Thousands of frightened Israeli tourists were rushing back home from Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on Friday, after car bombs ripped through two Egyptian beach resorts crowded with Israeli visitors. At least 19 people were killed and more than 120 wounded in the blasts at the Taba Hilton, a luxury hotel just south of the Israeli border, and at the Ras Shitan resort of beach huts.
Old Mutual Properties, a subsidiary of South African and United Kingdom listed financial services giant Old Mutual, has signed an agreement with the Savola Group, a leading Saudi Arabian industrial group, to establish a property services company in the kingdom.
The Communication Workers Union on Friday remained adamant that the post office strike planned for next week was still on. CWU spokesperson Shakes Gonyane said that union negotiators were busy consulting with lawyers in response to the post office attempt to get a court interdict to stop the strike.
South Africa’s inflation rate is expected to remain within the target range of between 3% and 6% CPIX (consumer inflation less mortgage rates) within the forecast period, South African Reserve Bank (SARB) forecast models show, according to the SARB’s head of research Monde Mnyande.
The furore over allegations of racism in the Cape High Court has now acquired a national dimension, with acting Chief Justice Pius Langa preparing to discuss the issue with judges and professional organisations, while Minister of Justice Bridgette Mabandla has announced an inquiry into the progress of transformation in the legal system.
Controversial mining plans in Pondoland, Eastern Cape, could be halted if a new government assessment decides there are better ways to use the land. But there is confusion about which department will have the final say. A strategic environmental assessment (SEA), scheduled to be done early next year, will advise the government on the best uses for land in the ecologically sensitive Pondoland.
Desmond Tutu is taking his off-Broadway debut in his stride. ”I’m just waiting for my Tony nominations now,” he says from his New York hotel. Tutu (72) is relaxing for a few minutes after two performances in Guantanamo: Honour Bound to Defend Freedom. It took a very special play to turn Desmond Tutu into an actor. He talks about about the role he could not refuse.
The Inkatha Freedom Party leadership has suspended two senior members of its youth wing who have challenged the party’s constitution by allegedly demanding that the new chairperson of the IFP Youth Brigade be democratically elected instead of appointed by party president Mangosuthu Buthelezi. Lucky Mthethwa and Sibusiso Msweli were suspended on the eve of the party’s youth conference.
Sam Sole argues that the corruption claims flowing from that deal have exposed a threat to South Africa’s democratic project.
The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan politician known for her work for the environment and founder of the Green Belt Movement in 1977, the Norwegian news agency NTB reported on Friday.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/content/l3.asp?cg=0&o=27987">Kenya’s green role model</a>