As the seven-year turnaround story of Edgars Consolidated Stores (Edcon) reached its climax this week, a key trade union warned of the dangers of growing casualisation and monopoly in the retail sector. Last week Edcon delivered market-defying results, which CEO Steve Ross made a point of noting "were underpinned by a sound economy".
Cheap digital technology is revolutionising the way news is gathered, disseminated and perceived — and in doing so, it is stoking a controversy. Over the past weeks, the world has reeled to the pictures of United States troops abusing Iraqi prisoners and the beheading of US contract worker Nicholas Berg.
May, so far, has not been a particulary good month for Zimbabwean Minister of Information Jonathan Moyo. Last week Moyo was jeered in Maputo at the headquarters of the Mozambican Journalists Union by a group of journalists who prevented him from addressing a press conference.
Mexican opposition politicians are appealing to Gabriel García Márquez, Latin America’s best-known writer, to mediate in the diplomatic crisis that has taken their country’s traditionally good relations with Cuba to the brink of collapse. García Márquez lives mostly in Mexico but is also a personal friend of Fidel Castro.
South Africa has been chosen by Fifa as the host country for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The announcement was made by Fifa president Sepp Blatter in Zurich on Saturday. ”Fifa has made the right decision. It’s time to go out an celebrate,” said President Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria as the bells of the Union Buildings rang out in celebration.
Boland claimed their second piece of silverware in less than a year when they won the Vodacom Shield with a 19-12 (half-time 11-5) victory over the Eagles in Wellington on Friday. The home side captured the Absa Currie Cup first-division title last season and now have ensured that they will compete in the Vodacom Cup next year.
In an excellent game of soccer at Newlands, struggling Sundowns played above themselves to share the points with Ajax Cape Town in a 2-2 draw after being ahead 1-0 at interval. The game was hard and extremely fast with both teams giving 100%. Sundowns attacked with plenty of players.
Just one day before voting, Tunisia dropped out of Africa’s race to stage the 2010 World Cup on Friday, leaving South Africa, Morocco, Egypt and Libya to fight over soccer’s most lucrative prize. Fifa president Sepp Blatter, who had expected Tunisia’s withdrawal, acknowledged the country’s withdrawal.
The Zimbabwe Cricket Union announced in a statement released late on Friday that it has withdrawn its controversial decision to sack 12 white cricket players for alleged breach of contract and issued a fresh 21-day notice for the players to make themselves available to play.