South Africa

DEWANI EXPECTED TO APPEAL EXTRADITION TO SA

A month after a British judge ruled that murder accused Shrien Dewani, 31, could be extradited to South Africa, the National Prosecuting Authority announced on Wednesday that home secretary Theresa May had approved the extradition. Dewani is to stand trial for allegedly arranging the murder of his wife Anni on their honeymoon in Cape Town last year. Dewani strongly denies this, but is fighting the extradition. He has 14 days to appeal. By KHADIJA PATEL.

SA STREETS WANT MOTLANTHE

It’s a murmur of dissatisfaction rather than a roar of revolution right now, but then it is early days yet. As the ANC conference in Manguang draws closer, calls for Kgalema Motlanthe to do to Jacob Zuma what Zuma did to Thabo Mbeki are coming from all kinds of places – and high?level politics isn’t coming into it. By PHILLIP DE WET.

YOUNG LIONS EMBARK ON A POWER STRIP SHOW IN PROVINCES

The ANC Youth League’s national leaders are not sitting around waiting for the outcome of their disciplinary hearings. In fact, after a bold and cunning move, they are now remote-controlling the league’s biggest province in an effort to get their way in 2012. CARIEN DU PLESSIS reports that we ain’t seen nothing yet.

SOUTH AFRICA, WHEN YOU NEED TRUTH, WHO YOU GONNA CALL?

When Jimmy Manyi first entered government, he took great pains to say that there was no conflict between his then brand new role as director-general of the Department of Labour, and his other job as president of the Black Management Forum. Again and again he promised there would be no conflict. Well, the Public Protector says he, er, lied. By STEPHEN GROOTES.

TREVOR’S NATIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION JAMS ONLINE

It looks like fun and games: the chairman of the National Planning Commission and other commissioners having a back and forth with South Africans on the NPC’s website. But there’s serious work being done here. On 11 November, the NPC will release its vision statement and plan to the country, and the NPC Jam is part of the public participation process. By SIPHO HLONGWANE.

THE DA’S SURPRISING PROPOSAL ON DOMESTIC WORKER RIGHTS

The Democratic Alliance today put itself forward as a champion for domestic worker rights by announcing plans to put forward a private member’s bill to extend the Compensation Fund to cover domestic workers. The move confers more rights to workers, which is surprising in light of the party’s views on labour in the country. By OSIAME MOLEFE.

Opinionistas

CHRIS VICK: NEW ‘PARTICIPATIVE’ SECRECY BILL PROCESS COULD BACKFIRE ON THE MEDIA

The battle of ideas over the Secrecy Bill has a new player: civil society.

Africa

KENYAN SHILLING, THE WORLD’S WORST-PERFORMING CURRENCY

A quiet panic is gripping traders in Nairobi as the Kenyan shilling gets weaker and weaker against the dollar. It’s the worst performing currency in the world this year, and its decline is making life very, very expensive for ordinary Kenyans. By SIMON ALLISON.

CO?TE D’IVOIRE SWEARS IN ITS OWN TRC

Co?te d’Ivoire swore in its 11-member Commission on Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation on Wednesday, tasked with bringing about peace and “rebuilding the social fabric” of the country just recovering from civil war. Whether it will be able to is in doubt – not the least because the commission’s power has not been specified yet. By SIPHO HLONGWANE.

TOURISTS SPURN THE ARAB SPRING

Not surprisingly, new figures prove that sun-seeking tourists are put off by the heat of battle. Egypt and Tunisia’s tourist industries have taken a bad knock thanks to their respective revolutions, although Libyan refugees are boosting visitor numbers. By SIMON ALLISON.

AFTER GADDAFI, WHO WILL FUND THE AU?

Not only has Muammar Gaddafi’s fall left the African Union stranded in diplomatic no-man’s land, it’s given the lumbering continental organisation a potential $40 million hole in its already strained budget. But Gaddafi’s role as generous benefactor is up for grabs and there shouldn’t be a shortage of takers. By SIMON ALLISON.

World

UNIVERSITY REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR RACIST CAKE AND SELL IT

Nothing says “protest” quite like cupcakes. That’s what the University of California Berkeley’s Republican group thinks – hosting a cake-sale on Tuesday that caused national controversy. By REBECCA DAVIS.

SYRIA ESCAPES UN SANCTIONS – WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM ITS FRIENDS

Western powers at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) were left red-faced on Wednesday when they were forced to drop a draft resolution calling for the United Nations to impose sanctions against Syria immediately. Outmuscled by Russia and China, who both wield vetoing powers, the proposed resolution is now a stiffly worded rebuke of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. It is, however, not the first time that Russia and China have forced the UN to backtrack on imposing sanctions against Syria. By KHADIJA PATEL.

