New vehicles sales are continuing to decline, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) reported on Tuesday. New vehicle sales fell by 12% to 46 248 units in February compared with the same month last year, Naamsa said.
The Germiston Regional Court has postponed until October the trial of three men against whom Glenn Agliotti is expected to testify. In an appearance on Tuesday, the case was postponed for trial until October 14, 15 and 16 and October 28, 29 and 30. Stephan Paparos, his father, Dimitrio, and Stanley Poonin stand accused of dealing in hashish.
Former Zimbabwe finance minister Simba Makoni has said there will be no backlash against veteran President Robert Mugabe if he topples him at this month’s general election. ”President Mugabe is someone who has a very special place in our history,” Makoni said in an interview, ruling out retribution against Mugabe.
Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri has criticised the Treasury for failing to finance state-owned signal carrier Sentech, Business Day reported on Tuesday. Treasury officials ”just don’t understand” the vital role Sentech could play in lowering South Africa’s exorbitant cost of communications, the newspaper quoted the minister as saying.
Malawi lawmakers on Tuesday began examining draft legislation aimed at ridding the HIV/Aids-plagued country of quacks claiming to cure the pandemic through such remedies as sex with virgins, health authorities said. "When it passes into law, all traditional healers claiming to cure Aids will be dealt with," Mary Shaba, head of HIV/Aids issues for Malawi’s Health Ministry, said.
South Africa’s FirstRand said on Tuesday that first-half diluted normalised headline earnings per share rose 12% to 105,6 cents, at the lower end of its forecasts, despite tough market conditions. The group said it was unlikely to meet its long-term targeted growth in earnings of 10% above inflation in the current financial year.
The death toll in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) from Monday’s accidents has risen, the province’s transport department said on Tuesday. Spokesperson Rajen Chinnaboo said a fifth accident was reported in KwaZulu-Natal at 8pm, bringing the total number of deaths in the province on Monday to 32.
Kenyan rivals were on Tuesday to push ahead with talks on a new deal to share power and tackle root causes of the strife, a day after more than a dozen people were killed in the volatile Rift Valley. The negotiations are focusing on reforms to address historical injustices that entail electoral, institutional, constitutional and judicial issues.
Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has lashed out at Australian crowds after being cleared of allegations he made monkey gestures and spat toward fans in the tri-series final win against Australia. Harbhajan was cleared after match referee Jeff Crowe was unable to find any video evidence to confirm the claims by spectators and photographers.
Australia utility back Julian Huxley has been diagnosed with a brain tumour just days after he collapsed during a Super 14 match. The tumour, believed to be benign, was discovered following a series of scans after Huxley began convulsing while playing on Saturday. ”It was a huge shock when the doctor told me I have a tumour,” Huxley said on Tuesday.