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More Christmas wishes inside Bookshops controlled by CNA/The Literary Group, which include all branches of ·WEEK Exclusive Books, Bookworm and Pilgrims, nos THLY still continue to banish noseWEEK from their I • • • • shelves "for business reasons". Many rep­ utable, independent bookshops and TEL. (021) 61-4809 FAX. (021) 61-3685 newsagents do, however, stock us. Call us for PO Box 44538, Claremont, 7735 the supplier nearest you - and remember this when you are shopping for books. Editor: Martin Welz Features Editor: Maureen Barnes With all its obvious faults, the press has pleaded the Welconie, Dear Reader cause of justice and been available to support the individual citizen at insignificant cost. The Appeal At least three people we know had high expectations of Court and Supreme Courts can hardly claim to have the Appeal Court - and in particular the Chief Justice, been the standard bearers of rationality, principle and Mr Justice Corbett - to guide South Africa's courts and justice in the past half century, which might otherwise legal system into a glorious new era of justice and liber­ have justified the hundreds of millions it costs the tax­ ty for all. Micky Corbett is, after all, such a nice chap. payer each year to keep "their Lordships" (for so it He's English speaking; he comes from the Cape. For pleases them to be called) in the style to which they Pete's sake, he went to Rondebosch Boys' High, and to have become accustomed. With very rare exception, UCT, and to Cambridge. Why, he was even a member they have long ceased to be of service to the ordinary at that erstwhile bastion of anti-Semitism, Kelvin man. Costs are so prohibitive, and the risk of arbi­ Grove. So he has to have good manners. trary and eccentric judgements so great, that only the Here at noseWEEK we set little store by the "right" very rich, the criminal and the insane willingly make WASP school and the appropriate blue tie. But then use of their services. good manners are probably not our strongest point South Africa's court of last appeal has now declared either. Which doesn't mean that, even here, hope has that the public had no right to be informed of the not sprung eternal - until 2 December 1993, that is, continually growing body of evidence which indicates when Corbett and his brothers Hoexter, Nestadt, that servants of the state have secretly, and on a Nienaber and Nicholas smartly knocked all that shit nationally organised scale, been murdering, molesting out of us with their judgement in the appeal of General and otherwise terrorising opponents of the govern­ Lothar Neethling vs Vrye Weekblad and the Weekly ment. It's none of our business, the judges say. As far Mail. You could just as well call it The Judges of the as these judges are concerned, two of this country's Old Order vs the Press of the New. very few independent newspapers must be put out of The public of this fair Republic might not love the business for daring to believe otherwise. For, make no press. But if the people don't vigorously support the mistake, when the Appeal Court judges, in their dis­ press in this battle, they should start contemplating cretion, ordered Vrye Weekblad and Weekly Mail to what life will be like in the new era with an ill­ pay costs far in excess of a million rand each, that is informed, authoritarian judiciary accustomed to serving what they must have contemplated. a fascist State - and no free press. Join us for the good fight in 1994. LETTERS SEASONAL GREETINGS Dear Sir Dear Sir May I congratulate you. Your publica­ To the Editor tion has introduced a much needed As a devoted reader of your excellent element into our midst - someone pre­ magazine I wish you a bright future. pared to speak their acerbic and inves­ FASHIONABLE DESIGNS In the "Good Old days" you would tigative mind frankly and with the undoubtedly have had a visit from the added spice of humour. Dear Sir heavies, with words of wisdom regard­ ing your health and wellbeing, perhaps A Duncan Bravo noseWEEK for exposing the accompanied by a "taai klap of twee". Johannesburg scandal (or should I say scam) of the H ad you not heeded the sage advice, Radio Good Hope Designer there was nothing like a small confla­ Collection! Many have suspected it gration to cause a sinner to repent, or for years and just not had the guts to DES&DAWN maybe some "druppels" from a general timeo Dawneos et dona ferentes say anything out loud for fear of the who must remain nameless, or an big nobs in this town. Issue 5 was [some racist Roman remark about unauthorised panel beat and spray Greeks bearing gifts, we think} your best yet. It was time someone paint job ... revealed T ony Jackman for what he Keep up the good work - you have a really is - a puffed up with his own T o all three chords on his guitar lifetime's activity ahead of you. And A tuneful grief they lay; importance member of the "Foodie don't become a permanent part of the mafia" of Cape Town. Keep digging! This latest CD's sold at Spar Waterfront's future foundations! But not at Pick n Pay, Concerned Citizen DM - Robert Kirby Cape Town Paardeneiland

DEC'93 JAN'94 MIF PENSION FUNDS AND HEAVY BREATHING ATTOR­ AN OPEN LETTER NEYS To First National Bank Dear Sir The hoffing and poffing from the old established Jeppe Street firm reminded FNB Head Office December 1993 me of the famous Pressdram v Arkell case Johannesburg occasionally still alluded ·co by Private Eye. I thought your readers might appre­ ciate the enclosed extract from the Private Attention: Mr Basil Hersov, Chairman; Mr Garden, Mr Paynter, Ms Eye Story. Tensfeldt For my part I appreciate your Pigging Out column - such a change from the fulsome and predictable reviews one reads else­ Dear Sirs and Madam, where. I have certainly eaten at plenty of I have received, with disbelief, a copy of your promotional newsletter, places that deserve inclusion in a list such 'First Talk'. With all the good things FNB have written about them­ as the (London) Times Magazine's "One selves, I find it hard to believe that this is the same bank which has star restaurants of the year" list. I have also searched John Platter's latest offering caused me to lose R435 000 as a creditor of KPL-Etsa (Pty) Ltd. in the vain hope he might agree with my Returning 'First Talk' to you gives me an opportunity to raise the moral assessment that there are a fair number of aspect of FNB's actions. wines around with a bouquet similar to that of the well used jock strap and a taste My company, built from scratch six years ago (no handouts or loans, to match. As with the grotty restaurants, pure hard work and ability in a particular field) was beginning to pros­ so such luck. per when I had the opportunity to supply artisan labour to KPL on the All the best in 1994. Genref re-vamp. We started with a small number of people in February John M Bell Sandton 1992 and increased to about 40 people by the end of May. When we realised that the numbers were to increase to perhaps 150 persons, I In a 1971 report, the British maga­ sought reassurances from Mike Duncan (Financial Director of KPL), zine, Private Eye had suggested that Mr Arkell, a Granada Group credit who advised m e to contact David Paynter at FNB. Paynter gave me no manager, was taking back-handers. reason for doubt. Had I received a negative comment, then logically I They promptly received a letter would not have committed my company's resources to supplying a large from his attorneys, Goodman Derrick & Co: labour force to the project. Had he told me that his optimism was based on a "cash flow projection" Dear Sir We Act for Mr Arkell. His attention has and that FNB in fact had a secret "wind-down scenario" for KPL been drawn to an article which appeared designed to ensure that the bank was preferred above other creditors, I in Private Eye. The statements made would have pulled out immediately. This was intentional dishonesty on about Mr Arkell are entirely untrue and clearly highly defamatory. his part. His first concern is that there should be With a loan from my bank we proceeded with the project. I was given a full retraction in Private Eye and he no cause for alarm - until September, when ominous rumblings in the will also want his costs paid. His atti­ marketplace about KPL's creditworthiness prompted me to again tude to damages will be governed by the nature of your reply. approach FNB. Now nobody would take my calls. I was continually Yours etc. fobbed off by Gail Tensfeldt, who said I should speak to Paynter. Next The reply was as follows: I was told Paynter was unavailable - but Tensfeldt was handling the account. I once held on for 30 minutes from Durban in an attempt to Dear Si,~ We note that Mr Arkell's attitude to speak to her, but eventually the phone was put down from your end. I damages will be governed by the nature was not advised that FNB had "frozen" the account on September 3rd. of our reply and would therefore be On the day of liquidation, September 30th, I still had people employed grateful if you could inform us what his attitude to damages would be, were he at Genref and Mossgas, working to complete KPL's contracts (thereby to learn that the nature of our reply is as letting you off your guarantees). follows: fuck off. The harsh reality was that I still had to pay salaries, knowing that I had Yours etc. no hope of ever reclaiming my invoices. I also had to repay a loan over Private Eye a long period of time, with money that still had to be earned. I am not going to burden you with stories of mental anguish, broken NONE SO BLIND AS ... marriages and trauma, with some creditors suffering even more than I DearEdizor did. I am sure none of you are really interested. The bank has my I was sad to note the frankly cruel manner money; the attorneys and the liquidator are all doing quite nicely. Mr in which your November editorial referred Hersov, Mr Paynter, Mr Garden, Ms Tensfeldt - I wonder what your to the fact that Viva Trust chairman Dr William Roland is blind. stance would be if all of the above had happened to you? Regrettably I cannot ask you to cancel my Whenever I see a First National sign, I get a feeling of revulsion, hence subscription, as I do not have one. my instant reaction to your happy little magazine which landed on my Julia Nicol desk yesterday. I do not expect a reply to this letter, but perhaps you Observatory, Cape will give it some thought. Dr Roland is not only blind, he is also grown up. He is quite capable ofgiving as good as he Pat Marsh (occasionally dese1ves) lO get. He does not need pily. You do - you don't have a subsc1ip1ion Durban lO nose WEEK. (Dr Roland does.) - Ed.

