With Archbishop Tutu in the lead role the first sessions of the truth commission were like theatre, but for many it was the chance to release the pain of the past, writes David Beresford THE name of Karl Andrew Webber does not feature large in the story of South Africa’s liberation struggle. But as he […]
Philippa Garson A radical shake-up in tertiary education has been proposed by the National Commission on Higher Education. Chaired by Jairam Reddy, former rector of the University of Durban Westville, the commission appears to have met a wide range of needs without bowing to the specific demands of any group. It embraces a vision for […]
As time runs out to find a successor to take the reins at Wits, the most popular candidate, Njabulo Ndebele, has still not been approached. Philippa Garson reports NJABULO Ndebele is being tipped as the most likely contender in the search for a new leader for the University of the Witwatersrand. But whether he will […]
CINEMA: Andrew Worsdale IN the last few years, Spanish cinema has enjoyed an unprecedented revival, thanks, in the main, to Pedro Almod_var’s amazing success on the international art-house circuit. His triumph was followed by, among others, Fernando Trueba’s Oscar-winning romance, Belle Epoque. Trueba is executive producer on Emilio Martinez-Lazaro’s The Worst Years of Our Lives, […]
The ‘good times’ may be over for non- governmental organisations, but that doesn’t mean they should just roll over and die, argues Thandi Orleyn ON a number of occasions over the past two years, and most recently again last week, the Mail & Guardian has published articles highlighting the difficulties facing many non- governmental organisations […]
The final constitution: In the mad rush to meet deadlines, there is pressure on all sides to reach deals which may have serious long- term consequences Marion Edmunds Pressure-cooker politicking to resolve final constitutional disputes by Friday’s deadline has forced the African National Congress and the National Party into a series of exclusive bilaterals which […]
With Cyril Ramaphosa shunted from the frontline, there are deep concerns in the ANC caucus. Gaye Davis reports CYRIL Rampahosa did not jump, he was pushed. His decision to opt for a corporate position was not his first choice: he would rather have been finance minister. But he found his political options closed off as […]
FINE ART: Hazel Friedman SLEAZY hotel rooms belong to the “lay now, pay later” way of life. A conflation of private and public domains, with their starched sheets and lumpy mattresses, they are imbued with an air of erotic anonymity. And to the artists of Visible Traces (at the Market’s Rembrant van Rijn Gallery) — […]
against African at UWC’ University of the Western Cape lecturers Desiree Lewis, Sean Lewis and Kole Omotoso take issue with a recent M&G article about tensions at the institution Philippa Garson’s article entitled “The big battle for ‘Bush’” (Mail & Guardian, March 1 to 7) caused a furore at the University of the Western Cape […]
Two years of transition: A series by leading South African authors, celebrating the second birthday of our democracy and exploring the nuances of a changing society Andre Brink AT a literary lunch the other day Tim Couzens of Tramp Royal fame came up with the perfect after-dinner opening gambit. Whenever he is invited to speak […]
Jacquie Golding-Duffy The European Union says it hopes, within the next couple of days, to reach a settlement with the Health Ministry on the R14-million Sarafina II scandal. “There have been far too many media reports on the issue and the EU hopes that it will be speedily settled and put to rest in an […]
HAVE they all been struck dumb? For five days as Israel intensified its assault on Lebanon, the only sound in the UN Secretary-General’s office and the capitals of the world has been the diplomatic shuffling of awkward feet. The silence of international leaders is as unwise as Israel’s own response to Hizbullah’s provocation. This is […]
Marion Edmunds It is likely that the tradition of the makhulu-baas will continue in South African party politics. This week the African National Congress and the National Party shelved constituency-based politics once and for all, settling for a system of proportional representation. This system makes the personality and charisma of the leader of a political […]
Home Affairs wants David Foulds to go back to Britain, but the Trade and Industry Ministry believe he is an asset to the country, writes Marion Edmunds AFTER an expensive and frustrating three-year struggle with officials, a British-born entrepreneur is taking Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi to court to prevent Home Affairs from throwing him […]
chance to gape? Artist Pippa Skotnes launched an exhibition about the oppression of Khoisan people — and found herself under attack for the same thing, reports Rehana Roussouw THIS century’s most representative gathering of Khoisan groups took place last Sunday — at the South African National Gallery, of all places. But the historic meeting was […]
South Africa’s about-face on Nigeria brings it more into line with the approach of other African countries, reports Stefaans BrUmmer FAR from Nelson Mandela’s trailblazing call last year for sanctions against Nigeria, South Africa was trying this week to pull the teeth from a United Nations resolution which slams the West African country’s human rights […]
