Stefaans Brmmer An undeclared intelligence unit based at Luthuli House, the African National Congress national headquarters in Johannesburg, played a key role unearthing the “plot” against President Thabo Mbeki. The unit, which appears to report directly to Mbeki in his capacity as ANC president, was deployed as early as 1998 to investigate former Mpumulanga premier […]
Glenda Daniels Had the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) been invited to the African National Congress’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting when the alleged “plot” to oust President Thabo Mbeki was first discussed, the debacle, which has seriously embarrassed the government nationally and internationally, might not have happened. An official of the National […]
AT least 2.5 million people have died since August 1998 as a result of civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to preliminary results of a study to be released early next week. The study by the International Rescue Committee, a New-York based refugee relief organisation, examined five provinces in the eastern part […]
South Africa are almost home and dry in their bid to qualify for the World Cup again Ntuthuko Maphumulo If Bafana Bafana manage to overcome Zimbabwe on Saturday, expect Soccer City to erupt as victory would almost guarantee South Africa a place in next year’s World Cup finals in Japan and Korea. Beating our northern […]
OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday CYRIL Ramaphosa, chairman of the Black Economic Empowerment Commission is to suggest that an Act be promulgated for the economic empowerment of blacks, which will force companies to invest 10% of their assets in areas of national priority, Sake Beeld reports. Beeld said that according to an article on the […]
Ntuthuko Maphumulo South Africa fared very well in a report on the state of media freedom in Southern Africa, where Zimbabwe led the charts with the highest number of violations. Thursday was World Press Freedom Day, and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) released its report on the Southern African region titled So This […]
Neal Collins soccer ‘Everything is corrupt.” “It’s like a web of prostitution.” “We have become too commercially orientated.” No, those aren’t the world views of the May 1 anarchists before tearing up the town this week. Just a very frank assessment of Brazilian football, issued by former captain Socrates. A shock 1-1 draw with Peru […]
Mail & Guardian reporter The cops had not found the spent cartridges of the bullets supposedly fired on former African National Congress youth leader James Nkambule on Tuesday night. The shots were apparently fired at his house in Barberton, Mpumalanga, while Nkambule sat watching videos with a friend. Nkambule complained that the police had not […]
Cosatu held its biannual central executive committee meeting from April 24 to 26. The meeting discussed a host of issues. Zwelinzima Vavi reports on the debates on the nature of democracy in South Africa and the anti-privatisation campaign that may culminate in a two-day strike The allegations of a conspiracy against the presidency sparked reflections […]
SECHABA KANKOSI, Johannesuburg | Friday PRESSURE is mounting on African National Congress leaders and, in particular, Minister of Safety and Security Steve Tshwete to publicly withdraw claims that some senior party members are involved in a plot to overthrow President Thabo Mbeki. Members of the partys national executive committee (NEC), Cabinet ministers and senior MPs […]
Ntuthuko Maphumulo hockey The Italians arrived in good spirit just 28 hours before the first match in the five-Test series against South Africa hoping to emulate their soccer counterparts, who beat Bafana 1-0 last week. The visitors’ young squad coped with the drizzle and the altitude but not the home side’s stickwork and hunger for […]
Bruce Whitfield Metcash shareholders have taken an unusual step of rejecting the company’s efforts to lower the price on staff share options. Sixty-eight per cent of shareholders voted in favour of a special resolution that would have effectively meant the cost of the options would have been lowered from 550c to 130c. But the resolution […]
Dr Trudy Thomas has lambasted the ANC-led government for being in the forefront of creating ‘Worse Services for All’ Pule waga Mabe The former MEC of health in the Eastern Cape, who resigned from the provincial legislature last week, has blamed the ruling party’s monetary policies for the collapse of health and social services in […]
whipping boy Champions Day indeed! David Ferraris pulled off a training feat of epic proportions at Turffontein on Saturday when he saddled six of the day’s nine winners and earned more than R1-million in stake money. In the process Ferraris all but ensured that he would regain the champion trainer crown. A good day for […]
Thebe Mabanga in your ear The Internet is increasingly becoming an integral part of how stations pitch themselves to their target audiences. A leisurely browse through the Net to check out various radio stations can spring up surprises ranging from rude to pleasant. You can be jolted into life by the antics of United States […]
James Hall Nothing much disturbs the placid facade of Swaziland, but the murderous escapades of David Mahlanga (45) have shaken assumptions about the kingdom. Mahlanga, who may be responsible for at least 34 deaths, has triggered anxiety because of what his crimes represent a realisation that Swazis can no longer presume they are safe. “Women […]
