A woman who allegedly sent rude SMSs to politician Patricia de Lille — and then refused to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court — was sent for psychiatric observation on Thursday. Lara Johnstone (40) is charged with crimen injuria, and prosecuting authorities are yet to decide whether to add intimidation to the charges.
Tiger Woods got his quest for a hat-trick of Open Championship wins off to a solid start on Thursday, carding a two-under 69 in the first round. The world number one looked comfortable despite the early morning chill and damp that saw him keep a light jacket on for the front nine and pull on thick gloves between shots to keep his hands dry and warm.
Sunni lawmakers ended their five-week boycott of Parliament on Thursday, raising hopes the factious Assembly can make progress on benchmark legislation demanded by Washington. Meanwhile, the United States announced that two American soldiers have been charged with killing an Iraqi.
July is the month most South African employees take sick leave due to influenza, a study released on Thursday showed. The study of 7 000 employees by Corporate Absenteeism Management Solutions shows that flu absenteeism hits companies the hardest in the winter months of May, June and July.
Russia announced on Thursday the expulsion of four British diplomats, a visa ban on British officials and the suspension of counter-terrorism cooperation amid a mounting diplomatic row. ”The British ambassador has been officially notified that four British embassy employees have been declared persona non grata,” a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.
Zimbabwe has scrapped a scheme allowing fuel purchases with foreign currency, removing one of the few remaining ways for people to acquire petrol in a country struggling with a crumbling economy. The facility is also used by foreign diplomats and officials working for international aid organisations.
A member of one of Hong Kong’s most exclusive golf clubs is suing a fellow player after a stray ball hit him on the head. Alan Deakins has filed a High Court writ claiming he was "struck on the head by a golf ball whilst… walking up the 13th fairway", the <i>South China Morning Post</i> reported on Thursday.
Bulgaria asked Libya on Thursday to allow it to take custody of six foreign medics jailed for infecting hundreds of children with HIV after Tripoli commuted their death sentences to life imprisonment. After intensive diplomatic talks and payment of hundreds of millions of dollars to the families of 460 HIV victims, Libya commuted the verdicts on Tuesday.
The substance that Zaphanias Mathe, father of prisoner Annanias Mathe, tried to smuggle to his son was not lethal, the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court heard on Thursday. The 80-year-old Mathe appeared in court on Thursday only to hear that his case was postponed to July 30.
The tiny Southern African kingdom of Lesotho has declared a state of emergency over worsening food shortages caused by a drought that is threatening the food supplies of hundreds of thousands of citizens. More than 400Â 000 people are predicted to be in need of relief supplies by the end of the year.