Ellen Hollemans

"When I arrived in South Africa for a journalism internship, one of the first things that I noticed was the security guards. They were everywhere: outside malls, perching on broken chairs in suburban streets and roaring around the highways in military-style trucks." <i>Mail & Guardian Online</i> journalist Ellen Hollemans speaks to guards and experts in private security to analyse the dangers and problems associated with this volatile industry.

"The line to sign the condolence book at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Johannesburg grows steadily. It is 5.30pm on Wednesday evening and the memorial Mass for Pope John Paul II will start in 30 minutes." The <i>Mail & Guardian Online</i> speaks to South African Catholics about the death of Pope John Paul II.

Bantu Holomisa, the president of the United Democratic Movement, has fired arrows laced with poisonous words at the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. He has accused the reserve of killing the Kruger National Park’s wildlife. But the TPNR’s management is convinced of the reserve’s innocence and is fighting back, even threatening legal action.

Hunting in private game reserves that border South Africa’s national parks is of "specific concern" to Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk, he said in a statement on Wednesday. The issue was raised two weeks ago by Bantu Holomisa, leader of the United Democratic Movement.

Justin Nurse, the founder of T-shirt company Laugh It Off, made a bold statement on Tuesday when he took off his jacket in the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg. What looked like colourful Hawaiian flowers on his shirt appeared to be drawings of Saddam Hussein.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is about to embark on its second fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe. The question is whether this mission will be a success or whether the group of about 20 delegates will be deported, as the first mission was in December last year. The <i>Mail & Guardian Online</i> fired 10 questions at Patrick Craven, the editor of Cosatu’s magazine <i>The Shopsteward</i>.

A new global survey shows that nowhere else in the world have house prices increased more than in South Africa. According to the survey, house prices in South Africa increased by an average of 32,6% in 2004, followed by Hong Kong at 27,2% and Spain at 17,2%. The survey was undertaken by <i>ResearchWorldwide.com</i>.

Award-winning author and television scriptwriter K Sello Duiker was found hanged in Johannesburg on Wednesday night. Before his death, Duiker had been working as a commissioning editor for the South African Broadcasting Corporation. His first novel, <i>Thirteen Cents</i>, attracted considerable publicity and won a 2001 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize.

<i>The Citizen</i> newspaper’s front-page picture on Monday showed a crowd of people fleeing a large wave. The newspaper said the photograph had been taken by an amateur photographer in Sri Lanka. A five-minute internet search yielded the same photograph, taken in China in October 2002, of the annual flooding of the Qiantang river.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) and tour operator Wild Adventures Africa are asking South Africans to donate money to help animals in the countries struck by the tsunami. The NSPCA has pointed out that the rescue of farm animals is crucial to local economies.

On Thursday the 16 Days of Action Against Violence campaign was launched — a. campaign aimed at raising awareness about violence against women and children. This year it is campaigning in cyberspace by holding daily online chat sessions that can joined nationwide.

Thousands of Zimbabweans are crossing the border into South Africa, and they face a tough life on the other side. Refugees say they are disappointed by the lack of solidarity shown by South Africans. On Friday, the Solidarity Peace Trust launched a report that examines these refugees’ situation in South Africa.

Regina Mundi church in Soweto, Johannesburg, was on Wednesday packed with 3 000 volunteers and officials when the City of Johannesburg launched its World Aids Day 2004 campaign. "Prevention is still the best weapon available at this stage," mayor Amos Masondo said.

The country is in the midst of an educational crisis when it comes to mathematics and physical science. The lack of matriculants in these subjects is one of the biggest obstacles for African advancement. The <i>Mail & Guardian Online</i> spoke to an expert about teaching mathematics, and the role language plays.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?cg=BreakingNews-National&ao=124969">SA maths scores ‘near worst in world'</a>

They are affectionately called the Oscars of the African information and communication technology (ICT) world. On Saturday night at the Dome in Johannesburg, the most outstanding African ICT companies, people and projects will be honoured at the African ICT Achievers Awards 2004.