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T ooked at dispassionately, poisons) would have provided a Lthe balance probabilities poison that worked; has always been very muc h • as the probabilities were in favour JUDGE of General Neethling, so they were against the Chief Justice, Michael Corbett, and the other against Coetzee. Coetzee - and Lordships of the Appeal Court Coetzee's story - the Appeal judges in Bloemfontein hei:alding the AND BE found totally unbelievable: "The way to a New Order of justice status of the subject-matter com­ and liberty in South Africa. municated was nothing short of And, as that court has declared, it's deplorable," the Appeal Court the balance of probabilities that DAMNED found. "Its sole source was a disaf­ counts. fected and retired police officer who was a self-confessed murderer The issue has been brought into a statement from death row by and thief [and liar, too]." Insofar as sharp focus by the Appeal Court's another former security policeman it had inculpated General recent judgement in the case of and hit squad member, Almond Neethling, they said, Coetzee's General Lothar Neethling against Nofumela. story was "riddled with inherent Vrye Weekblad and the Weekly Neethling sued the newspapers for improbabilities". Mail. The demonstrable errors of libel, and the newspapers, in their • Not only did the judges find fact and logic contained in the defence, said that in the extraordi­ Coetzee's story unbelievable. T hey Appeal Court's judgement; th e nary circumstances of the case, went further and found that "The ignorance, and the attitude and publication of Coetzee's story had readers of the Weekly Mail [and outrageous assumptions of the been justified in the public interest. Vrye Weekblad] had no possible judges, not only demand repudia­ Central to the Appeal Court's legitimate interest in having com­ tion. They also suggest that a very judgement in favour of the head of municated to them these untested, serious reassessment of the Appeal the Police forensic laboratory, and and largely hearsay, allegations by Court, as it is presently constituted, against the two newspapers, was is urgently called for. an informant whose credibility and In 1989 Vrye Weekblad published motive alike were suspect." a detailed account by former secu­ Also the credibility and com­ rity police captain, Dirk Coetzee, of The errors of fact and mitment to the public good of the his activities in the early Eighties as logic contained in the press received short shrift from the a leading member of police "hit Appeal Court's judge­ Appeal Court: without any evi­ squad" - one of several set up to dence or argument, the motive of secretly murder and molest people ment; the ignorance, the two newspapers in publishing identified as enemies of the and the attitude and Coetzee's story was declared fatally apartheid State. outrageous assump­ suspect - simply by virtue of the Amongst the many and diverse tions - suggest that a court's own amateur - and arrogant incidents included in the story was - assumptions about how the press one in which Coetzee told how very serious reassess­ functions and what its motives are General Neethling, head of the m ent of the Appeal generally. For this purpose the Police Forensic Laboratory, had Court, as it is pre­ court elevated the personal, preju­ diced and otherwise banal view of provided him and his senior officer sently constituted, is with a special poison with which the press expressed by Chief Justice they planned to kill two of their vic­ urgently called for. Corbett in an earlier case, to the tims. Neethling had told them, status oflaw: Coetzee said, that the poison would Corbett first expressed his view of the press in the now notorious cause the victims to have fatal heart the judges' view that, "Sage Holdings" case (where, too, attacks - and then be untraceable in • on a "balance of probabilities", it was totally unwarranted by the any post-mortem examination. Neethling's denial that he had been · facts). In the Neethling/Vrye When the poison failed, however, involved in providing poisons was Weekblad case, Corbett's views are said Coetzee, the victims were sim­ more believable: a man of the sta­ quoted, without further ado, as a ply shot and their bodies incinerat­ tus of general N eethling, the "useful" authority for damning the ed. The victims he named, one of Appeal Court stated, was unlikely them previously abducted from to get involved in "criminality" . press out of hand: M aputo by South African security What made Coetzee's story impli­ "Th ere is a wide difference," forces, have, in fact, disappeared cating Neethling even more [said the perceptive Chief Justice, without trace. improbable, the judges said, was his by way of introduction] "between Captain Coetzee was prompted to claim that the poison had not what is interesting to the public speak out for publication - and worked. In the unlikely event that and what it is in the public inter­ Vrye Weekblad decided to publish Neethling had provided poison, est to make known ... his shocking story, after significant than a man of his professional skills "The media have a private inter­ parts of it had been corroborated in (he has a doctorate in the study of est of their own in publishing

