African National Congress (ANC) succession battles are unlikely to be a feature of President Thabo Mbeki’s imbizo (meeting) in the Ladysmith this weekend, according to local party bosses and analysts. Mbeki’s visit will be the first presidential imbizo in the province since allegations that certain ANC members were trying to make the province a no-go area for Mbeki.
Pakistan’s Younis Khan and Faisal Iqbal shared a big stand to hold up South Africa’s push for victory in the first Test after Jacques Kallis hit his second century of the match on the fourth day on Thursday. Younis (93 not out) and Faisal (44) put on 114 for the third wicket after Pakistan lost their openers quickly.
As the Democratic Alliance (DA) took steps to obtain copies of the alleged warrants of arrest for police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi on Thursday, the Freedom Front Plus renewed its call for the police chief’s suspension. The DA has lodged an application to obtain copies of the warrants allegedly issued for Selebi, DA parliamentary leader Sandra Botha said.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has tabled a private member’s Bill seeking to expunge from the record crimes committed during the apartheid era that would not be crimes today. The inspiration for the measure came to him from two constituents, DA correctional services spokesperson James Selfe said in a statement on Thursday.
A Border schoolboy rugby player has allegedly tested positive for a banned substance, Dispatch Online reported on Thursday. The 17-year-old Stirling High matric pupil allegedly failed the test that was taken at the Under-18 Craven Week in Stellenbosch in July.
Harmony Gold’s Elandsrand mine near Carletonville has been shut down for up to six weeks after the mine’s main exit was blocked, trapping 3 200 miners underground, the Minerals and Energy Department said on Thursday. About 800 miners remained trapped more than 2,2km underground by 4pm on Thursday.
A man accused of holding several staff members of the Pretoria News hostage was on Thursday declared fit to stand trial. A report by the Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital was handed up at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court, stating 33-year-old Lionel George from Danville would understand the court proceedings and was able to contribute meaningfully to his defence.
Police were not patrolling the Wits campus on Thursday, a student said after his lectures were disrupted by protesters. Suyash Maharaj was forced out of his class when hundreds of protesting students barged into his Actuarial Science lecture. ”We looked for police protection, because these protesters looked like they could have easily hurt us,” Maharaj said.
The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) says it stands by its statement on South African Broadcasting Corporation board deputy chairperson Christine Qunta and on Thursday laid complaints against her and the company Comforters Healing Gift. On Wednesday, Qunta’s legal representatives demanded the TAC stop publishing defamatory material about her.
The use of lethal injections in the United States has led to at least nine bungled executions, including one in which the prisoner took 69 minutes to die and another in which the condemned man complained five times: ”It don’t work,” a report by Amnesty International said on Thursday.