After a meeting with Thabo Mbeki, G8 officials insited that NEPAD was about changing the relationship between the developed world and Africa, and not primarily about money.

Representatives from Burundi's government and those of the rebel Conseil national pour la défense de la democratie-Forces pour la défense de la democratie-Forces pour la defense de la democratie (CNDD-FDD) are in the South African capital, Pretoria, to start discussions aimed at bringing a cease-fire to Burundi's civil war that has been raging for eight years.

The People’s Budget Campaign, formed by COSATU, the SACC and SANGOCO, expect the 2002/3 budget to express a renewed commitment to social solidarity. Above all, it should initiate decisive measures to alleviate poverty and restructure the economy to create jobs and ensure rapid growth.

The South African Government is to commit R10 million to an ambitious, multi-faceted conservation and research programme that involves scientist, submersibles, ships, helicopters and - fish. Coelacanths, the mysterious 'fossil fish' which was first discovered in its living form off the coast of South Africa in 1938, will be at the center of the study.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) together with the Coalition for a Basic Income Grant, Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs), are pushing for a monthly basic income grant of R100 for all South Africans.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN government is taking up to 28 magistrates to court in a civil action that accuses them of abusing several million pounds of public funds to install luxuries such as outside lounges and swimming pools at their homes and offices.

Corporal punishment has become a way of life in many schools. In yet another manifestation of this malaise, 13-year-old boy in South Africa was so severely tortured and beaten by his teacher that he may never be able to father a child.

Vice-President Jacob Zuma has urged that the principle of "any child is my child" be revived in communities. This is the right approach to correct the poverty and poor education of at least half the children of South Africa and to protect them from the alarming incidence of abuse. It echoes the core of Ubuntu, of finding meaning through caring for each other. This injunction must be translated into the means for people to act, to take responsibility, to transform society around them.

Opposition leaders hurled ridicule and defiance at President Thabo Mbeki on Tuesday over his government's continued refusal to expand the use of drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the AIDS virus. Mangosuthu Buthelezi, leader of the mainly Zulu Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), said he had instructed the IFP premier of KwaZulu-Natal province to dispense with testing and counseling if necessary and offer nevirapine to all pregnant women.

The Sparrow Rainbow Village, a village created to house and care for South Africans living with HIV/AIDS, opened on Thursday in Roodeport, South Africa, the Associated Press reports. The village, which is located near Johannesburg, will eventually house 450 people, including 100 children. Many of the residents will live in "igloo-like structures" in the village, while others will receive care in their own homes. "In the coming years we are going to need a great many more villages like this," Rev. Corine McClintock, founder of Sparrow Ministries, said.

Zimbabwean watchdog bodies have accused the Southern African Development Community (SADC) of being an 'old boys club' that gangs together to protect each other's dictatorial rule. Speaking at this week's "using democracy to destroy democracy" meeting in the capital city Harare, political activists said SADC countries, particularly South Africa, had fallen prey to President Robert Mugabe's gimmicks. "Mugabe's regime is hiding behind tailored but defective concepts of colonialism and Pan-Africanism to garner SADC's support to authenticate its rule," said a University of Zimbabwe political commentator, Brain Raftopolous.

Former South African state President Nelson Mandela Foundation and Rhodes Trust have formed a new foundation Mandela- Rhodes Fund geared towards human resource development in South Africa and Africa. The new foundation has R165-million rands and aim to raise about R330-million to achieve it's objective.

Dr Zadek, a leading Social Accountant and Corporate Citizenship expert, will be hold a one day training on Social Accounting.

This 2-day course will enable participants to create a basic website, maintain their organisations' websites - add content to existing pages, add new pages, adapt a site's design, and develop the content and structure of a website.

An NGO based in Johannesburg requires a general secretary who will function closely with senior management and staff to provide an all round
secretarial service.

The Southern Africa Institute of Fundraising advises you of a further two workshops: How to deal with the media and a course on presentation and public speaking skills.

Addressing leaders at the World Economic Forum in New York City over the weekend, Bill Gates called on government, industry, and nonprofit organizations to substantially increase and sustain development funding for global health initiatives.

Requirements: BA degree, strong legal background and
comprehensive understanding of gender discrimination.

National Lottery Distribution trust Fund is considering applications from the proceeds of National Lottery. Amongst issues such as povert alleviation and Aids, the focus of the Fund will be on capacity building for organisations and communities which are involved in training, advocay and lobbying and skills development.

Bill Gates's backing of Mbeki's NEPAD translated into action when he promised to provide technology to South African schools. The computer billionare promised South Africa R100-million a year in perpetuity. He also promised 32 000 schools computers and 90% discounts for private schools and universities.