Barry Streek Former homeland leader Prince James Mahlangu, appointed to a senior government post in Mpumalanga after defecting back to the African National Congress from the United Democratic Movement last month, handed the UDM a medical certificate on his departure stating he had brain damage. Mahlangu, a former ANC MP who joined the UDM last […]
OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 4.00pm. THE rand lost some of its earlier ground gained on Friday, and despite a stronger euro weakened to R7,16 by late afternoon trade. At the same time markets did an about-turn on Thursday’s gains. By 11am the currency was trading at R7,13 to the dollar, off the back of […]
Robert Kirby CHANNELVISION It would seem that the recent and rather bizarre practice of apologising for historical wrongs is still on the increase. And flatly refusing to apologise for past sins has become almost as fashionable. People have realised that beating their breasts and slobbering on about what wrongs were committed before they were born […]
Neal Collins The oldest cricket fixture on the Lord’s calendar got under way on Thursday with a definite South African flavour. A glance through the list of Harrow players to play Eton in the 163rd clash between England’s two major private schools reveals two interesting names: NRD Compton and K Motaung. Sound familiar? They should […]
Cameron Duodu LETTER FROM THE NORTH To anyone who takes even a rudimentary interest in African history, the name Asante stands out as one of the most valiant of the nations that attempted to halt the incursions of the European powers in the 18th and 19th centuries. In fact, it was not until 1874 that […]
OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Thursday 1.20pm. THE rand continued strengthening of Thursday’s low of R7,20 to the dollar in morning trade, due to a stronger euro overnight. At the same time markets did an about-turn on Thursday’s gains. By 11am the currency was trading at R7,13 to the dollar. The overall was 0,47% or 33 […]
And now Ethiopia and Eritrea are speaking the same language, writes Justin Pearce It began as a border dispute. But in the past two weeks, the Ethiopian army has swept through western Eritrea establishing effective control over almost a quarter of the country, before Eritrea agreed on Wednesday night to withdraw from the disputed territories […]
in murder A murderer’s confession has offered an unprecedented insight into the shady dealings of the police elite in Durban Paul Kirk The deputy commander of the Durban murder and robbery unit, Superintendent Alan Alford, has been accused of being part of a drug-related contract killing involving the Hell’s Angels. Alford features in the confession […]
Riaan Wolmarans PREVIEW OFTHEWEEK There is one dance tune guaranteed to send people running towards the dance floor to groove to its pumping rhythm and beautiful melody. This tune is For an Angel, probably the biggest hit that top German DJ Paul van Dyk – who is playing in Cape Town and Johannesburg on June […]
NIGERIAN international Jay Jay Okocha said on Thursday that the present national team is good enough to qualify for the 2002 World Cup despite complaints that the squad is old and needs new players. “I wonder why people say we are too old. I don’t believe that. We’re very strong and still in good shape […]
Bandwidth (data speed and capacity) is not quite the gold dust of the internet era, but when a webpage takes five minutes to unfold in front of you, it can seem as scarce. So brush up on your electronic geology and discover how to get the best from your connection. Go to www.InternetTrafficReport. com for […]
Justin Arenstein Suspended Mpumalanga parks chief Alan Gray has made a desperate appeal for the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to help him fight 77 theft and fraud charges in return for “offering up” some of the province’s most prominent politicians. Gray and ousted environmental affairs MEC David Mkhwanazi secretly met with NIA director gene-ral Vusi […]
The sheer, reckless imbecility of the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea is breathtaking. The fighting, which began in 1998 and flared again last week, seems totally pointless. Its ostensible cause is a dispute over demarcation of the two countries’ 1 000km border. To the extent that there is a half comprehensible explanation for the conflict, […]
TENNIS legend Martina Navratilova made her return to top-flight tennis on Tuesday in the Madrid Open, winning her return to doubles with South Africa’s Mariaan De Swardt. Saying she felt like a juggler and that her return was “very iffy,” Navratilova, in her first tournament match in six years struggled with her ball toss and […]
Peter Dickson Five weeks after three Barkly East policemen allegedly dragged a teenage burglary suspect behind their van, causing him to die a brutal death under the wheels when he collapsed from exhaustion, the men are still free on the streets of the remote Eastern Cape town. The policemen were suspended after the incident last […]
Lynda Gilfillan A fresh produce chain offered free apples to customers in a TV advert last week. But, while consumers may smile, apple farmers are facing a crisis with many going bankrupt and up to 180 000 jobs at threat. Farmers face massive losses this season, and are burdened with multi-million rand debts. Peter Dall, […]
