The government appears more concerned about protecting its political elite than it does ordinary women and children, says the Democratic Alliance — ”at the same time the African National Congress government is closing down the child-protection units”.
Residents began fleeing Somalia’s capital early on Monday after a night of fighting between a secular militia and gunmen loyal to Mogadishu’s Islamic courts reportedly left 18 people dead and 21 wounded. Witnesses said fighting began when gunmen working for a militia commander fired on a gun truck carrying bodyguards of Islamic Court Union chairperson Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed.
After rallying to another record high at the opening, the JSE surrendered its gains on Monday morning due to profit-taking, primarily in the resources sector. Heavyweights Anglo American and BHP Billiton had turned negative in London and the gold price had also come off its highs.
Three opposition parties are to hold a meeting at Parliament this afternoon to protest against being excluded from the parliamentary programme on Monday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Constitution. President Thabo Mbeki is to address a joint sitting of Parliament at 2.15pm on Monday.
The Beatles’ company Apple Corps lost its long-running trademark battle with Apple Computer in a British High Court ruling on Monday over the use of the famous name and logo. Apple Corps had accused the United States company of breaching a trademark agreement by promoting music products.
The Donen commission probing South Africa’s alleged involvement in the Iraqi oil-for-food scandal adjourned its public hearings on Monday without having heard any evidence. The commission is facing a challenge in the Pretoria High Court by one of nine people subpoenaed to appear before it.
The Wildebeest continued their inexorable march towards the final of the Vodacom Cup with a 49-29 victory over the Lions at Ellis Park this weekend. The log leaders scored seven tries, six before half-time, to move to 54 points on the standings, nine ahead of the Blue Bulls and Falcons.
Shares in the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) jumped by 1,19% in early trades on Monday on an upgrade by Merrill Lynch and a report that the Russian airline Aeroflot might shift a major order to EADS’s aircraft manufacturing unit Airbus.
Free State Stars’ players slumped to the turf and others shed tears openly after the goalless draw against Dynamos at Giyani Stadium on Sunday afternoon ensured their relegation from the PSL. In other matches, Bush Bucks drew 1-1 against Santos and Moroka Swallows and Tembisa Classic played to a 1-1 draw.
A bout of food poisoning affecting 10 of the Tottenham Hotspur squad’s players put the game against West Ham United in doubt at Upton Park on Sunday, but with West Ham involved in the FA Cup final against Liverpool on Saturday, and with rules forced down by the FA Premier League, the match went ahead at the scheduled time of 3pm.