South Africa’s fourth-quarter 2003 current account deficit, which at R5,857-billion was the largest since the record quarterly deficit of R7,048-billion in the third quarter of 1998, may in fact be close to zero, as the deficit is less than a third of the R17,299-billion of the net inflow of foreign unrecorded foreign transactions.
Richard Clarke, the former George W Bush terrorism adviser, has called on national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, to release the entire record of their e-mails in the months up to the 9/11 attacks to prove his contention that the White House did not then take the threat of al-Qaeda seriously.
Representatives from South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe met in Victoria Falls at the weekend to co-ordinate their efforts to combat malaria. According to the World Health Organisation, who organised the event, malaria kills a million people a year, of which 90% are in Africa
South Africa’s traditional leaders, once scorned as ”servants” of the apartheid regime, have since had their powers legalised, but the chiefs say the government wants to take away control of what matters most — land. The amakhosi say their real power and influence lies in the land.
”Patricia [de Lille] is a waffler, and not an organisational person. She’s a creation of the media, because she’s done a good job for white liberals. They’ve made her famous because of her attacks on the ANC. She’s done nothing for people on the ground.” Notorious settler Drew Forrest fires 10 bullets at Pan Africanist Congress deputy president Themba Godi.
Eastern Cape premier Makenkhesi Stofile says he would have no problem if a troubleshooting report on his administration were released before the coming election, because it contains ”nothing new”. The report was scheduled to be released two weeks ago.
The Basque separatist group Eta may be about to call a ceasefire in response to the Islamist terror attacks in Madrid and the subsequent change in government, according to sources in Spain’s northern Basque country.
Israel’s chief prosecutor has recommended charging Ariel Sharon with corruption for allegedly accepting bribes from a land developer, prompting government demands for the prime minister to resign. If Sharon were forced from office, he would probably be replaced by Netanyahu.
Global resources group Anglo American announced on Monday it has sold it 20% stake in South African gold miner Gold Fields to MMC Norilsk Nickel, through its wholly owned subsidiary Norimet, for R7,631-billion, or approximately $1,16-billion.
The Democratic Alliance has questioned why the Department of Public Service and Administration has kept secret the results of a study on the impact of HIV/Aids on the public service. A Sunday newspaper reported that the study had found more than 100 000 civil servants were infected with HIV/Aids.