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/ 15 July 2003

Funny Ha Ha and Funny Strange

Someone at Google has a profound sense of humour. If you’ve got the time, and are used to the standard error messages that display when sites can’t be found – then there’s a very subtle page that can be displayed, dealing with the much mentioned ‘weapons of mass destruction’ that the US made up as a reason for grabbing oil.

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/ 15 July 2003

Strong stride for BEE

The model followed by Bidvest, South Africa’s largest diversified industrial group, in selling a 15% stake valued at more than R2,1-billion to black investors has set a precedent that could lead to more meaningful black economic empowerment (BEE) in South Africa, analysts believe.

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/ 14 July 2003

The ongoing paradox of free versus paid education

In June, the Department of Education released its plan of action for improving access to free and quality basic education. In its earlier review of the financing, resourcing and costs of education in public schools, the department waxed lyrical about the so-called "right to pay school fees". The shift in rhetoric is remarkable. The shift in policy is not so spectacular.

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/ 14 July 2003

A full house in Jacques for Mr Martin

The South African race-card entertainment industry is enjoying boom times. A glance through any local newspaper, a listen-in to talk-radio or a look-in at Parliament will offer up multiple and imaginative variations on the same simple theme: how, according to the dealers, racial prejudice infests every last nook and cranny of our lives.

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/ 14 July 2003

Chicken à la Bush sours talks

While President Thabo Mbeki and President George W Bush were preparing to discuss the role of the world’s largest economy in the development of Africa last week, it emerged that Americans’ eating habits may well become a stumbling block on the road to a free-trade pact between the United States and Southern Africa.

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/ 11 July 2003

Progress at miners wage talks

The wage dispute between the National Union of Mineworkers and South Africa’s gold and coal miners, represented by the Chamber of Mines, appear to have shown some progress following four days of mediation this week by the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration.

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/ 10 July 2003

Linefish industry hooks traditional rights

South Africa’s Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has allocated the first fishing rights for traditional linefish fishery, the government announced on Thursday. The allocation of rights signals a major shift in the management of the country’s traditional linefish resource as traditional linefish fishers operated under exemptions granted to them instead of rights.