The results of a survey conducted to find out whether President Thabo Mbeki is doing a good job show that sentiments vary according to race, location and age — but the bottom line is that Mbeki’s popularity is improving. According to the research, 47% of respondents said Mbeki is doing a good job, compared with 27% in February 2002.
The fight against terrorism often conflicts with the imperatives of human rights and democracy. Where rights are concerned, as they always are in South Africa after 1994, the freedoms of religion, belief, opinion, expression, assembly, demonstration, picket, petition and association come to mind.
<img src="http://www.mg.co.za/ContentImages/41909/10-X-Logo.gif" align=left>The Independent Democrats said it has whisked away seven Democratic Alliance members on the eve of elections, although the DA says the ID is guilty of "double-counting defections". Themba Sono, deputy leader of the ID, welcomed "senior registered members of the DA" at a media briefing in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
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South Africa’s social delivery systems are facing a crisis and need urgent funding from the government, the National Coalition for Social Services (Nacoss) said in Johannesburg on Tuesday. It said there is inadequate funding and care for adults and children with HIV/Aids, while homes for children and for the elderly are closing.
Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille challenged political leaders on Monday — including President Thabo Mbeki — to a test to ascertain their HIV status. But presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo said: ”We are not interested in responding to these silly shenanigans by Patricia de Lille.”
The roll-out of treatment for HIV/Aids in Gauteng started smoothly on Thursday, with five hospitals in the province dispensing free anti-retroviral drugs to patients. Patients treated for HIV/Aids with anti-retrovirals will receive extensive counselling on how the drugs have to be taken and possible side effects.
Aids clinics ready to receive patients
As the national roadshow by the Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Charter working group draws to a close, the group has started collating public comments received so far before drawing up a final draft. In Johannesburg in early May, the group will host a "consolidation of information event".
Twenty-seven facilities had met the basic requirements for accreditation to provide quality care for Aids patients, the national Department of Health has announced. The 27 facilities will begin admitting patients and performing HIV testing and medical examinations.
Gauteng transport minister Khabisi Mosunkutu on Tuesday launched a multimillion-rand project aimed at upgrading the Randfontein taxi rank in the West Rand. The project forms part of a R2,5-billion programme to transform existing taxi and bus ranks around the country into diversified retail and service outlets.
How healthy is South Africa’s public health system? And how big are the gaps between promises and practice? We visit the provinces to determine South Africa’s real state of health. This week the <i>M&G</i> looks at Limpopo, the most northerly of South Africa’s nine provinces, where the extreme poverty of the local inhabitants is constrasted starkly with world-famous luxury game lodges.
The number of man days lost in South Africa due to strike action fell from 945Â 000 in 2002 to 700Â 000 in 2003, according to labour analyst’s Andrew Levy strike report for 2003. The report says strike action in the country has levelled off significantly since the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Wesbank CEO Ronnie Watson on Tuesday announced a joint venture between the South African National Taxi Council and WesBank, to be called the South African National Taxi Finance Company. The primary aim of the joint venture is to facilitate the financing of new taxis under the government’s taxi recapitalisation plan.
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Ten percent to 12% of the vote — that is what Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille predicts her party will get in next month’s general election. The fiery party leader, called the one-woman-show by many of her opponents, on Tuesday introduced her provincial leaders and premier’s candidates to the media.
Special Report: Elections 2004
Thousands of Capetonians participated in Monday’s Freedom Parade, the public launch of the 10 Years of Freedom celebrations in the Western Cape. The parade saw two processions parading from opposite sides of the Cape Flats to converge at Athlone Stadium.
President Thabo Mbeki on Sunday opened two huge wooden doors to signal the inauguration of Constitutional Hills, the new and final home of the country’s highest court. The massive doors, at least six metres tall, have carved on them the numbers, one to 27 — the length of former president Nelson Mandela’s prison term.
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The African National Congress won six of nine municipal by-elections held on Wednesday — just four weeks before the national election for provincial and national government on April 14. Two of the seats went to the ANC, two were won by the official opposition Democratic Alliance and one by the Inkatha Freedom Party.
Special Report: Elections 2004
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The African National Congress in Gauteng on Wednesday lodged a formal complaint with the Independent Electoral Commission, accusing Inkatha Freedom Party leaders of obstructing it from campaigning for the upcoming election.
Special Report: Elections 2004
"I take strong exception to being lumped together with the so-called ‘Bantustan stooges’ and in fact these averments by your newspaper are defamatory per se." Minister of Home Affairs and president of the Inkatha Freedom Party Mangosuthu Buthelezi responds to the <i>M&G</i>.
The Minister of Health has until close of business on Wednesday to respond to a letter of demand from the Treatment Action Campaign, or face litigation. The letter, sent on March 10, gave her seven days to authorise the immediate procurement of anti-retroviral drugs.
Gauteng province’s roll-out of antiretroviral drugs for HIV/Aids patients will begin on April 1, health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa said on Monday. The province hoped to treat about 100 new cases a week, starting in five hospitals, and expanding to 23 institutions by this time next year.
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The DA on Monday called on Deputy President Jacob Zuma to retract and apologise for ”offensive” religious remarks he made while on the campaign trail. The DA said Zuma told a crowd of people ”the ANC will rule South Africa until Jesus comes back”.
Black economic empowerment companies (BEE) have improved their share of spending by Old Mutual Properties on outsourced services for buildings in the company’s portfolios to 56% in 2004, according to Richard Murphy, head of the facilities management division.
South African Parliamentary Speaker Frene Ginwala hinted on Friday that she might not take up a senior post with the Pan African Parliament if the seat is given to South Africa. She said she personally believed that a seat or leadership of an international institution should not be placed in one country.
Six lions’ traumatic and disorganised journey to South Africa from Spain will be reported to the South African Veterinary Council, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) said on Tuesday. The society said the six animals were transported in inadequate crates.
”More than 170 designers showed their collections as part of the 2004 London Fashion Week recently. I asked four to tell me about their favourite cities.” Isabel Choat quizzed four London designers about where to shop, eat and stay in the world’s trendy spots.
Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa has promised to speed up the issuing of valid taxi permits after facing a crowd of protesting taxi drivers in Johannesburg on Monday. In the meantime, those with temporary permits would not have their vehicles impounded except when they are found to be unroadworthy.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/pd.asp?ao=32340">Call for official’s sacking</a>
Several thousand National Taxi Alliance members have converged on the offices of Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, reportedly demanding the sacking of provincial minister of transport Khabisi Mosunkutu. Police said about 5Â 000 protesters marched to Shilowa’s offices in Johannesburg.
About 138 people, most of them illegal immigrants, were arrested during an anti-crime operation in Johannesburg on Friday morning, police reported. Inspector Dennis Adriao said at least 130 of those detained were illegal immigrants. About 30 of these were identified as suspects in cases including rape, armed robbery and murder.
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Not all prisoners are happy about the Constitutional Court’s decision to allow them to vote in the April 14 election, the Department of Correctional Services said on Thursday. ”There are quite a number of inmates who are there under different names to those which they are known outside,” a spokesperson said.
Special Report: Elections 2004
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/ 28 February 2004
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The name of former African National Congress Women’s League president Winnie Madikizela-Mandela does not appear on the party’s list of candidates for Parliament, released on Friday. Former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni, convicted of fraud last year, is also not on the list.
Elections 2004 special report
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/ 27 February 2004
Ekurhuleni metro police chief Robert McBride said on Friday the objections to his appointment last year were unfair. McBride, a former political activist and former death-row inmate, was appointed to the position by the Ekurhuleni metropolitian council despite objections by the Democratic Alliance.