FORMER military ruler Olusegun Obasanjo early Monday won the presidential nomination of Nigeria’s largest political party, setting him on course for the February 27 presidential elections, party officials said. Obasanjo won 1658 out of more than 2400 votes from delegates at the convention of the centre-left Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), roundly defeating former civilian vice […]

THE Nigerian government has agreed to plans to dredge the river Niger, from the coast to the federal capital, Abuja, opening it up to major river boat traffic. The project will cost 8,3-billion naira (about $10-million), said Major-General Mohammed Buhari, chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund and a former military ruler of Nigeria. Contracts are […]

AUSTRALIA’S Samantha Riley scored a confidence-boosting victory over Olympic champion Penny Heyns in the 100-m breaststroke at the World Cup short course meet on Saturday. The world-record holder from Brisbane led from the gun and touched in 1:07.63 to edge out South African Heyns by 0.25 seconds.

BRITAIN’S “Black Widow” murder case could be at end with the arrest in Johannesburg of two men named in court as the hitmen hired to kill British private detective Barry Trigwell. The Sunday Times reports that Paul Petrus Rus (36) and Lorenz Sundkvidst (44) were arrested on Friday night after the government received an official […]

AN injured rugby player is set to make South African legal history by suing his provincial union under the provisions of the Labour Relations Act after his contract was suspended when he disclosed an injury. Centre Kosie van Vuuren’s contract was suspended after he informed the Mpumalanga Rugby Union his shoulder was injured, the Sunday […]

A NEW political alliance seeking to oust President Bakili Muluzi at elections on May 18 was formally launched at a weekend rally, with a pledge to end hunger in Malawi. The alliance is between the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) of the late former dictator Kamuzu Banda and the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), which has strong […]

KING Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain arrived in Cape Town late on Sunday at the start of a four-day official visit to South Africa. The royal couple were met at Cape Town airport by Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo and Western Cape provincial premier Gerald Morkel. They are are accompanied by Spanish Foreign Minister […]

AGRICULTURE Minister Derek Hanekom on Monday warned farmers in Mpumalanga and Northern Province to vaccinate their animals and wear rubber gloves when handling carcasses after the outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in the Kruger National Park. Rift Valley Fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection that usually results in in abortions or neo-natal mortalities in sheep, […]

A BUILDER single-handedly fought off three lions this week in the town of Marloth Park, which is in a game reserve near Malelane in Mpumalanga. Speaking from hospital on Saturday, Thomas Hlatswayo (22) said he was cycling along a road at on Wednesday night when he spotted three lions. Hlatswayo was carrying firewood tied in […]

ALGERIAN international midfielder Moussa Saib is one of three overseas players UK soccer club Tottenham Hotspur have put on the transfer list in a bid to trim their wage bill after recent buys. Saib, a 2,3-million buy in February last year, has made only five substitute appearances this season. He joins Portugal’s diminutive Jose Dominguez […]