Staff Reporter
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/ 30 January 2008

December CPIX up more than 8%

South Africa’s consumer price index excluding mortgage rate changes (CPIX) for metro and other areas, which is used by the South African Reserve Bank for its inflation target, was up 8,6% year-on-year in December from 7,9% in November. Said Mike Schussler, economist at T-Sec: "The figures still came in higher than expected, and it’s not going to be good for the bond market."

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/ 30 January 2008

Ford SA announces R1,5bn investment plan

Vehicle maker Ford Motor Company of Southern African (Ford SA) plans to invest more than R1,5-billion to expand operations for its next-generation compact pickup truck and Puma diesel engine, it said on Wednesday. The investment will start in 2009 and be split between its assembly plant in Pretoria, and engine facility in Port Elizabeth.

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/ 30 January 2008

Fly naked on nudist holiday flight

German nudists will be able to start their holidays early by stripping off on the plane if they take up a new offer from an eastern German travel firm. Travel agency OssiUrlaub.de said it would start taking bookings for a trial nudist day trip from the eastern German town of Erfurt to the popular Baltic Sea resort of Usedom.

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/ 30 January 2008

Sewage leaks into Durban river

Heavily polluted water from a punctured sewage pipe appears to have been flowing into the Durban harbour via the Umhlatuzana River for up to nine months — reportedly the result of a bungled repair job by eThekwini council contract workers, a media report said on Wednesday.

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/ 30 January 2008

SA mines set to resume production

South African mining companies were set to resume production this week after power failures brought the industry to a halt last Friday. Anglogold Ashanti said it expected all its mines would be in full production by the end of the week. Gold Fields spokesperson Willie Jacobsz said: ”All our mines are busy mobilising as the power flow is being restored.”

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/ 29 January 2008

Honda confident of better Formula One year

Honda believes its revamped car will make the Formula One team more competitive this season after a disappointing 2007. Team principal Ross Brawn said Honda’s entire car design was re-evaluated after the team finished eighth in last year’s constructors’ championship with six points — 198 behind winners Ferrari.

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/ 29 January 2008

Bok coach to meet overseas rugby management

Springbok coach Pieter de Villiers, who is currently on a tour to address the players and coaching staff of all five of South Africa’s Super 14 franchises, will visit England coach Brian Ashton on his upcoming overseas tour — but he won’t have contact with any of the Springboks currently playing overseas.

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/ 29 January 2008

SA fears ‘very serious crisis’ in Kenya

South Africa believes that no political ambition could justify the current cycle of violence in Kenya, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad said on Tuesday. Speaking at the Union Buildings, Pahad called on Kenyan political parties to rise above ”narrow political interests” and settle the conflict through dialogue.