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/ 16 September 2006
Membership of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has stagnated since it ballooned to 1,8-million nearly a decade ago — and the federation is still wrestling with the consequences of that growth spurt. A survey has found Cosatu has failed to penetrate non-traditional sectors of the economy.
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/ 8 September 2006
Apartheid law and order minister Adriaan Vlok this week shed new light on his involvement in the dirty war against activists in the 1980s — including signing pre-drafted letters thanking policemen for carrying out assassinations. In a wide-ranging, two-hour interview at the <i>Mail & Guardian</i>’s offices, Vlok also admitted using words like "eliminate" in motivating policemen to crack down on political troublemakers.
Black ownership is now concentrated in more than 20 significant empowerment groupings, including Mvelaphanda Holdings, Johnnic Holdings, Sekunjalo, Thebe Investments, Matodzi Resources, Worldwide African Investment Holdings, Safika and Shanduka.
Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni on Thursday announced a 50 basis point increase in the repo rate to 8%, in a move he described as ”moderately prudent”.
The 0,5% hike in interest rates was widely predicted by economic analysts, although there were also rumours that the Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee would hike rates by 1% .
Textile manufacturers Vlisco are branching out into fashion, writes Tumi Makgetla.
"There’s a lot of excitement and anticipation here; there’s a buzz," electoral observer Ilona Tip tells me on her cellphone from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) capital, Kinshasa. "It reminds me of South Africa in 1994. The stakes are also fairly high and in the conflict since 1998, 3,5-million people have died."
The news on the inflation front may not be good, but there is no immediate reason for Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni to activate his itchy trigger finger. Inflation is on the up and levels of indebtedness are at an all-time high, at least measured by one influential economic research body, but incomes have also been increasing.
One of South Africa’s contributions to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s elections has been shrouded in controversy. Air charter company Adagold Aviation charged the Department of Defence over R20-million more than its competitors to fly ballot papers from South Africa to the DRC.
Tumi Makgetla speaks to local fashion designer Jacques van der Watt about his spin-off label for Edgars.
The South African government has condemned Israel’s disproportionate response, but has said it will not suspend diplomatic ties with that country. This week the <i>Mail & Guardian</i> sought perspectives on the Middle East from Iqbal Jassat, chairperson of the Media Review Network, and David Saks, acting national chairperson of the South African Jewish Board of Deputies.