Staff Reporter
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/ 25 October 2006

Baby killed, penis cut off

The naked body of a 23-month-old baby boy was found in Bekkersdal in Westonaria on Tuesday afternoon, West Rand police said. The baby’s penis had been cut off. Captain Paula Terreblanche said Tekano Seleki’s body was found next to a stormwater drain at around 4pm.

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/ 25 October 2006

Australia plans world’s biggest solar plant

Australia on Wednesday announced plans for the world’s biggest solar power plant under a Aus$500-million ($375-million) radical rethink on climate change. The government said it would contribute Aus$75-million towards a Aus$420-million solar-power concentrator in the first of a series of projects aimed at reducing the greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming.

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/ 25 October 2006

Hope fades for trapped miners

It could take 18 hours to reach the place where five miners are trapped underground at AngloGold Ashanti’s Tautona mine, the company said on Wednesday morning. ”The longer it takes the more our hope of finding them alive fades,” said company spokesperson Steve Lenahan.

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/ 25 October 2006

World Cup costs to be unveiled

South African taxpayers will be given some idea on Wednesday afternoon of the cost of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, Deputy Finance Minister Jabu Moleketi said on Tuesday. He was speaking ahead of Finance Minister Trevor Manuel’s unveiling in Parliament of the mini-budget, which revises the government’s three-year spending plan.

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/ 25 October 2006

Hospital costs ‘should be 70% lower’

Hospital costs are now almost 70% higher than they should be, because of the increased market dominance of a few private hospitals. This is the argument of the Council for Medical Schemes, which, along with Netcare, is opposing Medi-Clinic’s proposed takeover of four hospitals in the Vaal Triangle. Competition Tribunal hearings into the matter were held recently.

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/ 24 October 2006

Expropriation notices issued for Limpopo land

Expropriation notices have been issued on four pieces of land in Limpopo, the Commission on Restitution of Land Rights announced on Tuesday. ”The notice for expropriation is our last resort following lengthy negotiations with the land owners, which to-date have yielded no results,” said chief land claims commissioner Thozi Gwanya.

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/ 24 October 2006

Pollock leads SA to vital win

Shaun Pollock took two early wickets as he set up South Africa’s 78-run victory over Sri Lanka in a low-scoring Champions Trophy Group B match on Tuesday. Pollock dismissed Sanath Jayasuriya for three and Kumar Sangakkara for nought. He then ran out skipper Mahela Jayawardene for 36 as Sri Lanka were reduced to 78-5 before being bowled out for 141 in 39.1 overs while chasing 220.