CATHY O’DOWD on Saturday made history when she became the first women to reach the summit of Mount Everest from both the northern and southern slopes. Deputy President Thabo Mbeki sent his congratulations to O’Dowd through a message on her satellite phone after she reached the summit early on Saturday. It is not know whether […]
A CONCESSION contract, worth an estimated R2,5-billion, for the N3 road from Heidelberg to Cedara near Pietermaritzburg was signed on Thursday between the South African National Roads Agency and N3 Toll Concession Limited. The 30-year concession involves the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of 420km of the main Durban/Johannesburg route. Transport Minister Mac Maharaj […]
IN a first move against much criticised spending by the past military regime, Nigeria’s new president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday suspended contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Sworn in on Saturday following February elections, the retired general ordered the creation of a panel to review all contracts, appointments, awards and licences made since January […]
THE Central Bank of Swaziland (CBS) has predicted a growth rate of only 2,5% for 1999/2000, the Swazi Observer reported on Wednesday. The CBS director of research, Cleopas Dlamini, was quoted as saying that growth was down by 0,5% from last year when Swaziland registered a growth rate of about 3%. Dlamini said that one […]
PACE bowler Geoff Allott became the cricket World Cup’s leading wicket-taker in Edinburgh on Monday as New Zealand dismissed Scotland for 121 to give themselves a chance of reaching the second round. New Zealand need to overhaul the total inside 20 overs – a rate of 6,10 per over – to overtake group B rivals […]
THE South African Reserve Bank announced on Friday that it is Y2K compliant, allaying fears that the country’s premier financial institution could fall foul of the millenium bug. It also said it was confident the overall banking sector is prepared for the change-over into the 21st century. But should there be a rush for cash, […]
AN Anglo-American platinum mine in Northern Province has delayed firing 400 mineworkers by one month. Anglo American Platinum Corporation Limited’s (Amplats) Lebowa Platinum Mines has decided to consult further with the workers before starting with retrenchments, explained Amplats spokesperson, Johan Adler, on Wednesday. He said the company would have retrenched 400 of its 2500 workers […]
CASH-strapped and war-torn Angola on Monday asked South Africa for supplies of food and medicine amid a spiralling humanitarian crisis caused by the resumption of civil war in December. In a list of items sent to South Africa’s trade department and published in newspapers, Luanda-based merchants requested exports of hospital equipment, medicine and food as […]
TWO of South Africa’s bowlers got off to a rough start in the 1999 Men’s African States bowls championships at Marks Park on Sunday. The pair of Gerry Baker and Rudi Jacobs lost 34-16 to Swaziland before recovering their composure and beating Zambia 18-15.
THE Department of Safety and Security appears to be defying a High Court order to reinstate more than 2000 mostly former homeland police officers who were demoted after the Judge White Commission was established in 1997. The Judge White Commission was appointed by President Nelson Mandela in 1997 to look into irregular appointments made in […]