Single currency for Southern Africa?
Tumi MakgetlaThe same currency will be traded from Kinshasa to Kimberley, if the vision of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is realised. The SADC hopes to create a free trade area by 2008, a customs union by 2010, a common market by 2015 and an economic and monetary union by 2018. As envisaged, the monetary union would resemble the European Union.
From the Asian Tigers to Kerala
Tumi MakgetlaPredictions that the African National Congress (ANC) would shift its policies leftwards were confirmed by the outcomes of the commissions at the ANC policy conference on strategy and tactics this week. The ANC will formally adopt the interventionist strategies that the state has been taking recently.
Botswana's small step for fashion
Tumi MakgetlaTumi Makgetla speaks to fashion designer Mpho Kuaho from Botswana who has dressed models for the Durban July horse race.
Eliminating indiscriminate poisoning
Tumi MakgetlaA vulture swooping down on a piece of meat cannot know that the juicy morsel might be its last meal. But, when farmers put poisoned meat around their farms to protect their herds from predators, it can result in the deaths of game and wild fowl in the area. Pesticides used to reduce vegetation and protect grazing land might harm wildlife also.
The true measure of a latté
Tumi MakgetlaThe flush Mail & Guardian reader might not mind spending almost R40 in Angola on his or her favourite weekly newspaper, but he or she would get better value in Malawi, where the paper is only R12,96. In South Africa the M&G costs R14,90. Looking at the purchasing power of different currencies can provide a more meaningful understanding of how they compare than the official exchange rate.
Bling school welcomes you
Tumi MakgetlaTumi Makgetla profiles Intsika, a jewellery school in the East Rand
SA books go online
Tumi MakgetlaPublishing group hopes to digitise about a quarter of a million local titles, writes Tumi Makgetla
A thaw in the virtual wage freeze
Tumi MakgetlaIn 2001/02 state employees received below-inflation pay hikes. But, in the past four years, hikes have been above inflation, though the nominal increase fell from 8,5% in 2003 to 5,3% last year. In addition, working in the public sector is much less lucrative than in the private sector. The median wage for workers with tertiary degrees in the private sector is R8 000. In the public sector it is R6 000.
Designers with precious mettle
Tumi MakgetlaLocal jewellery design needs more than creativity to become a vibrant sector of the economy, writes Tumi Makgetla
'Our demands are simple and straightforward'
Tumi MakgetlaPublic servants expressed their determination to continue their indefinite strike this week, closing down schools across the country and interrupting hospital and other government services. Union organisers planned to "shut down the government" on Friday, buoyed by support from the Congress of South African Trade Unions central executive committee.
