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/ 22 June 2005

Mbeki expected to name new deputy

President Thabo Mbeki is expected to name South Africa’s new deputy president on Wednesday. Government spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe said Mbeki would make a ”relevant announcement” with regard to changes in his Cabinet. When asked if the announcement would include that of a new deputy president, Khumalo said: ”I assume it will.”

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/ 22 June 2005

De Beers opens New York store amid protest

Plans by De Beers to expand its diamond retail empire with the opening of a new shop on Wednesday on Fifth Avenue in New York will be dogged by controversy after a human rights group called for a boycott. Survival International said it had enlisted the American feminist Gloria Steinem to join a picket line urging people not to enter the shop.

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/ 22 June 2005

Moving on up

In the industrial landscape around the Johannesburg inner city, about 24 000 migrant men live in single-sex hostels. A further 15 000 men and women live in informal settlements. Sixty-eight percent of the men and 80% of the women unemployed. But a programme called Mpilonhle-Mpilonde is upgrading the quality of life in hostels and informal settlements through group-based learning.

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/ 22 June 2005

Barclays to coin it on bank charges

Absa bank stands to be the biggest loser should the Competition Commission start an investigation into banking fees in South Africa, and this could have implications for Barclays if the deal goes ahead. The Falkena report, which analysed competition in local banking, has called for increased competition but it is unlikely the Barclays deal will start a price-cutting war.

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/ 22 June 2005

A tribute to toast

I thought we’d explore the incredibly fascinating and cutting edge concept of charred bread this week. You might find it hard to believe, in fact, just how seriously some people take the concept of toast. From creating a montage of 3053 pieces of toast, to the novel concept of Frozen Toast, Fraser has found it all.

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/ 22 June 2005

Honeymoon from hell

”Dear Mum and Dad, Gordon and I are having a lovely time. Enjoying lots of honeymoon fun! Talk soon,” read the postcard. That was a big fat lie — my honeymoon was miserable. I had spent virtually every day of our break sobbing my heart out on a hotel bed. Here I was ruining my gorgeous pre-wedding facial with streaming puffy eyes and a snotty, red nose.