The growing unhappiness about the ”buy South Africa campaign”, run by Proudly South Africa (PSA), has led to the formation of a new initiative, South Africa First (SA First). Although the PSA, supported by labour and organised black business groups, believes the SA First initiative will cause confusion in the market, the government has thrown its weight behind the project
As the bell summons delegates to the Polokwane rendezvous, is the ANC inspiring confidence as a leader capable of taking the country into a new age? This question assumes currency not only because we are dealing with South Africa’s strongest political party. Supporter, critic and opponent alike concur that, historically, by ably advancing the synthesis of a common humanity, the ANC has been the glue that has held this country together.
As any veteran of African National Congress conferences will tell you: delegates tend to back the leading horse. So, perceptions of which candidate has a nose in front when December comes are going to be crucial to the outcome of the leadership race.
Massive flooding in south-eastern Sudan could lead to the outbreak of water-borne diseases such as cholera, health authorities are warning. Sudan has been experiencing some of the worst floods in its history, with 3,5-million people affected and at risk of disease, the UN says. In Saraf Saeed three of the village’s five natural wells have been contaminated by flood waters in recent weeks.
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Renegade troops killed several regular army troops and wounded 30 others in five hours of heavy fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) eastern Nord-Kivu province early on Thursday, military and United Nations officials said. Soldiers serving General Laurent Nkunda attacked an army post, killed an undisclosed number and wounded 30 at Katale.
After meting out a severe tongue-lashing over the behaviour of the state attorney and director general of justice’s offices on Thursday, the Constitutional Court said it wanted to issue an order making them accountable for their work. ”I have a deep intolerance for state officials who are paid to do their work and don’t do it,” said Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke.
Johannesburg Hospital closed seven theatres in July but is treating the same number of cases with a focus on complex medical care, the hospital’s CEO said on Thursday. ”The allegations that cases are being cancelled are not true for the tertiary cases. What is true is that those cases which are inappropriate are being referred elsewhere,” said Sagie Pillay.
The Chamber of Mines signed an agreement on Thursday with three unions over wages in the coal-mining sector. The chamber’s negotiator in the coal sector, Eric Nwedo, said the agreement would increase wages of higher-paid workers by between 7,5% and 8,5%. Lower-paid employees would get a 10% increase.
The Independent Democrats (ID) won another round in the floor-crossing battle on Thursday when the Cape High Court refused to overturn the expulsion from the party of Cape Town city councillor Achmat Williams. Deputy Judge President Jeanette Traverso also rejected Williams’s bid to delay his appeal hearing against the expulsion.