Escalating violence in South Africa’s schools is a reflection of society and not of a defunct education curriculum, the national Department of Education said this week — this after criticism that the school curriculum fails to prevent school violence because it does not address pupils’ emotional and psychological development.
Women’s emancipation must remain the focal point in the new South Africa, President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday. Writing in his weekly newsletter ahead of Women’s Day next Wednesday, Mbeki said South Africa could and should be proud of the progress made towards non-sexism during the first 12 years of liberation.
A memorandum was handed over to the University of Zululand’s rector and vice-chancellor, Rachel Gumbi, on Friday by students protesting against a ”lack of accommodation” and about many of the university’s courses ”not being nationally recognised”. There was no disruption to lectures at the university.
A 35-year-old man pleaded guilty on Friday to the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl in the Cape Town suburb of Ravensmead. Appearing in the Bellville Regional Court, James Barnes, of 11th Avenue, Ravensmead, also pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent assault.
At the start of last season Norwich were 5-1 favourites to win the first division. They failed to adjust to their new surroundings and disappointed. ”The good thing is that we are not favourites, which is a tremendous relief,” says Delia Smith, who along with husband Michael Wynn-Jones has been a long-term director and benefactor of the club.
A full bench of the Pretoria High Court reserved judgement on Friday in an application by a Pretoria residents’ association to halt work on the Gautrain. It could take up to eight weeks before the three judges — headed by Judge President Bernard Ngoepe — give judgement in the case.
A training venue changed two hours prior to arrival, self-inflicted wounds in practice and an Australian journalist comparing a press conference to a Marx Brothers movie. Ho hum. Just another week in the life of the Springboks on tour. This week the circus rolls into Sydney, writes Andy Capostagno.
Bob Woolmer is a professional coach and is rarely drawn publicly on why and how he parted ways with South African cricket in 1999. He will express irritation, certainly, or the bemused frustration of an adult banished from the nursery by petulant toddlers, but he will not assassinate the characters who assassinated his career as Proteas coach, writes Tom Eaton.
A high court judgement on Friday clearing the way for the Southern Spears to play in next year’s Super 14 competition is a ”triumph for South African rugby”, the franchise’s MD, Tony McKeever, said. ”The victory for the Spears … is a defeat for SA Rugby, but it’s also a triumph for South African rugby,” McKeever said.
A small passenger plane crashed into a mountain and then tumbled into a valley in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), killing all 17 passengers and crew, officials said on Friday. The Antonov An-28 carrying 14 passengers and three Ukrainian crew members went down on Thursday afternoon.