South African financial services group Investec announced on Wednesday that Investec USA Holdings Corporation, a subsidiary of Investec plc, has entered into a stock-purchase agreement to sell Investec (US) Incorporated, its registered broker in the United States to Israeli banking group Bank Hapoalim BM.
Helen Zille speaks to the <i>Mail & Guardian Online</i> about perils of floor-crossing and changes to South Africa’s education laws.
”Draco’s breath is warm against his neck, his body gradually relaxing as Harry holds him, refusing to let go, and Harry discovers this is the most comfortable he’s ever been in his entire life.” Welcome to fan fiction — stories, millions of them, that people write about their favourite characters from literature, television and film.
Police on Wednesday confirmed reports of a housebreaking at Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka’s home in Morningside, Johannesburg, earlier in August. Three people were arrested and two have appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s court and were not granted bail.
The South African government is on track to achieve its first ever fiscal year surplus, if the trends established in the first four months remain intact. In the first four months, revenue rose by 21,2% year-on-year (y/y), while expenditure increased by 12,2% y/y.
The press ombudsman has thrown out Aids denialist Anthony Brink’s complaint against the Mail & Guardian alleging that the newspaper had implied he was mentally ill. Brink is the policy adviser at the Dr Rath Foundation and a former member of President Thabo Mbeki’s advisory panel on HIV/Aids.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Affairs recently handed down tough new bio-security guidelines to commercial chicken and ostrich farming operations in a bid to head off an outbreak of bird flu in South Africa. Farmers have been advised to install electric fencing in chicken coops to prevent other birds, animals or humans from introducing the virus.
A North West game farmer has applied for a permit to breed ”zonkeys” — zebra-donkey hybrids — as an exotic attraction for canned animal hunters. This was revealed by Minister of Environment Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk at a press conference on hunting policy recently. The idea was to make zebras slower by cross-breeding, creating easier targets for hunters.
”Well worthwhile,” was the assessment of general manager Stanley ”Screamer” Tshabalala after Bafana Bafana’s work-out on Tuesday with German Bundesliga club Werder Bremen. A satisfied Tshabalala proclaimed the second day of preparation for Saturday’s crucial World Cup qualifying game against Burkina Faso as ”satisfying all-round”.
Arguments in an application by one of former deputy president Jacob Zuma’s attorneys regarding the Scorpions raid on August 18 will be heard in the Johannesburg High Court next Wednesday. Julie Mahomed filed an urgent application on Tuesday, asking the court to set aside the search warrants obtained by the Scorpions, the investigating arm of the National Prosecuting Authority.