Top Marks for South Africa's World Cup
Bongani Nkosi

South Africa has come out with flying colours for hosting one of the most successful World Cups of all time. This was announced by Fifa boss Sepp Blatter at a press briefing after a glittering closing ceremony and nail-biting final match between the Netherlands and Spain the night before

Vuvuzela: Symbol of the 2010 World Cup
John Battersby

In the space of four weeks the vuvuzela has become the defining sound, shape and buzzword of Africa’s first Fifa World Cup. It is on everyone’s lips - both literally and figuratively - and is likely to gets its place in the Oxford English dictionary some time soon

South African government ups offer to striking workers
The South African government has increased its wage and housing offers to striking workers, a union spokesman said.

South Africa strike risks babies' lives
Thomas Lehloholo was driving around Johannesburg desperately looking for a doctor to deliver his premature son when he got the call telling him it was too late. He had become a father.

Comment: Strike is devastating own goal for South Africa
Six weeks ago South Africa was basking in the afterglow of hosting a successful soccer World Cup that lawmakers boasted would add millions of dollars to the national economy.

Security firms adopt military tactics to fight rhino poachers
Continued rhino poaching in South Africa is causing some security firms to adopt military tactics in their battle against the poachers.

Government workers striking in South Africa
Public sector workers embarked on a countrywide strike in South Africa on Wednesday.

William Kentridge, the South African artist drawing apartheid
One of South Africa's best-known artists, William Kentridge makes unsettling work about apartheid -- and he is now making a name for himself internationally.

Unemployment is a global problem
In South Africa this summer for the Global Forum hosted by Fortune, Time, and CNN in Cape Town, I was in a car driving northwest from Johannesburg in the pale winter sun, marveling at an endless landscape, when we suddenly came across what can only be described as a rural slum. It was the sort of place into which African workers had been cruelly decanted under the apartheid regime: row upon row of tin shacks, a few miserable roadside markets, kids trying to flag us down to sell soccer scarves and oranges. We didn't stop.

South African public sector workers strike, protest
Public sector workers went on strike across South Africa Tuesday, closing schools, putting a crimp in hospital staffing and wreaking havoc on a wide array of public services.

Steve Davis: U.S. faces a Brazil team in transition
The last time we saw the U.S. soccer team, pride of accomplishment was filling the center while disappointment charred the edges. Bob Bradley's men packed up and left South Africa with mixed feelings of a mission only partially accomplished.

South Africa recalls ambassador to Rwanda
The South African government has recalled its ambassador to Rwanda as diplomatic fallout over a suspected assassination attempt in Johannesburg continues.

Former South African police chief sentenced to 15 years
South Africa's former national police chief, Jackie Selebi, was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison after he was found guilty of corruption charges last month.

Prince Albert Changes His Wedding Date
Monaco's monarch and Charlene Wittstock will now marry July 2 and 3, 2011

Nursing home fire kills 18 in South Africa
Eighteen elderly residents died Sunday night after a fire broke out at a Nigel, South Africa nursing home, according an emergency services spokesman.

Cape Town's 'Ghetto Ballerina' lands U.S. scholarship
A South African ballet dancer from a poor township outside Cape Town has been given the chance to train in the United States -- all because of a documentary film, and an email from a caring viewer.

Sentencing due in South Africa race case
Sentencing was due to take place Wednesday for four white former university students who pleaded guilty to humiliating black workers in a video.

Couple Survive After Being Hit by 40-Ton Flying Whale
"I saw this huge monster shape come up out of the water," one of the two South African sailors recalls

Georgina Turner: Who's going where in Premier League? (A-L)
The World Cup is over and another summer of rampant transfer rumor-mongering is underway in the Premier League. The few clubs with cash are being linked with anybody and everybody, and Germans are in popular demand. But what positions should clubs be prioritizing as they hit the shops? Today, clubs A-L; the second half of the table will follow Sunday.

Working to bring 'Hippos,' and water, to Haiti
Like so many people, Grant Gibbs watched the news unfolding in Haiti and thought to himself that he wanted to help the people of the earthquake-ravaged nation.

Growing in wealth, South Africa battles obesity
In restaurants in this township outside Cape Town, South Africa, barbecue grills crackle with chains of sausage, marinated chicken quarters and boulder-sized slabs of beef and lamb.

Program pairs football, journalism for South African township kids
Azola Maliti is thrilled to be part of a group of young South Africans taking part in a media training program that coincides with the World Cup.

Has granny invented a vuvuzela rival?
The vuvuzela, the plastic trumpet blown by football fans at the World Cup, has blasted into stadiums in South Africa and television screens across the globe. Some love it, many hate it.

American shot, robbed in South Africa
An American man on vacation in South Africa was shot after being robbed on the street in Johannesburg, police said Thursday.

Blind South Africans experience thrill of World Cup
Among the crowds at World Cup matches, blind South Africans are getting the chance to experience the thrill of international football.

World Cup spurs football fans to volunteer
Instead of shielding South Africa's poverty during the FIFA Football World Cup, one travel company says there is not only a desire from visitors to see the country's hardships but to also help out.

Prince Albert Sets the Date for His Wedding
The royal nuptials will include two ceremonies and be televised

South African doctor invents female condoms with 'teeth' to fight rape
South African Dr. Sonnet Ehlers was on call one night four decades ago when a devastated rape victim walked in. Her eyes were lifeless; she was like a breathing corpse.

World Cup vuvuzelas buzz of internet, too
The droning honk of the vuvuzela has become the real star of the World Cup -- the kind of star some soccer fans love and others hate.

South Africa's booming art market
In recent years, African artists have seen their work increase in value as they attract global investors.

