IN BRIEF ZAMBIA PARLIAMENT ENDS EMERGENCY
THE Zambian parliament has ratified the revocation by President Chiluba on March 17 of the state of emergency after an attempted coup by junior military officers last October. In parliament, there was some debate about whether Chiluba should have announced the revocation rather than parliament, and various arguments led to inflammatory accusations that the house contains too many “bush lawyers”.
GIANT TELESCOPE FOR SA?
SOUTH African scientists and astronomers are planning one of the world’s most powerful telescopes for Sutherland in the Karoo. According to the University of Cape Town’s Monday Paper, the telescope will be similar to a new United States telescope, with a mirror 10m in diameter. New technology is making it possible to build powerful telescopes at a fraction of the previous cost. Astronomers worldwide would like to see such a telescope in the southern hemisphere, but the planners are relying on finance from the SA government.
MANDELA SUPPORTS DUARTE’S RESIGNATION
PRESIDENT Nelson Mandela supports the decision of ANC Gauteng leaders to ask Safety and Security MEC Jessie Duarte to resign. “I fully support them, notwithstanding my love for Jessie Duarte, who is a wonderful lady,” he said. He said he had passed no judgment on the accusations made against Duarte, but said he had “never met a person who is as efficient and as honest an individual as herself”. An investigation into possible corruption and mismanagement in Duarte’s department is still in progress.
STOCK THEFT ‘PUTS EL NIO IN THE SHADE’
FARMERS lost over R200-million to stock theft last year, Safety and Security Minister Sydney Mufamadi told the National Council of Provinces on Wednesday. Democratic Party agricultural spokesman Errol Moorcroft responded: “When more than R200-million of farmers’ assets are wiped off the books in a single year, the effects of El Nio do not seem so bad after all.” Moorcroft said that theft on that scale is certainly not the result of “the odd hungry person”, and is clearly indicative of highly organised crime syndicates. Moorcroft urged the government to improve policing and prosecution of stock theft, adding that the Eastern Cape, which accounted for almost 30% of the total amount of stock stolen, is of particular concern.
PRISON CHIEF’S HUGE PAYOUT
FORMER correctional services commissioner Henk Bruyn was given a golden handshake worth R880208 when his contract was prematurely terminated, auditor-general Henri Kluever said in an departmental audit report released on Wednesday. Bruyn was made to step down — in breach of his contract — when Cabinet decided to appoint a new correctional services commissioner in 1996. Kluever’s audit also revealed R2,9-million in unauthorised expenditure, although R1,8-million of this was subsequently approved by the Treasury. The audit also revealed insufficient internal control over staff expenditure, medical services and purchases, and the cost of prisoners’ hospitalisation, among other irregularities.
MOST PARLY THEFTS IN OFFICE HOURS
ALMOST all the thefts reported within the parliamentary complex occurred during office hours, and none were by forced entry, National Protection Services head Gary Kruser said on Wednesday. A total of 101 cases of theft were reported in the parliamentary complex last year. Most crimes reported occurred while office doors were left open, or closed but not locked. Only nine people were convicted; the remaining cases were not solved and have been closed.
LIBERIA DROPS PRESS LAWS
LIBERIAN authorities on Wednesday dropped stiff new media regulations. Following an ultimatum from President Charles Taylor, the information ministry decided not to enforce crippling registration requirements announced last week, such as a minimum $10000 bank balance, a circulation of at least 4000 for newspapers, as well as academic qualifications for editors. The ministry also said a L$5000 Liberian dollar ($125) registration fee will be halved.
TEACHERS’ STRIKE CANCELLED
THE South African Democratic Teachers Union has called off a strike planned for Wednesday and Thursday to protest the retrenchment of 43000 teachers at the end of the month. Sadtu has been advised that the strike would be illegal.