A complaint to the Office of the Public Protector by the dismissed security chief of the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) paints a disturbing picture of dysfunction at the top level of the company’s management that allegedly led to glaring gaps in safety at Johannesburg International airport.

The South African Police Service has denied claims being investigated by former judge Willem Heath that a little-known VIP-protection firm is a “front company” – but did not deny a relationship with its members. Allegations have been made about contact between the firm, Palto, and police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi.

The Transnet printing-division tender wrangle, in which an African National Congress fund-raiser has been accused of peddling influence for shares, heads back to court

The African National Congress this week maintained its stony silence on an investment trust run on its behalf by a man accused of peddling influence for shares.

Minister of Public Enterprises Jeff Radebe and his director general Dr Sivi Gounden are ”outraged” that the Mail&Guardian should have ”questioned our integrity” in regard to the ill-fated sale of Transnet’s publishing house to African National Congress-linked company Skotaville Press.

”Mobster’s associate ‘bribed’ Malatsi to expedite Plett development” could be a synthesis of headlines since last week when New National Party leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk accused David Malatsi, a deputy minister and senior member of his own party, of irregularly approving Roodefontein.

Cape Town businessman Cyril Kern has given authorities his version of the story of the controversial ,5-million loan that helped Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon repay illicit campaign funding. But Kern remains silent on a critical question — whose money was it anyway?

Cyril Kern, the businessman who bankrolled Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, has ingratiated himself with top opposition figures since settling in Cape Town. His wider circle also extends to a multimillion-dollar fraud suspect who is a fugitive from United States justice.

Jacob Zuma and Schabir Shaik, the arms magnate that the Scorpions want to question about the deputy president’s alleged demand for a R500 000-a-year bribe, have been close since struggle days.