State diamond-mining company Alexkor was only partly responsible for the degradation of the wetland at the mouth of the Orange River, the Land Claims Court heard on Friday. The court is hearing a claim by the Richtersveld community for up to R2,5-billion in compensation, and the return of more than 84 000ha of land.
The Wellington Hurricanes broke a 10-year Super 12 losing streak against Auckland, scoring three second-half tries on Friday to beat the Blues 22-10 at Eden Park. The Hurricanes outscored the Blues 19-7 after the teams were tied 3-3 at half-time, posting their first win over Auckland in the competition.
It was ugly, but after nine lean years, New South Wales will take it. The Waratahs registered their first-ever Super 12 rugby win over Queensland on Friday, downing the Reds 27-8 at Aussie Stadium. The victory assures the Waratahs of a home semifinal, a week before the competition proper comes to its conclusion.
Attention, time travellers: Amal Dorai hopes you enjoyed the party he’s throwing this weekend. Dorai, a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is hosting a time-traveller convention on campus this Saturday. Make plans now, because it’s the last such party. "You only need one," he said.
The National Health Council had its first meeting on Friday in Pretoria, replacing the former health policy body MinMec. ”Today, we are formally dissolving what is called MinMec in order to make way for the National Health Council,” Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said.
Consistency in measles immunisation programmes is emphasised as an effective way to curb the disease, a World Health Organisation (WHO) expert told health officials in Pretoria on Friday. ”We must facilitate the service delivery level of the measles vaccine,” said Robert Kezaala, epidemiologist for the WHO regional office for Africa.
Johannesburg police arrested 26 people this week in connection with the murder of two men and the assault of another in Booysens, Johannesburg, a spokesperson said on Friday. Police spokesperson Captain Schalk Bornman said the surviving victim and witnesses implicated 26 people as either participants or witnesses to the attack.
The government’s proposed laws restricting the speech of civil servants, NGOs and journalists may be the thin edge of the wedge that threatens freedom in general, says Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon, adding it is ”well past time” the African National Congress and President Thabo Mbeki learn to deal with vociferous criticism.
Athletics South Africa on Friday confirmed it was informed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on May 3 of an out-of-competition positive dope test by Hezekiel Sepeng. Sepeng was tested by the IAAF on February 21 this year in Potchefstroom.
He might be a new Pope but there is no doubting his second-hand value. On Thursday night a VW Golf that used to belong to Benedict XVI was sold for 327. The auction of the Pope’s old car finished with a bid from a United States buyer from Austin, Texas, of more than 13 times what student Benjamin Halbe (21) paid for it earlier this year.