Villagers said a meteorite that slammed into rural Zimbabwe sounded like a helicopter as it landed, state media reported on Tuesday. The 4,1kg, white-speckled black lump landed on August 22 in the remote Dotito area of the Zambezi escarpment, about 140km north of the capital, Harare.
A drinking and dancing celebration by the king’s daughter shocked a Swazi traditionalist enough for him to deliver a spanking to the teenage princess, and cast a pall over Swaziland’s annual royal bride-choosing rites. Royal officials had tried to keep word of Princess Sikhanyiso’s party quiet, but acknowledged it late on Monday.
Following several power cuts in Johannesburg, an independent audit has identified serious problems concerning the city’s electricity supplier. These include serious transformer leaks — some at major infeed stations — and the insufficient maintenance of battery systems, the National Electricity Regulator said on Tuesday.
Tourism is a priority sector for South Africa and is well-placed to contribute to economic growth and job creation, Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said on Tuesday. The deputy president was speaking at the launch of the School of Tourism and Hospitality in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, on Tuesday.
Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s son, Tutu Buthelezi, is to stand against his father’s party in an upcoming municipal by-election in the Inkatha stronghold. Tutu Buthelezi announced this week that he had joined former Inkatha Freedom Party national chairperson Ziba Jiyane in his new National Democratic Convention party.
Japanese encephalitis has killed 14 more people in northern India, taking the death toll from the mosquito-borne disease to 267, officials said on Tuesday. The new deaths were reported since Monday in Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest state and one of its poorest.
The European Union on Tuesday warned Somalia’s bickering leaders to resolve a long-running and deepening dispute over the seat of the lawless nation’s transitional government or lose out on much-needed aid. ”The leaders have some differences that are not fully encouraging aid to Somalia,” British envoy David Bell told a meeting of EU diplomats.
The Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) will spend R5,2-billion in the next four years on improving infrastructure before the Soccer World Cup in 2010. Acsa released its financial results on Tuesday. Its revenue for the year rose by 5,3% to R1,9-billion as passenger numbers rose by 12% to 13,3-million.
The stricken bulk carrier Kiperousa is starting to break up and has moved about 150m closer to shore near East London, the Dispatch Online reported on Tuesday. It said bad weather at the weekend caused some damage to the ship and 25 logs were washed off a barge while being conveyed to East London.
United States Gulf Coast residents staggered on Tuesday from the body-blow inflicted by Hurricane Katrina, with more than a million people without power, lowlands swamped and at least 55 dead — a number likely to increase as rescuers reach the hardest-hit areas.