I have lost count of the number of unwinnable debates I have held in the past few years with friends who are media ideologues. The essence of the discussion has been the same. It is that: "Rapule, we know you; you were a comrade but, unfortunately, you work for the capitalist media and he who pays the piper calls the tune."
It has been described by one newspaper as "splitting the Premier Soccer League [PSL] down the middle." But what Finance Minister Trevor Manuel described as "morally reprehensible" commission payments amounting to hundreds of millions of rands to PSL officials has seemingly united 45-million South Africans in outraged opposition to the professional soccer organisation.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown ruled out an early election on Saturday in what the opposition Conservatives called a humiliating retreat after polls showed his lead over them had evaporated. Brown, who took over from Tony Blair three months ago, had allowed his Labour Party to fan speculation in recent weeks that he would hold an early election.
South African Broadcasting Corporation board deputy chairperson Christine Qunta has demanded the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) stop publishing defamatory material about her. Qunta's legal representatives sent a letter in this regard to the TAC on Wednesday, her lawyer, Athol Gordon, said.
South Africa's acting chief prosecutor said on Tuesday he would investigate police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi amid reports a warrant had been issued for his arrest for links to organised crime. Mokotedi Mpshe, acting director of the National Prosecuting Authority, said he could confirm an investigation of Selebi was under way.
There were a number of instances where a breakdown in the working relationship with Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Brigitte Mabandla was discussed with suspended National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli. This is according to government spokesperson Themba Maseko, who was speaking at a press conference in Pretoria on Monday.
The suspension of South Africa's National Director of Public Prosecutions amid silence by President Thabo Mbeki has led to concerns of government meddling in the country's justice system. Mbeki's integrity came under fire as his suspension of National Prosecuting Authority chief Vusi Pikoli was linked to the alleged pending arrest of police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi.
The controversial Sandi Majali -- known for his central role in the Oilgate and Iraq oil-for-food scandals -- has been named in a forensic audit into the disappearance of more than R100-million meant for starving children in the Eastern Cape, the Sunday Times reported.
Full-colour advertisements placed in a number of national newspapers on Friday by the Health Department defending its Minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, were a waste of taxpayers' money, the Democratic Alliance said. The United Democratic Movement also criticised the advertisements.
South African President Thabo Mbeki came under mounting pressure over the weekend to explain his suspension of the country's top prosecutor, a controversial move weeks before a crunch vote on his leadership of the African National Congress (ANC).
African National Congress (ANC) succession battles are unlikely to be a feature of President Thabo Mbeki's imbizo (meeting) in the Ladysmith this weekend, according to local party bosses and analysts. Mbeki's visit will be the first presidential imbizo in the province since allegations that certain ANC members were trying to make the province a no-go area for Mbeki.
The Democratic Alliance is to ask President Thabo Mbeki questions in Parliament relating to National Prosecuting Authority head Vusi Pikoli's suspension and the reported warrant of arrest issued for police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi. The party's parliamentary leader Sandra Botha said it was "imperative that the president informs the nation".
The editor of the Sunday Times and one of its journalists will be arrested this week to face charges of being illegally in possession of the health minister's medical records. Editor Mondli Makhanya and deputy managing editor Jocelyn Maker will be hauled to Cape Town in connection with charges of theft and contravention of the National Health Act.
Cape Town lawyer Christine Qunta on Monday welcomed the Sunday Times's retraction of defamatory statements made by the newspaper against her, saying the apology was proof that the principle of media accountability was being upheld.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Thursday rejected the proposed shortlist of candidates to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board. An emergency resolution was brought before the union body's central committee in Kempton Park, Gauteng, by three member unions.
African countries should make use of intellectual provisions to protect their innovations when it comes to African traditional medicines, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Monday. "Africa should make use of intellectual-property provisions to protect its innovation with regard to indigenous knowledge and African traditional medicine," she said Johannesburg.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Public Protector to complain about the Health Department's advertisements placed in various newspapers last week to protest against a judge's failure to interdict the Sunday Times over its reports on the medical records of Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
The Constitutional Court ruling on Tuesday dismissing Schabir Shaik's application to appeal his conviction and sentence for corruption and fraud may have cleared the way for presidential hopeful Jacob Zuma to face corruption charges again, the latest twist in a political drama gripping the country.
African National Congress funder Sandi Majali -- known for his role in the Oilgate scandal -- is to sue the Sunday Times for defamation following its story implicating him in the disappearance of money meant for an Eastern Cape school feeding scheme.
