Sumayya Ismail
Guest Author
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/ 27 February 2007

SA government goes open source

South Africa is joining countries such as Brazil, India and Uganda in implementing open-source software in all government departments — and getting rid of widely used Microsoft Windows desktop programmes that come with expensive licences. Open-source software can be shared by many users without a need for licences.

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/ 21 February 2007

Not all praise for Manuel’s budget

South Africa needs to compete to attract more foreign direct investment, the Democratic Alliance said on Wednesday in reaction to the budget speech, adding that a corporate-tax rate cut would have been justified. Economist Mike Schussler told the <i>Mail & Guardian Online</i> that companies were being ignored in the Budget.

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/ 19 February 2007

Bright city lights go dark for poorest of the poor

Nelson Khathani opens the door to his inner-city apartment in the San Jose building in Berea, Johannesburg. The outside corridors are murky and putrid, and the stench of urine and sewage lingers in the air. Khathani is tall, with a warm friendly face. Flashing a welcoming smile, his eyes sparkle, even in the dull gloom of the sparsely furnished apartment. He doesn’t mention the smell outside.

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/ 19 February 2007

City challenges housing verdict

The City of Johannesburg will next week appeal against a high court decision preventing it from evicting residents of condemned buildings in the inner city, unless it provides suitable alternative accommodation in the surrounding area. In the controversial judgement, Judge Mahommed Jajbhay found the state had a constitutional obligation to provide for the housing needs of its most indigent citizens.

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/ 15 February 2007

When you’re looking for news, who do you trust?

The Mail & Guardian is now the second most cited news source in the country, according to Media Tenor, an international organisation that does research into media content trends. ”These media could expect to see further growth in their reputations, as they become the trusted destinations for groundbreaking news,” Media Tenor said in a statement.

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/ 5 February 2007

Report urges diplomatic solution in Iran

The consequences of future military action against Iran could be ”wholly counterproductive as well as highly dangerous”, according to a report published on Monday. The report urges the British government to engage the United States and Iran in ”face-to-face talks” to find a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

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/ 5 February 2007

UDM threatens State of Nation boycott

The United Democratic Party (UDM) will not be participating in this year’s State of the Nation debate unless it is allocated reasonable time to raise its supporters’ issues, the party’s leader, Bantu Holomisa, said on Monday. According to the UDM leader, Parliament on Monday informed him that his party has been given only one minute to participate in the debate scheduled to take place on Friday.