South Africa's Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang "dropped a bombshell" yesterday when she announced that the government had "no immediate plans to use the landmark legal victory" to obtain antiretroviral drugs.

Asylum seekers not in possession of permits issued under a new refugee act will be treated as illegal immigrants from next month, the South African government has announced. In a joint communiqué with UNHCR, South Africa's department of home affairs said decisions would be made by the end of April on the thousands of asylum seekers in the country. Those successful would receive a new refugee identity card, unsuccessful applicants would be treated as illegal aliens, the communiqué added.

Welcoming the withdrawal of a case by pharmaceutical companies against the Government of South Africa, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today expressed hope that this development would help increase access to AIDS medicines for those in need.

News and comment on South Africa's Presidential AIDS Advisory Panel Report.

CORRUPTION governs a South Africa led by people who are not serious about fighting it, and steps have to be taken to ensure the country does not "go the same way" as Third World Africa, says graft-busting Judge Willem Heath. Heath, the controversial head of the special investigating unit, said the government was not dedicated in the fight against corruption.

South Africa's indigenous people, known as Khoisan, are demanding better treatment from the country's government.

In schools across South Africa, thousands of girls of every race and economic group are encountering sexual violence and harassment that impede their access to education, Human Rights Watch charged in a report released this week.

South Africa's Health Department has ordered 1.4 million female condoms, the Chicago-based Female Health Company said yesterday, bringing the number ordered since 1996 to more than 5 million.

(Johannesburg, March 27, 2001) In schools across South Africa, thousands of girls of every race and economic group are encountering sexual violence and harassment that impede their access to education, Human Rights Watch charged in a report released today.

12 April 2001 - this all day workshop is a must for anyone starting out in the fundraising profession. You will be given insights into new trends in fundraising and the fundraising cycle; the importance of planning to fundraise, how to identify potential donors and how to write corporate proposals, plus lots more information on income generation. Full details and booking forms from SAIF National Centre 011 884 0351 or email.

A delegation of over 40 American fundraising specialists is coming to SA to facilitate the transference of expertise. There will be a full days programme of presentations and discussion groups on all aspects of fundraising, facilitated by both American and South African specialists, leading towards an exchange of ideas and information.

Holds regular monthly self-help group meetings, in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth & Potchefstroom. If you stutter or have a family member or friend who stutters and would like to join a self-help group near you, please contact the Speakeasy National Office for details on 011 883 0292 or email.

European parliamentarians have passed an emergency resolution calling on 39 pharmaceuticals firms to drop their lawsuit against the South African government over a law aimed at opening the way for cheaper AIDS drug production.

Willie Koen, head of the transplant unit and the 'Berlin Heart' Surgeons at a Cape Town hospital implanted an artificial heart into the chest of a man who was rushed into their unit after cardiac failure last night.

Top cop accused of extortion quits. One of Durban's top policemen resigned this week after allegedly being caught attempting to extort R10 000 from a city doctor.

The Public Service Accountability Monitor (an independent research and monitoring unit based at Rhodes University) has criticized the Eastern Cape department of Transport for failing to take effective disciplinary action over a five year period against a senior state accountant who was arrested for allegedly attempting to defraud the department of R950000 in 1996.

The Socio-Economic Rights contained in the South African Constitution are the result of a long struggle against many years of apartheid poverty, discrimination and inequality. But what do these hardwon rights, such as land and health care rights, mean for people in their everyday lives? What laws and institutions are available to assist people in protecting and advancing these rights?

I just wanted to congratulate you on the Kabissa-Fahamu newsletter. It is interesting, informative, and up to date, and covers so much more than other briefings I have seen.

FreelanceHR has been launched in South Africa by Alan Ahlfeldt and Michael Kriess to alleviate the plight of the freelance worker and the needs of organisations. For only R20 per month, a freelancer can register on the site. There are various categories to choose from and if a category does not exist, one will be created within minutes. Freelancers are in charge of their own pages so it's up to them to keep it up to date. They receive a username and password and they just need to log in and update their details. FreelanceHR markets the site to the industry thus effectively creating a direct link between organisational needs and scarce skills. The service plans to launch in Australia, the UK and possibly the States later this year.

The Health Systems Trust launched the South African Health Review 2000 on the 1st of March 2001. This is an annual publication that provides an annual and longer-term review of health policy developments in South Africa.