DE0'93 JAN'94 nOS8l\lQIQlt◄

what appeals to the public and Apartheid State, may continue to The Court is shockingly amateur in may increase their circulation or think so. On the other hand, those its reasoning and insights - appar­ may increase the numbers of people who, with all their own ently not only ignorant about the their viewers or listeners; and intelligence, wisdom, knowledge role of the press and how it func­ they are peculiarly vulnerable to and experience of life in South tions, but when it comes to the error of confusing the public Africa (judges, readers might be analysing and understanding the interest with their own interest amazed to learn, do not have a evidence of Captain Coetzee, igno­ monopoly on those commodities) - rant of the philosophy of logic and To settle the issue of the credibility on the farm, in the army, in the knowledge, and of the well devel­ of "the media", in the Neethling press, in the police - on hearing oped field of social science. case the Appeal judges found it Coetzee's story, found it entirely Has the lack of a cultural and intel­ "not inappropriate" to, in addition, credible, are entitled to believe oth­ lectual component in the training quote a rhetorical question [a erwise. When it comes to probabili­ of lawyers finally reached our quaint euphemism for an expression of ty, they may justifiably believe that Appeal Court? South African vicious prejudice?] posed by one it's most improbable that very senior lawyers have long since not been Lord Macnaghten in 1908: police officers were not involved, required to read the classics of "Is it in the interest of the com­ one way or another, in such Western thought and Civilization. munity, is it for the welfare of killings. They are not trained in logic or society, that the protection A thought: Their Lordships even the basics of the philosophy of which the law throws around coould, of course, themselves have knowledge; instead they are force­ communications made in legiti­ been party to the killing of several fed a mass of ineptly drafted and mate self-defence, or from a s uch enemies of the Afrikaner increasingly arbitrary rules, prece­ bona fide sense of duty, should N ationalist State - probably dents and conventions, accumulat­ be extended to the communica­ labelled by the courts at the time as ed by generations of mediocre tions made from motives of self­ South African lawyers and law interest by persons who trade for makers, who have been demonstra­ profit in the characters of other bly arrogant, insensitive to the dic­ people?". One of the features of tates of morality and devoid of "So much for the law [on the matter Afrikaner nationalism respect for their fellow citizens. of the rights of the press]," concludes was its need to escape But before we deal with some of Mr Justice Hoexter - and four the errors in the judgement, how - Appeal judges - Nestadt, Nienaber, - and to justify its on a balance of probabilities - are Nicholas and Chief Justice Corbett escape - from the stan­ we to rate the credibility and moral himself - nodded their concur­ dards and demands of judgement of the current Appeal rence, thereby damning the the civilised world. Court of the Republic of South motives of Vrye Weekblad and Africa? And it's commitment to Weekly Mail in publishing And the Appeal Court truth and justice and the human Coetzee's story as selfish, vulgar of the Republic is that rights of all South Africa's people? and malicious. Afrikaner culture's One of the features of Afrikaner The judges may just, I believe, in handiwork. nationalism was its need to escape - fact have damned themselves. (But and to justify its escape - from the the subject of the press and the law, standards and demands of the as raised in this case, is such a civilised world. And the Appeal major one that that it must wait to "terrorists" and "agitators". [17iey Court of the Republic of South be dealt with in a future edition). only gave the orders - Ed.] Africa, as it exists today, is that To the probability of the actual Unlike judges, newspapers do not Afrikaner culture's handiwork. existence of police hit squads, most condemn people to deat h, to Might it not be fair to argue that significantly, the Appeal Court imprisonment, or to pay heavy the probabilities are that the gave no consideration at all. financial penalties and ruinous Appeal Court of the Republic is costs. The press does not claim · fatally tainted by it's own life re we condemned to accept Papal - or Appeal Court - infallibili­ "beyond the law" - it's forty years Athis judgement as the last word ty. The press does not punish those of loyal service to apartheid, found on all these very serious subjects? who beg to differ, or who think the by the rest of the world to be a Surely not! judge (of the information) - in this crime against humanity? Those who, like the judges of the case the editor - is an ignorant, Appeal Court, think that it is most arrogant arse. The result is that The legitimacy of the court derives improbable that General Neethling many do think - and say - just that. neither from an aristocratic ideal­ (and those of his status in service of Errors in an Appeal Court judge­ ism, as did that of the classical the Afrikaner Nationalist State) ment are therefore far more serious judge committed to the search for would in the Seventies and Eighties than errors in a newspaper report. justice (Let Justice Prevail, Though have been party to killing the There are many serious errors in the Heavens come Crashing Down, (mostly black) enemies of the the Appeal Court's judgement. remember?), nor from a demo-

DEC '93 JAN'94 cratic foundation; it derives from se a poison which was supposed three attempts, with increased the naked power of a fascist state. to be untraceable in the corpse, in a dosages of the poison supplied by Lest We Forget. case when there was no need for Neethling, failed to have any effect Until the recent token appointment this subtlety? In a case where, in on the victims. Their Lordships of Mr Justice Mohammed, every the end, they would in any case find it totally incredible - and there- I single one of the judges currently hoot the victims at point blank fore reason to dismiss Coetzee as a on the bench in South Africa was range and then incinerate their liar - that a leading toxicologist appointed by, and met the approval corpses? There was no need for the such as Neethling might provide a - and racial criteria - of an undemo­ court to be puzzled. Coetzee's poison that did not work. cratic, authoritarian, racist motive for wanting to use poison is It appears their lordships have not Afrikaner Nationalist government. clearly stated in the r ecord. "I read a decent detective thriller for a All of them were happy to accept thought poisoning is a better while either, or they might have that approval and appointment. method of killing a bloke ... than been able to work it out. (They (Chief Justice Corbett himself shooting him at point blank range have also not read the history - as became a judge in the Cape in the while looking him in the eye," he recorded in official congressional era of Verwoerd, and an Appeal says. It is noteworthy from his evi­ records - of similar bungled pro­ Judge by the grace of John dence, that while Coetzee was jects conducted by Neethling's Vorster.) All are white. All are party to several murders, he did not senior scientific colleagues in the male. (Miss Justice Leonora van personally execute a single one of CIA, or they would not have found den Heever is undoubtedly the the victims in cold blood. He wit­ the possibility nearly so unbeliev­ exception that proves the rule.) nessed colleagues do the deed, or able.) Is it surprising, therefore, that ordered or authorised others to do The judges need, in fact, only have South Africa's courts lack a broad­ it. Coetzee is always consistent. read Coetzee's evidence with more er, cultured and informed view of To anyone who has chosen to take care and then applied some logic: the world, and moral sensibility? a pet to a vet to be "put to sleep" Coetzee not only says poison Now let's look again at one of rather than slaying the creature appealed to his sensibilities; there those elements of Coetzee's story himself with a blow to the head or are clear indications in his evidence that the Appeal Court judges found a bullet through the brain, the that it was to be used on the two so improbable as to be impossible motive is perfectly comprehensible. victims as an experiment. He told ,.: to believe: Judge Hoexter finds Judges condemn men to death, but the court that he had gathered from j Coetzee's behaviour in obtaining prefer not to have to do, or even Neethling that the poison had been poison from General Neethling to witness, the hanging themselves. It used successfully in experiments be totally bizarre, to the point of is, after all, purely a question of with sheep. Think about it - no being unbelievable. Why, he asks, aesthetics - rather than of morality. matter how accomplished a scien­ would Coetzee want or bother to According to Coetzee's account, tist Neethling is said to be, he or any of his colleagues in the Western NOSE NOTED IN '93 World are unlikely to have had much chance to conduct clinical THAT Cape Town accountants are ma! resolution that it would not buy trials on a sample of human sub­ even meaner than we thought. Some tickets for the show. jects to prove the efficacy and have apparently even decided as a establish the dosage of a drug matter of principle not to give to THAT when Johannesburg's most which they believed would precipi­ charity. They are only prepared to emminent WASP firm of attorneys, tate a fatal heart attack and then be take charity. In September the Cape Webber Wentzel, was offering - Society of Chartered Accountants through its Luxembourg branch - as untraceable in the corpse. The held its annual dinner at the Cape a service to its clients to set up fake reasons why Neethling (as alleged Sun. "As usual", so the Cape foreign trusts so that they could by Coetzee), or, for that matter, region's newsletter reports, the din­ evade tax and hold money illegally off anyone else involved in developing ner was generously sponsored by shore, the firm's senior partner, Mr such a drug might have supplied it Investec Bank. 350 accountants Edward Montagu Southey, when not for use on victims who, in the nor­ rushed to attend and exploit the gen­ actually president of the Association mal course of events, were to be erosity of this public spirited bank. So of Law Societies, was chairman of the shot and incinerated anyway, are much so that all available seats were Association's subcommittee for for­ filled and many accountants had to eign exchange. But then, of course, therefore completely rational, if still be turned away. Then came the in the same week last year that the reprehensible: they presented a charity event. The Western Cape noseWEEK article appeared, reveal­ rare opportunity for a clinical trial region of the Accountants association ing it all, Webber Wentzel persuaded in order to establish whether the only holds one fund raising event for the Chief Justice, the honorable Mr drug was as effective in killing charity each year. This year it was a Michael McGregor Corbett, to pro­ humans as it was in precipitating charity premiere at the Theatre on pose the toast at their centenary cele­ fatal heart attacks in sheep. the Bay. Tickets were sold at R35 a brations. The Rand Club toasted by piece. Only 60 accountants bought Kelvin Grove? Who knows, with This also explains another aspect of tickets. One major firm of accoun­ friends like that, maybe you don't Coetzee's story which the Judges tants is reported to have passed a for- have to explain ... found damningly unbelievable: they simply cannot understand why

