Staff Reporter
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/ 25 October 2006

No big surprises in mini-budget

Economists, the ruling party and the official opposition have reacted to the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement tabled in Parliament on Wednesday by Finance Minister Trevor Manuel. ”There was nothing really there that was too unexpected,” said George Glynos, market analyst at ETM.

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/ 25 October 2006

Body of one missing miner recovered

The body of one of the five mine workers trapped underground at AngloGold Ashanti’s Tau Tona mine near Carletonville has been found, the company said on Wednesday afternoon. This, coupled with conditions at the scene, offered little hope that the remaining four miners will be found alive, said spokesperson Steve Lenahan.

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/ 25 October 2006

Somali rivals gird for war outside govt seat

Fighters loyal to Somalia’s weak government and powerful Islamist movement girded for battle on Wednesday outside the government’s temporary seat in Baidoa, as tensions between the rivals soared. Amid conflicting statements, government troops dug trenches around the town, preparing for a feared advance, witnesses said.

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/ 25 October 2006

Aids budget to grow to billions

The government will be spending close to R2,3-billion on its HIV/Aids programme by 2010, according to the mini-Budget tabled in Parliament on Wednesday. The figure was contained in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, which gave no breakdown of how the amount was arrived at.

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/ 25 October 2006

Zille: ANC ‘power grab’ moves hurting SA

The African National Congress’s efforts to change Cape Town’s multiparty government is doing ”incalculable harm” to South Africa, city mayor Helen Zille said on Wednesday. ”They are not damaging the multiparty government, they are doing incalculable harm to South Africa,” she said in an opening speech at a full council meeting.

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/ 25 October 2006

Mini-budget: R80bn boost in spending

Almost R15-billion of the about R80-billion increase in government spending over the next three years goes to 2010 Soccer World Cup major capital projects, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said on Wednesday. This infrastructure will benefit the country long after the final whistle in the tournament has sounded.

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/ 25 October 2006

ICC turns to chemicals to limit impact of dew

The International Cricket Council (ICC) used a chemical spray to reduce the impact of dew on Wednesday’s Champions Trophy match between Pakistan and New Zealand, saying it was in the interests of a fair contest. Excessive dew late in the evening often tilts the balance in favour of teams batting second in day-night matches.