Tensions between the Inkatha Freedom Party and the African National Congress have hit new heights over a land reform Bill and a draft White Paper on traditional leadership.

A procedural hiccup has delayed the widely expected appointment of Judge Dikgang Moseneke to the Constitutional Court. It is understood the DA leader, Tony Leon, objected to the manner of consultation from the presidency.

Parliament’s watchdog on government spending, the public accounts committee, has effectively passed on financial oversight of the intelligence sector to the joint standing committee on intelligence, which as a rule sits behind closed doors.

Cricket World Cup spectators beware! Closed-circuit television cameras may sniff you out and criminal courts penalise you if you wear T-shirts with logos of the wrong soft-drink company.

Under the banner ”Making South Africa work for you”, a New National Party federal congress this weekend is set to tout the cooperation pact with the ruling African National Congress as a way of giving minorities a voice in South Africa.

One of the five strategic investment projects Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel mentioned in his mini-budget to emphasise South Africa’s investment friendliness had already fallen by the wayside when he rose in Parliament on Tuesday.

The Democratic Alliance has delayed to next March a Western Cape party conference that is widely expected to oust Gerald Morkel as the party’s provincial leader. The conference, scheduled for November 2, was postponed by unanimous decision of the management committee.

Mudslinging, grandstanding and a numbers war dominated the second week of floor crossing, as the Democratic Alliance and the New National Party intensified their drive for the hearts and minds of about 300 DA councillors who have not declared themselves.

The controversial heart of the Broadcasting Amendment Bill was largely ignored at this week’s parliamentary hearings, which were dominated by sectional grievances and discussions on patriotism. Complaints against the SABC included its failure to reflect all official languages and cultural diversity.

Eight children aged between seven and 13 are serving jail terms ranging from six months to 24 years in five provinces — a tiny proportion of the 1 803 children younger than 18 doing time, Department of Correctional Services statistics show.