The stage is filled with a dim, blue light. Six figures, two women and four men, barefoot, all dressed in loose white shirts and trousers, sit motionless on chairs around the perimeter. One of the figures gets up and stands absolutely still to one side of the stage. As the music begins to play, he is gradually surrounded by a pool of light.
Zambian opposition leader Michael Sata appealed for calm on Monday after his supporters went on a rampage when presidential election results showed incumbent Levy Mwanwanasa on the verge of victory. Troop reinforcements were sent into slum areas of Lusaka on Sunday night after supporters of Sata’s Patriotic Front rioted and set fire to a police station, a supermarket and vehicles.
A group of would-be migrants tried to storm a razor wire fence separating Morocco from the Spanish enclave of Melilla on Monday, officials said. Interior Ministry officials gave no details as to how many people attempted to reach the enclave and would not confirm news reports that five Africans were injured.
All but one of 40 people feared to have drowned in torrential flooding in northern Nigeria’s Zamfara state have been found alive and well, officials said on Monday. The local residents were declared missing presumed dead after torrential rains caused a dam to burst on Saturday on the outskirts of the state capital Gusau, sweeping away 500 houses.
South African gold miner AngloGold Ashanti on Monday revealed details of its empowerment transaction with the National Union of Mineworkers, Solidarity, union Usas and Izingwe Holdings. The three unions and the company have agreed upon the architecture of an employee share ownership plan (Esop), to be called the Bokamoso Esop, or "harvesting for the future".
Israel’s recent bombardment of Lebanon was clearly visible with "the naked eye" from space, a Russian cosmonaut based at the time on the international space station said on Monday. "Of course it was visible. You know, all negative human activities, in particular military operations, are immediately visible from space," said cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov, during a press conference.
The mining, manufacturing, transport and finance industries were hardest hit by HIV/Aids, the South African Business Coalition of HIV/Aids said on Monday. Chief executive Brad Mears said while the mining, manufacturing and transport industries were directly affected, the financial sector suffered losses when people were unable to pay back loans and mortgages due to illness or death.
Alec Erwin, South Africa’s Minister of Public Enterprises, said the country would look to nuclear-generated power for the country’s future power needs. He said as the country sought to reduce dependance on coal-fuelled power stations, a viable base-load power source would be needed.
The JSE was mixed and moving sideways by midday on Monday, although traders were keeping a firm eye on resources counters, the rand, gold and the oil price for another potential push firmer. By 11.49am, the all-share index was up 0,32%, with resources leading the way. The resources index set the pace with a 1,10% gain, the gold index was 1,32% firmer while platinum was up by 1,34%.
The newly elected PAC president, Letlapa Mphahlele, ordered the 1993 attacks on Cape Town’s St James Church and Heidelberg Tavern. He speaks candidly, to the Mail & Guardian about his past and the embattled party’s future.