Free Republic

My late mom, June, was born in the north of England on16 June 1934 in a non-Christian home. Neither of her parents reached 50. Some of her childhood was spent away from home in safer areas as a result of WW2. She was 11 when her father died – she didn’t speak much about him, but from what she did say, it was probably the result of physical damage (shrapnel) from WW1 plus heart problems. After he died she was in very bad way, and a Christian school friend, Anne, supported her, and led her to Christ. My mom was...

The proposed implementation of South Africa's national health insurance scheme in 2012 will be seen as a bridge too far by most overburdened taxpayers, but some will see it as a necessary evil. It is necessary because less than 20% of South Africans have access to medical aid and effective treatment. However, the problem in SA is that the tax base is just so small and could be squeezed a lot by these ambitious aims. It will certainly tighten the noose a little further on what AJ Jansen van Niewenhuizen from Grant Thornton calls the "golden goose" - the small...

Chronic disease, obesity and absenteeism in the workplace significantly affect companies around the world. And South African companies are no different. In fact, recent national statistics translate into a grim picture for the health and longevity of working South Africans, and ultimately the economy. In 2007, it was estimated that absenteeism cost the South African economy R20 billion for the year. However, the good news, according to Ashley Galliard of Physicorp Corporate Wellness, is that more South African companies are starting to recognise the importance of a healthy workforce and are creating opportunities for their employees to access wellness services...