Empowerment works when it fosters new connections between established and emerging companies; develops skills at the lower and middle levels of the hierarchy; and creates space for new entrepreneurs to get a seat at the table. At its best, says a study by Matthew Andrews of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, BEE can yield spectacular dividends.
Xenophobic violence against foreign nationals has been brought under control, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said on Monday. ”I do believe the situation is under control … the violence has subsided,” he said at a briefing at the Union Buildings in Pretoria following an inter-governmental task team meeting with President Thabo Mbeki.
There is ”no solution but war” to solve Somalia’s problems, and Somali Islamists must re-arm and fight, a long-time hard-line Islamist leader linked to al-Qaeda said on Monday. In a rare interview, Sheikh Hassan Abdullah Hersi al-Turki urged the United Nations not to send soldiers to shore up an African Union peacekeeping force.
The University of the Free State (UFS) is expected to announce its decision on the future of its Reitz men’s hostel on Tuesday. The hostel was the centre of a racial storm in February this year after a video, made by residents, sparked a national outcry. The council of the UFS has mandated management to consider the possibility of closing down the hostel.
The South African government came under pressure on Monday to deal with the aftermath of deadly anti-foreigner violence that has displaced an estimated 35Â 000 people. As thousands headed for the borders, a growing humanitarian crisis was developing domestically with crowds of foreigners sheltering at police stations.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is to send a beefed-up observer mission for Zimbabwe’s run-off election next month to ensure "greater transparency", Angola’s Foreign Minister was quoted as saying on Monday. Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has been lobbying the 14-nation SADC to send more observers.
It took three weeks of waiting for help that never came for the emaciated man to overcome his innate fear of authority in a country under army rule for the last 46 years. ”I didn’t care whether they got angry with me or not,” the man in his late 40s said, recalling the moment he challenged officials deep in the Irrawaddy Delta.
Residents in the Central African Republic (CAR) appealed on Monday for international help to curb cross-border rebel raids in which more than 150 children and adults people have been kidnapped. An open letter said the worst incident was in March when rebels looted and burned down houses in the south-east and kidnapped 157 locals.
Murder accused Andrew Jordaan on Monday admitted in the Pretoria High Court he smoked dagga and had a large porn collection, but denied he had a sexual interest in little girls, or that he had raped and murdered seven-year-old Sheldean Human. Jordaan took the stand after the state closed its case against him on Monday.
South African furniture retailer JD Group said on Monday profit attributable to shareholders fell to R138-million in the six months to end-February due to tighter consumer spending. The group said its diluted headline earnings dropped 45% to 221 cents per share in the same period.