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/ 2 December 2004

Equatorial Guinea mercenary trial ‘unfair’

The trial of mercenaries in the Equatorial Guinea coup plot — allegedly involving Mark Thatcher — was ”grossly unfair” with ”serious procedural flaws,” according to Amnesty International. Amnesty sent observers to the case in the capital Malabo, where 11 mercenaries and nine Equatorial Guinea nationals were last week sentenced to long prison terms.

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/ 2 December 2004

Reassert grass roots traditions

There can be no question that Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi has been brave in publicly questioning the government’s stance on the crisis in Zimbabwe and the inequities of the ruling approach to black economic empowerment. But it is debatable whether Cosatu’s leaders have effectively harnessed the federation’s considerable power in its attempt to reshape state policy.

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/ 2 December 2004

In Swaziland, HIV hides in plain sight

<img src="http://www.mg.co.za/ContentImages/142915/aids_icon.gif" align=left>Read the obituaries in Swaziland, and you will discover that many people here die from unspecified "lingering illnesses". Attend funerals, and you may hear that tuberculosis, dysentery, diaorrhea — even flu — are also proving exceptionally lethal. Virtually no-one, it seems, is dying of Aids. This is despite the fact that an HIV prevalence of 38,8% has given Swaziland the highest Aids infection rate in the world.

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/ 2 December 2004

Harbhajan helps India trounce SA

Harbhajan Singh starred in a resounding eight-wicket victory over South Africa that helped India win the two-Test series here on Thursday. The off-spinner grabbed 7-87 to block all escape routes for the visiting side, who managed to draw the first match in Kanpur last week. It was only the second Test series win for India over South Africa after the 1996-97 series at home which India won 2-1.

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/ 2 December 2004

Visdorpie and chips

Oom Krisjan regrets the heavy-handed disciplinary action taken against acting news editor of the Cape Times, Tony Weaver, for telling Oom Krisjan about discontent at the Visdorpie headquarters of O’Reillydom, where Cape Times staff are sick of seeing their stories warmed over by the Argus without acknowledgement. Weaver is to face the music next week.

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/ 2 December 2004

Sourav Ganguly on the carpet

Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has been summoned for a disciplinary hearing after being reported for dissent on Wednesday following the rejection of an appeal during the second Test match against South Africa. Expression of dissent against an umpiring decision amounts to a violation of the International Cricket Council’s code of conduct.