Torture is common in Egyptian police stations and prisons and three victims have died so far this year, the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights said on Wednesday. A report released by the organisation documented hundreds of cases of torture and ill treatment by the authorities from 1993 to July 2007 through eyewitness accounts, complaints from family members and police records.
South Africa would not set up camps to deal with Zimbabwean refugees crossing the border into the country, the South African Cabinet decided on Wednesday. Speaking at a press conference following the Cabinet meeting, government spokesperson Themba Maseko said South Africa’s hopes rested on the mediation of President Thabo Mbeki.
An indaba to discuss inflation and lack of transparency in the private healthcare industry will be convened next month, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Wednesday. The planned indaba will come after the Department of Health held a meeting with about 50 private healthcare industry stakeholders in Pretoria on Wednesday.
The South African Cabinet on Wednesday approved the settlement reached with the Richtersveld community on their land claim against Alexkor and the state for land situated in Alexander Bay. The Deed of Settlement, which concludes a protracted court case in which billions of rands were claimed from the state, was signed in April, said government spokesperson Themba Maseko.
An Iranian minister said he believed the United States had dropped the idea of attacking Iran but wanted to topple its leadership through what he called a ”soft revolution”. Intelligence Minister Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, a cleric, said Iran’s enemies had waged ”psychological warfare” to prepare for military action against the Islamic Republic.
The South African Cabinet has effectively vetoed the Soweto monorail project announced by the Gauteng government in May this year. There were major shortcomings in the process leading to the announcement of the project, government spokesperson Themba Maseko told journalists in Pretoria and Cape Town on Wednesday.
A British woman has had her stereo confiscated after neighbours complained about her blasting out Dolly Parton hits at top volume around the clock. Diane Duffin reportedly made life a misery for people living near her in the Armley area of Leeds, northern England, by playing country and western hits at all hours of the day and night.
Pakistan on Wednesday changed venues for two of its one-day international cricket matches against South Africa ahead of a tour next month, officials said. The Pakistan Cricket Board cited a lack of cricket facilities in Peshawar and Rawalpindi as reasons for the change, but sources inside the governing body said the fragile security situation in both cities was the main reason.
One of the Boeremag accused applied on Wednesday for his discharge on 33 of the charges against him, saying there was no evidence linking him to crimes committed while he was in jail. Mike du Toit (47) and 20 co-accused denied guilt four years ago on 42 charges.
Charges of stock theft may be brought against those who slaughtered pigs — or stole them — at an accident scene, the King William’s Town Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said on Wednesday. SPCA spokesperson Annette Rademeyer said the police and the Independent Complaints Directorate had taken statements from SPCA staff.