Elephants are real giants of South African soccer
The real giant of the World Cup isn't Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka or Lionel Messi -- it's Namibia, a four-ton orphaned elephant with serious dribbling skills and a placid temperament unlike many of the stars on the human fields.

Yellow fever vaccine shortage a kick in the head to Ugandans
Sunday Kirunda paid $1,250 for a bus travel package to South Africa, but the 41-year-old Ugandan just can't seem to get out of his own country.

South African police crack down on protesters, illegal ticket holders
Police used stun grenades and rubber bullets to break up a protest by striking World Cup security guards in a Cape Town suburb Thursday, said National South African Police spokesman Vish Naidoo.

World Cup gives South Africa's wine a boost
"I've got the best commute in the world," Fairview Estate's chief wine maker Anthony De Jager says with a smile as he watches his amiable pack of dogs run excitedly through the vineyards.

The image that changed the course of South Africa's history
It's the iconic image that grabbed the world's attention and helped change the course of South African history.

How I learned to love the vuvuzela
If you have a TV you have heard, or heard of, vuvuzelas. They're the cheap plastic horns played by tens of thousands of spectators in World Cup soccer stadiums in South Africa and buzzing like so many unswattable mosquitoes in the ear of an irate camper.

Backstage at the World Cup 'Kick Off' concert
The World Cup atmosphere grew to fever pitch at Pirates Stadium in Soweto on Thursday night, as the venue hosted a star-studded concert to celebrate the imminent start of the soccer tournament in South Africa.

Biden visits South Africa as World Cup begins
Vice President Joe Biden, in South Africa as the World Cup got into full swing, discussed a range of issues with his South African counterpart and planned to watch the U.S. match with England on Saturday.

Mandela to skip World Cup opening after great-grandchild dies in wreck
Former South African President Nelson Mandela will not attend Friday's opening of the World Cup soccer tournament after the death of his great-grandchild in a car crash, a representative said.

South Africa recalls Israeli ambassador over flotilla raid
South Africa is recalling its ambassador to Israel because of the deadly Monday raid on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, a South African foreign affairs official said Thursday.

How 'green' is the World Cup?
In homes and workplaces around the world it's hard to find someone who is not celebrating the imminent arrival of football's World Cup.

U.S. issues travel alert for South Africa
The State Department has issued a travel alert warning U.S. citizens in South Africa to be aware of increased terrorism risks during the World Cup, which starts June 11.

Israel denies apartheid South Africa nuke talks
Israel "has never negotiated the exchange of nuclear weapons with South Africa," its president's office said Monday, after a British newspaper claimed such talks had taken place.

S. African paper publishes Mohammed cartoon
Once again, a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed has sparked anger and controversy.

Child is lone survivor in Libya plane crash
An 8-year-old boy who is a Dutch citizen is the sole survivor of a deadly plane crash in Libya, airline officials said Wednesday.

Soccer's Biggest Stars Strip for Vanity Fair
Cristiano Ronaldo and Landon Donovan take it all off (almost) in Annie Leibovitz's World Cup photos

South Africa star Steven Pienaar: African team won't win World Cup
Steven Pienaar will carry the weight of his country's expectations when he represents South Africa on home turf at this summer's World Cup.

Zuma launches health campaign by disclosing HIV status
President Jacob Zuma launched a program to combat AIDS in South Africa by making a public announcement that he is HIV negative.

Lawrence Anthony: The all-action conservationist
Lawrence Anthony is an all-action conservationist. The 60-year-old South African grew up in small towns in Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia and developed an affinity with nature from an early age.

World Cup will be safe from terror, says S. Africa's police minister
South Africa responded late Friday to published terrorist threats by insisting that this summer's World Cup will be safe.

Analysis: Terreblanche's death stokes racial tensions
The right-wing white supremacist leader Eugene Terreblanche was probably one of the most divisive and least likable characters in recent South African history.

South Africa's neo-Nazis drop revenge vow
A South African white supremacist group has retracted its statement vowing to avenge the killing of its leader, Eugene Terreblanche, a spokesman for the group said Monday.

Zuma appeals for calm after Terreblanche's death
South African President Jacob Zuma appealed for calm Sunday amid fears the killing of notorious white supremacist Eugene Terreblanche could stoke racial tensions in the country.

White supremacist leader killed in South Africa
Eugene Terreblanche, one of South Africa's most notorious white supremacists, was killed Saturday in an apparent dispute over wages with workers on his farm.

UN project launches campaign focusing on women
Suksma Ratri separated from her husband after suffering ongoing domestic violence. But four years ago, the young mother from Indonesia found out her ex-husband had become extremely ill, and possibly had AIDS.

Mandela makes appearance as lawmakers honor him
Former South African freedom fighter-turned-president Nelson Mandela made a rare public appearance Thursday as the nation's parliament met to honor him on the 20th anniversary of his release from prison.

Inspired by Mandela's 'stubborn sense of fairness'
Freedom lovers everywhere over a certain age recall the thrilling news 20 years ago that Nelson Mandela had been released from a Cape Town, South Africa, jail.

Orphanage fire kills 15 in South Africa
An intense fire at a South African orphanage killed at least 15 people, including eight children, and injured nine other people, authorities said.

South African president apologizes for fathering illegitimate child
South Africa's president has apologized for fathering a child out of wedlock after his admission prompted an outcry from critics who said he was undermining the nation's health campaign.

Coming down with gold fever
At Harrod's department store in London, you can pick up a South African Krugerrand or a 27-pound gold bar along with a sweater and bed linens. Gold is sold like candy out of train station vending machines in Germany. Indian households are borrowing against jewelry the way Americans did not so long ago against their homes. And U.S. investors poured $15 billion into gold funds in 2009, as they were pulling money out of stock portfolios.

