The Zimbabwean government has cracked the whip on an errant deputy minister for violating government policy and has ordered the minister of anti-corruption and anti-monopolies to launch an investigation into his activities. Bright Matongo has been personally instructed by President Robert Mugabe to vacate land owned by Tom Beattie.
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The film industry has accused the Department of Trade and Industry of reneging on a pledge of R250-million to promote South African film. In a recent letter, the Independent Producers Organisation wrote to acting Director General of Trade and Industry Tsidiso Matona complaining that a motion-picture rebate scheme "launched with much fanfare" last year has not materialised.
Former champions Mary Pierce and Justine Henin-Hardenne will contest the first-ever Franco-Belgian French Open women’s singles final after both recorded easy victories in Thursday’s semifinals. The champion in 2000 and 21st seed, Pierce defeated 16th-seeded Russian Elena Likhovtseva 6-1, 6-1 in just 58 minutes.
North Korea called United States Vice-President Dick Cheney a ”bloodthirsty beast” and said on Thursday his recent remarks labelling its ruler Kim Jong Il irresponsible are another reason for it to stay away from six-nation nuclear disarmament talks. Nearly a year since the last session of the talks, North Korea has refused to return to the table.
A three-storey building, still under construction, collapsed in Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta on Thursday, killing three workers and a food vendor. The tragedy occurred in the early hours of Thursday as the workers were preparing to resume the day’s work, police spokesperson Thelma Fiberesua said in Port Harcourt.
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Deputy President Jacob Zuma must have been aware of bribes sought by Durban businessman Schabir Shaik on his behalf, High Court Judge Hillary Squires said as he convicted Shaik on two charges of corruption and one of fraud on Thursday.
Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende’s three-party coalition formally withdrew legislation for ratifying the treaty on the new European Union Constitution in Parliament on Thursday, a day after the electorate resoundingly rejected the Constitution in a referendum.
A fire injured four people at oil and chemicals group Sasol’s Sasolburg plant on Thursday morning. The four have since been treated at the group’s on-site medical centre and discharged, Sasol spokesperson Johann van Rheede said on Thursday. Earlier, trade union Solidarity claimed an explosion had caused the four people’s injuries.
M-Net’s open-time window will close in April 2007, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) ruled on Thursday. It ruled in favour of closing the open-time window, saying this is in line with a policy framework set out in its position paper on subscription services.