South Africa’s would-be president and a group of lawmakers appear in court on the same day next week, as two of the most potentially damaging trials of the post-apartheid era put the spotlight on corruption. Some South Africans say the trials underscore the commitment of President Thabo Mbeki to stamp out corruption dogging every level of his government.
Tour de France winner Floyd Landis has tested positive for the male sex hormone testosterone, the United States rider’s Phonak team said on Thursday. Landis produced a remarkable effort a week ago to win the 17th stage of cycling’s showpiece event following a disastrous 16th stage in which he dropped from first to 11th place.
Charges of breaking the Boland Ruby Union’s constitution will be laid after the death of a player in a club match in June, the union’s lawyer confirmed on Thursday. ”We hope to serve the charges by Friday next week,” said Chris Faure. He declined to say how many people would be charged, or what the specifics of the charges were.
Muttiah Muralitharan and Dilhara Fernando combined to bowl out South Africa for 169, their lowest total against Sri Lanka, on the opening day of the first cricket Test on Thursday. The pace-spin duo claimed four wickets each as the depleted South Africans were shot out at the stroke of tea on an even-paced wicket at the Sinhalese Sports Club.
Malawi’s former president Bakili Muluzi was arrested on Thursday on fraud and corruption charges amid questions about millions of dollars in donor funds that allegedly ended up in his personal account. A team from the state Anti-Corruption Bureau took Muluzi to their office in the commercial capital, Blantyre, for over an hour of questioning before releasing him, his lawyers said.
World Trade Organisation (WTO) nations on Thursday endorsed suspension of free-trade negotiations after they collapsed on Monday, diplomats and trade officials said. Several countries attacked the so-called Group of Six of leading trading powers for refusing concessions to open the way for a treaty.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is investigating 400 000 people who might be fraudulently receiving social grants and pensions from the government, SIU head Willie Hofmeyr said on Thursday. He said the first phase of the probe, which started last year, focused on government employees. The unit will now start to look at private individuals.
Torrential rains from Typhoon Kaemi left more than 80 people dead or missing in China on Thursday, with a military barracks swept away, thousands of homes destroyed and rivers bursting their banks. Six people were confirmed killed and another 38 soldiers and their relatives were missing after floods destroyed the military barracks in the eastern province of Jiangxi.
The time for procrastination is over for entities that provide credit to consumers, the National Credit Regulator (NCR) said on Thursday. Speaking at a presentation on Wednesday, Gabriel Davel, CEO of the NCR, explained that credit providers such as banks, retailers and pawn shops have until Friday July 28 2006 to register with the industry watchdog.
M&G Media, which publishes the Mail & Guardian, on Thursday announced that it has expanded the portfolio of its magazine publications by acquiring ownership of two key titles from Traders Publications: Traders and the Health Care Journal. The effective date of the transaction is August 1 this year.