Cape Judge President John Hlophe should be asked to take a leave of absence until questions about monthly ”expense” payments made to him by a Cape Town investment company were answered, the Democratic Alliance said on Sunday. A decision he made granting that company permission to sue a judicial colleague also had to be explained.
China’s pandas and Madagascar’s lemurs have found unexpected new allies in a handful of mining companies and oil firms. Though natural-resource-consuming big businesses may seem unlikely champions of environmental conservation, a few are actually in the vanguard of a programme protecting forests and endangered species in Asia, Africa and around the world.
United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on Sunday increased pressure for an end to Iraq’s political deadlock and the speedy formation of a national unity government, during a surprise visit to Baghdad. ”The Iraqi people are losing patience,” Rice said after meeting Sunni, Shia and Kurdish leaders. ”What is more, your international allies want to see this done.”
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is poised to launch a bid to transform the global politics of oil by seeking a deal with consumer countries which would lock in a price of $50 a barrel. A long-term agreement at that price could allow Venezuela to count its huge deposits of heavy crude as part of its official reserves, which Caracas says would give it more oil than Saudi Arabia.
"Blade Nzimande, general secretary of the South African Communist Party, is a strange communist leader of a strange communist party. His online attack last week in the journal <i>Umsebenzi</i>, on some of the left (outside the tripartite alliance) who stood in the elections or who advocated a boycott is unbecoming," writes Ebrahim Harvey.
In a months time, thousands of parents will gather in school halls and classrooms to vote for their representatives on school governing bodies (SGBs). As in any good political battle, there will be jostling for positions and plenty of promises. Once the ballots have been tallied, these parent representatives will meet with teaching and non-teaching staff and learner representatives, often after a work day or on a Saturday. The meetings will take place at least once a term, to discuss, argue and debate issues ranging from the maintenance of buildings to exemption from school fees.
The only two organisations in South Africa that have been representing the interests of school governing bodies (SGBs) have both split — ahead of the next round of SGB elections that will start next month.
Buying a new home has just become a great deal cheaper. In February, Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel announced that all homes under R500 000 will attract no transfer duty. This is a saving of up to R17 000. At the same time, the banks have become far more aggressive in offering better rates for home loans — you just need to shop around to find the right package.
"Within three days of launching, the new direct life insurer 1LifeDirect had sold 100 policies. Its pitch of cutting out the broker seems to have resonated with the public and the product is well timed in terms of last year’s furore in the life industry, which highlighted the role and cost of a broker," writes Maya Fisher-French.
Online used-car dealer <i>Japan-partner.com</i> offers to ship vehicles from Nagoyao to Durban for $70 per cubic metre. "This means that car shipping cost of a Nissan Primera is 10,48 x 70 = $734," is the example in its FAQ. A Nissan Primera in stock costs $1 700, bringing the total cost to R15 251 at the current exchange rate.