THE Justice Department on Tuesday denied claims that changes to section 49 of the Criminal Procedure Act, governing force used by police when making arrests, is hampering the efficacy of police work. Department spokesperson Paul Setsetse said that the new section 49, due to come into effect in August, will in no way hamper police […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Lagos | Tuesday 1.45pm. FUEL shortages struck Nigeria’s economic capital Lagos on Tuesday, paralysing business and social activities. Officials have responded by calling the scarcities artificial. Officials blamed the shortages on panic buying resulting from a rumour that oil unions will join a public sector strike in Nigeria. Many workers were stranded at […]

JOHNNIES Industrial Corporation (Johnnic) said Monday it has disposed of its 8,1% stake in Adcock Ingram valued at R340-million as part of its debt retirement programme begun in January this year. The sale, which brings the company’s debt under R1-billion, is part of a process of disposing of non-core assets to refocus the company into […]

SOME three floors of a ministerial complex in Parliament were severely damaged on the weekend after someone trying to extinguish a small fire in the dustbin failed to switch off the hose. Cape Town police spokesman Captain Andre Traut said the fire is suspected to have started in a dustbin on the fourth floor at […]

ILLEGAL immigrants trying to sneak into the Northern Province may soon find themselves up against German-style security measures after provincial police called in border control experts from the state of Saxony. Provincial safety and security MEC Seth Nthai said on Monday the province has signed a cooperation agreement with Saxony to tap into its expertise […]

SOUTH Africa’s first private Catholic university looks on target to open in July — pending approval of its academic programmes by the South African Qualifications Authority. Business Day reports that the university is the brainchild of a group of Catholic lay academics, clergy and business people and its to be funded by local and international […]

THE Democratic Party’s election campaign received a boost on Monday when an organisation for the unemployed, which claims to have about 32000 members, pledged its support for the party in the June 2 poll. The Unemployed Masses of South Africa’s economic principles are in agreement with the DP’s, which it believes are the most likely […]

BUILDER-to-automobile leasing group Barlows said on Monday that it has sold 31 of its Federated Timber building materials outlets to a black empowerment company for R56-million. Barlows said that the deal with an arm of the National Association of Black Contractors (Nabcat) will “create the first black-owned builders’ merchant chain in SA” and employ around […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Tuesday 8.35pm THE African National Congress on Tuesday announced its revised election candidates’ lists, which saw ANC Women’s League president Winnie Madikizela-Mandela moving up to position number nine. Presidential spokesman Parks Mankahlana’s name no longer appears on the list. Also removed from the lists were the names of Deputy Finance Minister […]

BUS routes around the country started on a sluggish note on Monday after an agreement on Friday between unions and management ended a two week old strike. The South African Bus Employee’s Association and the four unions supporting the strike — the Transport and General Workers’ Union, the Transport and Allied Workers’ Union, the Western […]