Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has appeared in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court as a witness, testifying against her nephew in a theft case, The Star website reported on Thursday. It said her nephew and former bodyguard, Mzontsundu Madikizela (34), is charged with 97 counts of theft.
The salvage tug Nikolay Chiker was on Thursday morning closing in on the stranded log-carrier Kiperousa, as part of an effort to refloat her, the South African Maritime Safety Authority said. Spokesperson Captain Peter Kroon said the tug would try to refloat her during the high tide on Thursday afternoon.
The body of a 74-year-old woman who disappeared from a ward at the Kimberley hospital this week was found on the hospital grounds on Thursday, Northern Cape health authorities said. Shiwe Selao, Northern Cape minister of health, said hospital personnel found the woman’s body, after an extensive search, early on Thursday morning.
Deputy President Jacob Zuma said on Thursday the media have treated him in a ”grossly unfair” way and used the Schabir Shaik trial for political reasons. Meanwhile, hundreds of youths, participating in a protest against unemployment on Thursday, called for Zuma to become the country’s next president.
The streets of the Zimbabwe capital, Harare, were quiet early on Thursday after civil rights groups and the opposition called for a two-day strike to protest growing social and economic hardships and a crackdown by police against the urban poor.
Swiss luxury goods group Richemont on Thursday reported a 33% increase in earnings per unit for the year ended March 31 to €1,588, from €1,193 a year ago. In rand terms, basic earnings per depositary receipt amounted to 126 cents — a 25% rise from a year ago and in line with expectations.
Giant Springbok lock Bakkies Botha became the latest withdrawal from Jake White’s injury plagued squad when he was diagnosed with a stress fracture of the right foot on Wednesday. Coach Jake White expressed his concern over the number of overuse injuries sustained before the start of the international season.
Lance Armstrong completed what he considered his first real test for the upcoming Tour de France by finishing third in the 47km time trial of the Dauphine Libere’s third stage in France on Wednesday. The race lead went to Levi Leipheimer, who took over from Samuel Dumoulin but lost out on winning to Santiago Botero.
If you ask outgoing Kaizer Chiefs coach Ted Dumitru — and a good many South Africans — about the consequences of a North African being appointed to referee the World Cup qualifying game between Bafana Bafana and Ghana, the reply would probably suggest it is further evidence of a dastardly conspiracy against South Africa.
A group of American security guards in Iraq have alleged they were beaten, stripped and threatened with a snarling dog by United States marines when they were detained after an alleged shooting incident outside Fallujah last month. ”I never in my career have treated anybody so inhumane,” said one of the contractors, Rick Blanchard.