DEC'93 CD JAN'94 Coetzee and colleagues should tial for the actual extermination of devil in the hands of a secret killer­ have travelled around the country­ poor "Peter" and "Vusi" [nowhere and dirty tricks department. The side for nearly two weeks with the in the Appeal Court's judgement do Medicis already understood the two victims in tow, periodically try­ their Lordships do the unfortunate vic­ value of being able to kill a victim ing a different dosage of the drug tims the courtesy of mentioning their in such a way that the actual killer on them - without success - before surnames, so that it is not clear of they and real cause of death might not shooting them. were foundling minors, or merely even be suspected - let alone be I would say that the particular clini­ "boys" as traditionally described in traced. That's if you know who the cal trial "conducted in the field" certain Old South African circles - Medicis were. simply revealed that the (!rug was Ed}. But if the efficacy and - Martin Welz better at giving sheep heart attacks, required dose of such a drug could than it was at giving human beings be proven (and according to Next month: fatal heart attacks. Of course this Coetzee's own statement, it clearly The Press and The Law: The clinical trial was so limited that, to had not been, or General Neethling Appeal Court makes findings be perfectly scientific, we would would not still have had reason to about Coetzee which are, to my have to allow for the possibility that ill-treat sheep with it, or have had direct personal knowledge, black ANC members have a pecu­ need to ask those who administered simply untrue. lVhy should I, a liar immunity which a respected it to the human victims to keep mere journalist, know better Aryan toxicologist could not be notes of their observations), it does than a full bench of the Appeal expected to predict. not take an Appeal Court Judge to Court? And what right have I to The drug was obviously not essen- realise that such a drug could be a say it?

Millions disappear through VAT loophole FOR LOVE AND MONEY

In November Mrs Helena Coetzee, impression is that only murder, espe­ without her, or any other inspector, a senior official in charge of the cially when done according to 19th being able to detect it. T h e VAT inspectorate at the Receiver CentU1y Sicilian custom, is taken scheme, she said, had been taken of Revenue's office in Pietersburg, lightly in South Africa - Ed] The over by an organised gang of white­ pleaded guilty in the Transvaal trial exposed not only yet another collar criminals that she thought Regional Court to two charges of human tragedy, but what could be were part of the "Boeremafia", a corruption. some very serious shortfalls in the long-established national network At her trial it emerged that she had government's Value Added Tax of predominantly Afrikaner con­ assisted a fraud syndicate which system. men and fraudsters. had defrauded the Receiver of sev­ The VAT system has no built-in The ease with which Mrs Coetzee eral millions of rands by exploiting controls. It relies simply on trust. and her accomplices were able to serious loopholes in the VAT Asked why "Mrs Coetzee and her pull off the fraud suggests that the refund system. The charges against integrity" appeared to have been type of fraud could, indeed, be her accomplices relate to only 11 "the sole barrier between a criminal widespread; it would certainly go a VAT refund claims totalling R4,5 world and the Treasury", a senior long way to explaining why VAT million, but the State has been Revenue official testified: "We have has not produced the amount of unable to establish the full extent of always had a high regard for the revenue for the State that was origi­ the fraud. Evidence in the trial sug­ integrity of our officials. We have nally contemplated. The system of gests that numerous false claims never had to play policeman or to VAT collection and assessment, it have gone undetected. questiop the actions of an official." emerges from the case, is not only A 34-year-old divorcee and the sole However he also testified that one extremely cumbersome and labour support of two teenage children, of Internal Revenue's biggest prob­ intensive for the small business­ .Mrs Coetzee was sentenced to five lems at the moment is fraud, espe­ man, it is equally cumbersome and years in jail, and was refused bail cially fraud involving VAT. impossible for the State itself to pending an appeal, as the Regional Mrs Coetzee testified that, while operate. Revenue offices have been Magistrate was concerned that the she had helped initiate the forced to take shortcuts which, in public should not gain the impres­ Pietersburg scheme - as a "one-off'' turn, have created opportunities for sion that offences against the finan­ to help her lover out of some finan­ fraud and corruption on an organ­ cial interests of the State are taken cial difficulty - much of the subse­ ised scale. lightly in South Africa. [No, sir, our quent fraud had taken p lace Mrs Coetzee had worked for the