UK firm slammed over World Cup 'stab vests' for fans
A London-based security clothing company has been blasted for marketing a "stab-proof vest" for football fans planning to visit this summer's World Cup in South Africa.

'Invictus' hero recalls day Mandela transformed South Africa
Francois Pienaar was the "big blonde son of apartheid," a white South African who grew up dreaming of glory on the rugby field.

Fears that World Cup could increase spread of HIV
Advocates for sex workers in South Africa have warned that this summer's World Cup could be a public health disaster.

Luis Bueno: 5 bold prediction for 2010, from World Cup to MLS Cup
The first year of a new decade is upon us, and the stories that will unfold in 2010 will be vast. Soccer lovers around the globe are anticipating the World Cup, one of three that will be played in this new decade.

Luis Bueno: U.S. can't do worse than Confed draw in World Cup draw
For the second time in the last eight years, the World Cup is entering uncharted waters when South Africa plays host next summer. As Japan/South Korea 2002 ushered in the World Cup to Asia, so, too, will South Africa 2010 introduce the world's greatest sporting event to a new continent.

Grant Wahl: Travel guide to 2010 World Cup in South Africa
The United States is in. So are Brazil, England, Spain and 15 other nations. Yet with eight months to go before the 2010 World Cup, more tickets have been purchased by people from the U.S. (11.7 percent at last count) than from any other country except the host nation, South Africa (47.9 percent).

U.S. closes embassy in South Africa after 'possible threat'
The United States temporarily closed its government facilities in South Africa on Tuesday after a "possible threat" to its embassy, the U.S. State Department said.

Sci-fi apartheid film 'District 9' opens in South Africa
The futuristic South African sci-fi that has taken the U.S box office by storm opened in its home country this weekend.

And Jarrett's destination is ...
Well, the people have spoken, and more than 40 percent of those who weighed in voted for South Africa.

Clinton stands by South Africa on Zimbabwe policy
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday stood by South Africa's much-criticized quiet diplomacy with neighboring Zimbabwe.

Cable makes big promises for African Internet
An undersea cable plugging east Africa into high speed Internet access went live Thursday, providing an alternative to expensive satellite connections.

Brooklyn kids give back in South Africa
It's late Sunday morning inside a cavernous Salvation Army Church in Soweto, South Africa. Services, complete with African and traditional music, have just finished and a catchy drum beat with a distinctly American hip-hop sound is coming from the stage.

South Africa fights rape crisis
Alexandra township, north of Johannesburg, is a densely populated melting pot with some of South Africa's worst social ills: poverty, unemployment, HIV/AIDS and crime.

A look at some of South Africa's parties
There are 40 parties vying in South Africa's elections, with 26 participating nationally and 14 provincially. Though South Africa's opposition parties remain generally weak, the ruling African National Congress worries that, collectively, they may eat away at its majority.

Zapiro: Satirising South Africa
He's been drawing conclusions about South African politics for over 15 years: cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro, aka Zapiro, talks about the power of the pen.

Dalai Lama denied visa for South Africa peace conference
South Africa has refused the Dalai Lama a visa to attend an international peace conference in Johannesburg this week, a presidential spokesman said.

Texts used to tackle South Africa HIV crisis
One million free text messages will be sent every day for 12 months from Monday in South Africa in a bid to raise HIV awareness and encourage testing for the disease.

Zimbabweans ill and dying from cholera crossing border
Doctors worry about the woman sitting on a bed inside the large tent, an IV in her arm. Chipo Matewe, 23, is eight months pregnant and stricken with cholera.

World Soccer: Slowly but surely, South Africa readies for 2010 Cup
South Africa will be ready for the World Cup in 2010 and, as much as is necessary, will be ready for the Confederations Cup this June. How South Africa will cope is, of course, another matter entirely.

South Africa's AIDS Truthsayer
Reversing years of inaccurate government policies, South African Health Minister Barbara Hogan is spreading the truth about AIDS

South Africa Will Sell Ivory to Japan, China
The South African government will press ahead with plans to sell just over 51 tons of ivory to China and Japan under a special exemption to the international ban on the trade

A married name, a singular headache
Shaun Francis' daughter has the wrong name on her airline ticket. It's her married name, and her passport still has her maiden name. The airline is happy to fix the ticket -- for a $400 fee. But is that right?

South Africa's Removal of Health Minister Praised
AIDS activists on Friday celebrated the removal of South Africa's health minister, accused of causing countless unnecessary deaths by promoting nutritional supplements instead of conventional medicine for people with HIV

South Africa's Ruling Party Ousts Mbeki
South Africa's president has agreed to resign after the country's ruling party called on him to step down

Children of South Africa
Josh Macabuag is in Jozini, South Africa, where he will be working with the charity Engineers Without Borders (EWB).

South Africa HIV Rates Dropping
South Africa's health minister said Thursday that HIV infection rates among pregnant women declined for the second straight year and claimed it was proof of the success of government policies

South Africa Violence: Beyond Racism
Analysis: Economic inequality, not racism, drove the wave of anti-immigrant violence that shook the post-apartheid order. And that's a global problem

South Africa Battles Xenophobia
Just out of sight of the tour buses that flock to the Cape of Good Hope, more than 2,000 foreigners are crammed into a makeshift refugee camp on the shores of the Atlantic

South Africa dorm closed over urine stew video
A South African university said Tuesday it will close the dormitory where white students tricked black workers into tasting stew laced with urine, an incident that sparked protests when revealed earlier this year.

