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/ 24 October 2007
In September 1987, Colin Pitchfork, a baker from central England, became the first criminal in the world to be caught by DNA evidence, for the rape and murder of two 15-year-old girls. He was sentenced to life imprisonment the following January. Twenty years on, analysing DNA from blood, hair, saliva or semen at crime scenes is ubiquitous and has helped solve hundreds of thousands of crimes.
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/ 24 October 2007
Does Gems cover private hospitals? Can I use a doctor of my choice?
Yes, the Government Employees Medical Scheme (Gems) does cover treatment in private hospitals. Members on the Onyx, Emerald and Ruby options have access to any private hospital, while members on the Beryl option have access to a private hospital network. But members on the Sapphire option only have access to public hospitals.
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/ 23 October 2007
Is Frene Ginwala the appropriate person to chair the inquiry into the conduct of suspended National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli? Will she be impartial, or will she make findings that support President Thabo Mbeki’s controversial action regardless? My own experience of working with her raises some real concerns, writes Andrew Feinstein
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/ 23 October 2007
Earlier this month the Constitutional Court ruled in a case with tremendous consequences for ordinary South Africans and our system of labour relations. The appeal involved the dismissal, more than seven years ago, of Zingisile Sidumo by Rustenburg Platinum Mines. Sidumo was employed to patrol the mine’s high-security facility, where precious metals are separated from lower-grade concentrate.
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/ 23 October 2007
Students who do not attain the required mark when applying to do a BSc degree can now do so through a four-year programme with lower entrance requirements. The programme would be introduced at the University of Pretoria in 2008, the university said in a statement on Tuesday.
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/ 23 October 2007
A plane bound for Margate made an emergency landing on a KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) South Coast beach on Tuesday afternoon, police said. Police spokesperson Zandra Hechter said the light aircraft, carrying three people, landed on the beach at Pumula, midway between Hibberdene and Port Shepstone.
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/ 23 October 2007
Johannesburg mayor Amos Masondo on Tuesday launched the Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT), which is aimed at reducing traffic congestion in Johannesburg. Masondo said the BRT, also known as Rea Vaya, would introduce a network of buses travelling along dedicated bus ways with bus stations situated every 500m.
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/ 23 October 2007
The Johannesburg High Court has not mislaid the file in the matter between PetroSA and Imvume Management, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development said on Tuesday. ”The file is in fact in the possession of the registrar of the filing section of the Johannesburg High Court …,” department spokesperson Zolile Nqayi said in a statement.
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/ 23 October 2007
The Inkatha Freedom Party and the Democratic Alliance on Tuesday boycotted a sitting of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) legislature in Vryheid. The boycott follows an incident on Monday when chairs were thrown during the sitting of the legislature, which is being held as part of the KwaZulu-Natal government’s policy of ”taking the government to the people”.