Dawie Roodt South Africa has certain serious economic shortcomings, such as a lack of sufficient savings, investments, job creation and economic growth in general. It is widely accepted that governments should provide a social safety net and redistribute income. However, the extent of this redistribution in South Africa is so large that it may affect […]

FIVE builders from Britain who volunteered to build a school in the remote Kenyan village of Watamu, were rewarded by being made tribal elders, the British press reported on Friday.The men, who worked 15-hour shifts for two weeks without pay, were appointed elders of the million-strong Girimia tribe at a ceremony attended by 5000 people. […]

Do annual government budgets really matter? A great fuss invariably accompanies them and they attract a degree of examination which seems quite disproportionate for what they usually turn out to be. In fact, the annual budget is really little more than a household accounting of how much money will be needed to pay for the […]

Belinda Beresford Anyone wanting to follow American President Bill Clinton’s lead with Monica Lewinsky in developing novel uses for cigars had better stock up on their favourites before any enjoyment wanes in the face of a 3 669% increase in excise duty. Cigar aficionados will pay an extra R7,33 per 23g in excise charges, up […]

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a syndrome that affects the entire South African society. Aaron Nicodemus investigates After being raped by a gang of four police officers 10 years ago, Thandi Shezi (26) could not even look at a man without shaking. She jumped at loud noises and the smell of a man’s sweat made her […]

Peter Dickson Eastern Cape pensioners almost went without their welfare grants this month when a dispute arose on pay-out day following allegations that teenagers were receiving pension payments. The villages of Dyantyi and Makapela in the Centane district have been feuding for generations, and allegations of corruption in monthly pension payments sparked the latest row. […]

police New evidence has emerged that arch-rivals David Ntombela and Sifiso Nkabinde were both security police informers. Mail & Guardian reporters investigate Two of KwaZulu-Natal’s most notorious warlords – seemingly on opposite sides of the political fence – were agents of the security police and were at one stage handled by the same policeman. Sifiso […]

the Congo Howard Barrell The Angolan government has withdrawn most of its forces from the Democratic Republic of Congo in recent weeks, because they are needed in the war against Unita. This leaves Congolese President Laurent Kabila’s regime dangerously exposed to a new rebel offensive. Angola has pulled back troops, air support and logistics. This […]

ANGLOGOLD and Iamgold announced an initial estimate of 1,9-million ounces of gold for the Yatela deposit, located 25km north of the Sadiola Gold Mine in Mali, West Africa. Yatela is owned by the 50:50 Anglogold/Iamgold joint venture, Sadex. The estimate was based on 455 boreholes totalling 21381 samples. “The resource estimates will continue to be […]

The municipal demarcation board is a milestone for local democracy, writes Minister of Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development Valli Moosa The president appointed the municipal demarcation board, chaired by Michael Sutcliffe, on February 1. It is charged with probably the most critical task in the transformation of local government. An independent selection panel, chaired by […]