If you judged the world by newspaper headlines, black economic empowerment (BEE) is all about gargantuan deals with complex financing and titanic battles between white and black groups in charter negotiations over equity targets. Unfortunately, this fixation on the ”Art of the Deal” neglects the many small shifts at every level that are gradually changing the colour of South African business.
The delivery targets for essential services announced by President Thabo Mbeki appear impressive, but they cannot be assessed without addressing their quality and sustainability. Various ministries have similarly in the past rattled off impressive-sounding figures, but much has been written about the poor quality of the Reconstruction and Development Programme houses.
If you’ve ever dreamt of launching your own magazine in South Africa, one point becomes evident … It is going to cost you much, much more than you ever thought it would. The print and paper chain in South Africa is dominated by corporate giants at every level. How does the chain work, and what are the prospects for the little guy? Andy Davis reports.
Unseeded Argentine Gaston Gaudio overpowered Australian 12th seed Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to advance to his first Grand Slam semifinal at the French Open in Paris on Wednesday. The 25-year-old from Buenos Aires totally outclassed the former Wimbledon and US Open champion.
It is, or should be, a time of gritty soul-searching for the American news media. There’s another plagiarist in the woodwork. Jack Kelley, a USA Today journalist nominated for five Pulitzer Prizes, fabricated stories about the Palestinian conflict and 9/11. Tim Spira wonders what leads reporters to lie.
Sabri Ali sashays through the narrow alleys of Stone Town, the warren of 19th century streets at the heart of Zanzibar, attracting delight and disapproval in equal measure. Children glance at him curiously and teenagers mimic his catwalk strut. Some men give him hostile stares.
United Cricket Board (UCB) president Ray Mali says he will not send opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs and spin bowler Nicky Boje on tour to India if there is any chance they will be arrested on match-fixing charges. ”The UCB is dealing with the matter and I am not able to comment. But it is very important that there are guarantees in place that the two players will not be arrested,” Mali said.
Jose Mourinho took over as Chelsea’s new manager on Wednesday and promised swift changes after being given a three-year contract to succeed Claudio Ranieri. Mourinho, who will become the game’s highest paid coach with a salary reported at £5-million pounds, promised to take charge and rein in the club’s millionaire players.
Argentina’s Guillermo Coria, the third seed, reached the semifinals of the French Open on Tuesday with a 7-5, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 win over Spanish fifth seed and 1998 champion Carlos Moya. Coria will now face Britain’s Tim Henman, who beat Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina, for a place in the final.
England’s final preparations for Euro 2004 were left in disarray on Tuesday after Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by a Japan side that could so easily have left Manchester with a historic victory. Shinji Ono’s 53rd-minute strike deservedly earned the visitors a share of the honours.