THE ORIGINAL SOUTH AFRICAN CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1 An essential feature of Verstappen dice – somatically – was supplements (10)

7 Sunset dust – when the last elephant makes way for the first krokodil (4)

9 No time to excite parrot (8) 10 Equate speech to slow-growing

crusty plant (6)

11 Tackle school about bad art (6) 13 Join in and play a role (4,4)

14 A very soft fish blasted by golf

stroke (8,4)

17 Nobody directed son inside finally, oddly it was not absolutely necessary (12) 20 Small copper gets vinyl to right

artist (8)

21 It can ruin retirement so pray

about developing bud (3,3) 22 Agent brought back after

pathetic Jumbo (6)

23 Many don’t need book at first; education is being able to do arithmetic (8)

25 Churn inside, amidst irritation (4) 26 Keeps top first communion (4,6)

Down

2 Injured hip and cheek accompanying detective in Cape Town area (8)

3 Fumed about wings being

chopped off bird (3)

4 The ad spells the end (5)

5 Loathe coming up after

revolutionary speedster (7) 6 Stay well, South Africa – 1/3 laughs, 2/5 kaput, and mostly hale! (4,5)

7 Sliced top off accumulated funds (not pounds) and original takings in action (11)

8 Woman sits on posh car with

ultimate larney drink (6)

12 Early inhabitant was regular satyr and then, with change of heart, loser (11)

15 A woman made true hearty salad

without any dressing (2,7) 16 Airline guest loses second empty

toilette roll (8)

18 Jumps to get into Gauteng living

area (7)

19 Fringes of overenthusiastic trendy group invite the supernatural (6)

21 Blows up balloons, banks,

around wild mob (5)

24 Tear into sad farewell (3)