DEC '93 1P JAN '94 nose~•"°'°''◄

Department of Inland Revenue Daneel had involved a whole syndi­ all of them came to me." since 1982. She had had a traumat­ cate in a massive, continuing fraud She added that, in any case, the ic marriage - from the age of 18 - to on the Revenue Department. Receiver's audit manual required an alcoholic who periodically Businesses which did not only every one-hundredth invoice assaulted her and failed to maintain to be checked, "so the people his family. She found solace and exist were registered as missed a whole lot of them." support in tranquillisern prescribed vendors for VAT purpos­ Mrs Coetzee had feared detection by first one and then two doctors, es, using the names and only because of the extent of the and in a love affair with a colleague taxpayer numbers of real continuing fraud which, she said, at the Pretoria Receiver of taxpayers, but who were had "got out of hand". So, on Revenue's office, one Chari occasion when syndicate members Daneel, who was sympathetic and in fact resident in other did tell her they had posted more always prepared to listen to her areas and knew nothing claims (up to six at a time) in the troubles. about the scheme. Receiver's post box - they called Mr Daneel eventually resigned False invoices and export docu­ her from their car phone as they from the department and became a ments were printed. drove out of Pietersburg - she businessman and tax consultant in The frauds took place at a time rushed to remove the claim docu­ Pietermaritzburg, Natal. Mrs when, according to Mr Jacob ments from the post box and tore Coetzee took a transfer from Frederick Heydenrych, the Head them up before anyone could Pretoria to Pietersburg in the far Office inspector who was sent to approve them for payment. (It took Northern Transvaal, where she Pietersburg to investigate, there till September, seven months after tried, unsuccessfully, to resume her were still "many problems with the the syndicate had gone into opera­ marriage to her by now unem­ VAT system as such" and when tion, before the Department knew ployed husband. The love affair "not only the taxpaying public but there was something seriously with Daneel continued with almost also officials" were largely ignorant wrong with Pietersburg's VAT daily phone calls and monthly of how it worked. recovery figures, and sent Mr trysts, midway in Johannesburg. As Mrs Coetzee became more anx­ Heydenrych to investigate.) (The magistrate would later find ious and guilt-ridden about the When Coetzee's crime was discov­ that the fact that she was "satis­ fraud scheme she had helped ered, Mr Heydenrych said, the fied" with only monthly sexual launch, syndicate members supple­ Department decided "for humani­ contact meant that she could not mented her supply of tranquillisers tarian reasons" that she should be have been completely in thrall of with parcels of pills sent to her given the opportunity to resign, Daneel.) In February 1992 Daneel once a week from Durban. She rather than be fired, so that she came to see her and told her that was eventually so drugged she could leave "with a clean record" he was in terrible difficulty as a spent most days at work sleeping and retain her full pension benefits. business he and friends had bought over her desk. She would, however, never again - an abattoir - had failed and he They supplemented her R5000-a­ be employed by the Receiver of was about to go bankrupt. At last month salary with occasional pay­ Revenue, he assured the court. she was presented with an opportu­ ments "to make her life easier". • This month four men are to nity to do something for her lover, But not that much easier - she still appear in the Pretoria Regional in return for all the help and sup­ could afford only a small town Court charged with conspiracy, port he had given her over the house and her ten-year-old car. fraud and corruption in connection years. She would solve his problem Most of the estimated "R25 000 to with the scheme. The accused - M by approving a false claim for a R30 000" she admitted she J O'Reilly, a building contractor; VAT refund. In her evidence in received, sh e used to "spoil" her H J Swart, the owner of court she claimed she could not children. Northmaster cc; RE Earle, who remember the amount - and the Meanwh ile syndicate supposedly operated businesses State apparently has no way of members were handing called R G Roofing cc and establishing what the amount was. Noordelike Beton Produkte cc; All she could say was that it was in up to five and six false and Surrie Maharaj, a tax consul­ probably " less than RlO0 000". claims at a time. The tant who ran a business called One of the short cuts that operated claims sim ply passed Interbond - are alleged to have in the Revenue office was that, pro­ through the "audit" sys­ obtained payment from the vided a VAT vendor had made at tem and were paid out as Receiver of Revenue, Pietersburg, least two VAT payments, all his normal. of R4,5 million in VAT refunds, I subsequent refund claims, if for less "I have no idea," she said when based on only 11 false claims. than Rl 00 000, were automatically asked for how long th e scheme • The jailed woman's lover, approved without checking. The continued. "Many of the [refund] Pietermaritzburg tax consultant computer was set that way. payments went through when I was Chari Daneel, is not named in the So simple was the scheme that it is not even in the office. I was on charge sheet. It is believed he will not altogether surprising that, the leave. And I would not have testify for the State in exchange for next Mrs Coetzee knew, lover known of all the files, because not indemnity from prosecution. ■

DEC '93 JAN'94 Maureen Barnes writes from London on (British) TV and Radio BRITISH IS BEST The Cutting Edge which investigat­ would wish. "So some of your ed a tragic spate of suicides in a clients like to be beaten," she Scottish mental hospital was rivet­ squeaked. "Show me the whips, I ing, if a bit harrowing. But it want to see the whips!" But there retained a sense of compassion is seldom a time of day or evening throughout, and did not stoop to that there isn't something interest­ ome South Africans returning the voyeurism that some of the ing to watch on the box. Sfrom visiting Europe have glee­ American producers seem to feel fully reported how British TV has is necessary. At the end of the pro­ I think what strikes me most gone down the tube and is no gramme I felt involved and about good British TV is that sim­ longer worth watching. Sorry to enlightened instead of embarrass­ ilar productions could easily be be unpatriotic, chaps, but you're ment - something I frequently feel made here. We've got the actors, wrong. It's different, certainly, after watching something tacky on we should be able to find the writ­ especially for us, used as we are to M-Net's Cane Blanche. ers, we've got the expertise, and a diet of American pap, but it is Of course British TV is not all of heaven knows we have got enough far superior to anything we are this quality. The sight of Dr Ruth local excitement, so what holds us likely to produce in SA for a long interviewing three black leather back? And these modern settings time to come. Not only that - and suspender-clad English strip­ should be a lot cheaper than the watch any of the four British TV pers on a midmorning chat show interminable historical dramas we channels and the occasional will remain with me longer than I seem to be so keen on. American material soon looks and sounds artificial and strangely want to be marooned with. This sanitised. show must be over thirty years old The rage in Britain has for a while and apparently hosting it is still a now been BBC l's To Play The sought-after job - Sue Lawley cur­ King, and I was lucky enough to RADIO: rently is in the chair. Articulate see the final part of this masterly cockney boxer Frank Bruno, production. It's a political thriller made a smashing guest. Was set in Westminster with a demonic ar from declining, British boxing a dangerous sport?, he right-wing prime minister (played F radio has grown and improved was asked. He thought not. superbly by Ian Richardson) over the years and has a huge lis­ "Love-making is dangerous these Jocked in a vicious battle with the tenership. I spent an interesting days ... buying a house is danger­ king, who is divorced, depressed and often nostalgic Sunday listen­ ous." and burdened with a social con­ ing to BBC's Radio 4. Among the other Sunday items science. Two royal ex-wives, vari­ First came the omnibus edition of was a frank and interesting panel ous politicians, powerful advisors, The Archers, a farming serial which discussion on the lines of The and nefarious doings, including has been broadcast daily for over Editors where the question "Do murder, complete the picture. 40 years and is still as popular as TV and Radio portray the police Some of the characters are thinly ever. Later I heard Desert Island as they are?" Nigel Murphy disguised - Charles, Diana and Discs - you know, where celebri­ would do this well. And a travel Fergie, for instance - and the local ties choose the records they would programme where the reporter press has had a great old time matching other characters to real life people. Brilliantly scripted, the work was dramatised by Andrew Davies from Michael Dobb's novel. Two other current series - The Bill, set in a police station and showing the police, warts and all, and Casualty, set in the casualty ward of a busy hospital - are both excellent. The settings, of course, provide an endless supply of plots. The standard of investigative jour­ nalism on British TV is extremely "Marriage is a desperate compromise for a woman" high. A documentary in the series

