by Aubrey Matshiqi. Matshiqi is a senior research associate at the Centre for Policy Studies Ninety-seven sleeps from today, Bafana Bafana will win the toss against Mexico and millions around the globe will witness the first kick of the 2010 World Cup. Hopefully, the toss is not the last thing Bafana will win in the […]
Preparation for World Cup Disenfranchises Country's Poor
South Africa is eagerly preparing to host the World Cup in June 2010, but the government’s preparatory development projects are negatively impacting the country’s poorest citizens. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe presented a keynote address on 1 March to mark 100 days to the start of the World Cup. He expressed the optimism and pride South […]
Taking President Jacob Zuma seriously
by Jovial Rantao WHY are we surprised when some section of the British nation, as demonstrated by some of their newspapers, don’t take President Jacob Zuma seriously? Why are we shocked and even angered when Fleet Street has found our head of state to be less than deserving of respect? Why are we taken aback […]
Don’t panic, coach tells nation
Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira urged the nation not to panic after an embarrassing 1-1 draw against lowly Namibia on Wednesday, but when is the time? The 81st-ranked Bafana were expected to brush aside the Namibians, ranked 30 places below South Africa in the world at a packed Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban in […]
'It was like climbing a greasy pole'
Exiting home affairs director general Mavuso Msimang has admitted that he failed to root out rampant corruption in his department during his three-year tenure as a turnaround specialist. “I didn’t really get on top of corruption,” Msimang (68) said in an interview this week. “It’s a difficult one to crack because it requires a comprehensive […]
Metrorail ‘more than ready’ for World Cup
Rail passenger company Metrorail says it is more than ready to live up to its slogan, “Nomakanjani (No matter what), we’ll take you there” during the upcoming 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. Metrorail has been experiencing a number of delays in its operations along the Johannesburg and Vereeniging corridor which were, according to the company, […]
S.Africa: R2,8million paid for failed rail project
Gauteng government allegedly spent more than R2million on the monorail project that never materialised. The R12billion project was designed to carry 1,5million people from Soweto to Johannesburg daily. The project was initiated by then MEC for public transport, roads and works Ignatius Jacobs and then MEC for finance and economic development Paul Mashatile. Democratic Alliance […]
Little disruption at universities despite Sasco threat
A Sasco vow to shut down 9 universities did not materialise today, with little disruption to classes despite attempts at the University of Johannesburg to block students from entering the campus. The SA Students Congress (Sasco) on Wednesday said it would shut down operations on campuses countrywide in protest action to demand free education. Apart […]
AfriForum drops grievance with Minister
Civil rights group AfriForum’s youth division yesterday wothdraw its complaint to the Public Protector against Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga. “AfriForum Youth today wothdrew its recent complaint lodged against Minister Motshekga. This was after the Minister made an appointment with us to discuss the maladministration of matric examinations and possible steps to rectify the […]
Walk-out not anti-gay – Xingwana
The widely-reported walk-out by Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana at an “Innovative Women” art exhibition organised by lesbians was not based on anti-gay sentiments, she said on Thursday. Xingwana said reports about her reaction to the exhibition, held at Constitution Hill in August last year, were “mischievous, deliberately misleading and avoiding the facts. Upon […]