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/ 13 September 2004

Exporters warned about carelessness

Exporters have been warned that failure to comply with the Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) between the European Union and South Africa would have far-reaching implications. The TDCA will open up South Africa’s market to 86% of EU goods over a 12-year period, while opening up the 15 EU economies to 95% of South African goods over a 10-year period.

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/ 13 September 2004

Cosas suggests that exams be postponed

About one million school pupils will not write their end of year exams if the planned strike by teachers goes ahead, the Congress of SA Students (Cosas) warned on Monday. At a press briefing in Johannesburg, Cosas president-general Smanga Mpila said replacements used while regular teachers were on strike would only confuse pupils during this crucial period.

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/ 13 September 2004

Kagiso Media net profit up 19,6%

South African media group Kagiso Media on Monday announced that its headline earnings per share (HEPS) had improved by 15,6% to 70,2 cents per share for the year ended June 2004 from 60,7 cents previously. The company reported a 19,6% improvement in net profit to R90,104-million from R75,316-million. It also announced its final dividend of 42 cents per share compared with 20 cents previously.

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/ 13 September 2004

Thatcher challenges subpoena

Mark Thatcher’s lawyers are in the Cape High Court on Monday to challenge a subpoena compelling their client to appear in court to answer questions from Equatorial Guinea prosecutors. ”An urgent review application is being brought in the Cape High Court in order to challenge a range of aspects relating to the subpoena,” said a member of the defence team.

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/ 13 September 2004

US Airways files for bankruptcy protection

For the second time in less than two years, US Airways Group announced on Sunday it had filed for bankruptcy protection after failing to resolve a dispute over wages and benefits with its key unions. ”Since we still lack the new labour agreements that are needed for the transformation plan to succeed, we must preserve the company’s cash resources that are required to implement the plan,” US Airways chief executive Bruce Lakefield said in a statement.

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/ 13 September 2004

Music makes the world go round

Barefoot and dirty, Nkosinathi Gumede took his place in the front row at a concert by conductor and pianist Justus Frantz. The 11-year-old from the impoverished and crime-ridden township of Alexandra in northern Johannesburg appeared enthralled as the flamboyant German began directing his Philharmonia of the Nations through well-known works from Dvorak and Rossini.

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/ 13 September 2004

Cubans brace for Ivan the terrible

One of the most powerful hurricanes of recent times rolled across the Cayman Islands on Sunday and is due to hit Cuba on Monday after causing more than 60 deaths in the Caribbean. Ivan was producing winds of about 250km and seven-metre waves by the time it struck the Cayman Islands on Sunday afternoon, swamping the coastlines of the vulnerable British dependency and threatening the 45 000 inhabitants.

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/ 13 September 2004

Extremists inciting civil war, says Sharon

The Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, accused extremist rabbis and settler leaders on Sunday of inciting a civil war against his government’s plan to withdraw all Jews from the Gaza Strip and some parts of the West Bank. Sharon banged the table at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet as he denounced his opponents’ call to soldiers to disobey orders to remove the settlers.