The powerful showing of former Mass Democratic Movement activists at last week’s elections for the African National Congress executive demonstrated just how keen the movement’s rank-and-file members were to ensure a balance of forces in their leadership. The “populists” — who dominated the top 10 rankings in Bloemfontein three years ago — suffered a severe […]

Angella Johnson recalls the sex scandals, crimes of passion and conduct unbecoming that fed the lust-hungry public in 1997 What people are most likely to remember among the memorable stories to come out of 1997 (apart from Princess Diana’s death and Winnie roughing up the truth commission) will probably not be the passing of “rob-em-blind” […]

Janet Smith If only the houses in which the Molois and the Dwyers lived in SABC2’s Suburban Bliss were on the property market, and someone with a lot of money came along and offered the families a bountiful pair of cheques. Perhaps then, with those irritating people and their tacky studio furniture out of the […]

MONDAY, 3.30PM: SOUTH Africa drew their four-day Test match against Australia A at the Gabba on Monday. The visitors hit a second innings of 220 for seven declared, while Australia A finished at 122/1 in their second innings when the captains called a halt before the scheduled close. SA skipper Hansie Cronje said playing against […]

Robert Kirby : Loose cannon Last Wednesday my editor at the Mail & Guardian phoned me and asked me to avoid writing about anything serious this week. “Don’t be all preachy and self-righteous for our Christmas issue,” he said eagerly. “I want you to keep the column frothy and optimistic.” “For the Christmas issue?” I […]

extinction William Makgoba Comment Eighty-five years of struggle, pain and experience have weaved a solid movement whose traditions, values and culture are unparalleled and rooted within the grassroots. The African National Congress as both a liberation movement and political party has refined its own complexity with African simplicity to produce a transformation machinery whose vision […]

culture for 1997 Compiled by Charl Blignaut The Pop Art Award for punch-ups in the art world A steady stream of local celebrities has stepped into the limelight in 1997. Some, we have found, knock and wait for doors to be opened, while others simply moer them down. It is in honour of the latter […]

It was another year of vigorous reporting at the Mail & Guardian, a paper renowned for high-level investigations and intrepid coverage of the inner workings of government. The top 11 of the M&G’s major exposes in 1997 are detailed below. Secret details of parks deal January 10 to 16 1997. Justin Arenstein We reveal a […]

TUESDAY, 10.30AM: KEITH MEDLYCOTT, Northerns’ senior coach, sprang an unwnated surprise on the team on Monday when he announced he will move to English side Surrey in April. Medlycott said his decision to end his relationship with the Titans after only two seasons was “not an easy one to make”. The 32-year-old former Surrey and […]