Hundreds of newborns are reportedly dying every year at Frere Hospital’s overburdened maternity section in East London — many because of negligence, a media report said on Thursday. The situation is so bad that a cleaner delivered a baby in front of shocked students, it said.
A court on Thursday denied parental rights to the father of a girl who became a symbol of Mozambican hope after being born in a tree during the devastating floods of 2000. The Chibuto District Court ruled that her father, Salvador Mabuiango, had cheated her by selling off goods donated to her after her birth.
Najwa Petersen was refused bail by the Cape Town Regional Court on Thursday because her history of suicide attempts showed she was a danger to herself. She is to go on trial in February with Abdoer Emjedi, Waheed Hassen and Jefferson Snyders, charged with the murder of Petersen’s husband, internationally known entertainer Taliep.
Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu handed over 10 houses at an ”innovation hub” in Soshanguve, Pretoria on Thursday. The project will afford people who have new innovations the opportunity to have their materials tested and, if approved, the materials are used to build dwellings.
South African gold output rose by 1,3% year-on-year in May, the first increase in in nine months, while overall mining production rose by 0,8%, official data showed on Thursday. Gold output in South Africa, the world’s largest producer, showed an increase in volume terms for the first time since August 2006.
Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took six wickets as Bangladesh were bowled out for 131 on the second morning of the third and final Test on Thursday. The start of play was delayed by rain but Sri Lanka still had time to finish off the Bangladesh innings, which resumed on 72 for four.
South Africa’s Finance Ministry was disappointed by the European Union’s nomination of a candidate for the top job at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) without broader consultation, a spokesperson said on Thursday. The EU said on Tuesday its finance ministers had agreed to support former French finance minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn to head the IMF.
South African technology firm Dimension Data has agreed to sell 60% of its Britehouse Group IT consulting and services business to black investors. Didata said on Thursday it had won approval to sell the stake to a consortium comprising black empowerment groups Convergence Partners Investments and Safika Holdings, and investment firm VenFin.
Amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius, known as the world’s ”fastest man on no legs”, is understandably nervous ahead of his first race abroad against able-bodied athletes, due to take place in Rome on Friday. But how he races, scientifically speaking, could be far more important than who crosses the finish line first.
Zimbabwe has sent crack police to enforce price freezes in the rural strongholds of President Robert Mugabe, where businesses have failed to heed measures aimed at reining in inflation. Mugabe’s government, grappling with inflation of 4Â 500%, ordered businesses last month to roll back and freeze prices.