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/ 17 January 2007

Zim accused of trade in conflict diamonds

The diamond industry-backed Kimberley Process is investigating a complaint that Zimbabwe is exporting rough diamonds without proper certification. Chairperson of the Antwerp-based World Diamond Council, Eli Izhakoff, said on Wednesday the council had expressed concern that rough diamonds from Zimbabwe were being smuggled into South Africa.

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/ 17 January 2007

Search for missing crew off Cape Point

A search involving boats and aircraft is under way for two missing crewmen from a fishing vessel that sank about 20 nautical miles off Cape Point, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said on Wednesday afternoon. NSRI media spokesperson Craig Lambinon said a ”40-foot sport fishing vessel” had been reported overdue at 11am.

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/ 17 January 2007

ID joins Cape Town coalition

The Independent Democrats (ID) has reached an agreement with the Democratic Alliance (DA) regarding the governance of the City of Cape Town, it confirmed on Wednesday. Under the agreement, the ID will become part of the DA-led multiparty coalition, ID council caucus chairperson Simon Grindrod told reporters.

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/ 17 January 2007

UN: Darfur aid operation faces collapse

United Nations agencies on Wednesday said the world’s largest aid operation in Darfur is under threat because of attacks and insecurity and urged concrete steps be taken to stem the violence. The joint statement said in the past six months about 250 000 people had been forced to flee violence, many for the second or third time.

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/ 17 January 2007

Grinaker lands R1,5bn stadium contract

Grinaker has won the contract to revamp the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg for the 2010 World Cup, the company announced on Wednesday. The new Soccer City stadium will have 94 700 seats, from the current 70 000, all under a roof, leaving the soccer pitch itself open to the skies.

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/ 17 January 2007

Media decry police restructuring

Gauteng police on Wednesday told media organisations not to make direct contact with police stations following the newly introduced police-centralisation process. ”There will be no comments to media enquiries from any member of the service in the province … Do not attempt to make direct contact at police stations,” Director Govindsamy Mariemuthoo said on Wednesday.

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/ 17 January 2007

Zim opposition urges action to end Mugabe rule

Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Wednesday his movement will mobilise supporters to block President Robert Mugabe’s plan to extend his rule by two years to 2010. Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party last month approved a plan to move presidential polls from 2008 to 2010 so they can be held at the same time as parliamentary elections.