Quotes of the week

'In fact, as I got the gory details of the incident, I felt shivers going down my spine wondering how another person can carry out such a brutal attack on a helpless boy.' - Ekurhuleni Mayor Mondli Gungubele reacting to the murder and suspected rape of 10-year-old Siphamandla Madikane in Reiger Park 'Many Malians, many Africans, didn't known Ghislaine and Claude by sight but I think that their voices were very close to us. And this was like the loss of human beings, relations, to us, as to all Africans. A commitment has been made to find these cowards and punish them. We will not allow the voice of the people, the voice of liberty to be silenced.' - Malian Communications Minister Jean-Marie Idrissa Sangaré on the murder of Radio France International's Ghislaine Dupont and Claude 'I cried many times during the movie because it was so emotional.' - South Africa's Justice Minister Jeff Radebe on his reaction to the film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom 'I assure you that SADC supports HIV/AIDS initiatives and ensures sustainable access to provide concrete feedback on progress of special health services.' - Malawian Vice-President Khumbo Hastings Kachali saying the prevention of HIV/Aids must remain a priority on the public agenda throughout Africa 'They always reward people who victimise others. How could they do something like this?' - Parliament intern Nomawele Njongo reacting to news that former African National Congress chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe is in talks to return to South Africa's Parliament, after he was suspended for three years for sexually harassing Njongo in 2006 'We are registering them, we are receiving them, just like we received the Congolese battalion when they surrendered to us. We will be engaging the Congolese government and trying to work out the framework of an agreement which is expected to be signed to sort the group out and settle them.' - Uganda's Defence spokesperson Paddy Ankunda confirming that hundreds of M23 rebels from neighbouring Congo have surrendered and are in Ugandan custody 'That's the closest I've come to getting into a fist fight with a head of state.' - Former US President Jimmy Carter saying he nearly punched former President Thabo Mbeki about his stance on HIV/Aids treatment in the country 'The last time I saw a map of Palestine, I couldn't go to sleep. It is just dots, smaller than those of the homelands, and that broke my heart.' - International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane commenting on why South African Government Ministers would not visit Israel 'When an investment no longer generates viable returns, difficult decisions have to be made to contain costs. The Woolworths clothing and general-merchandise business in Nigeria has not been successful, despite several attempts to improve performance.' - Woolworths chief executive Ian Moir on the retailer's decision to close its Nigerian operation 'A friendly word towards Zapiro and Sunday Times would be appropriate here: The cartoon came much closer to breaching the code than it appears to appreciate. In future, please proceed with caution.' - Press Ombudsman Johan Retief dismissing a complaint that a Jonathan 'Zapiro' Shapiro cartoon depicting the Hindu god of success, Lord Ganesha, was insulting to Hindus