On a political and sentimental tour of the continent of his father, American Senator Barack Obama paid tribute on Wednesday to South Africans’ fight for freedom, saying they taught lessons to the world and helped inspire his own political career. Obama, the only black lawmaker currently in the United States Senate, toured Soweto.
Twenty-five striking cleaners were arrested at a Pretoria railway station after forcibly undressing a woman who was on her way home on Wednesday, police said. Inspector Anton Breedt said the striking cleaners were at Rissik station at about 2pm when the woman — apparently not a cleaner — arrived to take the train home.
Islamists controlling much of southern Somalia on Wednesday reopened the capital’s main seaport that was closed 11 years ago at the height of unrest and chaos in the lawless nation. In their latest move to assert authority and restore order to Mogadishu, the Islamists declared the Indian Ocean port open for business.
Dutch police arrested 12 passengers on a United States Northwest Airlines plane bound for India that was forced to turn back to Amsterdam’s Schipol airport on Wednesday, media reported. The report quoted a police spokesperson as saying 12 were arrested, but declined to give further details due to the ongoing investigation.
Former LeisureNet boss Peter Gardener on Wednesday maintained steadfastly that it never crossed his mind to declare his interest in a multimillion-rand deal he negotiated on behalf of his company. Gardener was being cross-examined for the third day in succession in the Cape High Court.
Women working for the University of South Africa (Unisa) will receive about 20% less in medical-benefit payouts on retirement than their male colleagues, trade union Solidarity said on Wednesday. Jaco Kleynhans, spokesperson for Solidarity, accused Unisa of blatant gender discrimination.
South Africa’s economic capital is drawing up a plan to make foreigners feel more welcome, including providing them with better housing and health care, Johannesburg Mayor Amos Masondo said on Tuesday. South Africa has faced growing criticism that it is unfriendly towards outsiders and that they are often the victims of police abuse and official indifference.
A striking Shoprite employee has appeared in court after he and other strikers allegedly intimidated a 30-year-old woman in Butterworth, Eastern Cape police said on Wednesday. Captain Jackson Manatha said Zukisani Mboxwana made a brief appearance at the Butterworth Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Almost 300 people had to be evacuated from Riverville in Riversdale in the Southern Cape on Wednesday after persistent rain in the area, police said. Captain Malcolm Pojip said 285 people had to be evacuated from their homes, while five families have also been evacuated from an informal settlement near Klein Brak River.
Pakistan tour manager Zaheer Abbas confirmed on Wednesday the team’s upcoming one-day series against England will go ahead after a disciplinary hearing involving captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was postponed. Inzamam faces charges of ball-tampering and bringing cricket into disrepute.