FORMER Mpumalanga environment MEC Luckson Mathebula appeared with two co-accused in Bushbuckridge’s Mhala Regional Court on Friday, following his arrest for allegedly masterminding the murder of his estranged wife. Mathebula appeared with his girlfriend and a 34-year-old man. Police say they will oppose any bail application by the accused. Mathebula’s wife Aletta Rose Mnisi was […]
Howard Barrell President Thabo Mbeki plumped for continuity and party loyalty over performance in the first big decision of his presidency: the choice of his Cabinet. He avoided any of the radical innovation urged on him by commentators, the business community and South Africa’s friends abroad, choosing by and large the old faces and mediocre […]
Evidence wa ka Ngobeni `That’s where my father’s house used to be,” says Michael Ngeno, pointing to a pile of rocks in the middle of an open field in Ventersdorp. “My parents built it in 1955, and it was a comfortable home for us. We had a school nearby, and a clinic. The soil was […]
Marianne Merten `I have no more tears left,” says Keith Mentor, whose three-year-old granddaughter, Chantine Veldsman, was shot in the head at point-blank range last Saturday in Mitchells Plain. The little girl clung to life at Cape Town’s Red Cross Children’s Hospital for two days. On Monday Chantine was declared brain dead and the life […]
Howard Barrell Over a Barrel One of the more remarkable pieces of reportage on the election just past was a Sunday newspaper story early in the campaign, written without a hint of irony, about Musibudi Mangena, president of the Azanian People’s Organisation (Azapo). Mangena was saying, again without a hint of irony, that whereas other […]
Jonathan Ancer talks to some of the `seditious’ students who were blamed for the 1976 Soweto riots Twenty-three years after the June 16 Soweto uprising, the “seditious” students convicted of inciting the rebellion are influential members of the new South Africa they helped to create. There’s an MP, a Department of Foreign Affairs official, a […]
David le Page Lately, cellular phone users have discovered that the identities of not only cell users, but also Telkom users, are popping up automatically when they receive calls. This development follows the introduction by Telkom earlier this year of its Identicall system – where a special plug-in unit can be rented for a nominal […]
Charlene Smith President Thabo Mbeki is expected to provide an outline of his new government’s economic policy, and proposals for the implementation of an “African renaissance”, at next weekend’s World Economic Forum (WEF) in Durban. The forum, according to briefing papers issued to delegates, is predicting a more flexible stance on inflation under Mbeki, more […]
Old and new, black and white, they all marched to Pretoria to witness the new chief ascending his throne. John Matshikiza was also there Thank goodness the African National Congress, since the Oliver Tambo days, has elevated (or demoted) everyone to the level of “chief”. “Howzit, chief?” “Fine thanks, chief.” “Chief, what time are we […]
Shaun de Waal Not quite movie of the week British director Stephen Frears has often taken a notable interest in the particularities and peculiarities of human relationships, and his best films explore them from a number of angles and in different milieux. His 1986 feature My Beautiful Laundrette posited a gay love affair between a […]
STEVEN NHLANE, DAN LANGEVELDT, Blantyre | Friday 10.30pm BAKILI MULUZI has been re-elected president of Malawi, an election official said on Friday. Assani Fahad confirmed a state radio report that Muluzi had beaten his main challenger, Gwanda Chakuamba, in polls held in this impoverished southern African state Tuesday. Opposition parties have sworn to contest the […]
Loose cannon Robert Kirby And so, he slowly ponces off into the sunset, his great mane of carefully sculptured hair bouncing to his wearied gait, his spicy ManTang bodyspray wafting around him, his cute little beard still flippantly jutting in defeat. These last few days I have been sorely tempted to write a column entitled […]
Once upon a time, women in tennis meant short skirts and visible knickers. Now it’s all serious muscles and attitudes. But, Jim White asks, are women doing themselves a disservice? Four hundred and fifty-five thousand pounds: not bad for a fortnight’s work. That’s how much Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski will be straining (and, being […]
Matthew Krouse Down the tube `On February 11, 1990, the eyes of the world fixed on a prison in Cape Town,” begins the narration of Mandela: The First Accused, referring to the release of the man who was once the world’s most famous political prisoner. “The man behind the name remained a mystery,” it continues. […]
Universal human rights was humanity’s greatest advance during the past thousand years, writes Wole Soyinka With the blood-soaked banner of religious fanaticism billowing across the skies as one prominent legacy of this millennium, Martin Luther King’s famous theses against religious absolutism struck me early as a strong candidate for the best idea of the past […]
CDs of the week Riaan Wolmarans The happening dance and rave scene is also sustaining a huge CD industry, prolifically pumping out stacks of dance albums. Mercifully we’ve left the Cover Plus days of hyped-up pop hits far behind: these days you can happily groove along to quality dance music from all the various dance […]
