North Korea said no progress was made in talks on Tuesday over the dismantlement of its nuclear-weapons programmes but insisted it is still working to find a solution. Deputy chief United States envoy Joseph DeTrani said the talks will continue into a ninth day on Wednesday.
South Africa’s gold-mining sector faces its first sectorwide strike in 18 years from Sunday after the National Union of Mineworkers on Tuesday received a strike notice from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. The last time that South Africa’s gold mines had a sectorwide strike was in 1987.
Executives from Rover motor company were promised rugby Test tickets in exchange for a luxury car for rugby boss Brian van Rooyen, the Daily Dispatch website reported on Tuesday. This was done despite an earlier sponsorship by Ford to supply Van Rooyen and Saru with vehicles.
Wage talks between Xstrata Chrome and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa failed on Tuesday, as the strike at two processing plants near Rustenburg entered its third day. ”It is an extremely difficult situation and we feel the people losing the most are the workers,” said a company spokesperson.
Maurice Creswick of Johannesburg has been confirmed as the Guinness World Record blood donor — despite his 350-pint landmark being challenged last week. Creswick broke his own Guinness record for the 14th time when he gave his 350th pint in Johannesburg last week. His record was challenged by Lionel Lewis of Pretoria.
Fifteen companies have cost the Department of Public Works R441,1-million in the past two years by fronting as black economic empowerment (BEE) entities, Minister of Public Works Stella Sigcau said on Tuesday. A further 18 companies refused to have their compliance with the department’s BEE requirements checked, she said in Johannesburg.
Police on Tuesday were still searching for William Nkuna on what was to have been the second day of his trial for the murder of missing police Constable Francis Rasuge. A warrant of arrest was issued for Nkuna on Monday after he failed to arrive at the Mmabatho Circuit Court sitting in Ga-Rankuwa.
Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai walked out of court a free man on Tuesday after prosecutors scrapped treason charges that had been hanging over his head since 2003. Prosecutor Florence Ziyambi told the court that the state was ”withdrawing the charges before plea” without stating any reasons for the about-turn.
Wim Duisenberg, the former European Central Bank chief who helped create the euro currency, was found dead on Sunday in his swimming pool in southeastern France, officials said. He was 70. Police did not give a cause for Duisenberg’s death but rescue teams and police said Duisenberg was found unconscious in the swimming pool at his home in the town of Faucon, and could not be resuscitated.
South African motor manufacturers on Tuesday said all indications were that the vehicle market would retain its momentum over the next quarter. According to Brand Pretorius, chairperson of McCarthy Motor Holdings, should sales recorded by Associated Motor Holdings be included, total sales again exceeded the 50 000 mark to end the month on 51 447 units.