No image available
/ 11 November 2003

It’s not raining men for Saudi women

Although Saudi men can have up to four wives under Islamic law, 30% of Saudi women at marriage age cannot find husbands, official statistics revealed on Tuesday. The study revealed that the number of women who have exceeded the marriage age — determined socially as 30 — reached 1 813 000 by the end of 2002.

No image available
/ 11 November 2003

Leading company named in Lesotho bribery

One of the world’s leading electrical companies, Schneider Electric, has been implicated in a R16-million bribery case in the Lesotho High Court. The alleged bribery relates to the construction of the now-completed Lesotho Highlands Water Project. French-based Schneider boasts operations in 130 countries.

No image available
/ 11 November 2003

Pay strike closes Kenyan universities

After closing Kenya’s six public universities, the Kenyan government has announced it will only negotiate with lecturers if they call off their strike. On Monday, the six universities were closed indefinitely after the strike began. Police were posted around the universities, but students remained calm.

No image available
/ 11 November 2003

Tight security at Saat murder hearing

Security was very tight at the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday at the hearing of Israeli national Lior Saat, alleged to have murdered Shai Avissar, the estranged husband of socialite Hazel Crane, who was murdered on Monday. Members of the media were forbidden to sit on the press bench in court.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=23332">Murdered socialite feared for her life</a>

No image available
/ 11 November 2003

Cape Town bids to become ship repair hub of SA

There has been encouraging response to a call for expressions of interest in developing a new ship repair facility at Cape Town, says port planner Billy Cilliers. The facility, to be sited at the eastern end of the harbour, is expected to reaffirm the port’s position as the leading ship repair centre in Southern Africa.

No image available
/ 11 November 2003

The war the world forgot

A top UN official on Tuesday described the 17-year-old rebel war in northern Uganda as the worst forgotten humanitarian crisis on earth. ”The conflict in northern Uganda is the biggest forgotten, neglected humanitarian emergency in the world today,” said Jan Egeland, UN under secretary general for humanitarian affairs.

No image available
/ 11 November 2003

One nation, two economies

SA President Thabo Mbeki says his government has taken a cue from the European Union’s model to inject funds to poor regions and social groups. Mbeki said that at its lekgotla in July the Cabinet had focused on the "critically important issue of the struggle against poverty and had observed that South Africa was characterised by two parallel economies".