Decisions made at the G8 Gleneagles Summit last week mark an historic new step in fundamentally redefining the relationship between Africa and the countries of the North, President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday. Mbeki said the discussions on African development focused on the interlinked obligations of Africa and the G8 arising out of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad).
Opposition leader Tony Leon on Friday suggested that a judicial commission of inquiry be appointed to investigate the allegations published in the <i>Mail & Guardian</i> that Imvume Management — which channelled R11-million in state oil money to the African National Congress before the 2004 election — was effectively a front for the ruling party.
In one of the most sensational archaeological discoveries in Germany, four papal seals dating back 600 years have been uncovered from a medieval toilet shaft in the northeastern city of Greifswald, officials said on Thursday. The four round seals cast in lead date to the papacy of Pope Bonifatius IX (1389-1404).
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (Icasa’s) discussion document on cellphone pricing — due for release on Monday — will also deal with the call-centre industry which the regulator describes as part of its renewed policy imperative.
About 40 babies died at the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Durban during two months in 2003 of ”various neonatal ICU infections,” the director of the non-profit organisation Voice said on Thursday. ”A report on the deaths of the 40 babies in 2003 was given to me by a high ranking official of the health department in KZN yesterday [Wednesday].
South Africa’s application to have the world heritage status of Sterkfontein’s fossil hominid sites extended to include the Taung Skull fossil site in North West province and the Mokopane Valley in Limpopo province was accepted on Friday. The Department of Arts and Culture said the Taung Skull site exhibited the same characteristics as hominid sites such as Sterkfontein, Swartkrans and Kromdraai.
While Harry Potter has cast a spell over children worldwide, to the delight of local English teachers many young readers in France seem willing to cross the language barrier on their magical journey with the young wizard.
”Operation Most Wanted” led to 11 arrests on a variety of charges on Thursday and Friday, the Pretoria police said. The Rietgat tracing unit made four arrests for armed robberies and attempted murder, the Pretoria flying squad arrested five men for hijacking and the city’s organised crime unit made two arrests for drug dealing, said Constable Brenda Kgafela.
Hurricane Emily strengthened dangerously after slamming into Grenada, where it blasted out windows and flooded two main hospitals and tore roofs from homes still damaged by last year’s storms. At least one man was killed. The storm grew to a dangerous category three as it cleared the Windward Islands, unleashing heavy surf, gusty winds and torrential rains on islands hundreds of kilometres away.
The JSE was still down slightly in midday trade on Friday after slipping off Thursday’s all-time high. The JSE started lower on early profit taking as well as the stronger rand against the United States dollar, equity brokers said. On Thursday the all share reached an all-time high of 14,832.18.