The Special Investigating Unit has saved the South African taxpayer almost R1-billion by rooting out corruption among government officials, said unit head Willie Hofmeyr on Thursday. Most of the savings come from the departments of social development and correctional services, which have been plagued by serious graft allegations relating to social grants and medical aid funds.
The IFP goes to its national general conference to take stock of its declining fortunes and formulate a turnaround strategy to attract the ”sophisticated urban voter”. The NGC is the party’s highest decision-making body. For the first time in the party’s 31year history the NGC of 100 members will be elected by delegates rather than being anointed by IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
Pennsylvania’s Amish began to bury the victims of this week’s schoolroom massacre on Thursday amid renewed concern that their private, rural way of life was yielding to modernity. The first funeral cortege of 37 horse-drawn carriages, driven by grim-faced, black-clad Amish, trotted through the main street of Georgetown
Pundits say South Africa stands to lose millions in revenue if negative reports continue to cast doubt on the country’s structural capacity to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup. They warn that once negative perceptions take root in the public mind, South Africa will be in a position similar to that of Athens — where persistent doubtful reports about Greece’s readiness resulted in the 2004 Olympic Games taking place in front of half-empty stadiums.
World powers neared consensus on a statement warning North Korea against a nuclear test on Friday amid speculation that the state might detonate a device deep inside an abandoned mine as early as this weekend. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, making his first public appearance since the Stalinist state vowed on Tuesday to conduct a nuclear test, held a meeting to rally army commanders.
The empty Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban spoke volumes. A meeting to mark the centenary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi’s pacifist movement had been successfully hijacked to embarrass President Thabo Mbeki. When the crowds heard that ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma was not going to address them, they booed and sang Zuma’s anthem, Umshini Wam, in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Mounting anger in the ANC parliamentary caucus over the political management of the Travelgate scandal is focused on chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe, who has been accused by some of those facing charges of sacrificing them to protect more powerful party figures.
An ageing group of former Mau Mau insurgents will launch a legal action in Britain next week accusing the army and colonial authorities of torturing or illegally killing thousands of Kenyans during the rebellion for independence 50 years ago. Lawyers say they will serve notice on the British Foreign Office of an intent to seek compensation for human rights abuses for a group of about 10 Kenyans.
Trade union federation Cosatu is sometimes described as a labour aristocracy, an island of privileged workers earning relatively high salaries surrounded by a sea of unemployed. Cosatu’s own figures appear to back this up: a survey for the union federation shows that its members earn a median R3 500 a month.
The probe into whether or not the SABC news and current affairs department had a blacklist of commentators who were banned from its airwaves is finally complete. The board received the report from CEO Dali Mpofu this week, though spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago could not say when it would be publicly released.