David Macfarlane and Glenda Daniels A massive drive to address the endemic poverty, chronic unemployment, dire skills shortage and shockingly poor education levels in South Africa received an urgent kickstart from the education and labour ministries last week. The government has taken almost seven years to come up with its integrated human resources development strategy. […]
Marianne Merten Cape Flats chess champion Kenny Willenberg (16) has qualified for the African under-21 champion in Nigeria later this year after winning the prestigious domestic closed championships he almost missed out on. Growing up in the gang-ridden, high-crime area of Belhar on the Cape Flats, Kenny and his younger brother Craig (14) have beaten […]
Three Gauteng readers can each win the following for the Play Energy Drink Ministry of Sound World Tour, touching down at Vodaworld in Midrand on May 5 with Fragma, Storm, Funkstar de Luxe, the Warp Brothers and many more: n One Play Energy Drink six-pack n One Play Energy Drink cap n One Play Energy […]
Bruce Whitfield Marinus Daling has sold off a third tranche of Sanlam shares in six months, taking to almost R4-million the amount of money he’s raised via share options since November last year. This time the Sanlam chair sold 143 087 shares at R9,38, netting R1,34-million. On November 8 last year he sold 61000 shares […]
Tim Wood American Notes AngloGold CEO Bobby Godsell made pointed remarks about the industry schism caused by gold hedging this week: “There are theological hedgers and theological anti-hedgers. We find ourselves in the middle. We are simply using it as a business instrument, which has served our shareholders pretty well.” At risk of oversimplification, hedging […]
Khadija Magardie An influential United States-based cancer research association has bolstered the already serious charges of scientific misconduct against disgraced oncologist Dr Werner Bezwoda. According to the American Society for Clinical Oncology (Asco), the former University of the Witwatersrand professor falsified the results of more clinical trials for breast cancer treatment than initially thought. The […]
Andy Capostagno rugby Parochial considerations notwithstanding, for those who cherish the endless complexities that league tables throw up, the climax to this year’s Super 12 is the stuff that dreams are made of. Here we are, three weeks away from the semifinals and any four out of 10 teams can still qualify. Only the Blues […]
Marianne Merten South African companies are exploring a new approach to corporate social responsibility through employee-centred initiatives such as matching staff donations to charities made via the payroll. Much of the pressure to move away from a straight “cheque book approach” has come in the wake of increasing global corpworks. Over the past 15 years […]
Matthew Krouse theatre Moments of tedium caused by a slightly overladen script barely detract from the wholesale intrigue of The Great Outdoors. In his most recent play, first performed at the National Arts Festival last year, Neil McCarthy treats the day-to-day issues of white South Africa with playful disdain. Like the people it depicts, The […]
James Hall Swaziland’s Office of Public Prosecutions has announced a crackdown on diviners and traditional doctors who are capitalising on the fears of defendants in court cases to peddle “protection” that will win favourable judicial rulings. “Traditional healers play an important role in the health of people in Swaziland and in my country,” says Director […]
Stephen Gray review OFTHEWEEK If this review is a review, then it is about a play about a play. The strategy is for me to tease you, even to bait you. I’ll even go as far as telling you how I deplore your trust, while nonetheless taking your time and money for my valiant effort. […]
Julia Beffon CD OFTHEWEEK When Rod Stewart made Atlantic Crossing in the mid-Seventies he left Britain and the Small Faces behind and the music critics, too. Hollywood turned Rod the Mod into more than a tax exile. He became a musical outcast, wasting his gravelly, soulful voice on disco drivel that reached its nadir with […]
Robert Kirby CHANNELVISION Blessed are the meek and mild for they shall inherit the presidential television interview. Thabo Mbeki must have been well pleased e.tv sent along a pair of such vapid bojos with a set of such predictable questions. San Reddy and Debora Patta were a sort of clown duo doing a routine as […]
Publishing in South Africa suffers a number of vicissitudes. In a new book, publishers Nicholas Combrinck and Maggie Davey engage in a dialogue on the subject Combrinck: Rarely do trade publishers [publishers for a general retail market, as opposed to educational publishers and so forth] make a serious return on their publishing, and rarely in […]
Deon Potgieter boxing Two of South Africa’s most talented boxers come in from the cold this weekend. Following a 19-month absence from the ring, former two-time welterweight world champion Peter “the Destroyer” Malinga headlines a box-and-dine tournament at the Kopanong hotel in Benoni on Saturday. Malinga was stripped of his International Boxing Organisation (IBO) welterweight […]
Kuseni Dlamini, Greg Mills and Neuma Grobbelaar a second look Robert Mugabe confirmed last week, during Zimbabwe’s 21st birthday celebrations, what many have long presumed: that he intends standing in the 2002 presidential election. This and Zimbabwe’s deteriorating economic and political circumstances raise concerns about the policies pursued by South Africa and the options Pretoria […]