ECONOMIC growth across Africa averaged 3,5% in 1999, much the same as in 1998, African Development Bank (AfDB) President Omar Kabbaj said on Monday, citing provisional figures. He told a meeting of ambassadors to Ivory Coast that the Asian crisis and the spread of conflict in some African countries meant that growth rates of 4,0% […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Monday 3.45pm. SWAZILAND may soon be without its best soccer players after the national team accused the country of exploiting their talents by paying match fees of only R25 per international. Players, headed by team vice captain Siza Dlamini, also complained they are paid only R5000 in appearance fees, while […]

GHANAIAN President Jerry Rawlings named Trade and Industry Minister John Abu as the new Minister for Mines and Energy on Monday. Deputy mines and energy minister Simon Abinga has held the fort in the ministry since December 9. The last permanent mines minister, Fred Ohene-Kena, was sacked in October after expressing support for a bid […]

IRISH Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, arrived at the Waterkloof Airforce base in Pretoria on Tuesday morning for a four day visit to South Africa. Ahern was met by Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad. Premier Ahern will meet Deputy President Jacob Zuma, and pay a courtesy call on President Thabo Mbeki later in the afternoon.

MINISTER of Trade and Industry Alec Erwin on Friday released the names of eight manufacturers shortlisted to produce new purpose-built public transport vehicles. AMC, DaimlerChrysler, Iveco, QLS and Tata have all proposed to build either 18-seater or 35-seater configurations while GAZ, Kwoon Chung and Malandela have tendered to supply 18-seaters.

COTE d’Ivoire maintained a timely return to form by defeating holders Egypt 2-0 at the weekend in a warm-up match for the African Nations Cup finals this month. Charles Dago put the Elephants ahead after only two minutes at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan and Bonaventure Kalou added a second nine minutes before the […]

ANDREW MUCHINERIPI, Pretoria | Monday 11.30am. BRUCE Grobbelaar made a dream debut as SuperSport United coach when the Castle Premiership strugglers scored a dramatic 3-2 victory over Orlando Pirates at Caledonian Stadium in Pretoria on Sunday. United trailed and led in the second half before Michael Thurling struck a last-minute winner that dashed Pirates’ hopes […]

DURBAN Roodepoort Deep (DRD) said on Monday it has secured unmargined hedging facilities to guard against margin calls from banks at a time of volatile gold prices. DRD also said it will not do any further hedging at current price level. “DRD wants to use its free cash for acquisitions and further growth, not for […]

AN elderly man has lost his battle against the fatal lung disease asbestosis and with it a R2 million law suit against a cement manufacturer he claimed exposed him to lethal asbestos dust. Nelspruit attorney, Richard Spoor, said carpenter Stephanus Johannes Kleynhans, 70, had worked with products from cement manufacuturer, Everite Limited, for 40 years […]

OWN CORRESPONDENTS | Tuesday 8.00pm EDUCATION Minister Kader Asmal interrupted his scheduled tour of schools on Tuesday to descend unexpectedly on Meadowlands High School in Soweto where he found loitering pupils and filthy conditions. Asmal stormed through the school demanding a list of teachers who had failed to arrive at school, warning that they would […]