South Africa: Violence 'Under Control'
A wave of violence against immigrants that left 56 people dead and forced 30,000 from their homes has subsided, South Africa's safety and security minister said Monday

Violence spreads across South Africa
The atmosphere was tense in Cape Town on Friday after xenophobic violence that has left more than 40 dead in Johannesburg spread to South Africa's largest city.

Zimbabweans Fleeing South Africa
They fled poverty and violence. But now even the plight of their home country seems preferable to the anti-immigrant mobs

Savior for South Africa's Persecuted
Bishop Paul Verryn spent the 1980s defending apartheid's victims. Now, he protects the immigrants on whom some of those former victims have turned

Hostels raided in South Africa clampdown
South African police and military units raided three hostels Thursday in a clampdown on xenophobic attacks that have left more than 40 dead, authorities said.

South Africa's Wake-Up Call
The army is deployed to suppress anti-immigrant violence, but damage to the country's image -- and psyche -- may linger

Anti-Immigrant Terror in South Africa
A pogrom against migrants reveals the social strain of a post-apartheid "miracle" that did not help the poor

'Anti-foreigner' violence kills 22 in South Africa
South Africa's police chief said Monday that violence directed at foreign nationals had killed 22 people over the past week.

Foreigners Attacked in S. Africa
Police fired rubber bullets and made arrests Monday to try to quell outbursts of anti-foreigner violence in and around Johannesburg

Supreme court upholds apartheid-era lawsuit
The Supreme Court - apparently handcuffed by possible conflicts of interest - has allowed a multibillion-dollar federal lawsuit from South African blacks and others to proceed. The suit claims U.S. and foreign companies should be held liable for helping the former white-led apartheid government.

Ship bound for Zimbabwe may return home, says Chinese official
A Chinese ship that was blocked from unloading its cargo in South Africa may return to China because of difficulties at African ports, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Tuesday.

Song for Zimbabwe
Singer Eli Amor is a Zimbabwean who has found work in South Africa. Like 13 million of his countrymen, Eli hopes the political and economic situation in his homeland will improve. He offered up a song about a greedy man who refuses to give up power to his fellow Zimbabweans in their shared time of need.

Government: Racism still strong in South Africa
A video of white students humiliating black workers shows that racism remains entrenched in South Africa, 14 years after the end of apartheid, its government said Thursday.

South Africa Criticizes Ravalomanana Trial
The sentencing of Madagascar's former President Marc Ravalomanana to hard labour for life may prove to be one more obstacle in the island's attempts to emerge from its current political crisis, says International Relations and Cooperation's Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

Nation-Wide Strike Hits Public Services Hard
Over a million teachers, nurses and other government workers have downed tools across South Africa, suspending public education and healthcare while their demands for better pay go head-to-head with government's reluctance to accede.

Minister Speaks Out on Madagascar
INTERNATIONAL Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane yesterday questioned the judicial process that sentenced Madagascar's former president, Marc Ravalomanana, to life imprisonment last week.

Teaching Health Communication
In a special partnership the Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication and the Wits School of Public Health, have launched a post-graduate degree programme aimed at breeding professionals who will promote and implement social and behaviour change communication in health.

Mutual Allegations Fly in Sishen Mineral Rights Case
THE Sishen Iron Ore mineral rights case is set to become an angry, drawn-out affair, with Imperial Crown Trading yesterday countering allegations that it had fraudulently copied Kumba 's applications.

Changes to 'Secrecy Bill' Not Ruled Out
The government is prepared to entertain changes to the controversial Protection of Information Bill but has warned that this can be done only as far as "is practicable and reasonable".

Unions Face Tough Battle to Sell State Wage Offer
BEHIND-the-scenes negotiations yesterday failed to end the public service strike as trade unions conferred with each other in an effort to work on a unified position against the government.

Photovoltaic Firm Opens its First Power Facility
CONCENTRATED photovoltaic firm Concentrix Solar has begun preparations to build a 50MW solar plant in the Western Cape, CEO Hansjorg Lerchenmuller said yesterday.

Pharmaceutical Giants to Expand Deal
Adcock Ingram, SA's second-biggest pharmaceutical manufacturer, has expanded its five-year co-promotion and distribution agreement with the world's second-biggest drug firm US-based Merck & Co (MSD) beyond SA's borders to include six other African countries, it announced yesterday.

Govt Withdraws Special Policy for Zimbabweans
Undocumented Zimbabwean nationals living in South Africa will no longer receive special treatment following Cabinet's decision to withdraw the special dispensation policy for Zimbabweans.

Govt Calls for an End to Strike
Government has once again called on negotiators in the public sector strike to find a "win win" solution to end the mass action that has halted schooling and hospital services across the country.

Poor, Unemployed 'Have No Friends'
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's warning last week that we need to achieve a sustained 7% growth rate for the next 20 to 30 years if we are to meet the social and economic needs of this county should come as a reality shock to all South Africans.

Ngcongca Offers Valuable Insight Into Niger's Team
BAFANA Bafana defender Anele Ngcongca does not have fond memories of Niger striker Moussa Maazou and the Capetonian warned yesterday the national team rearguard would have to keep the West African forward on a short leash in Saturday's opening 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier in Nelspruit.

Study Uses Department's Codes of Good Practice
RESEARCH house Trevor Chandler & Associates carried out the study according to the requirements set out by the Department of Trade and Industry's codes of good practice.

Keaton to Raise R200 Million in Debt to Fund Coal Project for Eskom
KEATON Energy plans to raise up to R200m in debt to fund a 200 000-tons-a-month coal project to supply Eskom with coal, CEO Paul Miller said yesterday.

