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/ 19 August 2005

Ageing musketeers

Montpellier was the place to be on Wednesday. Not for the sun, or the sandy beaches, nor the fine cuisine and local wines. And not even because this beautiful southern town is reputed to have one of the most attractive populations in France, thanks to its three universities. No, there was a football match taking place, and it wasn’t the usual second-division fare served up by the locals.

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/ 19 August 2005

Just another day in Harare

My cellphone illuminates the time, beeps at me. 4.45am. I get up in the dark — the power is off again — and fumble my way to the car, scooping up Jasper, my Jack Russell, as I go. He’s comfort, a slab of warmth across my lap as I wait. There are rumours of petrol at some shack of a garage out on the fringes of the industrial sites, owned by some crony with ties to the army. I ought to have a conscience: I don’t.

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/ 19 August 2005

SAA to remain in state hands

National carrier South African Airways (SAA) will remain in state hands, but government ”may bring in another partner”, Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin said on Thursday. Erwin said that the airline industry was critical for Africa and he said that in the next year some ”extremely interesting announcements” could be expected from SAA.

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/ 19 August 2005

Jake White sees the light

It is just one month since the Springboks flew home from Australia with their tails between their legs, having been drubbed 30-12 by the Wallabies in Sydney. Back then Bok coach Jake White was being castigated for playing too few players of colour, and for imagining that he could beat Australia by kicking the ball to them.