PEOPLE living near the R488-million Driekoppies Dam in Mpumalanga fear for their lives and have urged both the government and the dam’s developers to move them from the area. Concerned Driekoppies residents said at a recent community meeting in Schoemansdal that many local houses were cracking and subsiding. ”We feel unsafe and the village feels like it’s becoming an island,” said Lucky Shabangu, chairing the meeting. Secretary at the meeting, Sipho Mpila, says that less than half the families affected by the rising waters have been relocated. A total of 239 homesteads, or 2_ 000 people, were meant to be relocated to new houses but some of them are occupied, apparently by illegal immigrants from Swaziland and Mozambique.
NEW SA AMBASSADORS
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Alfred Nzo appointed Sheila Sisulu ambassador to the United States on Monday. Sisulu replaces the colourful Franklin Sonn, who on Monday announced that he is leaving politics to concentrate on a new business venture. Nzo also announced that he has appointed Thuthukile Mazibuko-Skweyiya as ambassador to France, Kingsley Mamabolo as ambassador to the Organisation of African Unity, George Nene as South Africa’s permanent representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Louis Mnguni will be high commissioner to Mauritius and Yusuf Saloojee has been appointed ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.