With Jacob Zuma now practically assured of re-election as president of the African National Congress – and of the country – the focus shifts as to who will take up the position of deputy president as well as some important policy decisions that are to be made at the ruling party’s national conference in two weeks’ time.

While the failure of the 27-member European Union (EU) to adopt a budget for the period 2014 to 2020 does not pose an immediate threat to the organisation, it edged the union closer to the danger of disintegration. It coincided with initial failure to come to an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on how to resolve Greece’s debt crisis. While Britain moved closer than ever to opting out of the EU, trouble was brewing in Spain.

The global economic crisis has had a big impact on the share of economic resources, pushing up public social spending to GDP ratios of economic powerhouses between 2009 and 2011. Due to enforced austerity measures, Greece has experienced serious social upheaval. Since then, social unrest has spread – and with a double dip recession setting in for most of the developed world, more of the same can be expected. 

This coming Friday, schools across the country are closing and soon the builders and many factories will also cease work until early in January. The December vacation is here and for us in Cape Town, it means an explosion of cars with upcountry registration plates on our roads and bikini-clad girls on our beaches.

The search for a peaceful settlement to the political row in Zimbabwe at long last seems to be nearing its end. Elections may finally be possible by the second half of next year, rather than March 2013 – the date favoured by President Robert Mugabe. 

World champion New Zealand's run of 20 tests without defeat was brought to a shuddering halt as a rampant England raced to an emphatic 38-21 win against the mighty All Blacks on Saturday. There were some clear lessons for the Springboks and their coach in how England achieved this surprising victory. 

With their emphatic 309-run win against Australia at the Waca in Perth on Monday, South Africa’s national cricket team provided several convincing answers on outstanding issues such as: should AB de Villiers give up wicket-keeping to concentrate on his batting? The team also laid to rest some doubts and myths. 

Bloemfontein Celtic is the 2012 Telkom Knockout champion after the team beat Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night. For Sundowns coach Johan Neeskens, it signalled the end of the road with the club. The club announced on Sunday that an “amicable agreement” was reached with Neeskens, in terms of which the employment contract with him was terminated. 

The passing of the controversial Protection of State Information Bill by the National Council of Provinces late last Thursday (29 November 2012) dealt a heavy blow to the corruption fight in South Africa, particularly to the plight of whistleblowers.