The racial and sexist slurs allegedly uttered by Pretoria Judge Nkola Motata may return to haunt him even if the charges against him are dismissed. The Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court this week heard how Motata allegedly crashed into a wall in the residential area of Hurlingham in Johannesburg while under the influence of alcohol.

As speculation grows that President Thabo Mbeki will appoint Christine Qunta as chairperson of the SABC’s next board, civil society has expressed its dismay. Qunta is tipped to take over from current chair Eddie Funde. Qunta made it on to the final shortlist of 12 names recommended by the communications portfolio committee earlier this month.

President Thabo Mbeki’s suspension of National Prosecuting Authority chief Vusi Pikoli was intended to win back the allegiance of the country’s security cluster, which has opposed his perceived protection of the Scorpions, anti-Scorpions ­elements within the security establishment told the Mail & Guardian.

The support of Chief Justice Pius Langa could mean that Cape Judge President John Hlophe will escape censure from the Judicial Service Commission. Hlophe has been embroiled in a long-­running crisis over payments he received from Oasis, the financial services company.

Health experts gathered in Johannesburg to probe a pathological, and potentially terminal, syndrome of private healthcare cost escalations recently. And they concluded that regulatory surgery was needed to save the patient. In a room packed with suits of varying degree of slickness, different interest groups prepared to spin, lobby and argue themselves out of the firing line at the private health sector indaba called by the department of health.

The race for Gauteng’s ANC chairperson looks headed for a showdown between provincial Economic Affairs and Finance Minister Paul Mashatile and provincial Education Minister Angie Motshekga. Although provincial Housing Minister Nomvula Mokonyane is in the race, support for her is centred mainly in the West Rand region, where she comes from.

South Africa got tough on global warming recently, urging United States President George W Bush to commit his country to combating climate change. President Thabo Mbeki and Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk made strong statements in the US about the slow pace of addressing climate change. ”The pace of climate change negotiations is out of step with the urgency indicated by science,” Mbeki told the United Nations.

National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli’s failure to give his political superiors full details of the investigation into police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi — and possibly of Selebi’s planned arrest — led to his suspension, according to a range of official sources.