Maligned Minibuses are Gautrain's Saving Grace
I FINALLY got around to using the Gautrain last week and the experience was not, believe me, a testament to convenience. I was in Katlehong, about 25km east of Johannesburg, and needed to get to OR Tambo International Airport, about 25km northeast of Katlehong, for a 10am flight last Tuesday.

Nothing Like Money to Ruin a Good Friendship
SA HAS just undergone a subterranean, yet distinct, shift in the political landscape. A good barometer of this change is the head of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League, Julius Malema. He provides an unwitting vocal record of the shifting sands within the ANC, even as the organisation itself tries desperately to remain "on message".

Punitive Laws Do Little to Stem the HIV Tide
SEX, drugs, rock 'n' roll with a reality show thrown in: sounds like the perfect cocktail for a media extravaganza. Well it was, just not in the way you may imagine. All of these elements came together in the trial and conviction of Nadja Benaissa, a 28-year-old German pop star, discovered on reality show German Pop Stars.

Is Outcomes-Based Education Dead?
THE media was awash with various opinions on the recent curriculum changes announced by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga. While most of the hype declared that outcomes-based education (OBE) is dead and the country will get a totally new curriculum, this was disputed by other analysts, resulting in mixed messages and public confusion.

Celebrating the Life of Gito Baloi
Tomorrow evening, Arts Alive stages a concert that brings his legacy to life again through re-imaginings of his compositions and new music from artists he worked with and influenced.

De Villiers Faces Fallout Over Bees Roux
SPRINGBOK coach Peter de Villiers's job may be safe following his statement this week that the national team support Blue Bulls prop Bees Roux, but the South African Rugby Union (Saru) leadership appears to be losing patience with his controversial comments.

JSE Says 18 Percent of Top-100 in Black Hands
BLACK South African investors own 18% of the available share capital in the top 100 companies listed on the JSE, according to the findings of a study released by the JSE yesterday.

India's Largest Iron Producer in Joint Venture With Cosatu Company
INDIA's largest iron producer and exporter, National Minerals Development Corporation, announced a deal with the investment arm of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), Kopano Ke Matla Investment Company, yesterday.

Afgri to Focus on Expansion Elsewhere in Africa
AGRICULTURAL company Afgri largely has its South African business in shape and is now looking to expand its operations in Africa, CEO Chris Venter said yesterday.

Ludeke Recalls Star Players for Clash With Sharks
BLUE Bulls coach Frans Ludeke yesterday predictably recalled all his star players for Saturday's important Currie Cup clash against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld as his team attempt to sway their fortunes in the series.

De Villiers Must Force Tired Boks to Take a Break
SPRINGBOK coach Peter de Villiers is doing his "buggered" senior players an injustice by playing them in another high-tempo Test against Australia in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

No Depths Too Deep in Search for Silver Linings
AFTER weeks in the murky depths with "spillcam" in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, prime-time TV has again gone underground, but this time it's "minecam", as the news celebrates the discovery of 33 miners trapped underground, yet alive, at the San Jose silver and gold mine in Copiapo, Chile.

Rounding Down for a Charitable Cause
STRATE Charity Services (SCS) recently handed over cheques worth R400 000 to four charities. This is not an unduly rare event for the section 21 company, but what makes it significant is that this money was essentially fashioned from nothing; created from where previously there was nothing but incurred costs.

Santam in Pretty Good Shape - CE
Short-term insurer Santam yesterday reported an increase in headline earnings of as much as 80% in the six months to June, which was led by improved gross premium business and the recovery in performance of two business segments.

Afgri's Profit Down in 'Mixed Picture' Year
AFGRI, which deals in chicken, grain and financial services, said yesterday pretax profit fell 8,7% to R453m in the year to June.

BFRA240305
Power lines, and the struggle for democracy in Bayview

zim220305
Social Movements Report on Zimbabwe

Durb220305
Obedience Doesn't Pay: inside the new revolt

190305awc
Β“War Against Profits not PeopleΒ”: Anti-War March in Johannesburg

ctevictions022005
Illegal evictions: Does the law apply to housing agents?

ctlove022005
What is Love?

ctmosselbaai022005
No answers from Mosselbay officials

ctcubaheights022005
Victory for Cuba Heights land invaders

ukzn080205
Financial Exclusions set UKZN ablaze

bayview05012005
Water war brews in Bayview as council cuts off residents

Mbeki to former imperialists: We want you back!

South Africa facing potential food shortage

South Africa Courts Iran
Pretoria’s support of Tehran demonstrates its anti-democratic and anti-West leanings.

Zuma a Constitutional Danger, Says Opposition

South Africa: The Next Zimbabwe
Despite the global boom, most South Africans were left behind. Fourteen years after the end of apartheid, widespread discontent is fueling communism, and economic collapse looms.

The Treasure Tankers of Africa
Where will they sail, and why?

South Africa's Lame-Duck President
Once the jewel of Africa, this nation is now going the way of the rest of the continent. A new president won’t help matters.

Black on Black in South Africa
Tensions erupting in Johannesburg reveal a much larger fault line running through Africa’s future.

The Weekend Web
A “red state” shocker and Ehud Olmert’s survival rating; plus, Ahmadinejad decries the “martyrdom” of Palestinians even as his own people freeze to death.

Don't Expect Jacob Zuma to Fix South Africa
Once the jewel of Africa, this nation is now going the way of the rest of the continent. The new leader of the ruling party won’t help matters.

Chinese State-Owned Bank Continues Strategic Shopping Spree
China Development Bank announced this week its intent to purchase a stake in British banking giant Barclays.

Zimbabwe Population Plummets as Millions Flee Mugabe
Border officials have described a “human tsunami” flowing across borders as economic conditions worsen.

South Africa Begins Forced Land Redistribution

Week in Review

The Week in Review
Among the most significant news from the past seven days was the flare-up of violence in the Old City of Jerusalem.

