Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, are increasingly being deployed in conflict areas in Africa. According to one expert on the subject “what is underway is a tidal shift in war-making that has caught the world off-guard”. The comment came as the United Nations finally launched an inquiry into the use of armed drones for targeted killings. 

The general, mainly negative, response to President Jacob Zuma’s state of the nation address (Sona) last week was for a number of reasons to be expected. On sober analysis it has to be said, however, that it did exactly what it is supposed to do: it reported back on work in progress, outlined corrective actions where needed, and provided broad outlines of further initiatives. 

A new era in South African politics began this week with the birth of Dr Mamphela Ramphele’s Agang – a political platform billed to steer the country on a path towards an empowered citizenry, accountable public service, a revitalised economy and enhanced global standing. 

With the Obama administration insistently refusing to release its legal, constitutional authorisations for drone assassinations in Pakistan and other countries, a lawsuit in Britain is causing mounting anxiety among intelligence agents there and in other countries who have aided the CIA.

The turmoil that has beset the South African mining and agricultural sectors, with resultant destructive tensions between various stakeholders, is probably but one of the symptoms of a more fundamental global crisis. Increasingly, commentators are referring to threats to free-market capitalism as we have come to know it. 

News reports recently alleged that the hosting of the Fifa World Cup in South Africa in 2010, or at least the preparations for it, led to large private-sector construction companies engaging in corruption of up to R30 billion. Reaction to the news prompted a look at the DNA of the phenomenon called 'corruption'. There were some interesting results. 

Mining magnate Patrice Motsepe’s recent announcement that he will donate roughly half of his wealth to the Motsepe Foundation, has been described as a milestone in South Africa’s history. Many have estimated his worth to be as much as R25 billion, and he is the first African to make an announcement of this kind. 

At least three South African teams, the Stormers, the Bulls and the Sharks, could feature amongst the top-six finishers in the 2013 Super Rugby Season. Judging by pre-season friendly matches played these three heavyweights boast enormous depth. 

The impressive statistics vindicate the status of Graeme Smith’s men as  one of the  greatest South African cricket teams. And, the records keep piling up as South Africa has shown during the past eighteen months how incredibly well they have been able to hit back to pull a game out of the fire.