WEDNESDAY, 4.15PM: FINANCE Minster Trevor Manuel on Wednesday confirmed reports that the Strategic Fuel Fund sold off “the bulk” of South Africa’s strategic oil reserves on government instruction, but denied that the money was sneaked into the Budget to boost revenue. “It is important to put to bed any notion that we [sold off the […]
TUESDAY, 12.45PM: AGRICULTURAL unions said on Monday they believe racial attacks on farms are escalating following the murder of two farmers in two days. Police disagree, however. Investigative ask unit spokesman Superintendent Martin Aylward said although the weekend “was a bit tough”, the police are confident that they are winning the battle against people “taking […]
TUESDAY, 12.00NOON: STRIKING transport workers on Tuesday marched from the Johannesburg Library Gardens to the offices of the National Bargaining Council in Braamfontein, on the second day of national transport workers’ strike. Talks between unions and the Road Freight Employers’ Association on wages and subsistence allowances broke down last week, and seven unions are involved […]
MONDAY, 3.30PM: GOVERNMENT is planning to set specific inflation targets to guide the South African Reserve Bank toward a more clearly defined goal, despite the opinion of Reserve Bank governor Chris Stals that South Africa is not ready for such a move. Stals said he supports the idea of inflation targets set by the government, […]
MONDAY, 3.30PM: JACQUES KALLIS scored his 11th first-class century in a SuperSport Series match against Northerns at Centurion Park on Sunday, four days before the start of the first Test against Sri Lanka at Newlands in Cape Town on Thursday. Kallis was dismissed by Nelson on 111, and HD Ackerman, unbeaten on 95, was looking […]
MONDAY, 12.30PM: THE Coastal sharks ended the ACT Brumbies’ record of two seasons without a home loss on Saturday, when they slashed into the Australians with a 41-23 victory in their Super-12 match at the Bruce Stadium in Canberra. Sharks coach Ian McIntosh, who is arguably the most experienced coach in the Super-12, showed his […]
Obituary Taffy and David Adler Ray Harmel (n,e Adler), veteran anti-apartheid activist and a member of the South African Communist Party, the Garment Workers Union and the African National Congress died in London on March 11 at the age of 91. Known for her tenacious, unswerving and principled support for worker and human rights, she […]
The battle for a free Namibia has been won, but the Herero people still suffer from a defeat at German hands in 1904, writes John Grobler In the small, dusty graveyard of Usakos, Adelheid Tjijorokisa-Ndjavera points to headstones marking the graves of her family. The impressive headstone of Karl-Heinrich Knaeble, born in Oberndorf, Bavaria, and […]
Robert Kirby: Loose Cannon Gnaw on this dainty bone if you will. “The unfair labour practice provisions and provisions against dismissal for arbitrary reasons and unfair dismissal for incapacity should provide some protection.” Or what about this plum, in reply to the question: What is sexual harassment? “The imposition of unwanted conduct of a sexual […]
Angella Johnson No road signs mark the way to China Town. Unlike its wealthy neighbours which flaunt thatched-roof mansions to passing motorists, the impoverished township lies concealed behind a curtain of tall leafy trees. Also hidden in this dusty informal settlement – tucked between St Francis Bay and the Cape St Francis resort village in […]