David Le Page It’s common cause, but Abram “Slang” van Zyl still doesn’t refer directly to the source of his notoriety, the Civil Co- operation Bureau (CCB). Rather, he refers obliquely to the “defence force”, it having spawned the CCB, the “dirty tricks” operation that begat so many dreaded and familiar names: “Staal” Burger, “Joe” […]
Conditions for credible democratic elections do not exist in Zimbabwe, says an international pre-election observation team Mercedes Sayagues Zimbabwe’s parliamentary elections, to be held on June 24 to 25, have dim prospects of being free and fair. Even in the likely scenario that the violence engulfing the country will decrease as international observers arrive, the […]
LONDON Wasps fly-half Alex King has withdrawn from next month’s tour of South Africa, England coach Clive Woodward confirmed on Thursday. King, Jonny Wilkinson’s fly-half back-up, has been ruled out of England’s 40-man squad due to a shoulder injury. “Alex has told me he won’t be available for the tour, and I am very disappointed […]
To celebrate the 26th annual Standard Bank National Arts Festival the Mail & Guardian and Standard Bank are giving away a bumper festival package. The prize consists of: l Three nights’ accommodation for two at the Settlers’ Inn on a bed and breakfast basis. All incidentals such as telephone calls, laundry and any meals other […]
Bryan Rostron A SECOND LOOK ‘Those who stand in the middle of the road,” observed British socialist Aneurin Bevan, “get run over.” South Africa and Zimbabwe share the same lane on the great globalised highway of the 21st century: after driving on the left for many years, both Zanu-PF and the African National Congress opted […]
Belinda Beresford International human rights activists are preparing to launch a boycott campaign on the internet against South African petroleum company Engen. The “boycott Engen” campaign is being directed at Engen’s majority shareholder, national Malaysian petrochemicals company, Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas). Engen is 80% owned by Petronas. Petronas is one of several multinational energy companies […]
Andy Capostagno RUGBY A new Springbok squad with a new captain and a Super 12 dream final in the same week. It’s almost enough to make you forget that, once again, the lone South African team got eliminated in the semifinals. Almost enough to make you forget that, once again, South Africa’s Super 12 franchises […]
JOHNNIC, the media, entertainment and telecommunications company, said on Friday it will apply for the second fixed-line telecommunications licence. Telkom’s monopoly of the fixed-line market is due to expire at the latest 2003. It is anticipated that Johnnic will look to team up with the telecommunications divisions of Transnet and Telkom to secure the bid. […]
Cedric Mayson SPIRIT LEVEL Where do morals come from? The rules about right and wrong must have originated somewhere. Does goodness matter? Is it important that the ancient command to “love your neighbour as yourself” has been modernised to “use your neighbour for yourself”? Is it okay to kill people who kill people, to show […]
Tjaart Potgieter LIFESTYLE Malay/Indonesian food is an important, if often unexplored, part of our cultural heritage. It reached our shores during the 18th century in the hands of slaves brought from Sumatra, Java, Bali and other South East Asian islands, indiscriminately called Malay because they all came from vaguely the same place “out there”. Most […]
Barry Streek The people illegally resident in the endangered Dukuduku forest in KwaZulu-Natal have agreed to be resettled on two nearby farms which have been bought by the government for R10,5-million and are to be owned by a community trust, according to Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Ronnie Kasrils. “My department has worked with […]
Harry Pearson Cricket is often praised as an elegant game, but it’s fair to say that not since the days of Asif Iqbal and his billowing flares has the game produced any player who could remotely be described as a fashion leader. These days cricketers do their best to look hip and modern with their […]
DEON POTGIETER, Johannesburg | Friday 2.15pm THREE local fighters will be in action in Denmark on Friday night when Xolani Ndleleni, the national junior bantamweight champion, challenges Jesper Jensen for the IBC junior bantamweight world title. Jensen has previously beaten two South African fighters on his home ground, but may find Ndeleni a different kettle […]
Swapo claims that Wouter Basson was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Namibians are being refuted by a group of former detainees Tangeni Amupadhi An organisation of former detainees of the South West African Peoples’ Organisation (Swapo) this week distributed a list of about 700 people as evidence that many Namibians disappeared while in […]
Stefaans Brmmer President Thabo Mbeki and a shadowy African National Congress official have been linked to the bizarre appointment of a private investigator to probe government corruption. The appointment backfired this week when details emerged of the investigator’s exorbitant fee, apparent lack of success and crooked past. The saga of the private investigator, Kevin Trytsman, […]
John Ezard Obituary Sir John Gielgud, the peerless verse speaker of 450 years of British theatre and one of its two greatest Shakespearean performers, died on May 21, aged 96. His end came “simply of old age” at his home near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, on Sunday, 79 years after his first London stage appearance. His last […]