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/ 25 October 2007

Huge ash cloud as Mount Soputan erupts

Mount Soputan volcano on the northern tip of Indonesia’s Sulawesi island has erupted, throwing columns of ash 1 000m into the air. Saut Simatupang, of Indonesia’s Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, said that the eruption did not appear to pose an immediate threat to residents, although ash had reached the nearest town.

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/ 25 October 2007

SA finances healthy, Aids, crime a threat

South African public finances are sound and the financial system is healthy, while strong economic growth will continue, albeit as a slower pace, Moody’s Investor Service said on Thursday. But political and socio-economic risks may dampen investor sentiment and cloud prospects for a ratings upgrade.

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/ 25 October 2007

Commemorating history

On June 16 1976 high school students in Soweto protested against their poor education. The date became engraved in South Africa’s struggle history and will be remembered as one of the turning points in the country’s history. When the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) decided to commemorate the day through a new "June 16 Trail", it also created a new legacy for communities inside Soweto that led to job creation and enterprise development

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/ 25 October 2007

Kids on the up and up

The informal settlements of Gauteng are full of children living in desperate socio-economic conditions. It is here that a church partnership is working to uplift the lives of not only the children, but also their communities. "It is widely understood that children and childhood are the building blocks for social, economic and human development and yet millions of kids remain isolated in hopeless environments," says Joanne Schermeier of the Coalition of Anglican Children’s Homes.

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/ 25 October 2007

Making a concrete improvement

Matric pupils at Kwa-Ntebeni Comprehensive High School in rural KwaZulu-Natal celebrated when they were able to write their final exams together in one classroom for the first time. Before that milestone was reached in 2004, the matrics had to write their exams in separate, cramped classrooms.

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/ 25 October 2007

Rural investment

The Old Mutual Foundation’s Kate Miszewski has left an indelible mark on the communities she has served. Starting her career as a qualified primary school teacher, Miszewski has taught and lectured in a number of countries around Africa — including South Africa, Botswana and Namibia — before entering the world of social investment.

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/ 25 October 2007

Klein Karoo’s groot success

Every year thousands of art lovers descend on the town of Oudtshoorn for the annual Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK). With more than 200 productions, 1 000 shows and 135 000 tickets sold, there is no doubt that the mainly Afrikaans arts festival is one of South Africa’s most beloved cultural events.

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/ 25 October 2007

Bringing law to people (and animals)

In the real world justice is mainly for the wealthy. Do you have a spare R1 000 an hour for lawyer’s fees? This is not even what the top firms charge their corporate clients. And what of the lawyers themselves? They might have entered the profession dreaming of striving for justice and defending the innocent, but end up stuck in plush corporate offices helping the rich get richer.

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/ 25 October 2007

CSI: food for thought

As South Africans pull together to strengthen our young democracy, there is widespread recognition that children and youth are the fabric of the future. The emotional, economic, educational and social needs of our youngest citizens are of paramount importance if they are to reach their full potential and become productive and stable members of South African society.