A deadly war of languages

The call for a predominantly Afrikaans University of Stellenbosch is neither racist nor nationalist.

Nuclear or bust?

A final decision on whether South Africa will extend its nuclear power capacity is expected within the month, if not sooner.

Can you recognise a snore?

A breakthrough in research at Stellenbosch University uses audio recordings to generate a ‘snoring index’, reports Marc Abrahams.

Free State Four: Crimen injuria probed

Police are investigating a case of crimen injuria in relation to a racist video made by students at the University of the Free State. The video, which caused national outrage, features black university employees on their knees eating food that had apparently been urinated upon by white students.
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De Villiers: Show me overlooked black talent

Springbok coach Peter has challenged black clubs which claim he is neglecting black talent to name the players they say are overlooked. De Villiers reacted to complaints that rugby authorities paid no attention to black areas and therefore denied talented youngsters opportunities to play at the highest level.

Actor dies in motorcycle accident

South African actor Antonio Summerton was killed in a motorcycle accident in Roodepoort on Saturday night, metro police said on Sunday. Chief Superintendent Wayne Minaar said Summerton, who played a role in popular Afrikaans soap opera 7de Laan, was killed in an accident in Constantia Road in Roodepoort.

Inflation expectations tick up slightly

After a substantial increase during the third quarter, inflation expectations only ticked up slightly during the fourth quarter, according to the latest BER Inflation Expectation Survey. CPIX inflation expectations are now expected to average 6% (previously 5,9%) during 2007, 5,9% (5,8%) during 2008 and 5,6% (unchanged) during 2009.

Poverty shock! (Never mind the facts)

The press recently had a field day with reports that poverty in South Africa had doubled since 1994. The story seems to have originated with a press release from the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR) that was picked up by major media. This is shocking news. But is it true, asks Miriam Altman,executive director of the Employment Growth and Development Initiative at the Human Sciences Research Council.

SA literary champion dies

Former Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns (South African Science and Art Academy) chairperson and honorary member Professor Elize Botha died on Friday at the age of 76, the academy announced. Botha also served as chancellor of the University of Stellenbosch since 1998.

SA literary champion dies

Former Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns (South African Science and Art Academy) chairperson and honorary member Professor Elize Botha died on November 15 at the age of 76, the academy announced. Botha also served as chancellor of the University of Stellenbosch since 1998.

End in sight at Lotz murder trial

The trial of actuary Fred van der Vyver, accused of murdering his student girlfriend Inge Lotz, appears to be drawing to a close. Prosecutor Carine Theunissen told the Cape High Court on Tuesday she would finish her cross-examination of Van der Vyver on Wednesday morning.

Lotz murder accused: We were in love

Murder accused Fred van der Vyver and his girlfriend, Inge Lotz, were deeply in love at the time she died, the young man told the Cape High Court on Monday. On the morning of her death on March 16 2005, they parted with hugs and kisses as he left to attend a class at the University of Stellenbosch, he said. "I was very much in love with her," he said.

Lotz murder accused takes the stand

Murder victim Inge Lotz broke down in tears on the morning of her murder, her former boyfriend, Fred van der Vyver, who is accused of killing her, told the Cape Town High Court on Tuesday. Van der Vyver took the stand after an apparently precedent-setting ruling by Judge Deon van Zyl, which allowed the defence to reopen its case when final arguments were already under way.

SA, Brazil, India challenge West on resources

Leaders of South Africa, Brazil and India meet this week to bolster an alliance that is challenging the United States and Europe for access to resources in the developing world and influence on the global stage. The three leaders have joined forces to ease the reliance of Asia, Latin America and Africa on trade with northern-hemisphere economies.

Employment equity lagging in SA

South African companies are like Irish coffee -- white on top and black at the bottom -- said Jimmy Manyi, commissioner of the Employment Equity Commission on Saturday. Speaking at the University of Stellenbosch on Saturday, Myani used the analogy to explain the lack of employment equity.

Manuel says SA should weather market turmoil

South Africa's solid economic fundamentals should help it weather current turmoil in global financial markets, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said on Wednesday. South Africa's rand currency and stock markets have swung wildly over the past few weeks amid turmoil in financial markets in the face of a global credit crunch.

South Africans are a proud nation, survey reveals

Thirteen years after the country shed its pariah status by scrapping apartheid, 96% of South Africans are now proud of their country, a new opinion poll revealed on Monday. Worryingly, among other figures revealed in the survey, nearly 10% of respondents said that domestic violence could be justified.