Litnet

Phoenix, Durban, was a flashpoint in the recent violence and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Freek Robinson interviews members of a peace committee, Sham Maharaj and Nonku Zungu.

"This is a fascinating book. But ultimately it is the victim of its own ego. It attempts too much and provides only a superficial gloss of the events that continue to intrigue and unsettle us as a nation."

In this episode of his monthly podcast David Attwell talks to Margie Orford about crime writing and her Clare Hart series of crime novels, which ended with the publication of Water Music in 2013.

A highly readable, dramatic story of a colourful South African journey in politics lasting over 50 years, from anti-apartheid protester to Right Honourable Lord, from Pretoria childhood to senior British Cabinet Minister.

"Kleynhans researched Hitler’s spies for his PhD thesis, and, as might be expected, he has included a superb bibliography, which will keep serious students of the Second World War history of South Africa reading for years to come."

"Yet the very legitimate criticisms of American actions are not being applied to South Africa’s present involvement in Mozambique’s civil war ... South Africa should not replicate America’s grievous mistakes."

"Much like a knight errant, the poet is in search of poetry. His life is a quest of refining the technique."

Imtiaz Sooliman shares with Freek Robinson his late-night calls to get people out of hostage situations and evacuate them from countries under siege, and how, right now, he is involving foreign governments yet again to help South Africans under siege.

"The words were in your eyes, I could see them 
rise and crest in your eyes and roll and stretch 
and break in hers, leaving her awash."

You are invited to a webinar on 19 August presented by Antjie Krog. The theme of the seminar is "Mhudi (Sol Plaatje) and The cry of Winnie Mandela (Njabulo Ndebele) and possible new ways of reading".

The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) joined other academies from the G20 countries to develop and sign two joint statements on pressing global issues to be addressed.

"Noise draws together statistical research to show how skewed judgement can be in fields from criminal justice to medicine, public health to economics, human resources to child protection – and just how rampant the problem is."

"Because everyone had to work from home, men expected to be able to close the door and get online and work without interruptions, while the mothers had to face the expanding care work and interruptions."

Fred Khumalo: "The riskier the choice I make, the more rewarding it is for me as a writer."

"It was superbly put together. I would give Devilsdorp a ten out of ten on the psychometer."

Every decision we make is a decision about the future. We constantly make choices that affect the next week, year or decade, but get blinded by what we want or expect the future to be.

"The promise is a major achievement, fully deserving its place on the Man Booker Prize longlist."

"I write young adult fiction because firstly, I've always been a fan of YA books and secondly, I am a high school teacher so I spend my days with teenagers."

"I have dreamt of this day for over a decade. Despite the numerous obstacles we faced putting this bid together, the planets seem to have aligned and in little over three months time we will know whether our bid to Unesco has been successful."

"This book is a must-read for anyone looking to harness their courage and curiosity to build a rewarding, fulfilling future for themselves."