THURSDAY, 9.20AM: The two giants of South African football meet this weekend when Orlando Pirates hosts Kaizer Chiefs in a game that has all the the ingredients for a thriller. Pirates, who were booted out of the Rothmans Cup by Mamelodi Sundowns have vowed to redeem their dignity by beating Chiefs. Meanwhile, Chiefs, who have […]

THURSDAY, 3:30PM: Nigerian lawyer Tunji Braithwaite has boldly announced he will stand for election as civilian head of state next year. On Wednesday he became the first politician to take seriously the promise of strongman General Sani Achaba to hand over to a civilian government next year. Braithwaite, former leader of the now-defunct Nigerian Advance […]

MBULI DUCKS AND DIVES ‘People’s Poet’ Mzwakhe Mbuli evaded questions about his finances at a bail application in Pretoria on Thursday, saying that he handled his finances himself and was not sure how much money he had. The court was heavily guarded to prevent a repeat of the fracas at last week’s court appearance where […]

THURSDAY, 4:00PM: Medicines Control Council officials on Wednesday raided the Pretoria office and home of ‘Virodene’ researcher Olga Visser for evidence that patients are still being treated with the controversial anti-Aids drug that Visser helped develop. The medicines council placed a ban on the drug several months ago, after Visser and her colleagues asked the […]

THURSDAY, 3:30PM: A subpoena was served by the truth commission on former state president PW Botha on Thursday, although at some remove. The five-page subpoena and 700 pages of supporting documentation were handed to a member of Botha’s staff, although the former president was apparently at home at the time. Mike Barnardo of the truth […]

THURSDAY, 3:30PM: Police in Cape Town said today that alleged drug dealers who claimed at the weekend that there was poison in their takeaway pizzas were right. Preliminary tests on the odd slice of two pizzas delivered to two men and a woman in Woodstock revealed traces of pesticide – a granular powder called aldicarb. […]

TUESDAY, 5:30PM: INDONESIA’S President Suharto arrives in South Africa on Thursday for a three day visit — but a demonstration by senior Cosatu officials outside the Indonesian embassy made it clear that not everyone will make him welcome. Cosatu has departed from the cautious stance of its alliance partner, the ANC, by making a blunt […]

EMPLOYMENT BILL FINALLY PASSED The Basic Conditions of Employment Bill finally passed through the National Council of Provinces on Wednesday, despite National Party attempts to block it with 20 last-minute amendments. Debates on the amdendments delayed the bill by just 24 hours. The defeated amendments aimed to limit the labour minister’s powers and slow a […]

TUESDAY, 5:00PM: The government which has continued to insist that it will make its budget deficit target of 4% in the face of mounting evidence to the contrary, has finally hinted that it may miss by a small amount. Deputy finance minister Gill Marcus told an investment conference arranged by stockbrokers on Monday that “even […]

WEDNESDAY, 9.40AM: HANSIE Cronje and his charges are set to receive more than they received in Pakistan for the tour of Australia. The squad leaves on Thursday for a 10 week tour of Australia. “If the players get to the finals they will get R150 000 to share between them,” said the United Cricket Board […]