The death toll from Typhoom Mindulle’s rampage through the Philippines rose to 16 with 17 other people still missing and feared dead, civil defence officials said on Thursday. The typhoon has displaced nearly 180 000 people from 48 towns and three cities and destroyed or damaged more than 6 000 houses.
Zimbabwe’s Parliament has passed a tough new Bill that allows police to hold suspects for three weeks before they are brought to court. The Criminal Procedure and Evidence Amendment Bill was passed late on Wednesday despite stiff resistance from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, said the party’s shadow justice minister David Coltart.
The Western Cape public works and education departments may sell off some state and school properties to raise money for a school-building initiative that could cost R500-million. The provincial government is looking at alternative means of generating funds to build new schools.
South African gold mining giant Anglogold Ashanti on Thursday took its first steps into Russia, saying it would buy a 29,9% stake in London-listed Trans-Siberian Gold in a multi-million dollar deal. Anglogold Ashanti president Sam Jonah said the projects in Russia opened new horizons for the company.
A boilermaker died in an explosion near a production shaft of Sasol’s Middelbult Colliery in Secunda on Thursday morning, the petroleum giant said. Ryno Olivier (20), who was employed by Ukhozi Mining, died on the scene of the accident when a container used for storage of oxygen and acetylene bottles exploded on the surface.
A defiant Saddam Hussein mocked his accusers in a landmark court appearance in Iraq on Thursday, describing the process as "theatre" and calling United States President George Bush the real criminal. An unrepentant Saddam refused to sign legal papers after seven charges were read against him.
The Aids pandemic has taken a particularly heavy toll on Southern African countries — not least Mozambique. According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids latest statistics indicate that about 13% of the country’s 19-million-strong population is infected with HIV.
In a country notorious for poor service, it is refreshing to see a company like Liberty Life actually doing something proactive to remedy the problem. It’s never easy admitting that one is not perfect, but the life assurer has done just that with its recently launched "We’re working on it" media campaign.
The JSE Securities Exchange (JSE) was in positive territory in noon trade on Thursday, lifted by a slightly softer rand and basket-buying by futures players. Volumes were thin and the market’s illiquidity amplified its gains. At 12.02pm, the all-share index was up 0,68%.
C-Max Investments was named on Thursday as the preferred bidder for a combined retail, commercial and residential development in Newtown, Johannesburg. The construction would be part of a new development zone called Central Place, Newtown, and the Gauteng Tourism Authority has already signed a lease.