The revamp of the public sector is a major thrust of government’s commitment to delivery, reports Madeleine Wackernagel The 10,4% increase in total expenditure is higher than expected, mainly owing to the R6- billion allotted to improvement of conditions of service. The process of restructuring the public service is expensive in the first year, says […]

The new Constitution could give local government a better place in the hierarchy, writes Marion Edmunds The new Constitution is likely to raise local government from its Cinderella status to a position in the new South Africa where it can compete with its two ugly sisters, national and provincial government, for revenue and political status. […]

The Open Democracy Bill has already been before a Cabinet committee and is expected to go before the full Cabinet in the next three weeks. It is a long and complex Bill intended to give teeth to the government’s undertaking to give meaning to the idea of open democracy. If enacted, the Bill would give […]

1996 Budget: We asked several people how they live now, and how this week’s Budget would affect them in the year to come The teacher Belinda Wort, 29, a Mitchells Plain high- school teacher for nine years, lives barricaded in a comfortable house with a sparkling pool. Her husband, Logan, is a personnel officer at […]

People who know Diepkloof prison say the AWB men could never have escaped unassisted, reports Justin Pearce While Correctional Services remain “embarrassed” about four alleged bombers who escaped from prison last week, people who know the jail have poured scorn on initial claims that the men escaped by sawing through security gates. “I’ve welded those […]

RUGBY: Jon Swift THE pre-season form book on the Super 12 — at least the one written in this country — lies in tatters with only Northern Transvaal, on the strength of a single outing, looking competent to provide a South African challenge. Transvaal’s campaign is already in ruins. Three defeats in as many games, […]

Madeleine Wackernagel When the Katz Commission presented its third report, the outcry from the Life Offices Association was predictable, and for once, it was fighting in the same corner as Cosatu, because the recommendations applied to provident and pension funds alike. Michael Katz had initially proposed a 30% tax on the rental, interest and other […]

Budget Karen Harverson There are positive features about the Budget, the most important of which is government’s plan to reduce the deficit to 5,1% of Gross Domestic Product, said Leslie Boyd, chairman of Business South Africa and Anglo American Industrial Corporation. He added that it was, however, difficult to describe the new Budget as bold […]

Breastfeeding has become an issue of marketing, rather than motherhood, reports Jacquie Golding-Duffy The health department is still debating whether to legislate against the advertising of infant formula milk, in its bid to encourage pregnant women to breastfeed. While mothers remain stripped of information relating to infant formula milk, government could further smack down on […]

TELEVISION: Hazel Friedman ‘HOW can one forget or forgive when the distrust lies so deep?” This is one of the many questions posed by Beauty (Mama) Mkhize, one of the central protagonists in award- winning producer Barbara Volscher’s Chronicles of Change, a documentary series to be screened weekly on SABC3 from March 18. Divided into […]