THURSDAY, 10.00AM: SANLAM MD Desmond Smith on Wednesday made the shock announcement of his immediate early retirement, apparently over “differences of emphasis” over the group’s strategic direction. When he was appointed to head the operations of the country’s second biggest life assurer four years ago, Smith was the group’s youngest-ever MD, and the first non-Afrikaner. […]

WEDNESDAY, 11.00PM ZIMBABWE’s Stock market continued its downward trend on Wednesday when it recorded yet another sharp loss, shedding 281 points to close at 8 384. Although the market remained active, it was weak, with declines in the share prices of most counters. The Harare bourse has been on a free fall for the past […]

THURSDAY, 10.00AM: WINNIE Madikizela-Mandela finally took the stand at the truth commission on Thursday, arriving surrounded by bodyguards after a bomb threat against her on Wednesday night. Read our full report on today’s hearings, updated throughout the day. Madikizela-Mandela told the hearing that she first heard about the death of teenage activist Stompie Seipei when […]

THURSDAY, 10.30PM CLAIMS by the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union that some of the 1 480 farms recently designated by the government for redistribution to landless peasants are among the country’s most highly utilised and productive farms were on Thursday dismissed by the Minister of Land and Agriculture. Farms designated were either derelict or under-utilised land, […]

THURSDAY, 9.30AM NEW passenger car sales in November crashed 29% against the same month last year, according to latest figures published by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA. Local car makers sold 16 605 new passenger cars in November, the lowest number since 1991 and nearly a third fewer than the 23 677 […]

MALARIA WARNING The national health department on Thursday said 20 111 cases of malaria have been reported this year, which led to 61 deaths. The department warned holidaymakers to take precautions against malaria when they visit high-risk areas this summer. Deputy director of the department’s Communicable Disease Control Dr Rajendra Maharaj said high-risk areas for […]

THURSDAY, 10.00AM BLACK empowerment group New Africa Investments Limited is aiming to take “unassailable control”of Metropolitan Life in the current financial year, Nail MD Jonty Sandler said on Wednesday. Stadler was speaking at the unveiling of Nail’s results for the year to end September. Nail increased headline earnings 47% to 27,48c a share, or R127-million. […]

THURSDAY, 2.40PM: IT took 163 minutes for South Africa to dismiss Australia for 133 in 38 overs in their opening World Series limited overs cricket match at the SCG on Thursday. After being bowled out at 200 in exactly 50 overs, it looked as if the South Africans were goners, but veteran offspinner Pat Symcox […]

THURSDAY, 3.30PM CONSERVATIVE PARTY leader Ferdi Hartzenberg, asked whether his party had approved of the murder of Chris Hani by one of its senior officials, replied with an anecdote about an unwelcome Christmas present: “My child gives me a Christmas present which I don’t like. I do not return it, but express my appreciation for […]