Pilot error, faulty equipment and inclement weather all contributed to the plane crash that claimed the life of former national cricket captain Hansie Cronje, an inquest heard on Monday. The Hawker Siddeley 748 crashed into the Outeniqua mountain range outside George on June 1 2002.

In an effort to develop a classification of marine habitats for South Africa, the marine science community is working virtually round the clock to meet a July deadline for identifying marine priority areas for the country's first National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan.

In a direct reference to Africa's undemocratic leaders, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday urged them to pass the baton to the next generation. "There is no greater wisdom and no clearer mark of statesmanship than knowing when to pass the torch to a new generation.

Fake "dead" people are costing South Africa's life insurance industry R3-billion a year in false claims, Parliament's public service and administration portfolio committee heard on Wednesday.

South Africa is likely to phase-in a carbon tax on fossil fuel inputs as part of new measures to curb carbon dioxide emissions.

Susan Shabangu described the mounting death toll in SA's mines as "carnage", adding there is a link between the pursuit of profits and the body count.

R2-billion has been set aside for an ethanol plant to help South Africa's budding biofuels sector, which could reduce its reliance on imported fuel.

Pilot error, faulty equipment and inclement weather all contributed to the plane crash that claimed the life of former national cricket captain Hansie Cronje, an inquest heard on Monday. The Hawker Siddeley 748 crashed into the Outeniqua mountain range outside George on June 1 2002.