School principals in Lenasia are apparently flouting admission policies to keep poor children out of schools. But threatened legal action on behalf of the children has forced the Gauteng department of education to act. Almost 30 learners living in Thembelihle, a squatter camp just outside Lenasia, south of Johannesburg, have been denied access to a number of schools.

The residents of the Zevenfontein informal settlement, alongside Dainfern in northern Jo’burg, will be holding their breath on Monday. An application will be heard at the Witwatersrand High Court to determine whether their dream of owning houses in Cosmo City, a proposed housing project in northern Randburg, will finally be realised.

It seems that while we cannot escape our history, prescient politicians are thinking quickly. For if they continue with their commitment to balance the halls of power — 50-50 gender parity by 2014 — South Africa’s second decade of freedom will be herstory.

The SABC has taken Democratic Alliance election candidate Dianne Kohler-Barnard off the air. SABC spokesperson Paul Setsetse told the Mail & Guardian the corporation expected her to resign prior to the elections and might have to ”take appropriate steps” should she refuse.

Yu Hui had a bear tattooed on his right arm. In China, the bear is the symbol of forbearance. Some people’s tattoos reflect their character. With Yu Hui, it was a reflection, perhaps, of the character he wanted, but didn’t have: a symbol of his struggle between tolerating poverty and a pride that said he wasn’t destined to stay poor.

George Bush often introduces Dick Cheney as ”the best vice-president ever” and then, in a belated nod to the fact that his father once filled the same job, he adds: ”Mother might have a second opinion.” The burly taciturn man at the president’s side has always been a reassuring presence to American conservatives.

Europe must do everything in its power to combat anti-Semitism — but also help bring peace to the Middle East, Joschka Fischer, Germany’s foreign minister, urged on Thursday. ”But solving the Middle East and developing a real vision of peace is the major, major challenge for a Europe that is uniting,” he said.

Under his immaculate suit Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel was most probably wearing a Che Guevara T-shirt when he presented the Budget to Parliament this week. While Manuel has clearly not gone back to the Guevara-like economics once espoused by the African National Congress, in the past three to four years his stance has shifted toward a recognition that the state must play a bigger role in the economy in developing countries.