NIGERIAN-led Ecomog intervention force troops repelled a rebel attack against the northern Sierra Leonean town of Kambia earlier this week, Ecomog officials said on Thursday. They said rebels entered the town of Pamalap, close to Kambia and about 80km north of the capital, Freetown, on Monday. An Ecomog contingent of Guinean troops “opened up with […]
IMPALA Platinum Holdings has taken a 15% stake in Aquarius Platinum, the Australian firm said on Thursday. “Aquarius will use the funds to boost working capital for a major push to develop its 100% held Marikana Platinum Project near Rustenburg in South Africa,” Aquarius said. Aquarius will raise A$1,86-million through the share placement, which is […]
SPRINGBOK flyhalf Franco Smith was the high-profile victim as Northern Bulls coach Eugene van Wyk took the drastic measure of axing four players for Saturday’s Super 12 showdown against the New South Wales Waratahs. Clearly fed-up with his under-achieving team who lost their three opening matches against the Stormers (42-19), Otago Highlanders (65-23) and the […]
FREE STATE African National Congress chairman Pat Matosa has lost his High Court appeal against a 1997 conviction for attempted murder, and is likely to serve a five-and-a-half year sentence. Matosa plans yet another appeal however. The Court’s decision threatens Matosa’s political career — the Constitution prohibits anyone sentenced to more than a year in […]
NATURAL resources group Minorco annouced on Wednesday that its earnings fell $60-million on weaker commodity prices to $202-million in the year to December 31. Earnings before exceptional items, at $154-million, is R165-million lower than last year. Minorco said its annual results reflect the continued weakening of commodity prices throughout the year.
NIGERIA’S Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd. on Wednesday confirmed that it has signed a multi-million dollar contract with four western oil groups to build a third liquefied natural gas train. The company said the four companies concerned are Technip of France, Snamprogetti of Italy, MW Kellogg of the United States and Japan Gasoline Corp. It did […]
A LIBYAN Airlines plane carrying 125 pilgrims for the hajj to Mecca left Tripoli on Thursday for Saudi Arabia, once again in violation of a United Nation flight embargo. The aircraft, dubbed the “Plane of Defiance” by the Libyan authorities, took off from Tripoli airport.Libya has been under UN sanctions since 1992 for its refusal […]
SOUTH Africa donated R940000 to the United Nations Development Programme on Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday. It said the money will be used to help cover the programme’s operational costs in South Africa. Acting Foreign Affairs Director-General Abdul Minty presented a cheque to the programme’s resident representative David Whaley as South […]
AUSTRALIAN international Phil Kearns withdrew on Wednesday from the New South Wales Waratahs team who play the Bulls on Saturday. The hooker injured his knee in last weekend’s 36-30 win over the Chiefs which maintained the Waratahs’ unbeaten start to the series. Former ACT Brumbies hooker Tim Tavalea replaces Kearns and Mark Crick joins the […]
THE Independent Electoral Commission announced on Wednesday that three provincial legislatures will be smaller after the general election. It said that the Gauteng legislature will lose 13 seats, bringing it down to 73 members, the Western Cape three seats and North-West legislature one. The number of seats in the National Assembly will remain at 400. […]