The protracted Cape High Court trial-within-a-trial in the Baby Jordan murder case ended on Thursday, with Judge Basheer Wagley ruling that statements by three of the five accused are admissible. The hearing was launched by defence counsel Charles Simon.
Parliament could be more vigorous in exercising its powers of oversight of the country’s monetary affairs, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said on Thursday.
”The Constitution does not expect a lapdog Parliament, so I appeal that you engage us,” he said in debate on the Budget. Manuel asked whether Parliament was adequately exercising the powers afforded to it..
Rheinhold Rau, a German-born taxidermist who regarded it as his moral duty to reverse the extinction of the quagga, a zebra-like animal, has died. He was 73. The South African Museum, where Rau worked for more than four decades and well into his retirement, confirmed his February 11 death but gave no cause.
Political parties vying for control of the Democratic Alliance-led city of Cape Town on Thursday continued the tit-for-tat exchanges that have characterised a bitter tripartite power struggle. The Independent Democrats on Thursday rubbished claims that ID leader Patricia de Lille had vetoed working with the DA-led coalition city government.
Protesting security guards in Pretoria began to disperse on Thursday afternoon after their strike turned violent earlier, with a security vehicle set alight and rubbish strewn in the inner city. At one stage police fired rubber bullets at the protesting guards in an effort to calm the situation.
Two days of fierce clashes in Mogadishu between an Islamic militia and forces that have challenged clerics’ growing power have killed at least 60 people, according to medical workers. At least 20 people were killed in fighting on Thursday, while the toll from Wednesday was 40, according to figures gathered from hospitals in Mogadishu.
South Africa’s leading strike-bowler Shaun Pollock has passed a fitness test and will be in the team for the second Castle Lager Test against Australia, which starts at Kingsmead on Friday. Pollock missed the first Test after spraining a ligament in his sacroiliac joint during the fourth one-day international in Durban two weeks ago.
The National Intelligence Agency became embroiled in a rogue investigation involving the illegal interception of the communications of more than 13 highly placed individuals, an investigation by the inspector general (IG) of intelligence has found. The report was released in edited form on Thursday.
South Africa’s golden duo of high-jump queen Anika Smit and 400m hurdles sensation LJ van Zyl spearheaded Team South Africa’s seven-medal haul at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne on Thursday. South Africa’s medal success on the eighth day of the 10-day event saw the country regain fifth spot on the medals table.
Over 15 000 Telkom workers are expected to participate in a national stayaway starting on Monday, Solidarity and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) said on Thursday. At a press conference held in Johannesburg, both unions said the strike action would be part of a campaign to fight against Telkom’s unfair ”gain-sharing” schemes.