The African National Congress’s (ANC) policy conference, which will play a key role in deciding whether President Thabo Mbeki leads the party for a third term, gets under way in Midrand on Wednesday. About 1 500 delegates are expected at the four-day meeting at Gallagher Estate.
Police said inmates used pancake batter and toothpaste to cover a hole they made to allow a female inmate to slide into the next cell and join a male inmate. Inmates removed a block from the wall after making a digging tool with a nail, a wire from a light fixture and a toothbrush.
Former Mangaung mayor Pappie Mokoena, his wife and other former senior municipal officials appeared on fraud charges in the Bloemfontein High Court on Tuesday. The matter concerns a Scorpions investigation at the Mangaung local municipality relating to alleged fraud amounting to R170-million.
A little-known organisation has taken offence to the Potchefstroom city council blaming ”racist anarchists” for the vandalisation of new street signs. The Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Federation said its reputation had been ”besmirched” by the remarks of council spokesperson Kaizer Mohau.
Retailers in inflation-ravaged Zimbabwe on Tuesday shunned a new government order to slash the prices of basic goods such as bread and sugar, arguing that such a move would drive them out of business. Industry and International Trade Minister Obert Mpofu said price cuts of up to 50% had been ordered overnight.
Severe cold and more snow is to hit large parts of the country later on Tuesday and Wednesday, the South African Weather Service has warned. It said temperatures will drop as low as minus nine degrees Celsius in places such as Sutherland in the Northern Cape. The town was blanketed in snow on Monday.
A regional chairperson of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa), Thabo Thakalekola, was on Monday night released from jail in Maseru on R1 000 bail, following his arrest last Friday by the Lesotho mounted police on charges of treason. Thakalekola is a freelance journalist and radio presenter.
Former world number one Marat Safin defeated South African Rik de Voest in straight sets on Tuesday to book a place in the second round at Wimbledon. The Russian number 26 seed won 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 7-5 in the first-round match on court 13 to secure a tie against Pakistan’s world number 279 Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi.
Wallabies players would be happy to kick the Springboks out of the Tri-Nations and instead play an extra Test against the All Blacks following South Africa’s decision to send an under-strength team on tour to Australia and New Zealand. Springbok coach Jake White will leave key players at home.
Sachin Tendulkar’s 99 was the centrepiece of India’s 242 for eight in the first one-day international against South Africa at Stormont here Tuesday. But India might have expected to finish with a higher total, having been 181 for two heading into the final 10 overs.