Zimbabwe has been placed last for the second year running in a league table ranking 178 countries by how happy and long-lived their citizens are. But South Africa is not far ahead, at 156th. The European Happy Planet Index used carbon efficiency, life satisfaction and life expectancy to rate the countries.
About 5,2-million children under seven are not catered for in South Africa’s early childhood development (ECD) programmes. Only 1% of the R104-billion education budget is allocated for ECD. Yet a major report released recently shows that investment in ECD pays massive dividends in the health and emotional wellbeing of the children — and in national economic terms.
The Democratic Alliance is drawing up a secret 14-day programme to oust controversial Western Cape politician Truman Prince, after his successful appeal for reinstatement as Central Karoo District municipality manager. DA provincial leader Theuns Botha refused to give details, but said the plan would be put into operation next Monday.
Former president FW de Klerk told the truth commission that he knew nothing of apartheid-era police crimes. That claim will be put to the test when former law and order minister Adriaan Vlok and former police chief Johan van der Merwe appear in court next month, say sources close to the investigation.
Violent crime in northern KwaZulu-Natal — thought to be the work of Mozambicans filtering through the porous border — reached new heights this week. An armed 14-member gang stormed the Thonga Beach Lodge in the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, tied up staff and guests and made off with five 4×4 vehicles.
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South Africans will soon say goodbye to cheap electricity, Eskom said in its 2007 annual report released on Thursday. ”The cheap-electricity era is coming to an end, here and in all other markets,” chairperson Valli Moosa warned in his message. South Africa’s electricity is the cheapest in the world.
The African National Congress (ANC) has expressed disquiet at rumours reflected in a documentary on President Thabo Mbeki linking him to the 1993 assassination of South African Communist Party leader Chris Hani. ”The suggestions, made without any reference to any evidence in any form, are deeply hurtful and patently irresponsible,” the ANC said on Thursday.
South African Robert Hunter of the Barloworld team won a wind-battered 11th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday after 182km of drama-filled racing between Marseille and Montpellier. The 30-year-old won a sprint finish just ahead of Swiss Fabian Cancellara and Brazilian Murilo Fischer to claim his, South Africa’s and his continent’s first-ever win in the race.