Li Shuanlin remembers the sweltering hot August day nine years ago when his mine shaft collapsed and, with it, life as he knew it. A coal miner since the age of 24, he was fully aware of the dangers of his profession, but always thought it would happen to someone else.
Chad on Thursday claimed it had repulsed rebels from the capital seeking to oust President Idriss Deby Itno and blamed neighbouring Sudan for fomenting a coup attempt. "The rebel columns have been completely destroyed … The situation is completely under control," Itno told Radio France Internationale on Thursday morning.
The South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) has endorsed a statement condemning the rising incidence of media repression in five African countries earlier this week. The fourth African Media Leadership Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya from April 4-7, was attended by leading media executives and editors from 12 African countries.
The South African police’s Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) has opened an attempted murder investigation after protesters were shot at during a pro-democracy picket at Swazi border posts. Seven people were injured and 25 arrested in the protests commemorating Swazi King Sobhuza II’s institution 33 years ago of an ongoing state of emergency.
South African Breweries Limited (SAB), a wholly owned subsidiary of SABMiller, on Thursday announced that it has finalised, subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions, the sale of 40% of its crown (bottle top) manufacturer, Coleus Packaging, to the Nokusa Consortium, led by Nokusa Investments in a black economic empowerment (BEE) transaction.
I’m not sure I was as excited about my first Masters as Charles Howell III was about his. He grew up three miles down the road, after all. And he was playing. I’m just scribbling, as pleasant a task as that is. Charles III said he was in awe of the Augusta National Club and the event before being invited to play here for the first time in 2001: ”Even if they made us hit wooden drivers and gutta-percha balls, I’d show up and be happy just to be there.”
The who’s who of international football has been on a European tour. With the World Cup looming, the Champions League quarterfinals proved essential viewing for a host of coaches looking to hone their squads. Italy’s Marcello Lippi played the host in Milan, popping into Sir Alex Ferguson’s hotel to pass on a couple of bottles of wine.
"The educational system in this country should be Africanised," proclaimed Dr Mathole Motshekga this week at a seminar on cultural values within the human rights framework. "Our judgement is biased to the West and does not do justice to African culture and religion that is based on spirituality." Motshekga told an audience of commissioners and human rights workers.
As we head towards the sharp end of the inaugural Super 14, it is hard to ignore the fact that the usual suspects are lining up for a tilt at the semifinals. Adding an extra franchise to Australia and South Africa has done nothing to alter the bald fact that no one can beat the Crusaders, home or away.
South African coach Mickey Arthur has warned his struggling players that they need to perform in a three-Test series against New Zealand, starting at Centurion on Saturday, if they want to remain in the country’s long-term Test plans. ”I expect the players to have been toughened up after playing back-to-back Test series against Australia,” said Arthur.