South Africa recorded a deficit of R7,746-billion for its trade with non-Southern African Customs Union trading partners in July after a deficit of R4,219-billion in June and a shock deficit of R7,005-billion in May, according to customs and excise figures released on Thursday.
Thursday saw the long-awaited launch of South Africa’s second national operator — to be known as Neotel — at a function in Kyalami, north of Johannesburg, that featured violinists, African dance and a mime artist. Neotel MD Pandey outlined the company’s planned roll-out of telecommunication services.
A Jozi FM DJ has been shot dead in an attempted robbery in Dube Village, Soweto police said on Thursday. Superintendent Thembi Nkhwashu said Jabulani Mlangeni (27) was walking along Mncube Drive with a friend on Wednesday night when they were approached by two armed, unknown men.
As a character, he has been rocketing across our screens for half a century, but few remember that the original Superman, George Reeves, died in mysterious circumstances in the bedroom of his Hollywood Hills home at the height of his fame in 1959.
Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana on Thursday blasted a report by the Public Service Commission, saying it was ”misleading the public” by not disclosing that he had demanded performance assessments from his top management. He said that if urgent action is needed he is prepared to do it.
Two women died and one was seriously injured when a fire broke out in a building housing the offices of a security company in Durban on Thursday. ER24 spokesperson Neil Noble said three people were injured in the blaze that swept through the top floor of the one-storey building.
Hurricane John punished Mexican ports and beaches with huge sea surges, heavy rains and strong winds on Thursday morning as the powerful storm swirled in the Pacific Ocean off the coast. The dangerous category three hurricane may dump up to 0,2m of rain, causing landslides or flooding and had maximum sustained winds approaching 205kph.
Israeli troops killed a top militant commander in the West Bank on Thursday, while Palestinian fighters in Gaza renewed rocket attacks that had largely stopped during Israel’s Lebanon war. While a truce has halted fighting between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, violence between the Jewish state and Palestinian militants shows no sign of subsiding.
Internet service providers in Zimbabwe have warned they will be driven out of business if the government goes ahead with proposed bugging laws that will necessitate the purchase of expensive surveillance equipment, reports said on Thursday.
Cricket Australia’s umpire selection chairperson is reportedly prepared to offer Darrell Hair a career lifeline if he is dropped from cricket’s elite panel over the Pakistan Test forfeit row. The Sydney Morning Herald said Mel Johnson could offer Hair a place on Cricket Australia’s international panel.