If the Sowetan crossword has become a little less challenging these past two weeks, blame James Ndhlovu.

If the Sowetan crossword has become a little less challenging these past two weeks, blame James Ndhlovu.

Thirty-plus crosswords ago, Ndhlovu, called to say that though he enjoyed doing our crossword, he rarely experienced that thrill of completing it before the next day's paper.

"Please make it easier. not too easy, mind you," he said."I only have a small pocket dictionary and no access to the Internet."

You do not need a computer, just a good dictionary and a fairly average knowledge about sport, art, entertainment, science and technology, geography, literature, current affairs, politics and well-known personalities.

Our crossword is not only about the thrill of completing it, but more about whetting the appetite for knowledge and increasing one's vocabulary.

Ndhlovu's call came as we were celebrating the 100th edition of Sowetan crossword, so the compiler, veteran journalist Maleho Mosimane, presented him with a dictionary and a crossword dictionary.

An overjoyed Ndhlovu, who matriculated from Morris Isaacson High School in White City Jabavu, Soweto, in the early 1970s, was overjoyed.

He said: "The Sowetan crossword is very challenging. I've learnt many new words and my general knowledge has improved immensely."