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ISSUE NO 51 USEFUL WEBSITES AND DISCUSSION LISTS

INTERNET COUP HELPS FIGHT DEFENCE CONTRACT CORRUPTION

The murky underside of South Africa’s recent defence deals has been much in evidence. Depending on what paper you read, Bheki Jacobs who has provided much of the evidence surfacing is either a highly trained ANC inteligence operative or an imposter. For an incisive look at who it claims paid what to who go to the Noseweek site (http://www.noseweek.co.za). For more analysis see http://www.pims.org.za/armsdeal.htm .

What South Africa really needs is a version of India’s Tehelka. It got two reporters to pose as arms dealers peddling "fourth generation thermal hand-held cameras" on behalf of a British company. The cameras and the company were a fantasy but that did not deter officers, defence ministry officials and politicians from offering to smooth the way to a deal. The Tehelka reporters caught several doing so on camera and several accepting money to do so. The film captured was put up on its web site.

(source: UK’s Economist)

VISITING SOUTH AFRICA’S WILD COAST

For an alternative to the rather more sedate pleasures of South Africa’s Wine and Garden routes, it’s worth considering a visit to the Wild Coast between East London and Port Edward. Port St Johns has a fine oven-baked pizza and pasta restaurant called Gekko Moon overlooking the beach and river mouth. Accommodation is basic by comparison with elsewhere in South Africa.

For details see:

http://wildcoast.com and http://www.ruraltourism.org/portstjohns

Also one place offering accommodation:

Cremorne Estate: http://www.cremorne.co.za

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