The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) request to attend closed sessions of the Ginwala inquiry into suspended National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli was rejected on Wednesday. The party requested permission from President Thabo Mbeki in March to attend the closed session into Pikoli’s fitness to hold office.
Hillary Clinton branded rhetoric by Barack Obama’s former pastor ”outrageous” on Wednesday as her Democratic foe tried to recover from his latest campaign crisis with two vital primaries looming. Clinton made her most expansive comments yet on the latest uproar sparked by the Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
Zimbabweans are bracing for a bloody second round of elections after government sources on Wednesday said a recount of the presidential vote held a month ago showed that President Robert Mugabe lost to Morgan Tsvangirai, but that neither won an outright majority.
A plan to reduce the impact of rising food prices on the poor was tabled during an ordinary meeting of the Cabinet in Pretoria on Wednesday. The proposed short-, medium- and long-term interventions were also aimed at ensuring household and national food security, the Government Communication and Information System said in a statement.
Nato on Wednesday accused Russia of ramping up tensions with neighbour Georgia and said Moscow’s rapid build-up of troops in the breakaway republic of Abkhazia threatened Georgia’s territorial integrity. The alliance called on Russia and Georgia to resolve their differences over Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Georgia’s two rebel republics.
Eskom is to suspend scheduled load-shedding from May 5, the utility’s CEO, Jacob Maroga, said on Wednesday. ”We are seeing evidence of increased energy savings from municipalities and Eskom is optimistic that further reductions to reach our 10% savings target are possible,” said Maroga.
In an apparent revolt against a weakened president senior Cabinet ministers and government officials worked to prevent the Chinese arms ship from offloading its cargo, even as Thabo Mbeki insisted that the mortar bombs, rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles be allowed to reach Robert Mugabe’s military.
Bottom-of-the-log Black Leopards beat fellow strugglers Thando Royal Zulu (TRZ) 3-2 in an Absa Premiership match played at Thohoyandou Stadium on Wednesday. Leopards led 2-1 a half-time. The home team, Leopards, began the game on the offensive and were rewarded when striker Robert Ngambi scored the opener early on.
Bloemfontein Celtic eased their relegation troubles when they hammered struggling Jomo Cosmos 3-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium on Wednesday. This was Celtic’s second win in a row following their 3-0 victory over relegation-haunted Thanda Royal Zulu last weekend.
The increase in the retail price of petrol by 55 cents per litre will result in a ”period of anguish” for South African households, an economist said on Wednesday. Absa economist Chris Hart said the increase would cause food prices to rise and fuel inflation. Hart said the country was expecting a hike in electricity prices as well as an increase in the rate of taxes.