Khadija Magardie Current research indicates that at least one in every 10 South Africans will contract a new sexually transmitted disease (STD) this year. According to Department of Health statistics, the numbers of STDs are spiralling. Every year over four million new cases are reported. Given the close association between STDs and HIV/Aids, it is […]

Paul Kirk Prince Gideon Zulu, the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for welfare, is apparently allowing a close friend to sell state pensioners private funeral policies at pension pay points across the province. The private insurance scheme does not make a provision for policyholders to designate a beneficiary, entitling its operators to pay out their takings to whomever […]

Barry Streek Minister of Correctional Services Ben Skosana has told Parliament that there were only 2E600 known HIV cases in South African prisons at the end of December last year. His figures of HIV-infected prisoners have, however, been hotly disputed by the Democratic Party. In reply to questions tabled in the National Assembly by Johann […]

Jill Waterman FNB Vita Dance Umbrella has a record 200 entries for this year’s Johannesburg contemporary dance platform. The development and promotion of contemporary dance is the key concept driving the Dance Umbrella and the sister dance festivals in Cape Town, Durban and Grahamstown. FNB Vita is clearly achieving its goals through the success and […]

Andy Capostagno RUGBY The first time anybody mentioned cost was when the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) suggested that it could not afford the extra camera(s) required to assist the “tellyref”. Until that moment the Super 12 was the competition where size mattered and money was no object. Now Australia wants not one, but […]

Deon Potgieter BOXING An air of eager anticipation was present as the combatants of the “Night of the Legends” boxing tournament, to be staged at Carnival City on Saturday night, came face to face on Tuesday afternoon at the pre-fight medical. Although the main event between “Baby” Jake Matlala and Hawk Makepula has captivated fans, […]

A TEAM from French car manufacturer Peugeot arrived in Gabarone, Botswana on Thursday for talks about bailing out Hyundai’s bankrupt car assembly plant. The 193-million pula ($41-million) plant, Botswana’s biggest manufacturing enterprise, was placed under temporary liquidation last month after it could not service loans of about $127-million. The talks with Peugeot follow similar ones […]

Marlene Burger The marathon trial of Dr Wouter Basson degenerated into a clash of legal wills this week after the extraordinary demand by the state prosecutor that the presiding Judge, Willie Hartzenberg, step down. After searching in vain for legal precedent, lawyers on both sides concluded that this was probably the first time in South […]

Christian Figenschou In what is likely to be one of the year’s most important new car launches, Italian car maker Fiat has marked an aggressive leap into the local market with the introduction of its 178 “world car” range, comprising the Fiat Palio hatchback, the Palio Weekend station wagon and the Siena sedan. Fiat, which […]

Howard Barrell OVER A BARREL You are not alone if you, too, are beginning to think that Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe is a few marbles short of a full bag. It is not a question on which we should expect our own Thabo Mbeki or his officials to comment. They are currently engaged in manoeuvres to […]