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/ 17 October 2007
South Africa’s Northam Platinum said on Wednesday it expected to lose about 1 000 ounces per day of output after shutting its mine early on Tuesday when a worker was killed in a rockfall. The mine — the world’s deepest platinum mine — produces about 325 000 PGM ounces of platinum a year.
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/ 17 October 2007
The Home Affairs Department’s refugee office in Cape Town was a ”chaotic” place at which refugees were treated like animals, a parliamentary committee said on Wednesday. The MPs, on an unannounced visit, also discovered that refugees were being illegally detained by officials.
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/ 17 October 2007
Up to 60 Somali intelligence officers stormed a United Nations compound in Mogadishu on Wednesday and seized the World Food Programme’s local chief of operations at gunpoint. WFP said it was forced to suspend food distribution, which started on Monday, to more than 75 000 people in the capital Mogadishu.
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/ 17 October 2007
There has been an ”alarming” increase over the past year in the deadly dust disease silicosis among workers on South Africa’s gold and platinum mines, MPs heard on Wednesday. Mine doctors submitted 1 031 cases of silicosis to the Medical Bureau of Occupational Diseases in 2005.
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/ 17 October 2007
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Churches should encourage a diversity of opinions and frank debate in the run-up up to the African National Congress’s election of its new leadership in December, the South African Council of Churches (SACC) said on Wednesday. ”Processes relating to elections are critical for the strength of democracy in our country,” said the SACC.
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/ 17 October 2007
Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto said she would return to Pakistan on Thursday to end eight years of self-exile and lead her party into national elections despite threats of al-Qaeda inspired suicide attacks. Despite being out of power since 1996, the charismatic Bhutto (54) remains one of the most recognisable women politicians in the world.
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/ 17 October 2007
President George Bush hosted the Dalai Lama on Tuesday despite China’s warning that US plans to honour the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader could damage relations between Beijing and Washington. Beijing has bitterly denounced plans for the Dalai Lama to receive the Congressional Gold Medal on Wednesday.
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/ 17 October 2007
South Africa has been voted the best and most interesting African travel destination in an annual Dutch online travel survey, SA Tourism said on Wednesday. ”We know that the Dutch are enthusiastic safari-goers and that they also enjoy nature and outdoor activities,” said Annemarie Ferns, SA Tourism’s country manager in The Netherlands.
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/ 17 October 2007
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South Africa flanker Schalk Burger is relishing the thought of a forward battle against England when the two teams meet in the World Cup final on Saturday. Both the Springboks and the English have progressed through their respective pool games and knock-out phase on the back of dominant performances by their packs and Burger cannot wait for the challenge.
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/ 17 October 2007
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Springbok coach Jake White is on the verge of emulating compatriot Kitch Christie in winning the Rugby World Cup, but he admits victory will have been against the odds in what he believes is the toughest job in rugby. Just under a year ago, the 43-year-old was in danger of the sack after being recalled during the Springboks’ northern hemisphere tour.