MONDAY, 12.00NOON SIERRA LEONE rebels have won back the airport from Nigerian troops, preventing an air strike against them. The Nigerians have dithered over their promised attack against Freetown, allowing the rebels to strengthen their position. The rebels claim to have captured two Nigerian officers who had landed with a cargo of machine gun shells […]
MONDAY, 8.00AM THE African National Congress is believed to have offered Inkatha leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi a more senior cabinet post — probably the second deputy presidency vacated by FW De Klerk — in return for his stepping down as chairman of the KwaZulu Natal house of traditional leaders. An exploratory ANC document released to the […]
MONDAY, 10.30AM The rate on three-month treasury bills dropped 20 basis points at Friday’s weekly auction, from 15,64% to 15,46%, a sure sign of market expectations of an imminent drop in long-term interest rates. The bills are bought by commercial banks at a weekly Reserve Bank auction. The Reserve Bank pays the bills back with […]
MONDAY, 12.00NOON FIGHTING has broken out in the Congo capital of Brazzaville between armed supporters of former president Denis Sassou Nguesso and the army. Nguesso’s heavily armed supporters are reported to have taken control of the centre of he capital and surrounded key government offices. Hundreds are believed to have been killed in bitter fighting. […]
MONDAY, 11.30AM A THIRD licence to operate a cellular telephone network will be issued before year’s end, SA Telecommunications Regulatory Authority chairman Nape Maepa said at the weekend. “There is no reason to wait. The licence hs been on the cards since 1993,” he said. Satra last week announced it was appointing a consulting team […]
MONDAY, 10.30AM FOLLOWING last week’s successful Samurai bond offer, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and his team will jet off to New York next week on a roadshow to launch a $500-million 20-year Yankee bond issue aimed at further boosting SA’s foreign exchange reserves ahead of lifting forex controls. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank is expected to […]
MONDAY, 11.00AM: THE British Lions suffered their first tour defeat on Sunday when Northern Transvaal beat them 35-30 at Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria. The Blue Bulls, made up of young players, didn’t have to work very hard for their victory, as the Lions defence was weak in the first half. Lions coach Ian McGeecham […]
IS JOHN VORSTER STILL A SQUARE? The largest police station in Gauteng, John Vorster Square, held public hearings on a name change for the station on Monday. Members of the Johannesburg CBD community policing forum and various police unions submitted suggestions. Police spokesman Inspector Riaan Prinsloo said: “The change is happening because it was the […]
MONDAY, 2.30PM THE Mpumalanga Parks Board has proposed a total ban on the hunting of captive-bred or tame lions, leopards and cheetahs following widespread public outrage at ”canned” lion hunting in the province. Releasing a draft policy document, the board, however, reiterated its support for controlled big-game hunting by insisting that if properly managed, the […]
MONDAY, 11.30AM THE Food and Allied Workers’ Union said at the weekend that Premier Foods is to retrench more than 2 000 workers on June 15. A fortnight ago, 8 000 Premier workers held a one-day strike in solidarity with the affected workers, but returned to work after the company obtained a court interdict. Premier […]