Staff Reporter

SOUTH African Communist Party criticism of the government’s macro-economic framework has come under fire in the African National Congress’s national executive committee (NEC) — from no less a person than President Nelson Mandela himself. Although he did not mention him by name, it was widely understood that Mandela was referring to SACP deputy secretary general […]

South Africa has reached the last lap of its Constitution-making process, but the court’s judgment of the text means setbacks for the ANC and frustration for Inkatha. Marion Edmunds The rejection of the Constitution’s chapter on local government by the Constitutional Court has provoked consternation among African National Congress negotiators — because it interferes with […]

With the International Film Festival opening this Friday, ANDREW WORSDALE takes a look at the past, present and future of SA film festivals THE International Film Festival which opens this week is the baby of Len Davis, the man who started the Johannesburg Film Festival back in 1977. It played at the beautiful Monte Carlo […]

Last week’s story opened up a hornet’s nest. KAREN DAVIS reports THE story about Tebogo Lerole caused a row over composer’s recognition and royalties for a Fifties song called Tom Hark. The song was a hit in its time and was also re-arranged and recorded by British jazzman Ted Heath. “It was a standard tune […]

William Fotheringham surveys the history of cycling’s most coveted record, which Chris Boardman broke this week CYCLING’S greatest of greats, Eddy Merckx, rated the one-hour track record as a “once in a lifetime” test of willpower and strength. Miguel Indurain, five- times winner of the Tour de France, struggled to break the record in 1994, […]

With Alan Greenspan changing his views on inflation, a split in the Federal Reserve may be a possibility, reports Mark Tran in New York It is time to reassess Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan’s image as a party pooper. The usual view of Greenspan is that of an anti-inflation hawk, quick to tighten and slow […]

Arts appointee Okwui Enwezor shares his vision with HAZEL FRIEDMAN The Yoruba term “esu ulegba” means trickster. It refers to people who slip through the net of definition, avoid closure of any kind and serve as commentators on the vanities of those who take themselves far too seriously. The trickster is not unlike the wise […]

Happy Tom Thousands of poor people in the Eastern Cape are benefiting from cattle and sheep rustling which is devastating commercial farmers in the region. “Thandi”, a 45-year-old woman who lives in the Joza township, Grahamstown, has three hungry children to feed. Tonight they will feast. Thandi has a whole sheep in her fridge. It […]

Max Gebhardt Mega-university Unisa is sinking under the weight of deepening labour-related crises. Vice-chancellor Marinus Wiechers says he is considering using deadlock procedures and dispute resolutions allowed under labour law to resolve continuing troubles on campus. Staff and academics on the Pretoria campus have called for his resignation, saying Wiechers failed to provide effective leadership […]

THEATRE: Andrew Wilson OPENING night of Return To The Forbidden Planet at the Victory Theatre was a riot. Amid tables sagging under schnapps and snacks, the audience, before the show, mingled with crew members of the space ship that was to take them on a lavish rock-and-roll space adventure. Two hours later they left with […]

Next week the world will gain insight into the mind and motives of South Africa’s most accomplished assassin as he enters the dock, writes Eddie Koch Colonel Eugene de Kock, the man billed as South Africa’s most accomplished assassin, will round off one of the country’s most extraordinary murder cases when he goes into the […]

Rehana Roussouw The public protector, Selby Baqwa, has been asked to investigate alleged corruption by senior government officials during a takeover of Paternoster Fisheries. Paternoster’s plight was highlighted at a parliamentary portfolio committee hearing in June which investigated complaints in the fishing industry. The committee decided Baqwa should investigate the downfall of the village. “The […]

RUGBY: Jon Swift IT is perhaps something to be thankful for that the rugby season has swung back into the business of Currie Cup and the rude awakening of the test arena is, for a while at least, behind us. It will, until the tours of Argentina and France and the single international against Wales […]

Alex Brummer in London The decision by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) the Basle-based central bankers’ club, to widen its membership to include nine emerging market countries, represents a critical milestone for the global economic order. It has been evident since the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) 50th anniversary meetings in Madrid in 1994 that […]

Designed to get working mothers back on the job as soon as possible, many businesses are opening up their own childcare facilities, writes Fay Davids THE high-pressure environment at Liberty Life is getting to Kyle and Wesley. It’s only 11am and already they’re at blows. It happens often these days, say staff, looking on wearily. […]

The traditional lifestyle of a small fishing community in the Cape is being destroyed by developers, reports Rehana Rossouw FISHERFOLK living for generations on the beachfront in Paternoster are being forced out of their homes to make way for tourists and have now discovered they were probably robbed of their right to the riches of […]

