There were about 1 000 fewer teachers in North West province at the opening of schools on Wednesday as the provincial education department had not renewed their contracts, a teachers’ union claimed. But an education department spokesperson said no teacher shortages are expected in North West.
A British citizen working as a radio DJ in Taiwan conned three accommodation establishments during a short holiday in Cape Town, cheated a jeweller and a cellphone business, and ended his spree trying to take the police for a ride as well. This was heard in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Ferarri’s new Formula One boss, Stefano Domenicali, is keen to put last season’s spy scandal behind him and look to the future. ”For the good of the sport we need to look forward; the past is the past,” he said in Italy at his first press conference as Ferrari Formula One chief, although admitting the spy scandal would be difficult to completely forget.
The Amazonian rainforest and the Andes mountains could replace the African desert as South America vies to stage the Dakar Rally. Argentina, Brazil and Chile are looking into the possibility of hosting the race later this year and there are also talks about a race through several South American countries and climate zones.
Chinese opera, a massive fireworks display and a mystery ending will mark the highly anticipated opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics, media reported on Wednesday. The ceremony’s artistic director, Zhang Yimou, China’s most famous filmmaker, has dropped the first hints on the show’s content.
Scotland Yard strengthened its team aiding the probe into the assassination of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto on Wednesday as concerns for the country’s nuclear security grew. Three more detectives arrived from London, including an expert in the type of explosives used in the gun and suicide-bomb attack that killed Bhutto.
A Nationwide aircraft — flying from Livingstone in Zambia to Johannesburg — was forced to turn back a few minutes into the flight due to a mechanical fault, the airline said on Wednesday. Nationwide corporate quality director Rodger Whittle said flight 203 had to turn back because hydraulic fluid was leaking from a faulty pipe.
Ernie Els is to cut back on his hectic international schedule in a bid to win more Majors. The 38-year-old South African is known to be among the most widely travelled of golfers on the circuits, regularly globe-trotting to events in the United States, Europe and Asia.
The arrest of Gauteng Scorpions boss Gerrie Nel is a witch-hunt to protect police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi, said the Democratic Alliance on Wednesday. ”The axing of Vusi Pikoli and now Gerrie Nel has all the appearance of a witch-hunt to protect Selebi,” said DA spokesperson on Safety and Security Dianne Kohler Barnard.
At least 50% of medical drugs are out of stock in Zimbabwe’s pharmacies because of critical shortages of foreign currency, making life harder for struggling Zimbabweans, it emerged on this week. The few available drugs have shot up in price, putting them well out of the reach of most white-collar workers.