is resident in South Africa has come under fire from Muslims and is now under police protection. Known only as Mustafa, the name under which he writes, he is a scholar who fled persecution in Egypt -where conversion is illegal – making an incredible […]