Soon you will be able to study to be a Nat politician, reports Marion Edmunds The National Party is setting up a political academy and its first group of 50 students begin training on August 1. While the detail of this academy is still under discussion, the shape and concept has been accepted. An NP […]
THEATRE: Hazel Friedman Picture yourself on a boat on the river with tangerine pearls and marshmallow eyes (or something to that effect) and you’ll begin to get the gist of Oxygen by Art Attack, Lara Foot Newton’s contribution to the age of rave. Add a couple of Es to Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, […]
Visiting jazz pianist Keith Tippett explores three decades of South African connections in conversation with GWEN ANSELL ‘SERIOUS musicians have to make a choice,” says visiting UK jazz pianist Keith Tippett. “Are they going to be curators or creators?” The question is typical of the man, whose own three-decade career has spanned jazz, jazz- rock, […]
Cyril Ramaphosa’s move into the business sector is a serious blow to South Africa. His absence from the post-election Cabinet was regrettable and the failure to draft him on the occasion of the recent re-shuffle was equally lamentable. The ANC’s explanation for his move — that it is part of a brilliant strategy to broaden […]
There are fears that last-minute bargaining is watering down civil liberties in the new Bill of Rights, reports Marion Edmunds Kempton Park-style horse trading between the African National Congress and the National Party over the last week is sealing disputes over the Bill of Rights, prompting criticism the two parties together have retreated from the […]
Ann Eveleth probes the ANC’s threats to boycott the KwaZulu-Natal elections on May 29 Poor leadership, organisational chaos and overstretched party machinery are the real reasons behind the African National Congress’s election panic in KwaZulu-Natal. ANC sources argue that the party leadership failed to grasp the significance of conceding victory to the Inkatha Freedom Party […]
With the launch of the Sci-Fi Channel, JOHN O’REILLY ponders the irony of a station devoted to a genre that warns us so graphically of the evils of TV YOU arrive home after a hard day at the office. You flop into the sofa, press a button. Suddenly you are transformed into either a vicious […]
The private and the public sector have joined hands to develop one of the first rural housing developments. Madeleine Wackernagel reports on the project The Housing Ministry — specifically its failure to deliver — has come in for substantial criticism in the past year. So it was with obvious delight that Minister of Housing Sankie […]
Mike Loewe The most ambitious public relations stunt by a South African newspaper is degenerating into farce as two ill-prepared women climbers scramble for the top of Mount Everest. South African mountaineer Cathy O’Dowd, a Rhodes University photojournalism masters student and daughter of Anglo-American director Michael O’Dowd, will carry with her the hopes of her […]
Simon Segal THE great seven-year haggling game between divergent interest groups around the establishment of a regulated bond market appears at last to be moving towards a resolution. Last week the Bond Market Association (BMA) submitted its application to the Financial Services Board (FSB) to be licensed as South Africa’s bond market exchange. The FSB […]
RUGBY: Jon Swift THERE has to be a realignment when this inaugural round of rugby’s new Super 12 competition is over. The programme — even for sides from the southern hemisphere’s top three countries — is just too tough. Certainly, the inconsistencies — some old, some newly raised — need to be evaluated before any […]
Ann Eveleth The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal is bringing a Constitutional Court action aimed at settling the question at the heart of the region’s political conflict: how much power should traditional leaders hold? The ANC is challenging the Inkatha Freedom Party-led provincial government’s interpretation of a constitutional clause guaranteeing traditional leaders ex-officio representation in […]
Nelson Mandela asked Washington for help in rescuing South African journalist Phillip van Niekerk from Liberia after he was trapped in the fighting this week. When the guns began firing in down-town Monrovia, Van Niekerk, the Southern African correspondent for the M&G’s sister newspaper The Observer, was the only foreign newsman left in Liberia. South […]
Bafana Khumalo IT had to happen to me. Only I would have such perfectly lousy timing. I do tend to ramble on, don’t I? I do tend to get involved in things that do not affect the price of butter, don’t I? You’re right, I do do that, but that is my calling. Some of […]
Phillip van Niekerk in Monrovia AGAINST the insistent rattle of gunfire, people sheltering in Monrovia’s diplomatic enclave of Mamba Point speak of something as threatening as the war: hunger. Once United States helicopters airlift Westerners and diplomats, those left behind in the Liberian capital will have to forage for something to eat in a city […]
Philippa Garson and Jacquie Golding-Duffy THE South African Police Union (Sapu) has called for the resignation of controversial South African Police Services communications director Craig Kotze who was recently given a permanent job in the force. Sapu secretary general Peter-Don Brandt said Kotze was “running a union-bashing” exercise and had acted in bad faith by […]