In what might be construed as a vote of confidence for the power of social media, the United Nations has just launched a new group of high-profile Internet users to inspire and involve social media audiences in the effort to combat malaria.

Although we suspect that many tourists flocking to the country for the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be drinking mineral water by the gallon, the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Buyelwa Sonjica has given the tap water in all 2010 FIFA World Cup host cities a clean bill of health.

What do most South Africans have daily access to? Cellphones. What do many more not have access to? Employment.  Could the one be used to help alleviate the other? Txteagle (www.txteagle.com) seems to think so. In fact they call it “ empowering the largest knowledge workforce on earth”. 

Here’s something we don’t hear often – the UN awarding one of South Africa’s provincial health departments for the exceptional work it is doing in the fight against TB. So what made them sit up and take notice? Two things really.