Transnet reaches accord with union

The striking SA Transport and Allied Workers' Union yesterday agreed "in principle" to Transnet's new wage offer.

Transnet spokesman John Dludlu said the parastatal offered the union a "one-off ex-gratia payment to all bargaining sector employees".

He said the breakthrough, aimed at ending the strike, was agreed to by the union, which would present the offer to members.

Satawu general secretary Zenzo Mahlangu said the union would decide by 2pm today what to do with the new offer. - Sapa

Zapiro makes peace with Muslim leaders

CARTOONIST Jonathan Shapiro, known as Zapiro, met Muslim religious leaders in Johannesburg yesterday after the Mail & Guardian published his cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed last week.

The newspaper's editor, Nic Dawes, was guarded by six men after receiving "some specific threats".

Shapiro's cartoon depicts the Prophet on a psychologist's couch in heaven, saying: "Other prophets have followers with a sense of humour."

Beside him is a newspaper with two headlines: "Fatwa on cartoonists" and "Everybody draw Mohammed day". The second headline refers to a Facebook group that Shapiro now wants to dissociate himself from.

After an failed late-night court interdict to prevent the cartoon's publication, the United Muslim Forum of SA met Shapiro and Dawes "to obtain an apology".

Shapiro "expressed regret" about associating himself with the "puerile" and "Islamophobic things" on Facebook.

"I thought it quite a gentle image but what becomes problematic is the very act of depiction," he said.

Muslim Judicial Council deputy president Sedick Achmat said the meeting was resolved "very successfully". - Harriet McLea