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/ 5 December 2007

ANC race stirs economic concerns

South Africa’s economic boom looks set to persist but concerns linger over the direction of policy after the crucial African National Congress (ANC) conference, which seems likely to choose Jacob Zuma as the ruling party’s new leader. Economic growth jumped to 5,4% in 2006 — its fastest rate since 1981 — and wealth is spreading to a burgeoning black middle class.

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/ 5 December 2007

Kenya deaths fuel fears of bloody election campaign

Land clashes in Kenya’s fertile Rift Valley highlands have killed 16 people, uprooted hundreds and fuelled fears of a bloody campaign ahead of a December 27 election, police said on Wednesday. About 14-million Kenyans are eligible to vote in presidential and parliamentary elections in East Africa’s biggest economy but many are braced for violent skirmishes.

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/ 5 December 2007

Selebi’s friend guilty of drug dealing

Glenn Agliotti, once called the ”Landlord” and an associate of police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi, on Wednesday pleaded and was found guilty of dealing in drugs. He appeared in the Germiston Regional Court for a special plea and sentencing agreement. Agliotti is also accused of the murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble.

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/ 5 December 2007

Zille: Cape housing projects hampered by politics

Political interference, red tape and legislation are among the factors slowing the City of Cape Town’s housing projects, mayor Helen Zille said on Wednesday. Delivery of housing opportunities had been delayed and several causes of this identified, she told the last full council meeting of the year. A shortage of project managers in the housing department was a major factor.

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/ 5 December 2007

Murali magic downs valiant England in first Test

Muttiah Muralitharan bowled two magical deliveries when it mattered most to hand Sri Lanka an 88-run win over a fighting England in the first Test on Wednesday. The off-spinner, who became Test cricket’s most successful bowler in the first innings, got out Matt Prior and Ian Bell in the space of three deliveries with the second new ball to end England’s spirited challenge.

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/ 5 December 2007

Iranian president claims US report as a victory

Jubilant Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on Wednesday said the United States report confirming his country had abandoned its nuclear weapons programme was a ”declaration of victory”. ”This was a final shot to those who, in the past several years, spread a sense of threat and concern in the world through lies of nuclear weapons.” Ahmadinejad said.

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/ 5 December 2007

Manufacturing output quickens to 5,2%

South Africa’s manufacturing output recovered in October to grow an unadjusted 5,2% year-on-year in volume terms, after contracting 1,4% in September, official data showed on Wednesday. Compared with September, manufacturing production rose a seasonally-adjusted 7,2% in October, Statistics South Africa said.