South African scientists’ research on gamma rays has helped an international astronomy team win a top European Union award — and their technology could also be in your washing machine. ”We effectively stood in the shoes of people like Galileo,” said Professor Okkie de Jager of North West University in Potchefstroom on Monday.

South Africa has the most Aids orphans in the world, according to a United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) report released this week. The report focused on data from 2005. It found that a total of 15,2-million children around the world had lost at least one parent to HIV/Aids. Most of these children were in sub-Saharan Africa — and 1,2-million were in SA.

A South African soldier’s passion for military memorabilia led him to buy a set of medals belonging to executed Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein — and they are now on display in Johannesburg. ”Medals tell the story of a country,” said William Endley, a retired South African National Defence Force colonel now working for a United States de-mining company.