Kobus Marais
latest news & developments
The situation in Cuba: ‘Prisoners in South Africa live in better conditions’
South African student pilots training in Cuba complain of slave-like conditions
Squabbles put army hospital in ICU
1 Military Hospital is in a serious state of disrepair and the report of a forensic investigation into who is to blame for the mess remains under wraps
SANDF’s ‘dignity’ comes with a R200m price tag
Find out about the SANDF’s new uniform, which is costing taxpayers close to R200-million, while mission-critical equipment is not maintained
Govt lacks plan to tackle economic crisis, says DA
Government needs to say how it plans to protect the local economy from the effects of the global financial crisis, the DA said on Monday.
DA wants answers on PPI overhaul
Statistics South Africa should appear before the finance portfolio committee to explain alleged unreliability in the Producer Price Index (PPI), said the Democratic Alliance (DA)…
DA proposes six steps to weather economic storm
The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Thursday proposed six steps to help the economy weather the current storm. ”Overall, sustainable and consistent policy is required,” DA…
Manuel’s budget: Mediocre or historic?
Overwhelmingly positive or mediocre? Economists on Wednesday had a variety of impressions to share of Finance Minister Trevor Manuel’s national budget, tabled in Parliament…
All eyes on Manuel ahead of Budget
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel’s national budget speech on Wednesday is even more keenly anticipated this year in view of the electricity crisis and its anticipated negative…
Caution on survey is standard practice, says stats council
The Statistics Council has not questioned the scientific basis of last year’s Community Survey, council head Howard Gabriels said on Tuesday. He said the fact that it had…
Council denies questioning scientific basis for survey
The statistics council has not questioned the scientific basis of last year’s Community Survey, council head Howard Gabriels said on Tuesday. And the fact that it had recommended…
DA calls for statistician general to be sacked
The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) on Tuesday called on Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel to sack the statistician general, Pali Lehohla. Revelations in morning newspapers…
DA: ANC must not undermine SA’s economic credibility
The newly elected leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) should not undermine South Africa’s economic credibility for petty party political reasons, the Democratic…
Cautious thumbs-up for Manuel’s budget
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel’s 2007 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement has received a cautious thumbs-up from some opposition parties. Tabling the budget in the National…
Slowdown takes shine off SA’s mini-budget
As South Africa’s economic growth slows and inflation heats up, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel will present a medium-term budget on Tuesday with decidedly less to smile about…