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/ 13 October 2006

Mbeki: Machel’s death remains unexplained

The question whether the apartheid regime was responsible for the death of former Mozambican president Samora Machel on October 19 1986 remains unanswered 20 years later, President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday. Mbeki paid tribute to Machel, whose death in an aircraft crash at Mbuzini in Mpumalanga was mourned as much by the ANC as by Frelimo.

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/ 13 October 2006

e-Africa Commission to sign broadband protocol

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development e-Africa Commission — which falls under the African Union — will be hosting a ceremony in Cape Town on Monday for the signing of a protocol on the broadband ICT infrastructure network project — including the Eastern Africa sub-marine system, a statement from the Department of Communications said on Friday.

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/ 13 October 2006

Campaigning starts ahead of DRC run-off vote

Presidential election campaigning began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Friday. Frontrunners Joseph Kabila and Jean-Pierre Bemba square off for the second time on October 29 after a run-off election was called following July’s vote. Then, incumbent President Joseph Kabila won 45% of the vote, just short of the 50% needed to be declared president.

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/ 13 October 2006

Nqakula: Crime fight needs community participation

Criminals are exploiting South Africa’s liberation for their own gain and therefore the battle to curb crime needs full community participation, like the liberation struggle, Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula said on Friday. ”Our liberation, as the case has been in other parts of the world, created spaces that have been exploited by wrongdoers.”

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/ 13 October 2006

Anglo, Billiton give JSE a lift

It was a tussle between resources and industrials in late morning trade on the JSE Friday, with resource counters winning the battle for now as heavyweights Anglo and BHP Billiton held sway. By 12.10pm on Friday, the all share index was up 0,63% with resources up a healthy 0,86% and banks gaining 1,50%.

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/ 13 October 2006

Rate hike unlikely to cause property trend changes

First National Bank’s property strategist, John Loos, says that while the hike in South Africa’s repo rate to 8,5% is generally negative for property, it is not expected to be the cause of any property trend changes. Loos said that residential property had already started slowing a considerable time ago, and retail was set to start cooling as well, regardless of rate hikes.

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/ 13 October 2006

Last hurrah for that other cup?

Amid all the optimistic diagnoses and happy anticipation that usher in major international cricket tournaments, it has been easy to forget that the Champions Trophy, already in its second week, is mortally ill and dangerously short of well-wishers. Indeed, players, pundits and sponsors have been queuing for over two years to pull the plug on its life-support.