stability

"Are we about to witness an ideological shift in the ANC? I don't think so." Sir Anthony O'Reilly, chief executive of Independent News & Media, explains why he regards South Africa as a modern-day miracle - and why he thinks the miracle isn't over.

A new survey shows a growth in the number of South Africa businesses exporting - despite a levelling out of global trends. Africa and Western Europe are SA's favoured export destinations, with China providing new opportunities - while the number of firms exporting to the US has declined.

South Africa - an oil producing country? The opening of the Sable oil field, 150km southwest of Mossel Bay, has effectively tripled SA's oil production. Added to Sasol's coal-to-petroleum contribution, 45 000 barrels a day from Mossgas and 15 000 from PetroSA's two existing oilfields, it means that South Africa now produces roughly half of its petroleum needs.

Nelson Mandela turned 85 on 18 July 2003 - and you, and you, and you ... sent him 17 842 birthday messages via the official Mandela 85th Birthday website. View a selection of messages in the moving, amazing, 25-page Nelson Mandela 85th Birthday Message Book.

Proudly South African has endorsed .co.za as the country's domain name of choice, and is urging South Africans to do the same.