World powers neared consensus on a statement warning North Korea against a nuclear test on Friday amid speculation that the state might detonate a device deep inside an abandoned mine as early as this weekend. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, making his first public appearance since the Stalinist state vowed on Tuesday to conduct a nuclear test, held a meeting to rally army commanders.
Pundits say South Africa stands to lose millions in revenue if negative reports continue to cast doubt on the country’s structural capacity to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup. They warn that once negative perceptions take root in the public mind, South Africa will be in a position similar to that of Athens — where persistent doubtful reports about Greece’s readiness resulted in the 2004 Olympic Games taking place in front of half-empty stadiums.
The empty Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban spoke volumes. A meeting to mark the centenary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi’s pacifist movement had been successfully hijacked to embarrass President Thabo Mbeki. When the crowds heard that ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma was not going to address them, they booed and sang Zuma’s anthem, Umshini Wam, in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Mounting anger in the ANC parliamentary caucus over the political management of the Travelgate scandal is focused on chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe, who has been accused by some of those facing charges of sacrificing them to protect more powerful party figures.
An ageing group of former Mau Mau insurgents will launch a legal action in Britain next week accusing the army and colonial authorities of torturing or illegally killing thousands of Kenyans during the rebellion for independence 50 years ago. Lawyers say they will serve notice on the British Foreign Office of an intent to seek compensation for human rights abuses for a group of about 10 Kenyans.
The probe into whether or not the SABC news and current affairs department had a blacklist of commentators who were banned from its airwaves is finally complete. The board received the report from CEO Dali Mpofu this week, though spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago could not say when it would be publicly released.
Trade union federation Cosatu is sometimes described as a labour aristocracy, an island of privileged workers earning relatively high salaries surrounded by a sea of unemployed. Cosatu’s own figures appear to back this up: a survey for the union federation shows that its members earn a median R3 500 a month.
The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has protested to University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) vice-chancellor Malegapuru Makgoba about a "severe decline" in academic freedom and a "climate of fear" on the UKZN campus. Na’eem Jeenah, head of the FXI’s anti-censorship programme, was reacting to the bringing of disciplinary action against sociology academic Fazel Khan.
Superintendent Joe Odendaal’s old-fashioned courtesy and gentle air belie his track record as a tough cop who gets things done. "What does safe mean? One incident is one too many," he retorts dismissively. "We are not interested in sitting around patting ourselves on the back. Our goal is to achieve a crime-free area, and we need to improve continuously to get there."
Denny Mushrooms landed in hot fat this week when two employees were nabbed for allegedly defrauding the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market. A vendor who buys from the market was also buttoned. The market is deeply worried about the mushrooming losses from suppliers dodging the payment of commission.