A Greek extremist group claimed responsibility on Thursday for bomb attacks in the run-up to the Olympic Games and issued a veiled threat against visitors to the sporting extravaganza. The warning came after makeshift bombs exploded at a Greek bank in Athens early on Thursday and another device was found at a nearby British bank.
Railway company Spoornet will undergo a major overhaul over the next five years to the tune of R14-billion, chief executive officer Dolly Mokgatle said on Thursday. ”We are fully aware of the severity of our current situation characterised by less than perfect service delivery to our clients, and we are also fully committed to the notion that things must change.”
The Mafikeng campus of the North West University will reopen on Friday and classes will resume on Monday, the university said on Thursday. The campus was closed for staff and students last week after protests by both groups against management and the suspension of students.
The Mpumalanga provincial government has suspended Riena Charles, the former health departmental head, from her post with the premier’s office, SABC news reported on Thursday. This follows the auditor general’s report on her activities while she still headed the health department.
Trade union Solidarity on Thursday joined other unions by calling on the government, organised business, economists and organised labour to hold a summit conference to discuss the effect of the strong rand on unemployment in the country.
South Africa’s Competition Commission on Thursday announced that it has found no competition concerns regarding the acquisition by LNM Holdings NV of South African steel producer Iscor. The next step in the regulatory process will be for the Competition Tribunal to consider the matter.
South African media group Kagiso has been given the go-ahead to increase its stake in Gauteng radio station Jacaranda FM. The Competition Commission has unconditionally approved a merger in which Kagiso Media sought to increase its stake from 42,5% to 65% in Jacaranda FM.
South Africa has agreed to give former Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide a temporary home nearly three months after an armed revolt forced him to flee his poor Caribbean country. Cabinet spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe on Thursday said the arrangement will be a temporary one "until the situation in Haiti has stabilised".
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=66273">DA slams Aristide decision</a>
The JSE Securities Exchange South Africa (JSE) was in positive territory in noon trade on Thursday after bargain hunters, encouraged by the Dow’s rebound late on Wednesday, returned to the market after its recent sell-off. A softer rand also helped the local bourse.
Three Palestinians were killed on Thursday in a fresh Israeli helicopter raid on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Palestinian medical sources said. Two missiles were fired in the raid, which also left 15 people wounded, said Rafah hospital director Ali Mussa.
Gaza death toll mounts