South Africa Approves Same-Sex Marriages

P.W. Botha: Last of South Africa's Statesmen
As the left-wing media had little positive to say about P.W. Botha, elder statesman of South Africa, following his death on Tuesday, his real legacy goes largely unnoticed.

Russia Strengthens Ties With South Africa
Vladimir Putin is resurrecting Russia’s special relationship with the ANC that has lain dormant for several years. Why?

"Almost Untreatable" Tuberculosis Very Deadly, Has Global Potential

World Drifts Toward Nuclear Catastrophe
“The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything save our modes of thinking, and thus we drift toward unparalleled catastrophe.” Sixty years later, Albert Einstein is still right.

South Africa: Leaders Tolerate Plague of Violence
Twelve years on from apartheid, South Africa is losing the fight against violent crime.

South Africa Threatens Farmers With Compulsory Eviction

UK, South Africa Increase Same-Sex Couples' Rights
Tying the knot around the traditional family unit

South Africa and Zimbabwe Strengthen Ties
Many are concerned that South Africa is heading down the same destructive path as its northern neighbor Zimbabwe. Recent South African expressions of admiration for Zimbabwe bolster those fears.

South Africa Assists Iran?
As the relationship between South Africa and Iran strengthens, just how far will Pretoria go in its support of Tehran?

Season of Labor Unrest Empties South African Hospitals
A nationwide strike by public employees has paralyzed hospitals and schools, undercutting major drives to combat AIDS and TB.

China Railway in Talks for South Africa Project
The China Railway Group, a construction company, said it was in talks with South Africa’s government for a $30 billion high-speed rail project between Johannesburg and the eastern port city of Durban.

South Africa Falls Victim to New Zealand in Final 2 Minutes
The South Africa captain, John Smit, put the blame on himself for his team's last-gasp 29-22 rugby loss to the All Blacks that allowed New Zealand to claim the Tri-Nations crown.

Proposed Media Law Causes Alarm in South Africa
The Protection of Information Bill and a plan for a media tribunal have come amid increasing hostility between the governing African National Congress and the press.

France Punishes Players for Behavior at World Cup
France attempted on Tuesday to draw a line under the national team's disgraceful departure from the World Cup in June.

Victory Over Australia Moves All Blacks Closer to Trophy
New Zealand retained the Bledisloe Cup when it beat Australia 20-10 in a hard-fought rugby test.

In South Africa, a Push for Industrial Growth
South Africa is providing companies with financial help as it tries to take advantage of an opportunity to create jobs and advance economically in the African market.

Modern Odysseys
The hope and the hurt of uprooting in a restless world.

Awaiting a Full Embrace of Same-Sex Weddings
Some fret that South Africa’s same-sex marriage law has bypassed many of the country’s black citizens.

African Studies Give Women Hope in H.I.V. Fight
Two new studies found different ways to sharply cut H.I.V. infections among women: a vaginal gel and a system of cash payments.

Oosthuizen and Caddie Represent South Africa at Open
Louis Oosthuizen and his caddie, Zack Rasego, are entering the final round of the British Open with a four-stroke lead and as the image of a “rainbow nation.”

Zwelethu Mthethwa at Studio Museum in Harlem
An exhibit of the work of the South African photographer Zwelethu Mthethwa provides a refreshingly intimate look at life in his country as well as his foray to New Orleans.

Who Really Won in South Africa?
Now that the World Cup has ended, the hard questions that were raised by community activists beforehand are back: Who won? Who lost?

South Africans Wonder What Lies Beyond the Cup
South Africans hosted a successful World Cup, but some are wary about whether their enthusiasm and unity can be sustained.

World Cup at End, South Africa Looks to Next Challenge
The World Cup was a transformative event for South Africa and its host cities. But many in the country are asking, “Where do we go from here?”

No random deportations - govt
South Africa is not planning to randomly deport Zimbabweans, says a senior home affairs official after an announcement by Cabinet to end special dispensation for Zimbabweans.

Work until you drop, strikers say
Striking civil servants are camping out in front of a Vereeniging hospital to prevent nursing staff from going home - until they join the strike.

Baloyi: No room for manoeuvring
The public sector strike is an embarrassment to SA, but there is no more money to offer workers, says Public Service and Administration Minister Richard Baloyi.

Vuvuzelas heading for India
Loved and loathed in equal measure, the drone of the vuvuzela will resonate in India for the first time at the Commonwealth Games.

Oil spill has cost $8bn so far - BP
BP says it has so far spent $8bn responding to the disastrous oil well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico.

FIFA release 2010 analysis
FIFA had high praise for Soccer World Cup winner Spain in its official analysis of the 2010 tournament held in SA.

TB breakthrough test
A new test can accurately diagnose drug-resistant tuberculosis in as little as two hours, researchers have written in a study.

Correctional services on high alert amid strike
The Department of Correctional Services is on high alert to ensure that service delivery is not compromised during the public sector strike. This follows union calls for essential services workers to join the strike. Acting Commissioner Siphiwe Sokhela has praised correctional officials for their disciplined conduct during the current industrial action.

Samwu barred from joining public servant strike
The City of Joburg has obtained a court interdict barring municipal workers from joining the public service strike. Workers belonging to South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) had indicated they would be joining the strike tomorrow.

Earth tremor strikes Jo'burg
An earth tremor was felt in parts of Johannesburg tonight. It shook the walls in suburbs including Greenside, Melville and Kensington shortly after 21:00.

E Cape residents attends memorial service of butchered family
More than 200 Eastern Cape residents attended a memorial service for the five family members who were butchered to death while asleep at their home in Sigubudu at Ngqeleni.