John Simpson reports on two Somali fiefdoms — one governed by guns; the other by the laws of Islam MOGADISHU must be the most divided city on earth. Several distinct factions confront each other across great swaths of wrecked buildings and empty streets. There is not just one front line, there are two. In the […]

WARRING factions in the African National Congress Women’s League have been told to patch up their differences and come together to jointly plan a crucial and long-overdue national conference to take place before the end of December, when fresh leadership elections will take place. The move marks the start of what ANC leaders hope will […]

Jodi Sherlock The South African magazine market has become increasingly competitive in the past two years and aggressive marketing has become essential in order to ensure that readership levels are maintained. As part of a magazine marketing plan, the subscription drive may prove to be a vital element. Not much is known about how subscription […]

Phatekile Holomisa, president of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa, in The Mark Gevisser Profile Nkosi/Advocate Phatekile Holo-misa, as his letterhead reads, is exquisitely tailored, today, in designer-trad linen-and-beads — the perfect attire for a chief of the Nineties. Indeed, if we had a real paparazzi press here, his fabulous December wedding to […]

FINE ART: Hazel Friedman Local Colours is like a one-stop spaza experience for the new South African. Mind you, while it doesn’t quite match the hyperrealism of a Disneyland tour, it also serves as a sort of technicolour theme park for the culturally curious. Curated with a quirky eye by Karen Harber, Local Colours is […]

Lottery operators should not be allowed to cream off the profits, Richard Branson tells Madeleine Wackernagel Richard Branson is a firm believer in capitalism, but with one exception — a national lottery. The British entrepreneur, in Johannesburg last week to garner publicity for the inaugural flight of Virgin Airlines, was adamant that South Africa should […]

The failure of inflation figures to reflect the rand’s plunge raises doubts about the data’s accuracy, report Madeleine Wackernagel and Mungo Soggot SCEPTICISM about the reliability of South Africa’s statistics is spreading to inflation figures in the wake of repeated complaints about the accuracy of the monthly trade numbers generated by Customs & Excise (C&E). […]

Graham Hopwood THE majority of people in northern Namibia who have testified before a crime-combating commission, want the reintroduction of the death penalty for rapists and murderers. The commission, which started public hearings in Oshakati this week, was told that the Constitution should be amended to allow the death sentence for serious crimes. Those who […]

Lynda Loxton The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) this week gave notice that it was losing patience with the way the African National Congress-led government, in its rush to attract foreign investment, was failing to consult its old alliance partners. General Secretary Sam Shilowa told the parliamentary finance committee that it was “unacceptable” […]

Ian Traynor in Bonn The epidemic of tax evasion scandals plaguing Germany’s banks and industrialists spread this week to the upper reaches of Commerzbank, following the disclosure that its chairman and three other senior figures are being investigated for alleged financial misdemeanours. This follows on the heels of the biggest tax fraud inquiry so far, […]

Mail & Guardian Reporters In the week the Constitutional Court made legal precedent by passing judgment on two constitutions, it also set a grammatical precedent which had some of the press temporarily baffled. Announcing its decision on the certification of the KwaZulu-Natal Constitution to the public gallery, the court appeared to pioneer the concept of […]

ANC members who are under investigation by the party are involved in the company alleged to be behind the bid to pay for the ill-fated Aids play. Stefaans BrUmmer and Ann Eveleth report THE investment company named in this week’s controversy over the ill-fated R10,5-million Sarafina II rescue bid is run by a motley crew […]

A Home Affairs employee went to the ends of the earth on a hunch he had about a `refugee’, reports Marion Edmunds Home Affairs official Jaco Duckitt is a man of initiative. In a bid to do his duty and uphold the law, he flew to Tanzania this year to establish the identity of man […]

Larry Elliott reports on the economic effect of shackling British trade unions THOSE of us who dislike Manchester United winning everything in football all the time should take some lessons from the way the British government has handled the unions these past 18 years. The first thing to do is insist that United are not […]

Mail & Guardian Reporters PUBLIC Protector Selby Baqwa’s baptism of fire over the Sarafina II debacle has drawn a mixed reception from political parties and commentators. The Inkatha Freedom Party slammed his performance, saying Baqwa had been “unfair to the public which demands transparency”. The party’s health study group deputy chair, Jeanette Wilikazi, said he […]

Staff reporters The National Party has refused to confirm or deny that it received a multi-million rand donation from business tycoon Sol Kerzner. The Mail & Guardian understands Kerzner gave the NP about R2-million before the 1994 elections. Sun International had not responded to questions put to it before going to press. “The NP regards […]