FACED WITH REALITY, AU BEGINS TO THAW ITS LIBYA POSITION

The AU’s “High-Level ad hoc Committee on Libya” was hosted by South African President Jacob Zuma in Pretoria and was attended by Presidents Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Congo and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. Mauritania and Mali, who make up the remainder of the committee, were represented by their ambassadors to South Africa. The meeting was also attended by the chairman of the AU commission, Jean Ping, and the commissioner for peace and security, ambassador Ramtane Lamamra. KHADIJA PATEL twiddled her thumbs in the gardens of the guesthouse while inside the AU bigwigs moved a little closer to recognising a new government in Libya.

South Africa

DARREN SCOTT: JUST PLAIN GONE

It was the kind of statement that the publicists of celebrity couples release to the tabloids: “SuperSport and Scott agreed at the meeting to part ways”. And with just three sentences, Darren Scott’s broadcasting career ended (for now) – not with a bang, but a whimper. By REBECCA DAVIS.

THEMB’ELIHLE: ARRESTING A PROTEST

The arrest of a community leader and threats of more, this week became central to a protest at a settlement outside Johannesburg, where a fight for services has not turned into a fight against the police – yet. But when it comes to putting down insurrection, it isn’t easy to figure out who to detain when. By PHILLIP DE WET.

RACIAL EPITHET: A DARKNESS AT THE EDGE OF MALEMA’S MIND

Julius Malema is nothing if not a confident being. Confidence seems to ooze from him. Sometimes it is misplaced, sometimes it is not. But a press conference about those songs on the eve of his disciplinary hearing (that’s right folks, it is really due to finally start today) was always going to be fun. In a disturbing kind of way. By STEPHEN GROOTES.

PIETER-DIRK UYS: DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE ENEMY, THEY ALSO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOUR

If it is true that behind every successful man there is a woman, Pieter?Dirk Uys is the exception to the rule. Known as the man behind many desperate women, this complex character is also a man of strong opinions. And be warned, Julius Malema, don’t touch him on his democracy. By EMILY GAMBADE.

Opinionistas

CARIEN DU PLESSIS: BAD JUDGEMENT MADE ME THINK MALEMA COULD BE RIGHT

When our elephant-headed leaders fight, the grassroots suffer. Their games only seem to benefit themselves, although this democracy’s action has made for some spectacular viewing. Ask any political journalist.

IAN OLLIS: THERE IS LAND EVERYWHErE – WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT HOGGING IT?

As the population of Earth nears the 7 billion mark, and urban sprawl hangs like a smoggy spectre over our planet, the availability of land is a pressing yet volatile issue. This is a paradox, if not plain stupid given how much wasted land is available right in our cities.

BASIL VAN ROOYEN: NEVER FORGET: THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS

If you asked the average South African what the Trabant, the old “plastic” East German car, and South African school textbooks have in common, they’d say: “Nothing”. But they would be wrong. What they have in common is well-intentioned bureaucrats with limited skills and vision.

Africa

A NEW DAWN FOR LIBYA’S WOMEN?

Imagine you’re a teacher, or a hairdresser, in a society where women are granted little role in public life. Then suddenly a rebel uprising takes place and you’re a fighter, an arms runner, a Nato spy – and you don’t want to go back to your old life. This is the situation currently facing many Libyan women. By REBECCA DAVIS.

SUDAN’S AUDACIOUS EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY APPLICATION

Showing no respect for the south’s supposed sphere of influence, north Sudan has applied to join East Africa’s regional economic community, a bold diplomatic gambit which the august institution doesn’t quite know how to handle. By SIMON ALLISON.

STABILITY, SNAKES AND SALACIOUS GOSSIP: A ZAMBIAN ELECTION PREVIEW

Election fever has hit Zambia as incumbent President Rupiah Banda battles it out with Michael “King Cobra” Sata for Zambia’s top job. Here’s what to expect in next week’s election, as well as an unnecessary, but diverting digression on the “soft bums” of ruling party spokeswoman Dora Siliya. By SIMON ALLISON.

