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/ 26 February 2008
South African government plans to halve poverty and unemployment by 2014 appeared increasingly at risk on Tuesday as official statistics confirmed fears of a downturn in economic growth. Figures released by Statistics South Africa showed a drop in gross domestic product growth to 5,1% last year from 5,4% in 2006.
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/ 26 February 2008
South Africa’s economic growth jumped unexpectedly in the fourth quarter of 2007, keeping expansion for the year near a two-decade record at 5,1% as buoyant corporates outweighed slower consumer spending. Africa’s biggest economy has remained resilient despite higher interest rates, although growth is likely to slow in 2008.
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/ 26 February 2008
A new round of talks to end Kenya’s political crisis started on Tuesday with no clear sign of an agreement on power-sharing and with the opposition threatening to resume nationwide protests. The talks being mediated by former United Nations chief Kofi Annan had come to a standstill on Monday.
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/ 26 February 2008
There is no dictator in Zimbabwe, just a lot of outside, unwelcome interference in the country’s affairs, the country’s ambassador to South Africa, Simon Khaya Moyo, said in Pretoria on Tuesday. ”Only the people of Zimbabwe can, through the ballot, tell the world who they think has their interests at heart,” he said.
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/ 26 February 2008
The government is to intervene to curb rocketing private healthcare costs and prevent the sector’s ”demise”, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Tuesday. The health charter task team, among others, has been discussing the challenge of making healthcare more affordable, she told the National Assembly’s health committee.
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/ 26 February 2008
The European Union is concerned about competing with China for access to resources and markets in Africa, which partly explains its drive to hook African states into economic partnership agreements (EPAs). According to South Africa’s deputy minister of trade, the EU is afraid that it will lose its foothold on the African continent
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/ 26 February 2008
The man and the youth accused of murdering 17-year-old Cassandra van Rooyen were released on R5 000 bail each in the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. Karl Schuler, lawyer for both accused, said the case was postponed to May 27 for further investigation.
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/ 26 February 2008
South Africa’s economic growth has increased to 5,3% in the fourth quarter of 2007, up from a revised figure of 4,8% in the third quarter, Statistics South Africa said on Tuesday. The 5,3% annualised quarter-on-quarter growth in real gross domestic product (GDP) in the fourth quarter is the highest of 2007.
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/ 26 February 2008
Stormers flank Schalk Burger has received a two-week suspension after being found guilty of ”unsportsmanlike behaviour”. Burger’s suspension runs from February 23 to March 8, inclusive. He has a right to appeal the sentence. His suspension is a big setback for the Stormers, who are yet to win a match in this year’s Super 14 competition.
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/ 26 February 2008
The deadly conflict in Darfur entered its sixth year on Tuesday with no solution in sight, as Khartoum continued to resist the full deployment of a peacekeeping force amid a fresh wave of bombings. The anniversary coincides with visits to the country by Washington’s special envoy for Sudan, Richard Williamson, and China’s point man for Darfur, Liu Giujin, for top-level talks.