THURSDAY, 6:30PM: THE Free State branch of the Pan Africanist Congress caused a rumpus today with the blithe admission that renegade members of the party, mainly former guerrillas, have been responsible for the string of murderous attacks on farmers, because they have no jobs or food. Agricultural union officials demanded to know why the PAC […]

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, 8.40AM: BORDER’S Makhaya Ntini became the first black cricket player to graduate from the United Cricket Board of South Africa development programme to the South African national team. He was on Wednesday named in the squad to tour Australia. “It’s a dream come true. It’s unbelievable,” said a suprised Ntini. He replaces Boland’s Roger […]

THURSDAY, 9.05AM: SPRINGBOK coach Nick Mallett has trimmed his squad to 26 and sent eight members of the squad home. “A lot of the midweek guys must go home disappointed with their efforts,” said Mallet. Justin Swart or Thinus Delport, Joe Gillingham, Breyton Paulse, Boeta Wessels. Ollie le Roux, Wium Basson, Dale Santon and Warren […]

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 […]

TUESDAY, 9.15AM: TELKOM’S feud with the SA Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Satra) continues, with the parastatal’s latest submission for proposed price hikes in January returned with suggestions for modification. Telkom was on Monday informed that Satra will not approve the increases until Telkom changes the terms and conditions to protect customers. A Satra representative said some […]

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, 11.00AM: The emigration tide seems to have turned, according to latest Central Statistical Service fgures. Immigration and emigration figures released on Wednesday show that less people are leaving, and more people are entering the country. The figures show a 24% decline in the number of self-declared emigrants from South Africa during July 1997 compared […]

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. […]

THURSDAY, 5.30PM: AN American telecommunications company has announced that Africa — and South Africa in particular — will be first in the world to have access to a satellite service beamed down to portable receivers no bigger than a small radio. The US company, WorldSpace, announced on Thursday that it has raised R4,14 billion for […]