DEC '93 JAN'94 went on the tour and, instead of merely giving free plugs for hotels and tour operators, not only asked the right questions, but gave fel­ low guests the chance to honestly say what they thought - and they didn't always come up with com­ pliments. There was also a section of listeners' letters giving their experiences of various destina­ tions. This programme was enter­ taining and informative. An item of children's radio gave me a new insight. Many children were interviewed and they all wanted to hear more children "I believe if an ideology is true, it'll become apparent. speaking on their programmes. You won't have to shove it down anybody's throat." Apparently Africa leads the way here. In Botswana a children's programme is successfully pro­ about the violence. We hate it." don't see why people should speak duced by two children aged 10 This programme made me realise, for me, I've got my own mouth and 12, who get help only when for the first time, how little we and my own thoughts. If journal­ they ask for it. It was amazing to hear from children - when we do ists are going to speak about chil­ hear of the resentment felt by chil­ see and hear children on TV or dren they should bring children to dren who have to listen always to radio, they are "cute kids" the studio and ask them what they adults. "They don't want to listen mouthing clever little sentences think." to us," said an Irish child. "They scripted for them by grown-ups. don't want to know how we feel A young Namibian girl said: "I Out of the mouths of babes! ■ nosing about the ar t w orld with Pince Nez EDUCATING THE VOTERS

he report some while back on mand of their commissioners; revive their previous contribution T Johannesburg's not-so-nice Telling that the names which yet to Johannesburg's cultural life - Councillor Bass came as no sur­ survive, stamped on these lifeless their 087 sex lines. Perhaps as a prise to this columnist. Two huge tl1ings, mocked the hands that paid cable service to hotels this time? monuments stand between the City for them. And on the pedestals More than the holiday season, Hall and the Rissik Street Post these words appear: 'Davidson, more even than Election fever, it Office in Johannesburg. Each has Magid, Roets, Asherson, Bass, continues to be the Olympic spirit two ornate plaques which one must Marx: Look on our work, ye which infects the city fathers and raise one's eyes to read. The four mighty, and despair."' sometimes the citizens of all the plaques, each in a different lan­ When it comes to Bass and friends' contending cities. guage, bear the same message: that ambitions to host the Olympics, I All that can be said for it is that it the "Civic Spine" was completed am sure none of their critics, such as does, at least, take our minds off on 18/4/1991. There follows a list James Clarke in the Star, have either local politics and its attendant hor­ of the six worthies on the their wisdom or their foresight. But rors into a larger world. In the Management Committee, and then at least now we know why Bass & end, will China's claims be greater a second list of tl1e sixteen on the Co have lumbered us with this enor­ than South Africa's, again political­ Planning and Development mous, pale pachyderm - they have ly speaking of course. What a Committee. Lost tourists who pass left just enough space between the waste of money it all is. The cost of by are, I am sure, awe-struck - the two sarcophagi for an Olympic the large billboards [bullboards? - sheer vanity of the gesture is almost Commemorative Monument, to be Ed] alone which announce our sublime in its contempt for the inscribed with councillors' names claim to the dubious honour of onlooker. It is tempting to recast and with room for plaques in 64 hosting the 2004 Olympics would some lines from Shelley's languages. provide a decent subsidy to the­ Ozymandias: "Two vast monoliths And then, of course, should atres and cultural bodies around of stone ... testifying to the wrin­ Johannesburg succeed in hosting the country. And presumably in the kled lips and sneers of cold com- the Games, Bass & friends could event of either success or failure in

DE0'93 ... JAN'94 the bid, these amounts will be writ­ ship, we will also never know how general atmosphere of "peace and ten off and we will never really much or from whom those funds reconciliation", others believe dra­ know how much the preliminary have been diverted. mas, concerts and so on should be rounds have cost the ratepayer. I The only other area in which major used to give more specific advice note, for instance, the Alderman funding is available for a multiplici­ and information to voters. Keegan of Cape Town has suppos­ ty of purposes, cultural as well, is I would like to propose a comic edly polled his ratepayers on voter education. It is difficult to strip series to illustrate the misad­ whether - or for what - they want to know where and how to begin to ventures of the newly enfranchised, pay higher rates this year. But educate new black voters, especial­ with a happy ending to appear on nowhere in the list of options to be ly in South Africa where it is proba­ the eve of the election. That way accepted or rejected is the Olympic bly the old white voters who need we can create our own version of A campaign mentioned. On that, the education more than anyone. Funny Thing Happened on the Way Cape Town's ratepayers are to be But any number of cultural groups to the Forum/Ballot Box. It's likely given no vote. are prepared to have a go at it. to be the only funny thing that hap- In the case of corporate sponsor- Some propose simply creating a pens on the way there. ■

9}. a,u,t ~

en I arrived at Coffee or tea? Most passengers, I 1 920s-style, with Blue Train labels. ohannesburg Station to noted, preferred neither. 10 am we We are all young-at-heart, sort-of­ oard the Blue Train were on the platform, studying the middle-aged, I notice - just old there was nothing to suggest the intricate arrangement of gutters enough to be able to afford to relive magical adventure that awaited me. slung beneath the overhead con­ the age of travel in the grand style. In fact, arriving at Johannesburg crete slab to catch the leaks - which My single compartment is certainly Station is everything you ever makes one wonder, with all those not what the SAR used to provide expected of the SAR - the worst. cracks, when the roof's going to in the days of my youth on the mail Remember that the S A Railways come crashing down? Never mind, train. Large view windows, a choice (or whatever it's called these days) there are solid, First War railways of soft upholstered bunks - either is a lower middle-class institution. benches to shelter under. They'll along the window or across the Porters proudly show the way to get you out eventually. compartment - neatly set at sill the Blue Train waiting room, lead­ Then the train rolled in, blue and level, so you can lie back and watch ing one to expect something like silent; no, not silent, just a huge, the passing scene. At the head of SAA's First Class lounges. Wrong. powerful, confident hum. the cross bunlc there's another little The room is dark and dingy. It purred out, on time, with its full window onto the corridor. Very Around the walls are arranged an complement of 92 passengers, convenient (only later will I discov­ assortment of sixties chairs; in the most of them foreign - Japanese, er that it is the source of another middle of the room is a low coffee German, British, Dutch, Canadian, serious moral preoccupation of rail­ table with a large doily. In the cor­ French - in that order - all beauti­ ways staff across the land). And ner a table appears to have been fully dressed, all with beautifully there's a hanging cupboard for hastily set up with piles of thick appointed luggage - even some your tux, with a shelf for your top­ railways cups and an old urn. trunks! - all now embellished, per - and a dinky little bathroom. I

