Author Archives: David Smith
3rd May, 2013
‘S. Africans are backward’, says Zambia’s VP
ONE of the most colourful men in African politics happens to be white. Guy Scott is the vice president of Zambia, but his race is probably the least exceptional thing about him.
ONE of the most colourful men in African politics happens to be white. Guy Scott is the vice president of Zambia, but his race is probably the least exceptional thing about him.
12th April, 2013
Court battle looms over Mandela’s businesses
JOHANNESBURG: Two of Nelson Mandela’s daughters have launched a legal bid to oust his close friend and lawyer from the boards of two companies, hinting at ugly power struggles to come over the former president’s wealth.
JOHANNESBURG: Two of Nelson Mandela’s daughters have launched a legal bid to oust his close friend and lawyer from the boards of two companies, hinting at ugly power struggles to come over the former president’s wealth.
12th April, 2013
How rich is Mandela?
JOHANNESBURG: He is Africa’s most famous man, the subject of countless biographies and TV documentaries, his every move now scrutinised more closely than ever.
JOHANNESBURG: He is Africa’s most famous man, the subject of countless biographies and TV documentaries, his every move now scrutinised more closely than ever.
3rd April, 2013
Woman refused Mandela’s proposal in ’90s, claims son
JOHANNESBURG: “I can’t help it if the ladies take note of me,” Nelson Mandela once said. “I am not going to protest.”
JOHANNESBURG: “I can’t help it if the ladies take note of me,” Nelson Mandela once said. “I am not going to protest.”
26th March, 2013
A new world order faces growing pains
It is the moment that any host dreads. In the beach resort of Durban this week, South Africa will be straining to keep up appearances for bigger, wealthier patrons—China, Brazil, Russia and India—in the feverish hope that it’s worthy of a stop on their social circuit.
It is the moment that any host dreads. In the beach resort of Durban this week, South Africa will be straining to keep up appearances for bigger, wealthier patrons—China, Brazil, Russia and India—in the feverish hope that it’s worthy of a stop on their social circuit.
24th February, 2013
Relief and anger after Pistorius bail
PRETORIA (South Africa): The release of double amputee athlete Oscar Pistorius has been condemned for sending the wrong message in South Africa, a country where violence against women is seen as a national
PRETORIA (South Africa): The release of double amputee athlete Oscar Pistorius has been condemned for sending the wrong message in South Africa, a country where violence against women is seen as a national
10th February, 2013
Killings in Nigeria: Polio eradication campaign suffers another setback
KANO: The killing in Nigeria of nine women who were vaccinating children against polio have drawn comparisons with a series of incidents in Pakistan last December where five female polio vaccinators were
KANO: The killing in Nigeria of nine women who were vaccinating children against polio have drawn comparisons with a series of incidents in Pakistan last December where five female polio vaccinators were
27th January, 2013
‘Racism’ of early colour photography
CAN the camera be racist? The question is explored in an exhibition that reflects on how Polaroid built an efficient tool for South Africa’s apartheid regime to photograph and police black people.
CAN the camera be racist? The question is explored in an exhibition that reflects on how Polaroid built an efficient tool for South Africa’s apartheid regime to photograph and police black people.
5th December, 2012
Aids: turning the corner
SOUTH Africa has witnessed an “unparalleled” five-year increase in life expectancy since 2005 thanks to the world’s biggest programme of HIV/Aids drug treatment, researchers say.
SOUTH Africa has witnessed an “unparalleled” five-year increase in life expectancy since 2005 thanks to the world’s biggest programme of HIV/Aids drug treatment, researchers say.
