Jon Herskovitz
latest news & developments
Awful year for SA’s rhinos as 2011 poaching shatters record
A record number of rhinos have been poached in South Africa this year as rising demand in Asia for their horns led to a massive upswell in killings.
Fikile Mbalula on the political fast track
The former head of the ANC Youth League, Fikile Mbalula, is beating a path that may lead right to the top using sport to help unite a nation.
SA braces for massive coal strike
About 150 000 SA coal workers seeking 14% wage increases plan to walk off the job from Sunday in a strike that could hurt power supplies.
Eskom raises wage offer to keep the home fires burning
Eskom has increased its wage offer to unions, in a bid to prevent a prolonged strike that could cut power and bring disaster to the economy.
SA economy pays high price for wage raises
Labour protests sweeping South Africa are stoking worries about inflation and dealing blows to the long-term prospects of the country’s economy.
Icy rain, fuel shortages hamper relief in Japan
Fuel shortages, icy rain and power failures are hampering Japan’s worst humanitarian crisis since World War II, but workers are reporting progress.
Japan: Robot power everywhere except at nuclear plant
Japan may build robots to run marathons and preside over weddings, but it has not deployed any of the machines to help repair its crippled reactors.
Rare earth hunt leads to frontier Africa
Africa, Australia and Canada likely hold the key to a geopolitical battle being fought to end China’s stranglehold over obscure elements.
Zuma calls for jobs, private sector help
South African President Jacob Zuma called on the government and private sector to create jobs, setting aside billions of dollars to create work.
SA labour market shake-up worries business
SA is proposing sweeping changes to labour law intended to increase job security for temporary workers, but economists have expressed concern.
SA, not just another Bric in the wall
South Africa’s ascension to the Bric group of major emerging economies was more about politics than economics.
Zuma’s G20 trip may be clouded by N Korea reports
The ANCYL has been stepping up its support for North Korea, Pyongyang’s media said, ahead of President Zuma’s visit to the G20 meeting in South Korea.
Nigeria bomb suspect Okah talks of fight in diary
A diary entry by suspected Nigerian bombing conspirator Henry Okah talked about staging "a fight to the finish", a court heard on Monday.
ANC targets media at political meeting
The African National Congress will press on Wednesday for a new tribunal to punish unscrupulous reporting.
ANC stability shakes SA’s economic future
Some safe bets in SA’s turbulent politics are that massive unemployment will persist, poverty will remain widespread and the ANC will stay in power.