More than 1 400 firefighters and soldiers were on Tuesday combating eight wildfires in northern and central Portugal, news reports said. The biggest fire was reported in the Pampilhosa da Serra in Coimbra district, where nearly 400 firefighters were trying to contain a blaze raging since Saturday.
Twenty-one Department of Social Development officials faced fraud charges in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday as part of a nationwide campaign against benefit cheats. The officials are accused of receiving grants to which they are not entitled. More than 160 people had been identified for arrest in the fraud swoop.
Rising steel prices in China have added new impetus to the regional phenomenon of drain-top theft and manhole mishaps, forcing municipal authorities to get tough on this type of highway robbery. Missing manholes have long been a hazard throughout Asia, but escalating steel prices have exacerbated the menace.
Former deputy president Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday he is humbled by the support South Africa has given him since allegations of corruption were first levelled against him. Meanwhile, the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal will hold meetings across the province to explain the party’s stance on Zuma.
The police warned the public on Tuesday not to heed a hoax e-mail about the closing of the child-protection unit. ”This e-mail that has been doing the rounds is full of malicious intent and is completely false,” said police spokesperson Captain Percy Morokane.
Municipal authorities are to launch a new clean-up campaign in Harare to get beggars and street kids out of the Zimbabwean capital, an official has told state television. The state-controlled Newsnet said scores of beggars and street children rounded up during the clean-up campaign that ended in late July are ”back in full force”.
he JSE was slightly weaker in noon trade on Tuesday, dragged down by heavyweight resources stocks. The losses came despite a weaker rand. At 11.59am, the all share index was off 0,14%. Resources retreated 0,63% and the banks index was 0,09% in the red.
There must be unity in the tripartite alliance ahead of the local government elections, African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday. ”We must fight against ‘clique-alism’ and factionalism that can divide our movement,” he told a Congress of South African Trade Unions central committee meeting.
Roger Federer, playing his first match since lifting the Wimbledon title in early July, struggled to a ragged 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 victory over James Blake at the Cincinnati Masters on Monday. The Swiss world number one’s last match was the final over Andy Roddick that clinched a third consecutive Wimbledon title.
The black economic empowerment deal concluded by Aflease Gold and Uranium Resources earlier this year will contribute to empowerment in the communities where the group’s assets are located, according to Neal Froneman, the group’s CEO.