Mariano Puerta advanced to a grand-slam semifinal for the first time in his nine-year career on Wednesday by beating fellow Argentine Guillermo Canas 6-2, 3-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the French Open. Three-time grand-slam champion Justine Henin-Hardenne is the heavy favourite in the women’s final four.
Unidentified men armed with guns and knives attacked villagers in Côte d’Ivoire’s western cocoa-growing area, killing 41 people and injuring 64, officials said on Wednesday. The attack occurred near the town of Duekoue, 400km north-west of the commercial capital, Abidjan.
Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday called for action against a ”tyrannical” urban clean-up campaign that has left thousands destitute and homeless and led to the arrest of about 22 000 people in Harare.
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Judgment in the Schabir Shaik fraud and corruption trial in the
Durban High Court is expected to be completed by midday on Thursday. On Wednesday Judge Hillary Squires adjourned the delivery of his verdict for a second consecutive day.
Staff at Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Die Wêreld have not been paid their salaries for May and unless a white knight is found, the paper will not be published this Sunday. Die Wêreld published its first issue in mid-April and has been moving towards being a fairly traditional tabloid.
In South Africa there is more chance of being caught for a traffic fine than for child rape, the Democratic Alliance said on Wednesday. Speaking during a debate in the National Assembly to mark International Children’s Day, a DA spokesperson said 59 526 crimes against children were reported in the country last year.
In a bid to attract more direct foreign investment into Africa, the Nepad Business Foundation (NBF) has committed itself to two ”covenants” — anti-corruption and corporate governance. NBF chairperson Reuel Khoza was addressing the World Economic Forum meeting in Cape Town on Wednesday.
Opting for an outside field on neighbouring Kings Park instead of the main ground at the Kingsmead Soccer Stadium in Durban on Wednesday, Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter was able to get into the task in hand of preparing his side for the Cape Verde World Cup qualifier on Saturday without too much interference.
Financial services and life assurance giant Sanlam said on Wednesday it has achieved sound operating results for the first four months of the year, with most of the major businesses improving on their 2004 performance and net operating profit up by more than 10% on the restated results for the same period last year.
The trade union Solidarity will meet Minister of Arts and Culture Pallo Jordan in Cape Town on Thursday afternoon in a last effort to prevent the change of Pretoria’s name to Tshwane. The South African Geographical Names Council has recommended that Jordan approve the registration of the name Tshwane.