Gwen Ansell on Steven Berkoff GRAHAMSTOWN adores Steven Berkoff (right). Even after he referred to their quaint town as a “dump”, festinos still packed the theatre and gave the man a gushing standing ovation. The media, echoing the festival programme, have proclaimed him this year’s emperor. Problem is, despite the mildewed tailcoat, the Hamletian black […]
TURN to the Electronic Mail & Guardian books section for plenty of entertaining reviews that haven’t appeared in the print edition. This week, for example, there’s a range of biographies of film greats including Orson Welles, Federico Fellini, Steven Spielberg and many more. We’ve also improved the index system of the books section to provide […]
Stand-up comedian John Vlismas is heading for the international stage. ALEXANDER SUDHEIM laughs along HE skids on to stage, a lunatic druid on bad speed. Collides with the microphone. Glares at the audience with gargoyle eyes; shaven head; undertaker’s suit. Weird beard; hideous raptor leer. Explodes into bursts of language like a runaway catherine wheel […]
FRIDAY, 1.30PM COSATU has hit back at Labour Minister Tito Mboweni for his threat to pull the employment Bill out of parliament if a business-labour agreement is not reached. Cosatu, the country’s major trade union alliance, says the withdrawal of the disputed Basic Conditions of Employment Bill “will reward business for its intransigence”. It will […]
A new industrial strategy shows Gauteng’s future lies in hi-tech industries, reports Charlene Smith GAUTENG has no hope of achieving the 6% growth target set out in the government’s growth, employment and redistribution (Gear) strategy if it continues on its present course, according to a study commissioned by the Gauteng Economics Department. The year-long study […]
FRIDAY, 3.00PM UNITED Nationa officials on Friday said Unita forces had attacked and occupied Angola’s north-east frontier post in Lunda Norte province, in contravention of the 1997 Lusaka ceasefire accord. Members of the United Nations Observer Mission (Monua) who travelled to the area said in a statement they found the post had been occupied by […]
FRIDAY, 10.00AM: MICHAU WARRIORS’ hopes of staying on for yet another year in the elite Premier Soccer League were dashed on Thursday, when the South African Football Association (Safa) appeal board dismissed Warriors’ appeal against a disciplinary commitee’s decision to award two league points to rivals AmaZulu. The disciplinary committee last month ruled that AmaZulu […]
FRIDAY, 10.30AM SHARES on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange leapt ahead on Thursday, using a modest recovery in the gold price as an excuse for a major rally. Industrials started the day on a gloomy note influenced by gold’s poor fortunes, but soon picked up. By close of trade, the all share index was up 0,5% […]
Wonder Hlongwa THE man chosen to revive African National Congress fortunes in KwaZulu-Natal’s volatile Midlands region is sceptical about the terms of the province’s embryonic peace package. Anthony Xaba, who took over as ANC Midlands chair last week, says he is uncomfortable with various points the ANC is discussing with the Inkatha Freedom Party as […]
THURSDAY, 6.00PM THE Producer Price Index fell to an annual 8,4% in May, 0,4 of a percentage point lower than the figure for April, the Central Statistical Servise said on Thursday. The PPI for locally produced commodities stood at 8,9%, 0,8 of a percentage point lower than the corresponding annualised rate in April. The PPI […]