THE ORIGINAL SOUTH AFRICAN CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1 Needing free oxygen, are about to approach old bishop in charge (7)

5 In the end, monk fails struggling

spiritual leaders (6)

8 Relish half-dance (known as halfkalkie) at first (9)

9 Rock, for instance, is mainly mud,

so ... (5)

11 ... majority keep one damp (5) 12 Woman holds unidentified cat

a lot (9)

13 Meat from duck? Wrong mashed gnu toe! (2,6)

15 Mature - and ala carte - menu

(6)

17 Change a very loud Eastern

Cape time (6)

19 Film a chap in error (8) 22 Shrewd information contained in

home debts (9)

23 Fixer makes solicitor lose pro (5) 24 Language found in the north or

south-east (5)

25 Roman or Chinese, they scaled

and ran off (9)

26 The way things stand, I am caught in ‘put South Africa backwards’ (2,2,2)

Sword not right for protecting one fainted (7)

27

Down

1 Housing a cat? Doom coming

shortly, unfortunately (13)

2 He likes to be pragmatic about

a tip (7)

3 Finish book before rebuke (5) 4 Ringing sounds like a slip-up (8) 5 Ski-wear regularly New Zealand assembled initially with neighbour’s money (6)

6 Fruit gets fair attention (9)

7 Make of a shin what you will (7) 10 Study aint’ wrong with rising passion; it is properly packaged (13)

14 A clear winner – not out with

century on trial run (2,7) 16 Young girl lies about weapons

(8)

18 Rinse rug if showing up shapes

(7)

20 Noah and ark rejuvenate bird (7) 21 Suddenly pulls Howick’s last

willow out (6)

23 Prisoner gets energy from big

river (5)