DEC '93 JAN'94 pause to mourn the passing of fold­ Japanese art: the ivory lovers, wagon train is what romance is down wash basins, but am quickly oblivious to the passing scene to made of. consoled when, where the basin left - and right - are delicately We "detrained" for an hour at used to be beneath the window, I entwined, feet, elbows, hands, legs, Kimberley for a sight of the Big discover a fold-out table with, on it, smoothly sculpted buttocks; his, Hole - an interruption best forgot­ a welcoming bottle of bubbly hers on the single, window-height ten. Perhaps the pause did help to (which must instantly be drunk bunk. [The illustration used here is heighten the suspense for what while it's cold) and - a miracle of rather more chaste than the author might happen next when our jour­ the Japanese art of paper-folding - a had in mind - Ed] ney continued. I couldn't wait to blue-bowed box of chocolates! At the end of the coach I pop in to get back on the· blue train. The windows won't open. No check the shower compartment. Evening. In tux and bow-tie I head more flying grit and schoolboy This is great! There's room for two for a pre-dinner cocktail and to pranks with green bolsters; instead, or three, even four, under the exchange polite nods and a little perfect, civilised air-conditioning shower. But somebody else has conversation with the glittering and electronically controlled roll­ planned to use the shower before company at the bar. Velvet and silk down blinds. I roll them up to me - in a corner of the shower rustle and slither around in the admire the view of Krugersdorp. A cubicle there's an ice bucket with a most wonderfully exotic - but for­ knob provides a choice of four chilled, but as yet unopened, bottle mal - styles and colours. Black, sil­ music channels that, when I tried, of Veuve Cliquot. Next to it are ver, gold, wine red, midnight blue produced - on and on, for the next two champagne glasses and a sin­ ... Opium. Arpege. The Royal twenty-six hours - (1) a tape of gle, white, scented camelia. Might I Shakespeare Company has arrived Simon & Garfunkel, (2) Radio join them - if I bring my own glass, to re-create a scene from the Orient Kontrei, (3) the same tape of of course? - I fleetingly thought. Express, surely? I order a dry Simon & Garfunkel, and ( 4) Maybe not. [If you take an 'A' grade Martini, fully expecting water with silence. The magazine rack was suite, you get a shower of your own. a plastic olive. No, that's real. The sadly empty. But on the blue train Much less interesting.-Ed.] sun has set over the plains. Little there are other distractions This train glides along - no more lamps are glowing at each shim- there's that old, mering table in the demanding clatter at ----- dining car. All the door: Frikkie to have emerged introduce himself as from their cabins Man Friday for and are seated. compartment Sc, Dinner is about and to demonstrate to be served. the use of the but­ Garlic snails in ton which, genii­ phyllo pastry - a like, will conjure great starter for a him up, day or mere observer of night. romance. And I walk out into the more bubbly - corridor to read the why not? I am name tags on com­ not quite sure partment doors and exactly how see who's in. much later, but I Kuenstler, Mr & had just studied Mrs; Yamahoshi, Mr the menu to order & Mrs; Jones, Kamurai, Through the corridor my main course of Hoogeboom, Mr X and Ms Y ... breast of duck with blackberry and why, this is like boat trips used to window ... ivory lovers ginger sauce, put down my glasses be! Back to my compartment. oblivious to the passing and refocused on the tables around Strange. The blinds are down. scene . me - when, it appeared, a miracle And everything is perfectly tidied had happened. All were seated as away. Every time I leave the com­ rocking gadunk-gadunk, gadunk­ previously, but without their fabu­ partment I will discover the same gadunk .... clatter, clatter, clatter ... lous clothes. on my return: Frikkie has been in gedunk-gedunk .... remember? Why, I thought, look at Mr and to tidy - and to roll down the Gone forever. Gliding on air, this Mrs Klausewitz (a rather younger blinds. is a train for sophisticated, experi­ couple at the table opposite mine)! I head for the cocktail lounge in enced lovers in search of romance. The pearls of her necklace drooled search of conversation - when sud­ No wonder Frikkie's so preoccu­ down her gentle, lovely, left breast - denly, without lingering, you pied with keeping the blinds rolled and then tinglingly climbed back understand, I am riveted by the down. These passengers'll be up the milky right breast, just view through the little corridor win­ upsetting the sheep and station touching the pink nipple as it dow into the Yamahoshi's com­ staff from Bloemhof to De Aar and crossed to fold round under the partment. It's a charming picture beyond. All that magnificent sky loose, wispy blonde curls that straight from the golden age of and open plain viewed from the caught a shimmer of light in the

