- Latest Popular Stories, Instablogs Community by F_derick

SA police sued for discrimination

Derick — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:32:03 +0000

Predominately white trade union Solidarity is taking South Africa’s government to court, alleging racial discrimination in the police force.

Police Officers to Dress As Prostitutes During 2010 World Cup

Derick — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:51:18 +0000

Female police officers are to pose as prostitutes in South Africa in a bid to snare kerb crawlers ahead of next year’s World Cup, security chiefs said.

A squad of undercover cops will dress provocatively and walk the streets ahead of next year’s World Cup Photo: GETTY
A squad of undercover cops will dress provocatively and walk the streets during a crackdown designed to catch sex workers’ clients in the act.

In battle of science and religion, a truce reigns

Derick — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:48:28 +0000

I’ve just been back to London for a long weekend and caught the film Creation, which claims to tell the story of how Charles Darwin wrote On the Origin of Species. It’s strong on Darwin the family man and how he was poleaxed by the death of his daughter, but less successful in conveying the world-changing implications of his theory of evolution.

Creation’s producer complained that US distributors refused to touch it because they feared opposition from creationists. In the end the film did secure a limited American release, but the fuss made me wonder whether this portrayal of the naturalist as God-slayer will ever be seen in

Gold tops $1,000, but South African miners not benefiting

Derick — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:08:36 +0000

The gold miners gather in front of the old Crown Gold Mines and begin a peculiarly South African form of protest. They dance, hoot horns, wave knob-kerry sticks, and generally appear to be having a fabulous time.

But the joyous mood hides a serious problem. These workers are striking for a 13 percent salary increase. Food prices here are skyrocketing, and gold prices are hovering at more than $1,000 an ounce.

“[DRD Gold] is paying us peanuts,” says Juliet Sibanyoni, a plant operator, “but we are not monkeys. They should not pay us peanuts.”

But DRD Gold, which owns Crown Mines and two other facilities, says record gold prices don’t make record profits. Even though gold prices are high globally, the value of the US dollar is weak. By the time DRD Gold converts its dollars into the strong South African rand, the company says that it sees almost no profit.

For an industry that once defined South Africa’s gold-rush economy, these are worrying times, and the growing bumptiousness of South Africa’s unions is a sign of more trouble ahead.

UN food for starving Somalis sold for profit

Derick — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:54:23 +0000

One of the UN’s largest international relief efforts is under investigation after it emerged that thousands of sacks of food aid were being diverted from starving refugees and openly sold for profit.

The head of the UN’s $955 million (£580 million) aid operation in Somalia has launched an inquiry after being shown footage showing tonnes of food bearing the World Food Programme (WFP) logo widely on sale in Mogadishu, the capital.

Stacks of bags of maize and wheat and tins of cooking oil — marked “not for re-sale” and bearing the UN stamp — are on sale from ten warehouses and 15 shops in the city’s main market.

About 45,000 tonnes of WFP food are shipped to Somalia from Kenya every month. Mogadishu traders told Channel 4 News that they bought their supplies straight from UN staff. “We buy [food] aid from WFP staff directly or from people they employ,” one market trader said.

Italy and France failing Africa

Derick — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 06:11:43 +0000

Italy and France have been accused of reneging on promises to increase aid to African nations.

Anti-poverty group One, set up by rock star Bono, said Italy had actually cut aid to Africa despite making ambitious pledges at a 2005 economic summit.

And it accused France of reducing its aid targets and cutting its aid budget.

The report, backed by figures like Bill Gates and Desmond Tutu, said Italy and France are holding back other members of the G8 group of rich nations.

The BBC’s international development correspondent David Loyn says the research is underpinned by a fear that the global economic downturn could undo what modest progress has already been made.

Strikes, recession put pressure on S. Africa govt

Derick — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:32:00 +0000

President Jacob Zuma’s new government faces a tough ride as South Africa slides into recession amid mounting pressure from public servants demanding better wages, analysts say.

Growth figures released Tuesday shocked analysts, who had expected the recession but had forecast a contraction much smaller than the 6.4 percent posted for the first quarter.

Following a 1.8 percent contraction in the last quarter of 2008, the poor showing put South Africa in its first recession in 17 years.

Zuma took office this month after a campaign vowing more jobs and less poverty, but is already dealing with civil service strikes which threaten to further cripple public hospitals.

Africa, Migrants pour Into Italy

Derick — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:53:59 +0000

Italy’s only black MP has warned of growing racism after a surge in attacks on immigrants across the country.

Mugabe selects ministers without prior consultation with rival parties

Derick — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 23:28:52 +0000

This has sent shock waves within the opposition and many Zimbabweans. Mugabe assigned 30 of the 31 ministries – 15 for his Zanu PF party, 13 for Tsvangirai’s MDC and three for Mutambara’s MDC. Only the Finance portfolio remained...

Asteroid Exploded in Earth's Atmosphere

Derick — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:49:50 +0000

A small asteroid exploded over Africa this week following what astronomers said was the first firm prediction of an incoming space rock.It did not strike Earth.