North West postpones matric exams
The North West has joined four other provinces in postponing their matric preliminary exams. This is despite the Department of Basic Education saying last week that they are not considering a postponement of the preliminary matric exams, to be written in the next fortnight.

Sifiso Zulu gets five years in prison
Prominent Durban businessmen Sifiso Zulu has been sentenced to five years' imprisonment - two of which were suspended for three years for culpable homicide and negligent and reckless driving.  Zulu was also slapped with a R7 500 fine.

Royal Bafokeng assists Grade 12 learners
While millions of children across the country remain at home because of the public sector strike, the Royal Bafokeng administration at Phokeng near Rustenburg in the North West - has initiated a programme to ensure Grade 12 learners in the area receive learning to minimise the impact of the strike action by teachers, due to lost time.

MPs bid Joe Matthews last farewell
Members of Parliament (MP) paid their last respect to Joe Matthews who served for 10-years as an Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) MP before he retired from active politics in 2004. He was South Africa's first democratic deputy Minister of Safety and Security.

Learners pay their last respects to train accident victims
More than a thousand learners at the Kasselsvlei High School in Bellville South outside Cape Town have packed the school hall for a memorial service to pay their respects to three fellow learners who died in the fatal train accident near Blackheath yesterday, when a minibus was hit after the driver allegedly skipped security booms at a level crossing. 

Constitutional Court likely to reject infomation bill: De Klerk
It is unlikely the Constitutional Court will approve the Protection of Information Bill in its current form, according to former president FW de Klerk. In a wide-ranging interview published in today's Die Burger newspaper, De Klerk said the elements of federalism in the Constitution, freedom of the media, the free market economy and the  independence of the judiciary were in danger.

Hanekom decries use of political positions for self enrichment
Science and Technology Deputy Minister Derek Hanekom has criticised those who are using political positions to enrich themselves. He was speaking at the 80th birthday celebration of ANC stalwart and retired Human Sciences Research Council executive Bernard Magubane at the Freedom Park gallery of leaders in Pretoria last night.

Home Affairs sets up call centre to issue death certificates
The Home Affairs department has set up a call centre to speed up the issuing of death certificates during the public service strike. Spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa says the initiative by Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is aimed at responding to urgent calls from members of the public who could not receive death certificates to enable them to bury their loved ones.

Govt agrees with Sisulu on 'controversial' military report
After Cabinet, Parliament and Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe have given their support to Defence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu's refusal to release an interim report on the state of the military.

ANCYL deputy president's future hangs in the balance
The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) Deputy President Andile Lungisa's future hangs in the balance after his own province, the Eastern Cape, proposed a motion of no confidence in his leadership. This happened at the league's national general council in Midrand today.

Zuma wraps China visit today
South African President Jacob Zuma is to wrap his State visit to China by interacting with the captains of industry in the Chinese commercial hub of Shanghai today. The President arrived in Shanghai last night to visit the South African and African pavilions at the internationally acclaimed Shanghai Expo. 

Zuma wraps up China visit today
South African President Jacob Zuma is to wrap up his State visit to China by interacting with the captains of industry in the Chinese commercial hub of Shanghai today. The President arrived in Shanghai last night to visit the South African and African pavilions at the internationally acclaimed Shanghai Expo. 

Malema apologises to Manamela over booing
ANC Youth League President, Julius Malema, has apologised to the Young Communist League National Secretary, Buti Manamela, after delegates booed and heckled him at the Youth League's General Council currently underway at Gallagher Estate (NCG) in Midrand. Malema has described the incident as unbecoming behaviour of delegates.

Manamela barred from addressing ANC NGC
ANC Youth League (ANCYL) delegates at the National General Council (NGC) stopped the Youth Communist League General-Secretary Buti Manamela from addressing the council.

Govt's threat is like a petrol bomb: ILC
The Independent Labour Caucus (ILC) said today that the government's veiled threat of reverting back to its original salary offer was tantamount to throwing a petrol bomb into a fire. "There's a threat that if less than 50% of unions sign government's final offer the employer will revert back to the 5.2% salary increase and a R620 per month housing allowance," ILC chairperson Chris Klopper said.

Obama welcomes Rasool as ambassador
United States President Barack Obama has extended a warm welcome to Ebrahim Rasool, who has been appointed South African ambassador to the US. Rasool officially assumed his ambassadorial responsibilities on August 11, 2010.

Baynesfield Estate Museum
Located in the picturesque Natal Midlands of South Africa, Baynesfield Estate was established in 1863 by Joseph Baynes. This interesting man played a vital role in the development and history of the area and this fascinating museum provides some insight into the man and his operations.

Fossils - Linking the Past to the Present
Mankind has always been fascinated by the question of ancestry, with paleontologists regularly turning up finds that fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle of how humans have developed and adapted over centuries. One such valuable find is the Australopithecus sediba fossils discovered in August 2008 at the Malapa Fossil Site in an area known as the Cradle of Humankind, located around 45 kilometers northwest of Johannesburg. The first specimen of a hominid clavicle, mandible and canine tooth was discovered by Professor Lee Berger's young son Matthew, with further related fossilized remains later being unearthed by Professor Berger's team.

Kowie Canoe and Hiking Trail
Located along South Africa's 'Sunshine Coast', between Port Elizabeth and East London, the picturesque town of Port Alfred is a haven of tranquility for nature-lovers wanting to escape the rat-race. With its temperate climate, sheltered harbor and the Kowie River emptying itself into the ocean, this is also the perfect destination for a variety of water-oriented activities – including the popular Kowie Canoe/Hiking Trail, starting at Port Alfred and ending at Horseshoe Bend in Water's Meeting Nature Reserve.

