While all is calm in the Springbok camp, England have endured another fraught week of preparation for the second Test against South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday. The mysterious stomach virus that struck the tourists shortly after their arrival two weeks ago continues to dog the squad and two more players have been flown in.
A 33-year-old nurse charged with murdering her husband was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment by the Rustenburg High Court on Thursday. Judge Ronnie Hendricks found Kealeboga Shuping guilty of murder and arson. Her husband, Ernest Shuping, died in hospital of burns inflicted at their home in Geelhout Park, Rustenburg, in May 2004.
A 38-year-old businessman was arrested in Durban on Thursday for allegedly failing to pay R43-million in value-added tax (VAT) to the South African Revenue Service (Sars). Properties, cash in bank accounts and vehicles in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng — valued at R90 million — were seized in dawn raids.
Unions on Thursday rejected the minister of public service and administration’s announcement of a breakthrough in negotiations and that a 6,5% salary increase was on the table. Representatives of 16 unions that plan to strike on Friday told a press conference that there was no such offer.
A robot is to be deployed as a security guard at a South Korean school in what its creators claim is a world first, the <i>Korea Times</i> reported on Thursday. The robot, dubbed Ofro, will be posted at a Seoul middle school to test its potential before going on sale.
A suicide bomber killed at least 20 people and wounded another 20 in the Iraqi city of Fallujah on Thursday, police and hospital officials said. Fallujah police spokesperson Hamid Abid said the bomber, wearing a suicide explosives vest, walked up to a queue of about 150 young men at a police recruitment centre and blew himself up.
England midfielder Owen Hargreaves will join Manchester United from Bayern Munich on July 1, the English Premiership champions said on Thursday. The Old Trafford club confirmed a deal has been reached with the German giants for the 25-year-old, who United have been chasing since last year’s World Cup in Germany.
Two more United States soldiers have been killed in Iraq, the military announced on Thursday, confirming that May had become the deadliest month for American forces in two-and-a-half years. Meanwhile, the hunt was continuing for five Britons who were snatched at gunpoint from a Finance Ministry building in the capital earlier this week.
South Africa could have at least ten more nuclear power stations within two decades if Eskom has its way, according to the utility’s chief executive, Jacob Maroga. He told journalists at a briefing in Cape Town on Thursday that in the face of global warming, nuclear power was the ”next big viable alternative” to coal.
The world’s richest nations need to show greater commitment towards Africa, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Thursday, amid concern that pledges on aid and development were falling short. Ahead of the forthcoming Group of Eight summit, Blair said it was still possible to effect ”real transformation change” in the years ahead.