The BBC’s headline read “Bolton appointed US envoy to UN”, and suddenly I found myself hoping that it was Michael Bolton. What a splendid envoy he would be! Crimped mane streaming behind him, its middle parting as white and straight as the American Dream, his linen shirt open to the medallion-line.
Pioneering empowerment company Worldwide Africa Investment Holdings, traditionally a discreet player in a game dominated by high-profile individuals, is having to deal with intense scrutiny as its assets expand and public attention focuses on two of its founders: South African Airways CEO Khaya Ngqula and MTN chief Phutuma Nhleko.
Spare a thought for Telkom CEO Sizwe Nxasana. He has just had his salary package cut by 37%, from R11,14-million to R6,9-million. Telkom has cut executive salaries and bonuses in the past two years from R59-million to R33-million. The Telkom board, no doubt, has taken note of the new mood sweeping the country as workers look not so much at CPIX.
The most high profile legal battle in three years is likely between Telkom and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) over the cost of high-speed Internet access, after Icasa slammed the telecoms giant for charging "exorbitant" fees.
Car manufacturers BMW, DaimlerChrysler and Volkswagen; the country’s fourth-largest financial institution, Commerzbank; Europe’s largest chip-producer, Infineon — five of Germany’s leading firms, all members of its Dax-30 blue-chip index, have become embroiled in corruption scandals in recent months.
As South Africa was announcing a partial finance rescue package for Zimbabwe on Wednesday, President Robert Mugabe instructed his Zanu-PF politburo to extend Operation Murambatsvina to urban suburbs. Mugabe accused his local government and security arms of ”hypocrisy” for halting the demolitions.
‘Good morning, goeiemôre,” says the call-centre operator, going on to mention the name of ”my” insurance company. Phew, I’m relieved I dialled the -correct number. But there’s something slightly niggling about this conversation. ”Good morning, goeiemôre,” she said.
France has expelled two radical Islamist leaders in the wake of the London bombings and plans to round up and send home up to two dozen more by the end of the month, the Interior Ministry said this week. A ministry spokesperson said France had ”no problem” deporting speakers accused of inflaming anti-Western feeling.
Analysts, refugees and political commentators are united in their view that the death of former rebel leader and Sudanese Vice-President, John Garang, could plunge the country into a new crisis and place immense pressure on the peace deal that, in January, ended 21 years of war.
Presidential vacations are nothing new: Harry Truman played poker and fished in Key West, Florida; Dwight Eisenhower spent his holidays blasting golf balls at a tree that is named in his honour at Augusta National; while George Bush senior threw horseshoes in the grounds of his home in Maine.