THE SANDF budget has been cut by about 40% over the past nine years from 4,5% of gross domestic product to under 1,5% at present. Navy chief, Vice Admiral Robert Simpson-Anderson, said the SANDF did not demobilise after the Angolan war and it is now imperative to establish a smaller, sleeker and cheaper defence force. […]
CHIEF of the Navy Vice Admiral Robert Simpson-Anderson inaugurated on Wednesday the Navy’s fleet command headquarters at Simon’s Town. The fleet was formally handed over at the the Flag Officer Fleet Rear Admiral Eric Green at a parade. Admiral Simpson-Anderson said the long awaited process of restructuring the navy started on March 30 with the […]
GOVERNMENT has effectively given South Africans permission to party especially hard at the turn of the millennium. The cabinet agreed in principle on Wednesday to declaring December 31 1999 and January 2 2000 public holidays in addition to the traditional New Year holiday. Cabinet spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe said the extra holidays will allow four consecutive […]
THE South African Navy will participate in two international exercises in April and May, navy chief, Vice Admiral Robert Simpson-Anderson, announced in Simon’s Town on Wednesday. Simpson-Anderson, said navy ships, together with ocean patrol vessels from the French and Indian navies, will participate in exercise Blue Crane. The exercise, presented by the South African National […]
OLD Mutual got the go ahead from the Cape High Court on Monday to convert to a listed company and demutualise. The firm also has permission to list in London and Johannesburg, adding to the list of South African corporate giants making the trek overseas. The ruling stated the demutualisation scheme is fair, commercially sound, […]
SOUTH Africa has ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. In a statement on Tuesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said South Africa deposited its instrument of ratification of the treaty with the United Nations secretary general on Tuesday. This follows the country’s signature of the treaty on September 24 1996, and approval by Parliament of […]
THE African National Congress is “within reach” of obtaining a two-thirds majority in the June 2 genneral election, according to results of a Markdata poll published in Afrikaans daily Beeld on Tuesday. The poll shows the ANC’s strong position, despite the party and its alliance partner, the SA Communist Party, having acquired few new supporters […]
THE managing editor of Inkatha Freedom Party-owned Durban daily Ilanga has been fired following a disciplinary hearing. Amos Maphumulo’s dismissal follows an editorial last week in which he accused whites and Indians of oppressing blacks and wished for the birth of a new Idi Amin in South Africa. The editorial was criticised from across the […]
OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Tuesday 10.15am. ANGLO American will bid to consolidate its corporate position by buying out minority shareholders in gold holding company Amgold and Anamint, which holds about 26% of De Beers. Anglo already owns 51,5% of Amgold, and 52% of Anamint. Anglo will offer 140 Anglo shares for every 100 Amgold shares, […]
NATIONAL Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka announced on Tuesday that his office will appeal against the suspended sentence handed down last week to convicted baby killer Nicholas Steyn. Steyn was sentenced to five years’ jail suspended for three years after being found guilty of culpable homicide and assault for an incident in April 1998 […]