The main rebel group in Darfur on Friday welcomed a United Nations Security Council resolution clearing the way for war crimes committed in the war-torn Sudanese region to be brought to the International Criminal Court. Sudanese troops and proxy militias known as Janjaweed, have been accused of widespread human rights abuses in Darfur.
Swaziland closing its borders with South Africa? Michael Jackson seeking asylum in Zimbabwe? Jean-Bertrand Aristide appointed Minister of the African Diaspora in the South African Cabinet? It’s that time of the year when gasps of disbelief are quickly replaced by a collective slapping of the forehead — April Fool’s Day.
Former askari Joe Mamasela said the human remains exhumed on Human Rights Day are not those of the ”Mamelodi 10”, as claimed by the National Prosecuting Authority. According to Mamasela, the bodies of the 10 Mamelodi activists assassinated by apartheid hit squads in 1986 had been incinerated by the security forces.
Former world number one Kim Clijsters crushed top seed Amelie Mauresmo 6-1, 6-0 at Key Biscayne on Thursday to reach the finals of the ,5-million (about R40,3-million) WTA and ATP Masters Series tournament. Clijsters needed just 62 minutes to end Mauresmo’s hopes of a first title at Key Biscayne.
The Stade de France is a place of marvels. Last Saturday, the crowd was amazed by the inability of Raymond Domenech’s side to score in the drawn World Cup qualifier with Switzerland, despite a clutter of chances. Those of statistical tastes are agog, too, that France will complete a season without a home victory for the first time in 47 years.
The JSE Securities Exchange (JSE) was firmer in noon trade on Friday as the positive sentiment from Thursday’s rally continued, dealers said. However, the gains came on light volumes. By 12.03pm, the all-share index advanced 0,8%. The financial and banks indices jumped 0,92% and 1,35% respectively.
The eight teams left in the Uefa Champions League compete in what should be a memorable week for European football. Some might argue that the competition is now weaker with the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Arsenal out of the tournament. But a closer look at the quarterfinal ties reveals a mixed bag.
World number one Roger Federer, seeking his first Miami Masters Series crown, cruised into a semifinal showdown with Andre Agassi, the man who has captured six titles at Key Biscayne, both advancing with straight-set victories on Thursday. Henman, one of the few players boasting a winning record against Federer, couldn’t improve on that on Thursday.
More than half the country’s teachers intend leaving the profession. And as low morale, job dissatisfaction, HIV/Aids and premature mortality devastate public schools, the number of teachers has declined over the past seven years. By 2002/03, 21 000 teachers (about 6%) were leaving the system annually. The Education Labour Relations Council released these findings in Cape Town on Thursday.
Residents in Nature’s Valley, a popular holiday village on the Western Cape’s Garden Route, are at each others throats about troops of baboons that raid homes in search of festive leftovers. Like the ”dethroned white males” who have become ”alienated, depressed spoilers” in the recent sparked by Malegapuru Makgoba, some residents want to take out their wrath on the primates by shooting them.