The main faction of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change launched an investigation on Wednesday into a brutal attack on a prominent lawmaker in a rival opposition faction. The leader of the MDC’s main faction, Morgan Tsvangirai, appointed a panel of lawyers and human rights experts to investigate the attack on Trudy Stevenson.
The justice system is failing children because an important Bill that will protect the rights of children has virtually disappeared since 2003. This emerged on Wednesday at the Reducing Exploitative Child Labour in South Africa conference in Boksburg. ”The Child Justice Bill was the product of four years of work,” said Jacqui Gallinetti of the University of the Western Cape.
Images of the terrorist attacks on September 11 in the United States flashed through the minds of police when they heard of an attempted hijacking of a South African Airways (SAA) flight on June 17, the investigating officer testified in Cape Town on Wednesday. ”At the airport everybody was emotional and worried,” said Superintendent Lungisile Manyana.
Japanese company Bridgestone will exclusively supply tyres for the Formula One world championship from 2008 to 2010, world motor sport’s governing body the FIA said on Wednesday. Bridgestone had been the favourites to win the deal since French tyre manufacturer Michelin refused to participate after FIA asked for offers.
Australia’s Robbie McEwen of Davitamon won the fourth stage of the Tour de France, held over 207km between Huy in Belgium and Saint Quentin, France, on Wednesday. Belgian Tom Boonen of Quick Step retained the race-leader’s yellow jersey ahead of Thursday’s 225km stage from Beauvais to Caen.
The South African Trade and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) will investigate the leaking of a memo on its R3-million debt, believing this is linked to its forthcoming elections, Satawu said on Wednesday. ”We have no doubt that this memo was leaked deliberately,” a statement from the union read. ”It was never intended for media or even public consumption.”
In just three years, Johannesburg’s shiny Nelson Mandela Bridge has gone from being a symbol of the city’s upliftment to a vandalised, shabby hangout for criminals. ”It’s no longer heavenly and the essence of it is no longer so. It’s sad,” said Penelope Motubatse, who uses the bridge almost every day.
A barrage of criticism burst forth after the South African Broadcasting Corporation was accused of operating a politically motivated ”blacklist” to exclude controversial commentators. But there’s a need to get beyond knee-jerk responses and still-to-be-tested allegations.
Large tracts of India’s western financial hub of Mumbai were under water on Wednesday as the weather bureau warned further heavy rains were on the way and the death toll from the monsoon deluge rose to nine. The deaths brought to at least 234 the number who have been killed across India since the arrival of the monsoon in May.
The ”recklessness” with which some South African lose their identity documents (IDs) is a concern, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba said on Wednesday. ”Some people in South Africa have been applying for an ID five times a year,” Gigaba said.