MILITARY personnel are now allowed to join labour unions, following a Constitutional Court ruling on Wednesday, but this does not give them the right to go on strike. The Court has confirmed a 1998 Pretoria High Court ruling that an Defence Act ban on military personnel belonging to unions is unconstitutional. The South African National […]
THURSDAY, 1.30PM: THE Sports Ministry mooted legislation on Wednesday enabling it to intervene in sports affairs “when things go wrong”. The Sports and Recreation Department is responsible for promoting sports and recreation, but has no statutory authority to do so. In addition, the duplication of the functions of the department and those of other sports […]
By the time the next issue of this newspaper hits the streets our second general election will be over, Thabo Mbeki will be president-elect (as opposed to designate), the African National Congress will be the ruling party (probably with a two-thirds majority, as well as with KwaZulu-Natal) and many of our readers will no doubt […]
Aids was a topic this week on SAfm’s morning talk show, hosted by Tim Modise. Donald G McNeil Jnr responds to some of the issues raised Dear Tim Modise, Iam the New York Times reporter who wrote the story about chimpanzees that are the source of the Aids virus being shot for the pot in […]
Howard Barrell Over a Barrel A senior member of our new security and intelligence apparatus, who has professional frustrations the like of which could give a hippopotamus anorexia, has begun sounding more cheerful recently. “Why?” I asked him a few weeks ago. “Because,” he said, “things are going to change. We are getting ourselves a […]
Mauresmo enters this week’s French Open with her sexuality as much an issue as her tennis, reports Stephen Bierley `They exaggerate. You wonder what they are talking about. Complete bullshit. If I paid attention to everything that has been written since Australia, then I would be hiding in the house. I said everything then, so […]
Thabo Mbeki and the African National Congress are set to romp home next Wednesday, June 2, with about 70% of the vote – well over the two-thirds majority that excites ANC supporters and horrifies the opposition. The turnout across the country should be high, averaging out at about 90% of registered voters. Apart from the […]
again A Super 12 rugby victory has once more slipped away from SouthAfrica. Andy Capostagno looks at some of the reasons for the failure Prepare the cold soup, it’s an all-New Zealand final. The Super 12 has again eluded a South African team, just when it seemed that the Stormers offered the best chance since […]
Tara Turkington Northern Cape Premier Manne Dipico is confident he will be back in his office the week after next. At 40, the country’s youngest premier is charming in a down-to-earth and engaging way. “Take me as Manne, man,” he says with a flick of his wrist, “I’m just Manne.” Dipico stayed the five-year distance […]
Donna Block The bullion price has sunk to new 20-year lows amid heavy fund selling, and the barbarians are at the gate once again. Most analysts agree the short-term outlook for gold is decisively negative. Traders, speculators and hedge funds are taking advantage of that negative sentiment and keeping the downward pressure on the metal […]