DRINK-DRIVE LAWS TOUGHENED The department of transport on Tuesday announced increased minimum sentences for druken driving and a decrease in the allowable blood-alcohol content from 0,08% to 0.05% in an effort to curb drunk driving. The announcement follows Justice Minister Dullah Omar’s statement that 15 000 cases of driving under the influence were reported last year, leading to 11 794 prosecutions, of which 6 314 were successful. Transport department statistics show that for every drunk driving arrest, another 1 000 offences go undetected.
HRC RULES ON FW SLURS THE Human Rights Commission, following complaints laid by the National Party of hate speech against ANC MPs Mac Maharaj, Ronnie Kasrils and Peter Mokaba, has ruled that any slights were acceptable. The HRC found only Mokaba’s statement that De Klerk was ”a bald-headed criminal dripping with the blood of innocent people” was prima facie an infringement of De Klerk’s human dignity, but that such use was reasonable and justifiable in an open and democratic society. The NP said it was disappointed with the findings.
FUEL PRICE TO FALL FUEL prices are to be adjusted on July 2 — petrol will drop 3,385 cents a litre, while diesel will drop almost five cents. The Automobile Association said it anticipates the ”honeymoon period will last for the next two to three months during the northern hemisphere summer, before South African motorists will again have to tighten their belts”.
FREEDOM OF BOKSBURG PRESIDENT Nelson Mandela is to receive the Freedom of the City of Boksburg on Thursday. Mandela will meet city councillors in the morning, and will accept a letter from the schools in the area, before receiving the award.
SARAFINA II HEARING HUGO BADENHORST, a senior health department official at the centre of the Sarafina II Aids play controversy, on Tuesday appeared before a departmental disciplinary hearing. In his report on the Sarafina II scandal, Public Protector Selby Baqwa recommended that Badenhorst face misconduct charges for misrepresenting facts about a tender procedure. Baqwa’s report detailed alitany of irregularities and maladministration in the department, and concluded that the R14-million spent on the play was unauthorised.
BIKO MONUMENT THE King William’s Town council agreed last night to apply to have the grave of murdered black consciousness leader Steve Biko declared a national monument. A monument will also be erected in honour of victims of the 1992 massacre of protesters in Bisho by Ciskei soldiers.
MANDELA AT OXFORD NELSON MANDELA flies to Britain next month to receive the Freedom of Oxford. Accompanying him will be Graca Machel, who will receive an honourary degree from Oxford. They will also dine with Prince Charles before flying to the far east on official visits.
CAPE BATTERED BY WIND CAPE TOWN airport’s weather office issued a ”red alert” warning yesterday after winds of up to 143km/h swept the shore, blowing over shacks and leaving hundreds homeless, and scattering rocks on to Chapman’s Peak Drive.