A jury on Monday cleared pop star Michael Jackson of child sex abuse and other charges that could have seen him jailed for more than 18 years at the end of a sensational 14-week trial.
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Debt relief to the world’s poorest nations must be accompanied by increased development assistance, which in turn requires greater transparency, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said on Monday. Manuel welcomed a decision of the Group of Eight industrialised nations to write off the multilateral debt of 18 poor countries.
Ministers and deputy ministers of eight Southern African Development Community countries have committed themselves to working towards a ”uni-visa” for the region by 2010. ”We need much more free movement of people,” said South African Environment and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
The Modjadji Royal Council confirmed on Monday the death of Rain Queen Makobo Modjadji of the Balobedu people in Limpopo. Modjadji was admitted to the Medi-Clinic in Polokwane on Friday, and died on Sunday. Council spokesperson Clement Modjadji would not reveal the cause of death, saying: ”We are not yet in the know”.
President Thabo Mbeki has asked the secretary of Parliament to arrange for a joint sitting on Tuesday, his office said on Monday. Spokesperson Bheki Khumalo said: ”The president will deal with issues arising from the judgement of Judge Hilary Squires.”
They might not be camping on the peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro, but Ghana’s Black Stars have simulated altitude conditions in Kenya not unlike those that will confront them at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium for the crunch World Cup qualifying game against Bafana Bafana on Saturday.
It will take a huge effort to stop Roger Federer’s momentum on grass as the Swiss standout bids for a third straight Wimbledon title. That’s the thought of old pro John McEnroe, three times a holder at the All England Club. ”As far as Roger — if he plays well, there’s no way he’s going to lose,” he said.
The Constitutional Court ruling on Monday that the Minister of Safety and Security was liable for the rape of a woman by three policemen was ”extremely positive”, the attorney for the rape victim said on Monday. The court said the policemen bore a statutory and constitutional duty to prevent crime and protect the members of the public — a duty which also rested on their employer.
Sasol and the leaders of three major South African labour unions on Monday signed a ”groundbreaking” charter in Johannesburg to improve safety within the company. According to Philip Buys, general secretary of Solidarity, 14 people have been killed and more than 300 injured at Sasol plants over the past 18 months.