Mariette Le Roux
Guest Author
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/ 4 November 2007

Mbeki takes flak as ANC battle nears finale

After eight years at the helm of Africa’s economic powerhouse, Thabo Mbeki cuts an increasingly lonely figure as the battle for the reins of the African National Congress (ANC) approaches its finale. As well as taking fresh blows from his political foes, the president has also become the target of senior ANC party members.

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/ 31 October 2007

Jake White steps down as Bok coach

A bitter Jake White announced on Wednesday that he is to quit as coach of South Africa’s World Cup-winning rugby team, accusing Springbok bosses of bouncing him out of the job. White, who has been linked to coaching positions with rival national sides, said he would take the team to Britain next month for matches against Wales the Barbarians.

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/ 28 October 2007

Slowdown takes shine off SA’s mini-budget

As South Africa’s economic growth slows and inflation heats up, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel will present a medium-term budget on Tuesday with decidedly less to smile about than six months ago. While analysts expect Manuel to be more cautious in his revenue predictions, they believe past prudence has left him with enough room for manoeuvre.

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/ 23 September 2007

Alcohol ravages De Aar’s children

Hundreds of children in the Northern Cape dustbowl town of De Aar have been diagnosed with foetal alcohol syndrome, giving the town the unenviable distinction of the world’s highest reported incidence of the condition. Unfortunately, alcohol’s grip on the community will be hard to loosen.

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/ 30 August 2007

ANC set to benefit from floor-crossing

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) is set to entrench its political dominance with a 15-day window period opening this week to allow elected officials to swap party allegiance without losing their seats. The opposition is likely to be further fragmented as representatives at the national, provincial and municipal government levels are free to cross the floor.

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/ 18 August 2007

SADC: Zim’s problems ‘exaggerated’

Southern African leaders failed on Friday to heed calls for strong action against the embattled Zimbabwean government, saying the ailing country’s problems are ”exaggerated”. ”We feel they [Zimbabwe] will solve their economic problems,” the chairperson of the Southern African Development Community told journalists.