The African National Congress’s rigid negotiation strategy cost it the city of Cape Town and seats on the mayoral committee. Newly elected Democratic Alliance executive mayor Helen Zille will not invite the party to her mayoral committee. ”We considered a formula to bring the ANC in, but their demands were just out of proportion.”
Sober reflection and an objective perspective are one thing; but being a wet blanket is quite another. And the soggy rags have been out in force since Sunday. The drippy lament, like Chinese water torture, has involved hammering the same muddy point over and over again, until one is ready to confess to anything.
Taboos on discussing sexual abuse combined with party loyalties to shroud in secrecy gender-based violence during the African National Congress’s exile years. But Jacob Zuma’s rape trial lifted the lid on the subject recently when Zuma’s accuser said she had been raped on three occasions while in exile.
The bookies must be in mourning this week. After Australia’s record-breaking first-innings 434, odds on a South African win were running at as high as 80/1. But the company-sponsored boxes, reserved for corporate head honchos and their clients (and the odd hack), were buzzing with bets on South Africa.
The intense verbal battering of the complainant in Jacob Zuma’s rape trial by defence counsel Kemp J Kemp would have been subject to far tougher restrictions if the long-delayed changes in the legislation dealing with sexual offences was on the statute book.
March 8 is a day of solidarity between women. It is a day when women across our planet unite against misogyny — the unspoken hatred of the female. Misogyny manifests in the horror of infant rape, in the everyday humiliations experienced in sweatshops and offices, in streets and homes. It results in women and girls bearing the brunt of poverty, HIV/Aids and violence.
Jaywalkers in China beware. Crossing the street against the lights could lead to punishments at work, including being overlooked for a promotion and a loss of salary bonuses. China’s law on road safety states that every work unit or company has the responsibility to educate their staff on traffic regulations.
Suspended National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director General Billy Masetlha has accused President Thabo Mbeki of taking sides in the political battle raging in the ruling African National Congress. The claim appears in a hard-hitting affidavit lodged by Masetlha in a high court bid to overturn his suspension.
The African Christian Democratic Party has suspended five of its candidates who allegedly offered the African National Congress control of the Theewaterskloof municipal council, in Caledon, in exchange for a list of demands. They fell for an ”age-old trap” when they responded, in writing, to the ANC after it asked what they would want in return for their cooperation in controlling the council.
Axed parliamentary finance chief Harry Charlton is taking his fight to the Labour Court after an attempt to reach settlement at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration failed. He had been seeking either reinstatement or financial compensation, after the controversial disciplinary process that led to his sacking in January.