INTENSE heat on the Cape Peninsula halted the Argus Pick n’ Pay Cycle Tour on Sunday when officials feared that they could not cope with the massive wave of dehydration amongst the cyclists. The race came to a halt at 3pm when official vehicles pulled riders over to the sides, moving up from the rear. They stopped the race when more than 20 000 of the almost 40 000 field had finished. It was the first time this event has been stopped in its 10 year history. The medical tent was swamped with cyclists needing attention, most of them suffering from heat exhaustion and dehydration, as Cape Town basked in temperatures of 39 degrees. – Sapa
Sunday March 10, 2002
ITALIAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT SA
Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi is to pay a state visit to South Africa this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday.
The visit is at the invitation of President Thabo Mbeki.
”The Italian President will meet President Mbeki on Wednesday at Tuynhuys to discuss international issues of mutual interest,” a statement from the department read. ”It is expected that this meeting will concentrate on regional issues, poverty eradication and economic development. NEPAD, the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the establishment of the African Union in July 2002 will also feature prominently in their discussions.”
Mbeki will also confer the Order of Good Hope, Class One, Gold, on Ciampi. The Italian head of state will in return confer the highest order of the Italian Republic on Mbeki.
The Italian President will attend a ceremony at the Zonderwater Memorial Cemetery, where many Italian Second World War prisoners of war are buried.
He will also visit an Italian project at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and meet the local Italian community before his departure. -Sapa Friday March 8, 2002