Having just been given yet another year in office — albeit with slightly diluted powers — Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo is quickly becoming Africa’s Houdini. Until mid year, the chance that Gbagbo would be given a second extension of his already prolonged mandate was considered unlikely. However, this is exactly what African leaders eventually called for and what the United Nations Security Council agreed to when it passed Resolution 1721 late last month.

Local broadband provider iBurst is an affordable, strong performer in both the fixed and mobile markets, according to a recent consumer guide prepared by broadband activist group MyADSL and the University of Johannesburg. The guide was based on results derived from a number of performance tests conducted by users in real world and laboratory conditions.

”I’m not here to see the dead white one — I’m waiting for the black one,” said a coloured woman as she draped herself over the Dutch Reformed Church wall next to bored-looking policemen patrolling the perimeter and gates of the church grounds. It’s PW Botha’s funeral in George and a woman selling McDonald’s burgers in the shop next to the Moeder Kerk says quietly: ”It’s a pity those Boere only eat koeksisters and not burgers after their funeral. Even at his funeral PW spoils the fun.”