"A few months ago I moved house — that was the easy part. I wanted to transfer my landline, but according to Telkom this was not possible as I was moving from one suburb to another and so would have to apply for a new line and number. I realise how naive I was to assume I would have a phone in the week or two promised," writes Tendayi Gwata.
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry seeks to ensure that all South Africans have equitable access to a safe and reliable water supply. As we eradicate the water supply backlog, we will focus not only on the quality of water from the tap, but also on whether the services are reliable. A recent HSRC survey shows that water supply is cut for many reasons and most often not for non-payment.
"I know I’m starting off yet another column by referring to Zimbabwe, but watching the meltdown occurring there is a bit like watching an armless, legless mutant woman giving birth to a flipper child on a rubbish heap — yes, it’s disgusting, but damn, you gotta look. You just can’t resist looking." Besides taking a look at Zimbabwe’s current political situation, Ian Fraser turns his eye to other interesting things online.
Is marriage a union for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, ’till death the wedded part? Evidently not, especially when it comes to parting and riches. Rare is the divorcee willing to come out of a relationship poorer than a good lawyer believes is necessary. Consider Karen Parlour, who is seeking a substantial increase in the maintenance paid by her former husband Ray, the Arsenal footballer.
No job in journalism is more difficult or more satisfying than war reporting. In a war zone, reporters have to deal with people who regard killing as just another part of the day, they have to get the story right and then deliver it on deadline in places where just stepping outside can be fatal. But war reporting has a terrible downside. It can kill you.
Lindsay Davenport has the experience, but teenage starlet Maria Sharapova believes she has the youthful ambition to make this year’s Wimbledon final. Sharapova, who at just 17 reached her first Grand Slam semifinal with a brave fightback against Japan’s Ai Sugiyama on Tuesday, is ready to take the next step.
Pow! A 167kph ace. Crack! A 182kph ace. Wham! A 203kph ace, the fastest serve to date hit by a woman at Wimbledon. When Serena Williams ends games that way, it’s easy to understand why she’s closing in on becoming just the third woman in 35 years to win three straight titles at the All England Club.
Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter on Tuesday axed Mbulelo Mabizela as captain of the national team for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso at the FNB stadium. At a media briefing on Tuesday, Baxter said that Aaron Mokoena has been named captain for Saturday’s match.
In a match that never lived up to expectations, two-time defending champion Serena Williams crushed a listless Jennifer Capriati 6-1, 6-1 on Wednesday to advance to the Wimbledon semifinals. Williams and Capriati have built up one of the best rivalries in women’s tennis, but this centre-court match was completely one-sided.
Western Province coach Carel du Plessis on Wednesday announced that scrumhalf Neil de Kock will succeed Corne Krige as captain. However, the captaincy will revert back to Krige until De Kock has completed his international commitments, which could extend until after the Tri-Nations.