incompetence Secret agents across the globe have become a laughing stock after a series of rather embarrassing gaffes. We report on the world’s second oldest profession Peter Hillmore and Ed Vulliamy Spying is not what it used to be. Gone is the ideology, gone is the efficiency. The FBI last week arrested three middle-aged former […]

Andrew Muchineripi : Soccer Somewhere between the overlavish praise and the unjustified criticism surrounding the friendly between France and South Africa in rain-lashed Lens, lies the truth about our national team. While defeat is never an enjoyable pill to swallow, a country competing in the international arena for just five years has no reason to […]

FRIDAY, 1.00PM: SPRINGBOK coach Nick Mallett has lashed out at overseas reports about Sarfu president Louis Luyt being involved in team selection for next month’s tour of Europe and the United Kingdom. ”It’s crazy, completely nonsense,” he said. ”No one can tell me or any of the Springbok selectors who we should pick or should […]

STATE MUST PAY KAUNDA’S RENT FORMER Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda, who faces eviction by his landlord for years of failing to pay his rent, is suing the Zambian government, which he says is responsible for the rent. Kaunda’s press secretary says that the President’s Retirement Benefits Act provides for payment of Kaunda’s living expenses. The […]

THURSDAY, 5.30PM IN A move that has been taken as a sign that the dissolution of parliament and the announcement of elections is imminent, the Kenyan government on Wednesday suddenly introduced a reform Bill for debate in the legislature. The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, tabled by attorney-general Amos Wako, allows the formation of a […]

WEDNESDAY, 1.00PM: SOUTH African Rugby Football Union CEO Rian Oberholzer on Wednesday confirmed that Sarfu has received two new nominations for both president and vice-president. Speaking in Cape Town, Oberlholzer said Border’s Mluleki George and Natal’s Keith Parkinson will oppose Louis Luyt for the presidency. Mpumalanga and Eastern Province presidents Hennie Erasmus and Silas Nkanunu […]

THURSDAY, 1.30PM The world’s third-largest oil company, Mobil Corporation, is set to launch an “aggressive marketing campaign” into lubricants in South Africa, to boost local subsidiary Mobil Oil SA. Local MD John Pototsky said on Thursday tens of millions of dollars will be invested in the South African oil market. Mobil left SA in 1989 […]

THURSDAY, 4.00PM PRESIDENT Nelson Mandela on Thursday ordered the chiefs of the police and army to to refine security measures already in place to combat crime and gang violence on the Cape Flats. The order follows a special security meeting involving security chiefs and Cabinet ministers called by the president at his Cape Town residence […]

WEDNESDAY, 8.30AM A PATHOLOGIST told an inquest into the death of National Intelligence Agency (NIA) security chief Muziwendoda Mdluli that it was extremely unusual for a person to commit suicide by shooting himself in the middle of the forehead. Pathologist Dr Stefaans Hofmeyr said it was more common for a right-handed person to shoot himself […]

WEDNESDAY, 4.15PM The country’s first major Internet survey to enjoy the co-operation of the key players has found that the number of South African dial-up users is 50% higher than generally believed. The study also reveals that the average Internet Service Provider has doubled its customer base over the past year. The survey, based on […]