A post template

No image available
/ 24 September 2004

Free at last

Albie Sachs’s latest novel takes the on a leisurely tour through some of the great cities of Europe and of the author’s own personality. Anthony Egan gets into the head of this Constitutional Court judge.

No image available
/ 24 September 2004

Fame’s a beach

Short of admitting that you didn’t vote Democratic Alliance, there is no quicker way of being stricken from social rolls in Cape Town than to declare a loathing for beach-going. No longer does the phone ring with invitations to go to evening concerts at Kirstenbosch, where people are united by the common misery of having dew seep up through their underwear.

No image available
/ 24 September 2004

Green or gold?

Environmental reporting in South Africa may be relatively healthy, but commercial imperatives and global inequities pose a huge challenge to journalists. <i>The Media</i> unpacks one of media’s most complex beats.

No image available
/ 24 September 2004

A jolt for squabbling SNO

Last week’s decision by Minister of Communications Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri to grant a licence to the second national operator (SNO) seems calculated to galvanise the foot-dragging SNO contenders into action. But the SNO faces a number of obstacles — the first being persistent bickering among shareholders, with threats of legal action.

No image available
/ 24 September 2004

The challenge is to prevent a conflict of MP’s interests

Every time there is a finding, or even an allegation, that a member of Parliament has failed to declare some or other asset or shareholding, there is a temptation to argue that MPs should be prohibited from having business interests. Though tempting, such a position would be a mistake. Every South African has a right to engage in any lawful business activity they wish.

No image available
/ 24 September 2004

SA back on Zim beat

President Thabo Mbeki is making renewed efforts to rescue Zimbabwe from further political turmoil. His latest attempts were triggered after the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) decided to suspend participation in the country’s elections in March next year until the government complies with Southern African Development Community (SADC) benchmarks for democratic elections.

No image available
/ 24 September 2004

Darfur militia still roam free

After visiting Sudan last week, Amnesty International has refuted the Khartoum government’s claims that it is taking action against the Janjaweed militia who have been accused of raping, killing and scattering the people of Darfur. Amnesty International is the first foreign human rights NGO to have been given free rein to travel through Darfur and meet with senior members of the Sudanese government.

No image available
/ 24 September 2004

Pills without frills

"We have been going to universities to tell them ‘you must understand that 2 500 pharmacists service seven million South Africans’." The <i>M&G</i> spoke to Dr Anban Pillay, the Department of Health’s director for pharmaceutical economic evaluation, about implications of the new pricing regulations for consumers.