The labour ministry — reacting to a blast that injured 19 workers at a Sasol plant at Sasolburg on Tuesday — slammed employers who put profits before workers’ lives. Sasol spokesperson Andre Botha earlier said: ”Initially we reported that 13 people reported to the medical station for observation, but the number has now risen to 19.”
Roger Federer won his 26th Grand Slam match in a row on Tuesday as he defeated Croatian Mario Ancic 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to take a step closer to an expected final showdown with reigning champion Rafael Nadal. Federer was dominant against Ancic, who sought treatment for a shoulder problem.
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The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has welcomed a statement by the African National Congress, which denied that Jacob Zuma would be summoned to answer certain questions. ”We trust that this matter is now closed,” said Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven.
The number of workers injured in the explosion at a Sasol plant in Sasolburg on Tuesday has risen from 13 to 19, Sasol spokesperson Andre Botha said. ”Initially we reported that 13 people reported to the medical station for observation, but the number has now risen to 19. However, only one person suffered third- and second-degree burns and is still in hospital,” said Botha.
Telkom’s current tariffs will be adjusted, resulting in an overall decrease of 2,5% in the price of its basket of products, the company announced on Tuesday. Telkom customers will benefit from the price reduction from August 1, if the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa accepts the proposed price changes.
The number of South African nurses registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the United Kingdom dropped by 55% between 2002 and 2005, Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Tuesday. The number shrank from 2Â 114 to 933 over this period as a result of an agreement with the UK.
Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas was headed for a showdown with the Hamas government after winning the green light on Tuesday to hold a referendum on implicitly recognising Israel. The decision by the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation to endorse his referendum plan came despite opposition from Hamas.
Medicines to treat common diseases in poorer countries tend to be old and are often ineffective. But the pharmaceutical industry has little incentive to research new drugs: patients in developing countries can’t afford them. All that may change, as ”needs-driven” research on diseases that afflict developing countries gathers momentum.
Denying reports of a change in its position on the Gautrain, the Congress of South African Trade Unions’ (Cosatu) provincial branch on Tuesday maintained its opposition to the high-speed rail link. The Gauteng branch of the tripartite alliance had urged the provincial government to talk to Cosatu about the federation’s concerns, said Cosatu Gauteng chairperson Phutas Tseki.
Heavily armed Islamic gunmen and fighters loyal to a United States-backed warlord alliance faced each other in a tense stand-off in Somalia on Tuesday after Muslim militia claimed control of the lawless capital, Mogadishu. A day after the Islamists declared victory, the city was fractured along clan lines, with remaining warlords vowing not to surrender.