Speedo Ice Swim Africa
Six cold water veterans and up to 30 other extreme swimmers are set for one of the coldest swims in Africa when they plunge into an icy dam in Fraserburg, near Sutherland in mid winter for the first Speedo Ice Swim Africa.

DumaZulu Traditional Village
For local and international visitors, a trip to the DumaZulu Traditional Village can be a very rewarding experience. It is located near Hluhluwe, and can easily be reached from Durban and Johannesburg. Its name means Thundering Zulu and it has been declared an authentic traditional village through the opening of this attraction by King Goodwill Zwelithini. There is no better site in South Africa where the Zulu tribe and various other local tribes can be explored. It is an interactive attraction that is fun, educational and colorful.

World Cup 2010 Stadiums in SA
Very soon people from around the world will be flocking to South Africa for the Soccer World Cup 2010. The country has been very busy preparing itself for this major event and everyone is buzzing with football fever. Let’s take a look at the World Cup 2010 stadiums and their locations.

Birds of Eden a Paradise
Just outside of Plettenberg Bay, in South Africa, awaits a tropical adventure for the entire family to enjoy. Indigenous forests, board walks, clear streams and bridges, create a safe and picturesque sanctuary for the birds that call the Birds of Eden complex their home. It has become a very popular attraction, as it offers an interactive environment for visitors, filled with bird song, color and a variety of bird species. Foreign visitors to Birds of Eden will get a taste of the beautiful birds of South Africa, and a few exotic species.

Historic Town of Carnarvon
From approximately the year 1795 large numbers of the Xhosa community began to migrate along the Orange River. This later lead to battles amongst the Xhosa, Boers, Koranna and Khoikhoi tribes. A mission was eventually established in 1847 by Reverend Christoph Alheit, who named it Schietfontein. He began working with the local tribes and founded both a school and a church. The creation of the mission also led to the founding of the town of Harmsfontein in 1860. Some of the buildings erected between the years of 1811 and 1815 can still be seen in this historic town, which was renamed to Carnarvon in 1874.

CMS - Maestro, a Proudly South African Open Source Application
After months of intense development we are proud to announce the official public release of the Valente Online CMS-Maestro, an open source php content management system. Developed and maintained by Valente Online, a South African web development company. Valente Online was established and is run using open source software exclusively. We strongly believe in the potential of open source technology and systems. It was therefore only natural to release the Valente Online CMS-Maestro under the GPLv3 open source license, in the hopes that our contribution to the open source collective will be useful in promoting the utilization and adoption of open source software as main stream.

Boosmansbos Wilderness Area
Rugged, captivating and awe inspiring, the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area is one of the best kept secrets of the Western Cape in South Africa. Nestled between the picturesque destinations of Heidelberg and Swellendam, the Boosmansbos Wilderness Area is the ideal location to escape the rush of everyday life. For visitors to the country, this is a breathtaking attraction where they are able to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of nature.

More travel scandal MPs named and shamed
Parliament is being milked for more than R1-million by MPs cashing in on claims for road travel rather than taking the cheaper option of flights, ID leader Patricia de Lille has revealed.

Niger not a complete unknown
If Niger seem a little of an unknown quantity when it comes to international football, there is actually more familiarity with them in Bafana's ranks than one might have first thought, writes Jonty Mark.

Office party mishaps: did I really do that?
It's that time of the year again when the dreaded office party comes around. Ryan o Connar reckons he knows how not to end up in the "urban legends" section of party horrors. Here's how...

Homeless man takes TV channel staff hostage
A gunman who police shot dead after he took hostages at Discovery Channel's headquarters said he hated the company's shows because they promoted population growth.

Expats tell of riot chaos in Maputo
South African expatriates and business people are still trapped in Maputo as rioting over rising food and utility prices continued.

Unity In Diversity (literally Diverse People Unite)

The Republic of South Africa is located at the southern tip of Africa. It borders the Atlantic and Indian oceans and Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, and Lesotho, an independent enclave surrounded by South African territory. South Africa is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The South African economy is the largest in Africa and 24th largest in the world. Due to this it is the most socially, economically and infrastructurally developed country on the continent.

South Africa has experienced a different history from other nations in Africa because of early immigration from Europe and the strategic importance of the Cape Sea Route. European immigration began shortly after the Dutch East India Company founded a station at what would become Cape Town, in 1652. The closure of the Suez Canal during the Six-Day War highlighted its significance to East-West trade. The country's relatively developed infrastructure made its mineral wealth available and important to Western interests, particularly throughout the late nineteenth century and, with international competition and rivalry, during the Cold War. South Africa is ethnically diverse, with the largest Caucasian, Indian, and racially mixed communities in Africa. Black South Africans, who speak nine officially recognised languages, and many more dialects, account for slightly less than 80% of the population.

Racial strife between the white minority and the black majority has played a large part in South Africa's history and politics, culminating in apartheid, which was instituted in 1948 by the National Party (although segregation existed before that time). The laws that defined apartheid began to be repealed or abolished by the National Party in 1990, after a long and sometimes violent struggle (including economic sanctions from the international community) by the Black majority as well as many White, Coloured, and Indian South Africans.

Several philosophies and ideologies have developed in South Africa, including ubuntu (the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity) and Jan Smuts's holism.

Regular elections have been held for almost a century; but the majority of South Africans were not enfranchised until 1994.

South Africa is often called the "Rainbow Nation", a term coined by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and later adopted by then President Nelson Mandela. Mandela used the term "Rainbow Nation" as a metaphor to describe the country's newly developing multicultural diversity after segregationist apartheid ideology. The country's socially progressive policies are rare in Africa.

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SouthAfrica