WHITE HOUSE HOPEFULS RACE FOR CRITICAL 2012 JEWISH SUPPORT

Political pundits are addicted to finding the eternally elusive pivot vote – that convenient bloc, grouping or ethnic slab they imagine holds “the key” to an election’s result. Its existence is out there with El Dorado and Elvis – but that doesn’t detract from the value of examining potential shifts in the way groups defined by common skin colour or religious heritage may vote today. After all, in politics, who knows … By J BROOKS SPECTOR.

WHO SAYS POLITICS IS BORING? ENTER THE HERMANATOR

Herman Cain won big last week in America. No, not the Florida straw poll that is part of the Republican Party’s long march to selecting a nominee to face Barack Obama in 2012. A faux Herman Cain, played by Kenan Thompson, was in an equally pretend Fox TV candidates’ debate as part of the season opener of the venerable “Saturday Night Live”. So who is this guy? By J BROOKS SPECTOR.

Business

SUSHI KING KUNENE THE FIRST LOSES HIS MINE

Last Friday, mineral resources minister Susan Shabangu cancelled the mining licence granted to the Central Rand Gold, apparently owned by ex- convicts Kenny Kunene and Gayton McKenzie, for failing to meet the licence obligations. The mine’s management has indicated that it will challenge the matter in court, but in the meantime, the workers are out of work. By SIPHO HLONGWANE.

SA BUILDS NICHE COMBAT PLANE

Two firms have unveiled the first new combat aircraft to be designed and built in South Africa in almost a quarter of a century. The aircraft has many combat functions, but will probably see action against rhino poachers soonest. By SIPHO HLONGWANE.

AS PREDICTED, PRAKASH DESAI EXITS AVUSA

After a week of high drama at Avusa and amid market speculation about his departure, it comes as no surprise that a SENS announcement now confirms that Prakash Desai has resigned. By MANDY DE WAAL.

Life, etc

WANT TO MEET RICH, GULLIBLE ONLINE DATERS?

Looking for love online? Be careful. A new study reveals that as many as 200,000 people in the UK alone may have been the victim of increasingly sophisticated scams using online dating sites. By REBECCA DAVIS.

2012 VW BEETLE – IS IT MAN APPROVED?

It used to be said that any man found driving a Volkswagen New Beetle would have his man licence summarily revoked. True or not, the Beetle introduced in 1998 didn’t sell as outrageously as its parent, the Love Bug. VW are having another stab at creating a Beetle in 2012 with one crucial difference: it comes with a slightly more square jaw. By SIPHO HLONGWANE.

AMANDA KNOX: ‘ENCHANTING WITCH’ OR ‘JESSICA RABBIT’?

Today lawyers defending Amanda Knox will present their final arguments to persuade a jury to acquit the 24-year- old American of the murder of 21-year- old Meredith Kerchner. The transcript of the final days of the trial read like the script of a bad soapie – a bad, sexist soapie. By REBECCA DAVIS.

LAURIE LEVINE SINGS HER SOUL

Whether she’s playing at the Alexander Theatre, or a more homely gig at Johannesburg’s Radium, Laurie Levine has stage presence. It’s not thekinetic kind you find in certain performers, but something less obvious, more quietly compelling, as her voice draws you into her world from the very first note. No showmanship here, but an understated confidence that commands your attentinon. By THERESA MALLINSON.

CROSSRUNNER: HONDA’S BOLD LAUNCH OF A NEW BIKE GENRE

Honda has launched a whole new biking genre with the VFR 800X Crossrunner. When the bike was announced a year ago, I anticipated an adventure bike – something to fit the yawning chasm Honda created when they discontinued the iconic Africa Twin. When I saw pics of the Crossrunner, I was disappointed. This clearly wasn’t an adventure bike. By LANCE ROTHSCHILD.

Sport

WALLABIES BACK POSSIBLE RWC BOYCOTT

Australian Rugby Union chief John O’Neill has backed the New Zealand Rugby Union’s claims that leading countries may not be able to afford to attend future World Cups. By PLANETRUGBY.COM.

AB IN DOUBT AGAINST AUSSIES

AB de Villiers is in doubt for South Africa’s upcoming series against Australia after fracturing his hand during the Champions League Twenty20 in India. By CRICKET365.COM.

SCHWARTZEL EXCITED BY ‘SPECIAL’ ST ANDREWS

Charl Schwartzel has only recently come to grips with the fabled course, but has always known there is something special about St Andrews. By GOLF365.COM.