The rehabilitation of state-owned sisal farms is one of the major projects of the newly established Community Public Private Partnership programme Barry Streek An ambitious and innovative programme has been launched to promote economic development in the impoverished rural areas of South Africa by linking communities with government structures, the private sector and NGOs. The […]

Andrew Muchineripi soccer The Rothmans Cup semifinals line-up this weekend has a strange look with no Kaizer Chiefs, no Sundowns and no animated Paul Dolezar screaming instructions from the sideline. Only Orlando Pirates among the big guns have reached the last four of a competition that seems to have lost a little sparkle, perhaps because […]

Piers Pigou Testimony from former Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) special operations commander Hein Grosskopf this week has raised further questions about the quality of amnesty findings by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Grosskopf’s testimony casts doubt on the decision this year by a three-member amnesty committee, chaired by Judge Andrew Wilson, that granted amnesty to […]

Jaspreet Kindra ‘Use condoms and do not sleep with just anyone!” President Thabo Mbeki is warning the amaQadi community of the dangers of HIV/Aids. The significance of this piece of advice from a man who has been questioning the link between HIV and Aids for about a year eludes the nodding rural community gathered in […]

Paul Kirk An ingenious scheme to make millions out of Road Accident Fund claims has backfired after a smooth-talking lawyer skipped the country with stolen funds in excess of R34-million. Before leaving South Africa last month Ian Stokes disposed of his expensive assets for a fraction of their value, selling his penthouse to Springbok rugby […]

Tangeni Amupadhi The last hunter-gatherer Bushman/San community in Namibia is facing total extinction after authorities announced plans to build a refugee camp in the eastern part of the country. Environmentalists and senior !Kung leaders, including politicians and traditional chiefs, have expressed concern that an area that can barely sustain 6?000 San people is now expected […]

Paula Howell A second look The recent tragedy at the ESS Chemicals factory in Lenasia where 11 workers, the majority of them women, burnt to death imprisoned in an inferno, is a horrific consequence of the failure of an employer to adhere to even minimum safety regulations and the inability of the Department of Labour […]

Fiona Macleod The population of wild dogs in the Kruger National Park, the only viable refuge of these endangered creatures in the country, has shrunk from 450 to 200 in the past few years. The Kruger park says it is not certain of the reasons for the decline, but there has been a high mortality […]

Ntuthuko Maphumulo Joanne “Shibobo” Solomon (25) is Banyana Banyana’s top goal scorer with 19 goals. She has so far scored two goals in the African Championship for Women’s Football, but hopes to score more in their final match against Nigeria on Saturday. Her nickname comes from her ability to pass the ball through opponents’ legs […]

Jeremy Rifkin In the years ahead, the planet’s shrinking gene pool is going to become a source of increasing monetary value. Multinational corporations are already scouting the continents to locate microbes, plants, animals and humans with rare genetic traits that might have market potential. After locating the desired traits, biotech companies are modifying them and […]