Work remained suspended on Friday at DRDGold’s North West Operations’ number-two shaft on Friday, a company spokesperson said. Operations were stopped after an earth tremor earlier this week. Last week, two people died at the company’s Stilfontein mine after an earthquake measuring 5,3 on the Richter scale.
Eight people were injured when they jumped from a moving train to flee the current from an electricity cable that fell on to a carriage in Germiston on Friday. Emergency services spokesperson Johan van der Heever said the cable made contact with the body of the train after a malfunction in the overhead system.
Economic statistics surveys released by Statistics South Africa will now include two million more businesses, the organisation said on Friday. ”Our economic surveys will now include two million more businesses which are registered as tax income units,” Stats SA head Pali Lehohla told reporters in Pretoria.
The JSE Securities Exchange (JSE) was weaker at midday on Friday due to profit-taking after Thursday’s closeout and the stronger rand. Trades stemming from the closeout boosted volumes, but otherwise the market was very quiet, dealers said. By 11.59am, the all-share and all-share industrials shed 0,42% and 0,51% respectively.
When the Constitutional Court returns a verdict in the case pitting Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang against pharmaceutical companies and pharmacists, it will in effect be ruling on the duel between the government’s developmental economics agenda and the conventional market approach.
The Queensland Reds beat the Waikato Chiefs 20-6 in Super 12 rugby on Friday, snapping a three-game losing streak and winning their first match in New Zealand since 1999. Winger Drew Mitchell and prop Greg Holmes scored first-half tries, while Julian Huxley kicked two conversions and two penalties for Queensland.
Five MPs were convicted of fraud and sentenced in the Cape Town Regional Court on Friday morning. The MPs pleaded guilty to fraud and were the first of 23 MPs implicated in Travelgate, the multimillion-rand travel-voucher scandal, to be criminally convicted. They were sentenced as part of a plea agreement with the Scorpions
Russian third seed Maria Sharapova advanced to her first Indian Wells WTA/ATP Masters Series semifinal on Thursday, beating Mary Pierce of France 6-4, 6-3, to extend her match-winning streak to 11 games. Her victory set up a clash with American top seed Lindsay Davenport, who continued her domination over France’s Nathalie Dechy.
Ferrari boss Jean Todt has tipped the world champions to bounce back from a poor start to the season and retain their constructors’ crown by the end of the year. The Italian team chose to start the season with a modified version of their old car and found themselves outpaced by their rivals.
AUTHOR’S NOTES: ”I am out there to mike what I like and, frankly, you don’t have to like what I mike.” Poet Kgafela oa Magogodi released his latest collection of poetry and prose last week. He shares a few words with ZA@Play.