THURSDAY, 11.00AM INTERNATIONAL diamond cartel De Beers on Wednesday failed to secure the purchase of diamonds from the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Miba mine, after being outbid at an auction by Belgian company Susskind. De Beers has been the sole purchaser of Miba’s diamonds for more than a decade. According to Maurice Nabahola, adviser to […]
THURSDAY, 4.00PM THE Zambian supreme court has dismissed an application by opposition parties to have President Frederick Chiluba undergo a DNA test to prove his parentage. Four of the five judges ruled that there is no law in Zambia to compel an individual to undergo a DNA test. But Justice Earnest Sakala, in a minority […]
THURSDAY, 10.30AM The bond market leapt ahead again on Wednesday after taking a two-week breather, and analysts are predicting the benchmark R150 government long bond will push the 14% level this week. The R150 yield fell to a 17-month low on Wednesday, trading down to 14,04%, a sharp comeback from Friday’s 14,45% weak point. Part […]
COPS BURGLED THIEVES broke into Cape Town’s new eastern metropolitan police headquaters in Bellville on Wednesday night, and stole a TV set, a computer, portable radios and personal items of staff members. The front door was apparently left open on Wednesday night by building contractors who were finishing renovations to the building. HUGE PUBLIC SERVICE […]
THURSDAY, 4.00PM ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe reshuffled his cabinet on Wednesday, merging eight ministries into four, creating a new one and appointing three ministers of state and two deputies. The ministry of local government, rural and urban development has been merged with public construction and national housing to become the ministry of local government and […]
THURSDAY, 10.30AM AS government prepares for the release on Thursday of its Green Paper on restructuring of the Post Office, the parastatal, which was funded by government to the tune of R572-million last financial year, has been told to clear all debt and get into the black within five years. This year’s Budget allowed for […]
THURSDAY, 1.00PM: MAMELODI Sundowns and Nigerian striker Raphael Chukwu has not arrived for pre-season training. Sundowns coach Stanley “Screamer” Tshabalala said he knows that Chukwu is still in Nigeria and, contrary to the club’s code of conduct, has extended his leave. “This is unacceptable and I am going to have strong words with him when […]
THURSDAY, 3.00PM The investigation into the “canned” lion hunting industry has been set back by death threats and intimidation of witnesses and investigators. The practice of hunting tame or drugged lions, often in small enclosures, was first exposed by the Mail & Guardian prior to the screening of a British documentary on the subject, in […]
THURSDAY, 12.30PM THE African National Congress has accused the police of participation in the massacre of five party members — three of them newly elected town councillors — in Richmond in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. The five, councillors Bhekumusa Mchunu and his cousin Mbongiseni Mchunu, both 25, and Boy Dhlamini, Mduduzi Mtungwa and Mshiyeni Nyide were […]
WEDNESDAY, 5.30PM SOUTH Africa is to resume arms sales to Rwanda, National Conventional Arms Control Committee chairman Kader Asmal said on Wednesday. Asmal said the decision was prompted by changed circumstances in Rwanda and the need for that country to restore peace and order. Asmal also confirmed that the committee in August last year approved […]