John Grobler Even if pickled fish did not feature on the menu of Namibian Fisheries Minister Abraham Iyambo’s wedding reception, it remains the aftertaste following his recent “wedding of the millennium” which prompted calls for his resignation. Several unions have called for Iyambo to explain his position or resign after The Namibian newspaper reported that […]
Marianne Merten Tit-for-tat killings have hit the Cape Flats, as a complex net of revenge attacks unfolds in the ongoing violence between rival gangs, and between gangsters and anti-drug vigilantes. Saturday’s attack on members of a social and soccer club in Hanover Park – in which one man was killed and at least 20 people […]
Over the years I have often been a fierce critic of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), its administration and its method of operation. But I have to say that the concept underlying Strate (the acronym from share transactions totally electronic) and the way it is being introduced deserves unflinching support. Properly developed, Strate will ensure […]
In India, dams have displaced at least 33- million people from their homes. Arundhati Roy on the secret history of delusion and disillusion and, now, the fightback I stood on a hill and laughed out loud. I had crossed the Narmada by boat from Jalsindhi and climbed the headland on the opposite bank from where […]
Chris McGreal Muriel Olaiya lives more comfortably than most Nigerians. For a start, her husband has a job. It pays for the extras that make the difference between living and simply surviving in Lagos. The Olaiyas have a generator for use during the frequent power cuts, and a water tank because not a drop has […]
Adam Mars-Jones AN EQUAL MUSIC by Vikram Seth (Phoenix House) It was famously observed of Henry James that he sometimes bit off less than he could chew, but the accusation is an unexpected one to be directed at Vikram Seth. His first novel, after all, the monumental A Suitable Boy, was a feat of absorption […]
African skies Satellite systems are becoming increasingly accessible and useful, writes David le Page Satellite telephony is about to hit South Africa, or at least the wallets of those wealthy enough to afford it. Iridium has signed a non-exclusive agreement with MTN. Vodacom will be offering customers access to both the Globalstar and Iridium services, […]
OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 2.20pm. ABOUT 100 public servants on Friday morning surprised President Thabo Mbeki with a party and a cake for his 57th birthday. Among those attending the function at the Union Buildings in Pretoria were Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Zuma, her deputy Aziz Pahad, Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad, and […]
OWN CORRESPONDENTS, Birmingham | Wednesday 8.00pm. SA must play the big points well: Cronje SOUTH Africa’s captain Hansie Cronje said his team must “play the big points well” to beat Australia in their World Cup semifinal at Edgbaston on Thursday. Kallis 50-50 chance of playing in semi ALL-ROUNDER Jacques Kallis has a 50-50 chance of […]
OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Thursday 5.00pm. THE appointment of two fairly inexperienced people to head the defence Cabinet portfolio was worrying in terms of continuity, Jane’s Defence Weekly Southern Africa correspondent Helmut Heitman said on Thursday. Heitman said the appointment of former National Council of Provinces chairman Patrick Lekota as South Africa’s new Defence Minister, […]
SPRINGBOK flyhalf Henry Honiball is joining English rugby team Bristol from Natal for an undisclosed sum, Bristol said on Friday. Honiball, 33, signed a two-year contract with an option to play for a third season. Newspaper reports estimated that the contract was worth some 250000 pounds. Honiball, who has won 33 international caps, said he […]
ANDRE Joubert will remain with the Natal Sharks for, at least, the remainder of the current Currie Cup season, the Natal Rugby Union announced in a statement on Tuesday. “Joubert’s experience is seen as a tremendous asset and a possibility of being called up by Nick Mallett for the Tri-Nations and the World Cup is […]
THE respected politcal staff of the Mail & Guardian have written profiles of the new Cabinet, named by President Thabo Mbeki on Thursday. Click on the links below for each ministers history. Jacob Zuma, deputy president Essop Pahad, Minister in office of the President Nkosazana Zuma, Foreign Affairs Patrick Lekota, Defence Steve Tshwete, Safety and […]
THE Mozambican and Chilean governments signed in Maputo on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding aimed at relaunching bilateral cooperation in the area of public works, like building of infrastructures such as roads, bridges, ports and airports. The document was signed by the Mozambican public works and housing minister, Roberto White, and his Chilean counterpart, Jaime […]
COMRADES Marathom women’s favourite Ann Trason of America withdrew on Friday from the Pietermaritzburg to Durban run next Wednesday. Trason, the record-holder for the “up” Comrades when she won in 6hrs 12min in 1996, aggravated a hamstring injury during her two weeks of acclimatising to KwaZulu-Natal conditions in Pietermaritzburg recently. The 38-year-old American decided, after […]
SOUTH Africa have been reinstated as favourites to win the World Cup despite their defeat by Australia on Sunday and the fact they have to face them again in the semifinals. Bookmakers William Hill said they had cut South Africa’s odds to 7-4 from 11-5 after receiving several substantial bets. “We took a string of […]