The African National Congress on Wednesday dismissed media reports claiming the party had criticised National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka. Several daily newspapers reported that the ANC criticised Ngcuka and former justice minister Penuell Maduna for attacking Lawrence Mushwana, the Public Protector.
Jerusalem’s gay community was preparing on Wednesday for strong opposition to its annual Gay Pride march after provocative posters comparing homosexuals to child molesters were plastered all over the Holy City. But parade organisers appeared unruffled by the virulent campaign.
Stunned and embarrassed by revelations of new cases of abuse by Israeli border policemen toward Palestinians, the commander of the corps ordered a two-hour halt to operations on Wednesday for lectures to its members emphasising behavioural norms.
Total South Africa has issued a warning to its dealers nationwide over the sale of loose cigarettes, telling them they could face heavy penalties. The Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act bans the sale of any tobacco product not ”in a package” with the mandatory health warning and tar and nicotine content.
Wholesale trade for 2003 was 17% higher than previously reported, motor trade 17% higher, and retail trade 20% higher, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said on Wednesday. This represents a difference of about R70-billion on wholesale trade, R47-billion on retail trade and R21-billion on motor trade.
Standing defiant amid fierce opposition from within his Cabinet and coalition, Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon said on Wednesday Israel will complete its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip by the end of 2005, even if the pullout is carried out in stages.
"By 2005 there will not be any settlers left in Gaza," the premier said.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=67297">Abuse cases stun Israeli authorities</a>
Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana on Wednesday stated that more than 600 000 domestic employers have registered with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to date. The minister expressed his satisfaction with the process of registering domestic workers.
After being famously dropped by Disney, Michael Moore’s award-winning documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 has finally secured US distribution and will hit American cinemas on June 25. The film is to be released by a partnership of Lions Gate Films, IFC Films and the Fellowship Adventure Group, which was formed by Miramax’s Harvey and Bob Weinstein specifically to market Moore’s film.
The controversial Iraqi politician Ahmad Chalabi, a former favourite of the Pentagon who has recently fallen out with Washington, was on Wednesday embroiled in allegations that he tipped off Tehran that United States agents had cracked the secret codes of its intelligence service.
Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota’s views on the difficulties of achieving racial representivity were both welcomed on Wednesday and dismissed as having missed the point. Lekota told the National Assembly’s defence committee on Tuesday there would have to come a point when South Africans stopped being black, white, Indian and coloured and were merely South Africans.
‘It’s a difficult thing, transformation’