Pirates are operating freely in waters off Somalia, an international maritime watchdog warned on Wednesday, calling for immediate assistance from the world’s naval forces. ”We are appealing for urgent intervention by international navies …,” Pottengal Mukundan, the London-based director of the International Maritime Bureau, said.
The Zimbabwe government’s plan to change the Constitution ahead of 2008 elections undermines efforts to broker an end to political turmoil in the African nation, the country’s main opposition leader said on Wednesday. President Robert Mugabe’s government has proposed a Bill that would pave the way for joint presidential and parliamentary polls.
Injuries to Fourie du Preez and Ricky Januarie mean Sharks scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar will start for the first time in the number nine jersey when South Africa host Australia in the Tri-Nations opener at Newlands on Saturday. In all there are 11 changes to the Springbok team that ran out against Samoa last weekend.
One of the world’s top fossil hunters unveiled a previously unknown gigantic, chicken-like dinosaur on Wednesday that may change evolutionary theory on prehistoric animals. The remains of the animal, thought to have weighed 1Â 400kg, was discovered in a freak find by Xing Xu in the Erlian basin in Inner Mongolia.
A high crime rate, unreliable electricity supply and inflexible labour laws saw South Africa drop six places over two years on a global economic competitiveness barometer released on Wednesday. Ranked 46th overall out of 128 countries measured, South Africa was the second-best performer on the continent.
Africa will have to find its own way and develop its own growth agenda, which will not be either the Indian or Chinese way of forging economic development, Mvelaphanda Holdings executive chairperson Tokyo Sexwale argued on Wednesday at a World Economic Forum media briefing at the start of the forum conversation on Africa.
Telecommunications could become cheaper from August this year following a proposal by Telkom to reduce prices, acting chief executive Reuben September said on Wednesday. ”The proposed price reductions will not only ensure more savings for our existing customers but will also attract new entrants to the broadband experience,” he said.
Most South Africans — 79% — are against the proposed legalisation of prostitution in the country for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, a survey by African Response has found. The survey included a sample of 400 respondents from the major metropolitan areas of Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. The participants were interviewed face to face.
Transnet pensioners and their beneficiaries will receive bonuses totalling R125-million at the end of July, Transnet group chief executive Maria Ramos announced on Wednesday. The bonus will be paid and funded solely from Transnet’s resources.
A pressure group has threatened to bring a class action against the government and the wine industry over the issue of alcohol abuse among farm workers. The Black Association of the Wine and Spirits Industry called on Wednesday for the establishment of an industry fund to change people’s attitudes towards drinking, and to set up an institution to treat alcoholics.