Cheri Ann James
Guest Author
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/ 30 November 2004

Putting the government’s HIV/Aids plan to the test

<img src="http://www.mg.co.za/ContentImages/142915/aids_icon.gif" align=left>A year ago the government approved a national plan for the management, care and treatment of HIV/Aids. Its aim was to provide free anti-retroviral drugs in the public health sector. The HIV prevalence rates range from an estimated 13,1% in the Western Cape to a very high 37,5% of adults in KwaZulu-Natal. A <i>M&G</i> assessment as World Aids Day approaches reveals the leaders and laggards.

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/ 24 November 2004

A home of her own

Housing is a major issue on the social agenda, but policy and planning are often gender-blind and fail to acknowledge that men and women have different housing needs. This often forces women to live in unsafe places or stay in abusive relationships. Women’s participation in housing policy and design is necessary to break these patterns, say organisations working in the field.

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/ 21 October 2004

SA greats the list missed

Eminence and popularity are not necessarily our criteria. Many of our 20 outstanding South Africans are unsung, but all have shaped our country through their talent, courage and leadership. Among those that the Great South Africans show forgot are Breyten Breytenbach, Victoria Mxenge, Ruth First and Ray Alexander.

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/ 29 September 2004

Gathering steam

South Africa could be heading towards a crisis that will see the country being unable to meet its energy needs by 2007. Frequent power cuts at peak times may become the norm unless we develop alternative and efficient energy sources. But an innovative, locally produced stove is turning South Africa on to efficient alternatives to electricity.

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/ 17 September 2004

Sympathy, not standstill

The national public service strike did not succeed in shutting down South Africa on Thursday. But the government was wrong-footed by the strike turnout and the extent of public sympathy for the action, according to a strategically placed observer. While the strike call appears to have drawn a patchy response, the government was caught on the hop by the extent of public sympathy for teachers, nurses and other civil servants.

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/ 13 July 2004

Summit to raise TB awareness

The National Tuberculosis (TB) Control Programme of the Department of Health will be hosting the First Coalition against Tuberculosis Summit on July 14, it was announced at a media briefing in Johannesburg on Monday. The national director of the TB control programme, said employers need to be educated about TB and the treatment thereof.

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/ 6 July 2004

Govt denies Diepsloot claims

Authorities were on Tuesday busy with negotiations as day two of unrest in the Diepsloot community north-west of Johannesburg played out. Residents of Diepsloot took to the streets on Monday in a violent protest against an alleged move to relocate them from Diepsloot to Brits.

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/ 6 July 2004

SAA chief Andre Viljoen resigns

South African Airways president and chief executive officer Andre Viljoen has resigned — although his contract was due to end only in 2006. Viljoen’s resignation will be effective from August 31. Acting board chairperson Tshidi Mokgabudi said: ”Mr Oyama Mabandla, currently deputy CEO, has been appointed acting chief executive from September 1, 2004.”

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/ 5 July 2004

Rubber bullets fly in Diepsloot

Eleven people have been arrested in connection with violence that erupted in Diepsloot when residents were protesting their removal to Brits near Pretoria, police said on Monday. Earlier on Monday residents of the area burnt two city council buildings in protest at their removal to Brits "without any reason".