The South African rand was expected to test the key psychological six per dollar level on Thursday as it continued to rally on the back of offshore demand for the local unit. At 08h49, the rand was quoted at its best level since January 7, 2000, of 6,0451 per dollar from an overnight close of 6,10 on Wednesday and 6,2876 on Tuesday.
The South African Parliament has welcomed the decision by the African Union to make South Africa the permanent seat of the Pan-African Parliament. ”We shall work hard to make the institution serve its purposes as a true African Parliament,” Speaker Baleka Mbete said in a statement on Thursday.
The mandatory death penalty for murder in Jamaica was abolished on Wednesday, winning a reprieve for more than 60 prisoners on death row, in a historic judgement from nine judges sitting in London. But the penalty will remain in force in Trinidad and Barbados after the same judges ruled that the clear wording of those countries’ constitutions barred them from interfering to strike it down
The JSE Securities Exchange (JSE) was marginally weaker in noon trade on Thursday as a strong rand continued to keep the bourse in check. On the market’s upside, gold stocks continued to benefit from a higher bullion price. The rand was quoted at R6,09 per dollar from R6,11 when the JSE closed on Wednesday.
Acting South African Airways (SAA) CEO Oyama Mabandla is considered the likely successor to André Viljoen, who resigned this week, widely believed to have done so under pressure. Oyama Mabandla is widely considered to have the professional and political clout to run the troubled airline.
They are the institutions of hope and aspiration that have become soiled and bedraggled. With a trail of many tragic millions of rands wasted, and of human and institutional failure, it is time to take a hard look at whether we need the National Development Agency, the National Empowerment Fund, the loan guarantee agency Khula and the enterprise promotion agency Ntsika — at least in their present form.
After a marathon round of talks, peace may finally be in sight for Somalia, which has been without central government since 1991. But, some fear that a deeply-rooted practice — the chewing of khat — may undermine the gains of negotiations.
The khat plant contains a substance that makes the person consuming it feel alert, energetic or euphoric. Too alert, say certain Somali women.
Residents of Apolo in north-east Bolivia have been using chainsaws to open a path through Madidi National Park, which the country’s government and conservationists say will mostly benefit illegal exports of precious wood. This nature reserve is under threat as work crews cut down everything in their path in a straight line to the neighbouring town of Ixiamas.
Oom Krisjan is concerned about what’s put in the drinks when the Democratic Whatever (DW) chooses someone for its trade and industry portfolio. First there was Nigel Bruce, renowned for his Financial Mail phrase about black waiters: ”truculent tribesmen with an eye on the clock and a thumb in the soup”. And now his replacement, Enyinna Nkem-Abonta.
Ernie Els makes his first appearance in a tournament since his dramatic last round meltdown at the United States Open at Shinnecock Hills when he defends his Scottish Open title this week. Els, paired with Colin Montgomerie and Lee Westwood for the first two rounds, took a two week break after crashing out of contention in the US as playing partner Retief Goosen collected his second major title of his career.