1st October, 2012
Kagame defies UN condemnation
RWANDA’S president, Paul Kagame, remained defiant in the face of growing international condemnation of his country’s military meddling in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
RWANDA’S president, Paul Kagame, remained defiant in the face of growing international condemnation of his country’s military meddling in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
30th September, 2012
Old rivalries pose new threat
BY any measure it is a stunning reversal. Three years ago Somalia’s central ‘government’ controlled little more than a square mile of the capital, Mogadishu, while Islamist militants began to impose strict Sharia law
BY any measure it is a stunning reversal. Three years ago Somalia’s central ‘government’ controlled little more than a square mile of the capital, Mogadishu, while Islamist militants began to impose strict Sharia law
9th September, 2012
S. Africa: mine shootings revive bitter memories
MARIKANA: Phumelele Gura survived a barrage of police bullets and more than two weeks in prison, where he lay awake listening to the sound of workmates allegedly being tortured. His grandfather and his father
MARIKANA: Phumelele Gura survived a barrage of police bullets and more than two weeks in prison, where he lay awake listening to the sound of workmates allegedly being tortured. His grandfather and his father
23rd August, 2012
Instability in Ethiopia?
JUST a few hours after Meles Zenawi’s death was announced, British prime ministers past and present were queuing to pay tribute. David Cameron described him as an “inspirational spokesman for Africa”, and Gordon
JUST a few hours after Meles Zenawi’s death was announced, British prime ministers past and present were queuing to pay tribute. David Cameron described him as an “inspirational spokesman for Africa”, and Gordon
16th August, 2012
Bloody union dispute shuts platinum mine in S. Africa
JOHANNESBURG: The world’s third-biggest platinum producer shut down its South African operations on Tuesday after violent clashes left at least nine people dead at its principal mine. Lonmin’s shares dropped
JOHANNESBURG: The world’s third-biggest platinum producer shut down its South African operations on Tuesday after violent clashes left at least nine people dead at its principal mine. Lonmin’s shares dropped
14th July, 2012
Mandela family rift widens after Winnie’s email
JOHANNESBURG: A granddaughter of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has spoken out in defence of the angry criticism of the African National Congress (ANC) made by the stalwart of the South African struggle.
JOHANNESBURG: A granddaughter of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has spoken out in defence of the angry criticism of the African National Congress (ANC) made by the stalwart of the South African struggle.
12th July, 2012
Winnie Mandela bitter at ‘shabby treatment’
JOHANNESBURG: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, a giant of South Africa's liberation struggle, has apparently launched a bitter attack on the African National Congress's “shabby treatment” of the Mandela family, according to an unverified email leaked to the London-based Guardian.
JOHANNESBURG: Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, a giant of South Africa's liberation struggle, has apparently launched a bitter attack on the African National Congress's “shabby treatment” of the Mandela family, according to an unverified email leaked to the London-based Guardian.
11th July, 2012
Africa rising, but not in eastern DR Congo
LONDON: There’s an upbeat narrative about Africa — growing middle class, thriving arts and digital culture, “Africa rising” on the cover of the Economist — that’s gaining currency. Such correctives to Afro-pessimism invariably meet their nemesis, however, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
LONDON: There’s an upbeat narrative about Africa — growing middle class, thriving arts and digital culture, “Africa rising” on the cover of the Economist — that’s gaining currency. Such correctives to Afro-pessimism invariably meet their nemesis, however, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
9th June, 2012
Ugandan warlord kidnapped 591 children in three years: UN
JOHANNESBURG: The Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony has kidnapped nearly 600 children in the past three years, forcing boys to take “magical potions” and turning girls into sex slaves, the UN has found.
JOHANNESBURG: The Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony has kidnapped nearly 600 children in the past three years, forcing boys to take “magical potions” and turning girls into sex slaves, the UN has found.
1st May, 2012
Malawi’s first woman president
FOR 48 turbulent hours she was the victim of a conspiracy that left the future of Malawi hanging in the balance.
FOR 48 turbulent hours she was the victim of a conspiracy that left the future of Malawi hanging in the balance.
1st January, 2012
ANC turns hundred
THE South African president, Jacob Zuma, will be joined by foreign heads of state where it all began: a Wesleyan church in Waaihoek, Bloemfontein.
THE South African president, Jacob Zuma, will be joined by foreign heads of state where it all began: a Wesleyan church in Waaihoek, Bloemfontein.
