A small child — he cannot be older than 10 — weighs a brick in his right hand. He’s wearing dusty school shoes, torn pants and a dirty jersey that is too big for him. Behind him, another child walks towards the camera with a larger stone.
These children were taking part in a service-delivery protest this week in Thokoza on the East Rand, among thousands who took to the streets of South Africa against grinding poverty and the government’s perceived lack of interest in their plight.
In Primarashni Gower’s
Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni was forced out of the job. This is the unanimous conclusion of people who were party to discussions about his replacement at the highest levels of government.
2. Concourt dark horse takes the lead
He has long been tipped as an outsider for the top judicial job in the country, but Sandile Ngcobo now seems a firm favourite as the race to replace Pius Langa as chief justice enters the home stretch.
3. America’s first lady and ours
I’m suffering from a serious bout of Michelle Obama envy. Is it her role as the United States’s first African-American first lady, you ask — her stylish wardrobe, her own professional accomplishments aside from being Mrs Obama, her seriously sexy buff arms? No.
4. Ten new TV channels — and 10 new problems
South Africa’s television landscape is being redesigned right now, but there are significant problems and wasted opportunities.
5. Protests press Zuma to live up to promises
Violent riots and threats of a fresh wave of crippling labour strikes may force South African President Jacob Zuma to deliver quickly on election promises and risk scaring investors in Africa’s biggest economy.
6. Zuma’s breath of fresh air’
There is a “glasnost” emanating from the higher reaches of the Zuma government that is as refreshing as it is welcome.
7. A cold day in hell
African National Congress (ANC) spokesperson Jessie Duarte’s call for the University of the Free State’s new rector and vice-chancellor, Jonathan Jansen, to apologise for comments he made about Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga should be dismissed for what it is: a thuggish threat.
8. Bheki Cele named SA’s new police chief
Bheki Cele has been appointed South Africa’s new police boss. He replaces embattled former police national commissioner Jackie Selebi, whose contract expires on Friday.
9. Seacom completes 17 000km under-sea cable
Seacom on Thursday announced that its 1,28 terabytes per second, 17 000km submarine fibre-optic cable system linking Southern and East Africa to global networks via India and Europe has been completed and commissioned.
10. South Africa tests African-made Aids vaccine
South Africa has launched human trials of the first African-produced HIV vaccine, as scientists seek new approaches to battling Aids in the world’s worst-affected country.