In the build-up to the World Economic Forum (WEF) taking place in Cape Town in June, a new initiative aims to get Africans interacting with the world’s leaders about the future of their continent. Using technology as a tool, the WEF’s ”Africa Conversation” hopes to engage with the continent’s population.
The government recently affirmed its commitment to scrapping 80% of old taxis by 2010, under its R7,7-billion taxi recapitalisation programme announced almost eight years ago. Despite this lengthy period, many in the industry are still dissatisfied, saying the recapitalisation programme was implemented too hastily and without sufficient consultation.
A R12-billion monorail will be built between Johannesburg and Soweto in the next two years, it was announced on Wednesday. "By 2009, no one from Soweto should have to wait more than 15 minutes for transport," Gauteng finance and economic affairs minister Paul Mashatile said at the launch of the project in Sandton.
For the first time in history, a photographer took home the top prize at the yearly SAB Sports Journalist of the Year Awards, which were held at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg on Thursday night. Veteran photographer Etienne Rothbart from the <i>Star</i> was named sports journalist of the year in the print and internet category.
A Zimbabwean magistrate’s court ruled this week that suspected mercenary Simon Mann, who is serving a four-year jail term for purchasing arms without a valid certificate, can be extradited to Equatorial Guinea to face trial on charges of plotting to overthrow the government there.
<b>Lisa Johnston</b> reviews Kleinboer’s <i>Midnight Missionary</i>.
It is a huge mistake to think Johannesburg’s inner city has reached its full potential, mayor Amos Masondo said at the Inner-City Summit on Saturday, convened to address Johannesburg’s progress towards becoming a world-class African city. ”We have much to be proud of, but the challenges that remain are huge,” he acknowledged.
A process to spruce up Johannesburg’s inner city is set to start bearing fruit this weekend. As the high point of a rigorous process initiated last year by Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo, on Saturday the Inner-City Summit will gather stakeholders in support of an official plan to tackle the city’s problems.
Women, especially black women, are still largely absent from the higher ranks of South Africa’s media organisations — and they earn considerably less than their male colleagues do. These are the findings of a new study by the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) that was released on Thursday, World Press Freedom Day.
As a prelude to the Inner-City Summit set to take place early next month, on Tuesday the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) led members of the media on an inner-city walkabout to gauge the city’s progress in sprucing up the CBD. JDA CEO Lael Bethlehem said the summit will give a big push to inner-city development.