United Nations envoy Anna Tibaijuka on Wednesday briefed the UN Security Council on her harsh report on Zimbabwe’s slum demolition drive as Britain urged the world to extend urgently needed humanitarian aid to its former colony. The closed-door briefing went ahead after a procedural ballot requested by Russia.
Wage negotiations between the South African Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers’ Union and retailer Pick ‘n Pay will continue on Thursday after Wednesday’s talks deadlocked. Pick ‘n Pay spokesperson Tamra Veley said there was no change in the offer on the table by the end of Wednesday’s talks.
The owner of an animal ranch near Addo in the Eastern Cape has died after being mauled by a lion, his family said on Thursday. Lourens van Straaten, owner of the Addo Croc Ranch, was attacked while repairing an electrical fence in the lion enclosure last Friday.
There was uncertainty on Thursday on whether Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool had ordered a raid on the city of Cape Town’s procurement offices targeting tender documents relating to his former transport MEC Mcebisi Skwatsha. Rasool and Skwatsha have been at loggerheads in a bruising leadership battle, which led to Rasool being deposed as provincial leader.
The provinces have put forward the names of four possible candidates to take over as South African Davis Cup captain, Ian Smith, CEO of the South African Tennis Association, said on Wednesday. The four named to replace outgoing captain Kevin Curren are Michael de Jongh, John-Laffnie de Jager, Pietie Norval and Jeff Coetzee.
South Africa’s June 2005 producer price index (PPI) rose by 2,3% year-on-year (y/y) from a 2,4% y/y increase in May, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said on Thursday. The month-on-month (m/m) increase was 1,5% in June compared with a 0,5% rise in May 2005.
World Cup organisers are more concerned about terrorism than hooliganism. Outbreaks of hooliganism have hit Europe this year, but several key Germans said on Wednesday at an international soccer conference that they fear terrorism is the bigger threat.
South African-based pulp and paper giant Sappi had a tough third quarter and reported a headline loss of four United States cents per share for the three months to June after headline earnings per share of 12 cents in the March quarter and 18 cents for the June 2004 quarter.
Gordon Strachan suffered a disastrous first competitive match as Celtic manager following their 5-0 defeat to Artmedia Bratislava in the European Champions League in Slovakia on Wednesday night. Celtic face an almost impossible task at Parkhead on August 2 for the second leg of this second qualifying round.
Australian distance great Grant Hackett added the 800m freestyle world record to his resume in scintillating fashion on Wednesday to claim the gold at the 11th World Swimming Championships. ”I feel like it was probably a perfectly swum race,” said Hackett, who opened an early gap on his rivals and relentlessly extended it.