Former state president Marais Viljoen died in the Muelmed Hospital in Pretoria on Thursday, his daughter said on Friday. Elna Meyer said her father was taken to hospital over a week ago and died due to heart failure. Known as a relatively moderate member of the National Party, Viljoen was the last non-executive state president of South Africa.
South Africans have less than two weeks to get into the habit of dialling ten digits instead of seven when making national calls. After January 16, should a person forget to dial the local area code before the seven-digit number (for example, Johannesburg’s area code is 011), then they will be routed to announcements requesting them to dial 10 digits.
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/ 21 December 2006
When rings have been exchanged, tearful “I dos” have been uttered and empty champagne bottles are all that remain after a wedding reception, newly-weds embark on their honeymoon. And now, it seems, hotels around South Africa are opening their doors to newly-weds both wearing tuxedos or white dresses – gay honeymooners.
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/ 18 December 2006
"I’m living a life and a half. I’ve gone through different lives. I’ve been blessed, successful, thank God. I’m very grateful." These were words spoken by the late Taliep Petersen in a 2005 interview with the <i>Cape Argus</i>. But now the South African theatre and music industry will have to adapt to a different life, a life without the profound and historic musician and writer.
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/ 14 December 2006
After months of threats since a series of fuel spills happened at OR Tambo International Airport, the Environmental and Conservation Association has finally pressed charges against the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa), the association said on Thursday.
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/ 14 December 2006
Whichever way one looks at it, South Africans are being cheated by their cellular network providers, says a new guide to cellphones and contracts. A "free" phone is never really free, 40% of subscribers’ "free" minutes go unused and loyalty programmes simply generate more spending rather than reward the customer.
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/ 13 December 2006
An anti-De Beers website, <i>Boycottdebeers.com</i>, was launched on Tuesday, accusing the South African diamond company and the Botswana government of forcing the country’s Bushmen from their land. The launch of the website coincides with a court ruling on the matter, expected on Wednesday.
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/ 12 December 2006
The Soweto Gospel Choir used to joke about one day winning a Grammy, says their executive producer, Beverly Bryer. But their joke may become a reality after their album <i>Blessed</i> was last week nominated for a 2007 Grammy. Traditional music group Ladysmith Black Mambazo were also nominated.
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/ 12 December 2006
Conservationists panicked when more than a million litres of jet fuel spilled out from OR Tambo International Airport and flowed into the Blaauwpan Dam, east of Johannesburg, in early November. It has been a month since the leak occurred and the area is still being rehabilitated — but how was it possible for so much fuel to end up in the dam?
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/ 12 December 2006
”Her anxiety reaches such distressing levels that she names her suitcase — Carlos, if it’s going to Spain, or Charles, if she’s travelling to England — and blesses it with a prayer before saying goodbye to it at the check-in counter.” Hila Bouzaglou investigates whether travellers should really pray for their luggage at OR Tambo International Airport.