Andrew Jordaan, the man accused of murdering seven-year-old Sheldean Human, appeared briefly in the Pretoria Regional Court on Wednesday, where his case was transferred to the Pretoria High Court for trial. His trial at the high court will start on August 2. Along with the murder charge, Jordaan now faces charges of kidnapping, rape and possession of dagga.
The South African financial system, based on an analysis of various indicators, was assessed as sound during the six months to December and overall confidence in the financial-services sector remains high, the South African Reserve Bank said on Wednesday. In emerging-market economies, financial markets continued their strong performance in 2007.
Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe ”does not lose sleep” over threats by some Western universities to strip him of honorary degrees for rights abuses allegedly committed by this government, his spokesperson was quoted as saying on Wednesday. Mugabe already has seven degrees earned through his own efforts, the spokesperson said.
South Africa’s Harmony Gold posted a 31,8% rise in third-quarter headline earnings per share to 58 cents on Wednesday, on a stronger gold price, better grades and cost controls. Harmony, the world’s fifth-biggest gold producer, said it achieved the growth despite lower production in the quarter to end-March, while non-operational earnings boosted its profit.
Starting on Wednesday, businesses in 30 towns and cities across South Africa will be checked for tax compliance and briefed on the government’s tax amnesty, the South African Revenue Service (Sars) said. Spokesperson Adrian Lackay said about 10Â 000 Sars officials and police officers will check if enterprises are on the business register, and inform them of the tax amnesty.
The JSE was higher at noon trade on Wednesday as investors piled back in following solid gains in European markets while a recovery in copper prices underpinned gains in resources heavyweights. At noon, the all-share index was up 0,65%. Resources also gained 0,55% while gold- and platinum-mining indices gave up 0,16% and 0,23% respectively.
The United Nations Children’s Fund on Wednesday marked Africa Malaria Day by calling for greater efforts to combat the preventable disease, which claims more than a million lives every year, most of them children under five. Funding boosts have also been announced in Angola and by the Islamic Development Bank.
When Malians queue to cast ballots in presidential elections on Sunday, they will be participating in a poll with a difference: for the first time ever, a woman will be among the candidates. Sidibé Aminata Diallo is representing the Movement for Environmental Education and Sustainable Development.
French presidential rivals Nicolas Sarkozy and Ségolène Royal waited anxiously on Wednesday for a defeated centrist candidate, whose votes could tip next week’s run-off ballot, to reveal his intentions. Francois Bayrou has come under intense pressure to throw the weight of his seven million voters behind either Sarkozy or Royal.
Alan Ball, one of England’s 1966 World Cup winners, has died of a heart attack at the age of 61, United Kingdom media reported on Wednesday. The former Everton, Arsenal and Southampton midfielder won 72 caps for his country, scoring eight goals, before moving into management.