HERMAN CHINERY-HESSE, AFRICA’S ‘FATHER OF TECHNOLOGY’

Innovator, disruptor, and West African software pioneer, Herman Chinery-Hesse wants to make Ghana the “Singapore of Africa”. Given he’s already created one of Ghana’s most successful software companies and is spawning innovations that solve barriers to trade between Africa and the rest of the world, he has a good chance. By MANDY DE WAAL.

World

BRIC MAY WANT TO HELP BAIL EUROPE, BUT SANS SA

Brazil’s finance minister has been making noises about the BRIC nations bailing out Europe by buying their bonds, which puts South Africa in a bit of a bind – we’re not rich enough to take on that kind of risk. Wasn’t the size of our economy always the reason South Africa would join the bloc anyway? By SIPHO HLONGWANE.

AUSTRALIA LAUNCHES ITS VERY OWN MEDIA INQUIRY

The Australian government launched an independent inquiry into the media on Wednesday amid growing criticism of the Murdoch press after the phone-hacking scandal in Britain. By GREG NICOLSON.

Business

VODACOM RETREATS ON THROTTLING DATA BINGERS

Well, that didn’t take long. Scant hours after a senior executive at Vodacom defended the company’s announcement to throttle the heaviest users of the BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS), the very top man was called to answer to the furore this caused. Vodacom has now made a tactical retreat on the matter. Don’t touch us on our BlackBerry. By SIPHO HLONGWANE.

GOOGLE LAUNCHES FLIGHT SEARCH ENGINE

Huzzah! An evil bastion of unnecessary complication is finally going to fall! Google is going to make the entirely unpleasant business of booking flights as easy as Googling your own name. The only downside is that, as usual, it will probably be a while before the service rolls out to South Africa. By SIPHO HLONGWANE.

SILICON VALLEY’S OLARK AND THE QUEST TO MAKE THE WEB MORE HUMAN

When they’re not climbing Redwoods, the founders of US live chat company, Olark, are showing small businesses around the world how to use an IM widget to outperform the Amazons of this world in the support stakes. Here’s Olark’s advice for going global and getting a competitive edge through fanatical customer service. By MANDY DE WAAL.

Life, etc

INJECTING FEAR AND HARM

Injections are making headlines on both sides of the globe at the moment. While Michele Bachmann is speaking up a storm about HPV vaccinations in the US, a school in Port Elizabeth has come under fire for giving girls as young as 10 a contraceptive injection without their parents’ informed consent. By REBECCA DAVIS.

JANE AUSTEN GETS THE TROLLOP(E) TREATMENT

Ever felt there was something missing from Jane Austen’s novels? Publisher HarperCollins seems to think Joanna Trollope could add some contemporary resonance. And, no doubt, a healthy dollop of sex. By THERESA MALLINSON.

GEELY LC GT PANDA-RING TO THE MASSES

In China, the Geely LC is called the Panda – a name that suits this cute, rounded, friendly? faced little ultracompact to a tee. Pity then that Fiat already produces an ultracompact called the Panda. Which explains why the Geely is called the ‘LC’ in South Africa – a badge that doesn’t do this little mite any justice. DEON SCHOEMAN takes it for a spin.

Sport

MOSIMANE HAILS CAF DECISION

Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has applauded the Confederation of African Football’s decision to stage all potentially contentious Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers simultaneously next month. By FOOTBALL365.COM.

AMBROSE: ‘BROAD WILL BE A GREAT BOWLER’

Curtly Ambrose, this week inducted to the ICC Hall of Fame, has backed Stuart Broad to become one of England’s finest fast bowlers. BY CRICKET365.COM.

MATTEO WANTS TO DO IT FOR SEVE

Matteo Manassero would like nothing more than to honour Seve Ballesteros with a win at the Vivendi Seve Trophy this week. By GOLF365.COM.

SAMOA OFF TO A BANG OF A START

Samoa got their Rugby World Cup campaign underway in emphatic fashion, after demolishing Namibia 49-12 at the Rotorua International Stadium on Wednesday. By PLANETRUGBY.COM.