A corruption scandal is rattling Nigeria’s navy after officials revealed that two vice-admirals and eight officers now retired are suspected of having been involved in contraband petrol trafficking in the oil-rich Niger Delta. Contraband petrol represents a huge loss for Africa’s biggest oil-producing country.
President Laurent Gbagbo will on Monday be in Bouake, the headquarters of the former rebel New Forces, for the first time since a 2002 uprising aimed at toppling him divided Côte d’Ivoire in half. It was from Bouake that the northern half of this West African country was controlled by rebels for nearly five years.
People who take the law into their own hands will have to face the consequences, Western Cape minister of community safety Leonard Ramatlakane warned on Saturday. ”The government has proven it will not tolerate lawlessness. There have been a number of arrests related to recent vigilante activity,” he said.
Bekkersdal community leaders were urged by Gauteng housing minister Nomvula Mokonyane on Saturday to support the government’s planned relocation of 14 000 families from the informal settlement. Eighty percent of Bekkersdal residents will be relocated.
The City of Cape Town’s major storms and flooding plan has been stepped up, authorities said on Saturday after a massive cold front brought heavy rain to Cape Town and surrounding areas on Thursday night, followed by a second, weaker cold front on Saturday. Unofficial reports indicated that more than 30Â 000 people may have been affected by the floods.
On a freezing cold and windy Saturday afternoon, the South-Western Districts Eagles managed to outplay the North West Leopards to beat them 27-21 at Outeniqua Park in George. In Kimberley, Griquas defeated the Boland Kavaliers 43-32, and Free State beat Western Province 45-13 in Bloemfontein.
The young Sharks earned their spurs in no uncertain manner at the Absa Stadium in Durban on Saturday evening. They attacked with gusto in a rousing first half and defended like demons in the second to secure a valuable bonus point in an emphatic, 29-10 Absa Currie Cup rugby victory over the Blue Bulls.
Sachin Tendulkar became only the third batsman in history to score 11 000 Test runs at Nottingham on Saturday as India kept the pressure on England at Trent Bridge. India, when bad light forced an early close to the second day of the second Test, were 254 for three — a lead of 56.
Alberto Contador of Spain all but locked up a Tour de France victory on Saturday by holding off his top rival in the final time trial, a day before the doping-marred race ends in Paris. Contador lost most of his lead, but still holds a 23-second advantage over Cadel Evans.
The South African wheelchair basketball team are on the brink of qualifying for the Paralympic Games in Beijing after advancing to the final of the qualifier on Saturday. Team Sasol beat Egypt 71-53 in their semifinal at the Omnisports Stadium in Rabat and will now clash with Morocco for the one Africa spot at the Paralympics.