SOUTH AFRICA

They may have rid themselves of the shackles of the oppressive apartheid regime, but freedom apparently still manages to elude the Blacks of South Africa. They have, in fact, been invaded and held captive by a dead lier foe: the AIDS virus. According to a recent study conducted by the health officials in South Africa, the number of p6ople infected$ with Hiv has increased 10-fold since 1990. Today, about 1.2 million South Africans - or nearly 8 per cent of the, entire population - are in the throes of this distase, By the year 2000, at least 8 million are likely to

SOUTH AFRICA

The South African government is minting money - by selling ostriches. It is now reported to be the biggest ostrich goods producer in the world; and business is booming. The country exports almost every part of this huge non-flying bixd - feathers, meat, skin and eggs. Sales of ostrich meat, for example, have more than doubled in the last 5 years, climbing to us $66.5 million from us $26 million. It is not surprising, therefore, that almost a quarter of a million of them are kept for poultry and breeding; and in the fertile West Cape region flocks of ostriches are seen roaming

SOUTH AFRICA

Home to a staggeringly abundant variety of flora and fauna, South Africa -- having emerged out of the shadow of apartheid -- is witnessing a resurgence of its tourism industry; the country has more than 870 bird species and 290 species of mammals. This, of course, has led it to recognise the importance of preserving its wildlife and their habitat.

Solar sense

A South African firm has come out with a rugged and affordable solar cooker that could improve the lot of women in underdeveloped areas and reduce deforestation and air pollution (Solar Today, Vol 9, No 1). The Sunstove, as it is called, costs US $25 apiece and can be used for cooking food, pasteurising milk and boiling water. The interior of the cooker is large enough to accommodate two black cooking pots, one of 6 litre capacity and the other of 2 litre capacity.

Looking for torchbearers

SOUTH Africa can break new ground in the world of science if only its scientists and researchers show the government the right way. In an impassioned speech made at a conference held at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, Bernie Faranoff, the official in charge of South Africa's Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), declared that the government is anxious to invest on a larger scale in science, but it urgently needs advice.

SOUTH AFRICA

The scientist community in South Africa has heaved a giant sigh of relief. the National Accelerator Centre (NAC), the country's largest research facility and the highest energy cyclotron in the southern hemisphere, located near Cape Town, has been spared the axe, at least for the time being. Researchers have been seriously concerned about the future of the institute because many in the Nelson Mandela government view it as a luxury in a country with 75 per cent of its citizens living in poverty. NAc has an annual operational budget of about us $9.7 million. Talks were

SOUTH AFRICA

Eskom, the state-owned electricity utility n South Africa is proving to a major asset for its government. While the Nelson Vandela administration is izruggling to keep its electorat promise of "providing a better life for all" in other ifeas, the power sector aic,rsears to have exceeded ectations. In an announcement made in early April, John Maree, chairperson of Eskom, declared that the organisation has surpassed its target and electrified more than 250,000 households during 1994. It is expanding at an even faster rate this year. If the going remains as good, then

Apartheid in academia

ALL White student bodies in the state schools of South Africa are now liberally punctuated with Blacks. Starting January 11-17, these institutions opened their gates to Black children in their vicinity. A bitter controversy had marred the first "registration days" in model-c schools around Johannesburg, set up by the erstwhile F W de Klerk government to offer parents more say in the running of state schools in return for modest school fees.

White rhinos and black deals

ENVIRONMENTALISTS opposing the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) decision permitting South Africa to trade in live white rhinos did not have to wait long to see their worst fears come true.

Elephantine problem

CONSERVATION authorities from 126 nations are sorting out differences over which endangered flora and fauna need protection, and the modus operandi at the ninth meeting of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (cites), in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.