Yolandi Groenewald

South Africa has taken huge steps in the past few years to increase the rights of women in the public and private sectors and to change patriarchal attitudes. Still many gender experts believe the battle is far from won and some critics believe that in some instances women are being left behind.

The booming economy in South Africa has resulted in greater demand for products and workers from other African countries and added to the revenues already being enjoyed as a result of the high price of commodities. Ian Marsberg, senior economist at Absa, says in 1998 13,6% of South Africa’s merchandise exports went to the rest of Africa and this rose to 14,1% in 2005.

Some in South Africa believe that there is no community in the country that can spin a story better than the people who speak Afrikaans. Rich in nuance and always ready for a laugh, the Afrikaans storytellers first used a campfire hundreds of years ago to narrate stories about hunting, the veld and love.

Mining houses in North West have been accused of whitewashing their community involvement and "plundering" the environment. A new study on the corporate social responsibility programmes of mining corporations in North West, released recenty, questions whether the houses are doing enough for the environment and its surrounding communities, and if mine safety standards are up to scratch.

Climate change is the flavour of the month, with world environmental politics dominated by the climate change debate. At the centre of the debate is the Kyoto Protocol, which outlines how the countries of the world should reduce their carbon footprints. Under the protocol, developed countries with high carbon emissions can buy "carbon credits" from less-developed countries.

Farmers in East Africa are set to enter the lucrative international organic produce market after launching their own seal of quality for organic products. The farmers hope the new East African Organic Products Standard (EAOS) — launched at the East African Organic Conference in Dar es Salaam this week — will boost sales for struggling farmers in the region and give their produce an exclusivity they can market at premium prices.

A survey released this week at the fourth World Congress of Rural Women showed that urban and rural women lead vastly different lives and that rural women have much more of an uphill battle than their city sisters. The Markinor survey showed that nearly half of urban women have matric or higher qualifications, compared to only 15% of rural women.

Tourism is a top economic performer in South Africa, but there are growing concerns that the country will not be able to deliver the necessary skills to further boost the industry, especially with the 2010 Soccer World Cup approaching. According to South African Tourism CEO Moeketsi Mosola, the skills shortage is the biggest challenge facing the sector.

Food prices are set to sky-rocket, as a devastating drought has forced maize farmers to their knees. The drought, along with competitive international markets, has lead to soaring maize prices in South Africa. Many farmers believe this is the worst drought in 40 years, and weather statistics have indicated they are not far off.

Last year, education made up the biggest part of the corporate social investment of South African companies, continuing the trend that companies believe investing in a culture of learning makes the most sense. Almost all the big hitters in corporate social investment invested in the education sector.

Afrikaners better start packing and head out to the Heilbron Spar. Because old president Nelson Mandela is dead and the night of the long knives is coming. That is if you believe an internet posting from Racheltjie de Beer, a member of the Suidlanders, an Afrikaner extremist group.

This year could be the most difficult for farmers in all of South Africa’s history, a grim AgriSA president, Lourie Bosman, said this week. The burden was getting too heavy for many farmers and they "want out", he said. Bosman’s comments come in the context of a strained relationship between white farmers and the minister of agriculture.

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has announced a marginally reduced allocation for land restitution this year — despite the looming March 2008 restitution deadline. This is largely because the land affairs department spent only R2,2-billion of its R3,4-billion allocation last year.

Sex pest Norman Mashabane stepped down as political adviser to Limpopo Premier Sello Moloto this week after the Pretoria High Court convicted him on three charges of sexual harassment. His loss of office comes not even a month after the ANC chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe was placed on long leave, capping a period in which the sexual abuses of office by politicians has been blown into the open.

South Africa’s beautiful beaches are slowly being gobbled up by rising sea levels. And while you and your kids still enjoy this coastline, your grandchildren may never be privileged enough to see Durban’s Golden Mile. Fortunately, local authorities are increasingly aware that they will have to plan ahead if they want to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on South Africa’s environment.

South Africa is expected to play a significant role at the United Nations conference in Nairobi during the next two weeks in charting a future for reducing climate change. About 6 000 delegates at the Nairobi talks will discuss ways of extending the Kyoto Protocol beyond its 2012 deadline, as well as looking for ways to help developing countries adapt to climate change.

A fascinating environmental debate in Midrand is pitting the protection of giant African bullfrogs against the urgent housing needs of Gauteng. Janet Schofield, of the Local Authority Watchdog, said Gauteng and the Ekurhuleni metro council had given a guarantee that bullfrog pans in Midrand would be protected from development. Premier Mbhazima Shilowa had himself endorsed this.

A platinum microwave oven, designed in South Africa by a Cape Town-based company, is set to revolutionise the global jewellery industry while giving the local jewellery manufacturing industry a boost. South Africa delivers 70% of the world’s platinum resources, yet less than 1% of platinum jewellery is made in the country.

A leading land expert this week warned that expropriation should not be seen as the sole saviour of land reform in South Africa. Edward Lahiff says that, given the active condition of the land market in South Africa, there is no reason why the majority of land reform needs cannot be met through negotiated purchases.

A South African astronomer has made a startling discovery about one of the world’s most closely studied galaxies. A team of scientists led by David Block from the University of the Witwatersrand has found new evidence that the Andromeda galaxy was involved in a violent head-on collision with its neighbouring dwarf galaxy more than 200-million years ago.

When entering Potchefstroom, on your way to Aardklop, one of South Africa’s biggest arts festivals, the concentration camp into which Afrikaans women and children were herded during the South African Anglo-Boer War is largely hidden from view. Cars speed past the gravesites without a glance, their mostly white, Afrikaans-speaking occupants intently focused on arriving on time for their favourite "shows".