One of the country’s most conservative church communities faces a showdown over its apparent failure to grant equal rights to women. The Reformed Churches in South Africa kicked off a 10-day synod in Potchefstroom where the ordaination of women will be voted on.

Sandy Nefolovhodwe* is a satisfied mother — as satisfied as a mother whose child was raped can be. Her husband raped his mentally challenged 11-year-old daughter. But now justice has been done.

The Madiba stamp of approval endorsed the long-awaited R80-million private sector programme to extend free anti-retroviral drug treatment to thousands of people living with HIV/Aids at a gala dinner this week.

The Cabinet this week gave its official backing to the deployment of a top-level management team to overhaul government and social delivery in the Eastern Cape.

Deputy President Jacob Zuma’s spokesperson Lakela Kaunda said Zuma ”vehemently denies” the allegations of bribery made against him. ”He believes the allegations are baseless, mischievous and unfortunate as he has not been involved in any such unlawful activity…” she said.

The Landless People’s Movement is warning that farm invasions will take place if the government does not start taking action on the restitution of claims. This warning came after an attempt by claimants to invade the Lohatlha Army Battle School.

HIV/Aids is the main cause of death among females between the ages of 15 and 39, but the majority of South Africans who died between 1997 and last year did so from unnatural causes.

A lobby group of Afrikaner intellectuals warned the government on Thursday that the recent wave of bombings is a clear sign of serious alienation felt by Afrikaners in South Africa. They called on Mbeki to acknowledge their minority interest and protect their language.

”In Africa, all roads lead to Jozi. Follow planes in African skies — from London, Atlanta, Delhi — or trace the dust behind African buses or the direction of footprints and you are more likely to end up in Joburg than anywhere else. Ah, Johannesburg, the world’s most underrated city”.