The spectre of an independent workers' party that arose from the hopes and aspirations of the embryonic Cosatu and deeply concerned the then-exiled ANC was nowhere in evidence at the eighth Cosatu congress. In its place was the firm commitment to move into the ANC in massive numbers and change the orientation of the governing party. It could hardly have been otherwise, given the organisational weakness of the country's largest labour federation and the ideological orientation of the bulk of its leadership.

Water from a prepayment meter is 20% more expensive than from a standard meter in Johannesburg and 58,8% more expensive than the same amount of metered water in Cape Town. And while the people of Sandton are free to choose whether to have a prepayment meter, the poor of Soweto do not enjoy the privilege of choice, argues Roger Ronnie, the general secretary of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union. Ronnie was responding to an advert placed by Johannesburg Water (JW) in a South African newspaper. Communities in Soweto have revolted against JW's attempt to install pre-payment water meters.

September 12 marked the 26th anniversary of the death of Black Consciousness Movement founder Steve Bantu Biko. In this post-Biko era, there has been much euphoria about the South African success story. Yet this rhetoric conceals a gruesome and insidious phenomenon: an anti-African racism that permeates all spheres of life in the country.

The 16 September 2003 sees the start of Internet Week, which will see industry leaders gathering in Johannesburg to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the Internet, its development and the way in which it can and will change the way that Africa operates. The subjects to be discussed include legal and regulatory issues, the proposed convergence bill, as well as mobile, wireless and broadband multimedia concerns. Other discussions will include a look at open source in South Africa, encryption and spam and virus control.

A camera operator from free-to-air commercial station, e-tv was assaulted and a colleague threatened in an allegedly racial attack in upmarket Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa. Lensman, Shabani Ramenu and producer, Debbie Meyer were accosted while out on assignment for current affairs series, Third Degree.

The organisation Giving and Sharing has the honour of inviting you to the Media Launch of a national awareness campaign highlighting volunteerism and philanthropy in South Africa. Date: 8 October 2003. Time: 10.00am. Venue: The Parktonian All Suite Hotel, 120 de Korte Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa.

The SA Guild of Motoring Journalists (SAGMJ) has invited Not for Profit Organisations (NPOs) to take part in the first "Drive for Charity", a new initiative to raise funds for struggling NPOs.

Struggle leaders on Monday called on the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), in word and song, to ensure that the African National Congress won the third democratic elections next year. Addressing delegates at Cosatu's eighth national congress in Midrand, former president Nelson Mandela said: "I'm confident that the ANC is going to lead this country for a long time to come.”

Deputy President Jacob Zuma's bid for a court order to get hold of a document allegedly implicating him in a bribe suffered a major setback on Monday. Pretoria High Court Judge Jerry Shongwe struck the matter off the roll due to lack of urgency and instructed Zuma to pay the legal costs of the respondents - the national director of public prosecutions, the National Prosecuting Authority and the Scorpions.

"I wasn't getting anything from the relationship. Not even make-up from Clicks. He was making me a stupid. So I had to break up with him," says Dudu, a 16-year-old from Umlazi township, Durban. Dudu’s attitude towards relationships and sex is indicative of a growing and worrying national trend that has been identified in new studies. Findings have shown that consumerism and materialism has led to many young South African women embarking on relationships for what researchers call “the three Cs”, cash, clothes and a cellphone.

According to the first post-apartheid national Census in 1996, 8.5% of South African children between the ages of 7 and 15 were not in school while approximately 16% of learners in Grades 1 to 7 were out of age (in school but older than their grade cohort by at least three years). From an educational point of view, these two groups of learners represent important lenses for marginality - children, who for whatever reasons, are unable to keep average pace with basic schooling.

A lawyer, who was grilled about her sexual lifestyle when she applied for a job with the Film and Publications Board, is to receive an out-of-court settlement - two years after the incident. Gauteng attorney Kerry Williams had applied for a job as an examiner with the board in June 2001 to classify films and "represent the young, white, gay constituency".

The Ruth First Fellowship awards R25,000 for a research project in her tradition of critical, independent, socially-engaged writing. A four-page proposal is required by 26th September. Further information available from Anton Harber, Wits School of Journalism. fax (011) 717 4039.

Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Mohammed Valli Moosa has launched a book highlighting South Africa's strides towards environmentally friendly practices since the dawn of democracy. The book entitled 'People, Parks and Transformation in South Africa - A century of Conservation, A Decade of Democracy'' shows the different phases the country has taken pre-and post-1994 in this regard.

A high-profile AIDS activist, who had vowed not to take AIDS drugs until the general South African population had access to them, announced Monday he has begun taking the potentially lifesaving medication. Zackie Achmat changed his mind following the government's instructions to the health ministry to plan for the possible distribution of AIDS drugs to the public, the South African Press Association reported.

Last week, South African president Thabo Mbeki, during a state visit to Malaysia, reportedly suggested linking up with groups in developed countries concerned with the negative effects of globalisation. "They may act in ways you and I may not like and break windows in the street but the message they communicate relates," said Mbeki. This week, Mbeki's trade delegation was off to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting in Cancun, Mexico, where critics expect little of benefit to emerge for those suffering the negative effects of globalisation. Meanwhile, far away from Cancun and closer to home, in Phiri, Soweto, residents are standing up to the first phase of a plan to install pre-paid water meters by Johannesburg Water (JW). Pre-paid meters stop all water supplies unless water is paid for in advance and the company has been installing the devices under the name 'Operation Gcin'amazni'. The company is linked to French multinational Suez Lyonnaisse des Eaux and the installation of the meters forms part of a strategy of privatisation of basic services. Last weekend, residents in Phiri angrily protested against the meters. Seven people, including former African National Congress councillor Trevor Ngwane, now the leader of the Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee, a group that has protested against the installation of pre-paid electricity meters, were arrested for allegedly damaging pipes and intimidating workers. On Monday, September 8, resistance continued. Those opposed to the project have been arrested, denied bail and interdicted.

Deputy President Jacob Zuma appeared in an upbeat mood on Tuesday when he faced questions by MPs in the National Council of Provinces, saying there was no reason for him to step down from his position. Zuma has been dogged by controversy since National Director of Public Prosecution Bulelani Ngcuka announced that Zuma would not face prosecution for anything related to the multimillion-rand arms deal, despite there being prima facie evidence against him. The deputy president has accused Ngcuka of finding him guilty of corruption without having the necessary evidence.

The Red Cross Children's Hospital Trauma Unit Appeal total is nudging towards the R12 million mark, but time is slowly running out and another R4m must be raised by the end of December.

Poverty, unemployment and inequality appear to be increasing in South Africa. At least 45% of the South African population live in absolute poverty, and many households still have unsatisfactory access to clean water, energy, health care and education. This was part of the rationale for a workshop organised as part of an ongoing effort to consolidate data and advance a co-ordinated approach for the further collection of child well-being indicators.

The inquiry led by retired judge Edwin King into alleged racism in South African rugby has been postponed until early next year to allow the Springboks to prepare unburdened for the Rugby World Cup in Australia next month. This was revealed at a special media conference in Durban on Tuesday night attended by Minister of Sport and Recreation Ngconde Balfour in which Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli and manager Gideon Sam apologised for an error in judgement in the manner in which they handled the Geo Cronje and Quinton Davids race issue.