The Labour Court was expected to rule on Thursday on whether police, prisons and traffic officers could join a three-week public-sector strike. The Labour Court issued an interim interdict last Friday prohibiting members of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union from taking part in the industrial action.
South Africa’s current account deficit narrowed to 7% of gross domestic product in the first quarter as lower oil imports offset a fall in mine exports to narrow the trade deficit, the central bank said on Thursday. The shortfall compared with a 7,8% deficit in the fourth quarter of 2006 and 5,7% in the third quarter.
Families of foreign medics sentenced to death for infecting Libyan children with the virus that causes Aids urged European Union leaders in Brussels on Thursday to help clinch a deal. Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor were convicted in December of deliberately infecting 426 children.
South Africa’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is to lead an African Union (AU) fact-finding team to the Comoros after elections in the rebel Anjouan island. An AU ministerial committee has rejected the outcome of the Anjouan poll.
Workers in the quiet Japanese fishing village of Wada carved up two whales on Thursday, signalling the start of the summer whaling season despite international protests. Japan, which says whaling is a cherished cultural tradition, began scientific research whaling in 1987.
The JSE was higher at noon on Thursday, shrugging off a negative tone on overseas markets as investors piled in ahead of a futures close-out later in the day. However, traders said the local bourse was expected to follow overseas markets weaker after the close-out, which started at 12pm.
Springbok skipper Victor Matfield is to play for French second division side Toulon next season, L’Equipe sports daily reported on Thursday. The 30-year-old lock will join the Mediterranean coast team on a one-year contract after the World Cup in France.
Former Australian Test rugby star David Campese wasn’t able to ”goose step” this obstacle. Campese, who scored 64 Test tries and played in 101 Tests for Australia, has been an outspoken critic of his national team since he retired in 1996. Now it appears as if Campese has been shunned by the current Wallabies.
Juan Roman Riquelme scored two second-half goals as Boca Juniors beat Gremio 2-0 away on Wednesday to win the South American Libertadores Cup. Riquelme, playing the final match of his spell on loan from Spain’s Villareal, took his tally to eight goals as the Argentines completed a 5-0 aggregate win over their Brazilian opponents in the two-leg final.
Barcelona’s soccer superstar Ronaldinho helped his side to a 2-1 victory over South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns at a packed Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Wednesday night. The visitors were trailing 1-0 for most of the exhibition match, raising the hopes of the 45 000-strong crowd.