DEC '93 , JAN'94 nose~\'4?1 Pit◄ nape of her neck. Her eyes were eating the grilled crayfish in we've done the Waterfront and gleamed as she looked at him, oyster sauce (which I, too, had checked out the property market in totally absorbed; her right hand enjoyed), with forks often poised in Bantry Bay and Clifton. Thought travelled up to her mouth. When mid-air as they finished a sentence. we'd take a couple of bottles and her middle finger reached the Unhurried and relaxed, clearly all go and do some spear fishing off upper edge of her top lip, she was fine at table nine. But what Donnie's new boat. Whyn't-yuh paused, and then lightly, almost would their daughter in Seattle come along?" the voice across the not touching, she stroked back and think of this? table rumbled on. "H'm, I'm forth over the perfectly articulated "We have really got the most amaz­ thinking about it," I mumbled. I little ridge there. His mouth ing plans for marketing the new ... " had caught the eye of frau opened slightly in sympathy, as her I vaguely heard a colleague say Humpfstangl as she gaily prepared little finger came to rest on her bot­ from the far side of my table. I gave to pop a grape into the mouth of tom lip. Immediately her lips a brief nod to indicate I was duly her Bubi. A waiter steamed by closed around the tip of her finger impressed .. .. as my eyes wandered with their third bottle of wine; and in a little pouting, lingering, kiss. further down the row of glowing one gathered they'd already had a He, meanwhile, broad-shouldered, tables. I wondered how the little schnapps or two to start. Her tanned (had they just come from Yamahoshis were getting on. Ah, ample breasts bounced with glee Hawaii?, I wondered) pressing on yes, the perfectly sculpted ivory fig­ and I laughed along, nodding away with his riveting tale of success and ures were there, again, miraculous- nuttily, really beginning to enjoy adventure - what else could it be dinner on the Blue Train. Yes, that had her so enchanted? His Plet next week sounds OK by me, hand shot forward impulsively to the chaps across the table assumed stroke away an imaginary curl on I was saying. But the widow her forehead. Now and then his Tamahori knew differently. She eyes would slide down the string of raised the sweep of wavy black hair pearls and across her gentle ... gen­ from over her right eye, and winked tle .. . breasts. And then back up at me! A cold shiver whipped up again, to meet her eyes in further and down my spine - reminding conversation. me that, like the rest of the compa­ The waiter arrived to top up their ny, I had been subject to the same glasses of champagne. The spell magic ... Nobody seemed to momentarily broken, they both mind, and the widow Tamahori leaned back a little in their seats was definitely amused. I vaguely and raised the shimmering Stuart wondered if my tux might have crystal glas·ses to their lips. Perhaps found its way back in the compart­ still distracted, a few icy drops ment and was hanging neatly in its escaped from the side of his mouth little cupboard. and ran down his naked chest. She Chocolate pot with mango mousse. laughed a delighted, purring laugh, ly, liberated from their clothes, now Rich, dark coffee. A little liqueur? and lent forward to stroke the cold glowing smoothly in the yellow Drambuie - no, far too sweet and moisture across his chest with the light of the table lamp. She gentle, smoky over the scent of Arpege. tips of her fingers, then leaned back fragile; he also small but ... what Rather, a sharp clean Cointreau for again as a soft blush rose in his was the phrase? Ah, yes ... perfectly contrast and to clear the mind. cheeks and neck. His hand slid formed. At this table there was I awoke as we glided into De Aar, over hers, then slowly withdrew, something of a gentle afterglow - to see through my window a sky dragging the tips of his fingers arms, hands and expressions filled with stars - and a row of down the valleys between hers; she appeared perfectly relaxed; conver­ cheeky railway porters, lined up opened her fingers to receive his sation soft, murmuring. The bod­ under the platform lamps, ready to embrace. ies, yes, a ltogether like my gawk. Being stripped of their clothes pro­ woodcut. But the faces were a sur­ Dawn arrived at Matjiesfontein. As vided most of the gentlemen and prise. Much more animated, plas­ the sun rose and the Blue Train some of the ladies with welcome tic, amused - now a curved, raised curled down the Hex River passes release. Love is a fullsome thing. eyebrow, now an ironic little smile into the vineyards of the Cape, so My eyes travelled under the tables with just the left corner of the the magic sadly faded. A grand to the Canadian couple's table mouth. And the eyes! Oriental, English breakfast with shining rail­ where, I was pleased to find, things yes, but not those cold slit-eyes of ways silver (and boerewors with were progressing on much the the old wood cu ts; these were gravy) brought back memories of same lines, except here a finely warm, shining almonds ... mm, now long ago. Frikkie collected my suit­ shaped white foot with toes perfect­ I see what's up: he's stroking her case. We were in Cape Town sta­ ly arranged, nestled comfortably on with his eyes. Very discreet. The tion. Like all good plays, it had the inside of a black inner thigh - a blush on the delightful peaks of her ended too soon. startling Benetton image, besides cheeks could easily pass as rouge. A trip on the Blue Train is still a evoking the cool-on-hot skin touch Underneath the table their bare dream - or maybe it's something I that makes the little hairs rise on feet were in writhing embrace. ate. the backs of one's hands. They "We're going down to Plet after - Amatori

DEC '93 JAN'94 nose WEEK Season S (jreetings PUBLISHED MONTHLY WELCOME TO OUR NEW READ­ To BILL SCOTT - Happy Christmas ERS, who have received subscriptions as Dad, from T racey. Christmas gifts, with greetings as listed To DONN JOWELL - Read all about it, below! (Those that arrived too late to be do not be read about - from Clive. included in this list will have been T o YVONNE & DAVID BAXTER - info1med by letter.) - Hope you enjoy this [So do we -Ed.] - T o ANNA in Adelaide, Oz - Well I never! with love from Faith. What next? - from Bob & Gerda. To JURGEN BRENNER in Blomberg, To WILLIE L. - with love, love, love, Germany - Happy Christmas and best love, love and more love - from Hazy wishes for a corruption-free 1994, with Smalls advertisements to be Baby et al. love from Hendy & Carol. received by 1st day of month of To PETER LOUW - Happy Christmas To JOHN PLATTER - A bit de trop, publication. 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ORCHIDS - For all your orchid Archie. To BERNARD & LORETTA - Enjoy requirements phone Pelindaba To DANIEL MAPP-MORONI in Perth, noseWEEK! You're the greatest friends. Orchids (01 1) 7951140 [1613) Oz, happy Christmas from yr. Dad. Love, Shayne. KEN - Welcome to noseWEEK To CRAIG PHILLIPS in Minneapolis, from the Bali Kiteflyers Happy Christmas from Mother. and from gus Association [ 1612) Aan GERHARD SWIEGERS, Geniet dit! van Danie Uys. LOOKING FOR EXOTIC flow­ ' I To HARRY DILLEY: We wish you a ers? Call G & P F lower happy Christmas and good things for ,,- *)>~ Distributors (0 11 ) 795 1370 1994 - The Team. [1614) To HOWARD ROSS, a good Xmas and ~- T O BIG MICK from Hout Bay - a very happy year, from Gerald Nowitz. see you at the Fireman's on To BEN STOLTZ in Perth, Oz - Enjoy! - Wednesday (1632) from Danie. RICHESSE LETTER - Monthly To NICKY FOUCHE, with fond love Ill from Sally and Bob. stockmarket newsletter. Phone To ROELNA BASHEW in Georgia, 1i~~~ (021) 7979247 or Fax (021) USA: We look foward to having the • II 7626209 or write Box 23539, Bashews back in SA - maybe this will help "Have a Harry Krishna Claremont 7735 (1 664) - from Chris & Alex. and a peaceful New Year" POLITICALLY CORRECT POSTCARDS: See page 11 for Registered as a newspaper. example - R8 per pack of 8 differ­ Printed and Published by: Chaucer Publications cc, 4 Church Square, ent cards. Send cheque & posting Cape Town. Subscription rates for delivery by mail (RSA only): R104 for details to Buchu Books, PO Box one year: UK and Europe (airmail) Rl40; USA, Canada, Australasia R160. 2580, Cape Town, 8000. Inquiries to: Subscription & Syndication Services (Pty) Ltd, P O Box 44538, FOR SALE: Eight timeshare Claremont, 7735. Copyright: All material in this issue is copyright, and weeks various choice Southern belongs to Chaucer Publications cc, unless otherwise indicated. No part of Sun resorts. Reasonable. Cash. the material may be quoted, photocopied, or reproduced in any way, or be Call (021) 7903088; fax (0 21) stored by any electronic system without the prior written permission of the publisher. While every reasonable effort is taken to ensure the accuracy and 7904109. [1671) soundness of the contents of this publication, neither writers of articles nor RESIDENTIAL PLOT 1730 sq. the publisher will bear any responsibility for the consequences of any actions m peaceful village 1 hr from C based on information or recommendations contained herein. Town; Ph (021) 4395377.

DEC '93 JAN'94 ne-ws you 're not supposed to kno-w.

CHRISTMAS 1993 issue No C°i» Winnie's X.mas Wra

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C On the Prospects for '94