No image available
/ 14 January 2004
The Angolan army has arrested about 700 people, including 334 foreigners, in an operation aimed at curbing illegal diamond trafficking in the central province of Bie, state radio said on Wednesday. Of the foreigners arrested, 234, mainly from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, have been deported.
No image available
/ 14 January 2004
The Zimbabwean Ministry of Health and Child Welfare confirmed that the number of people in Zimbabwe afflicted with anthrax has doubled from 50 nearly a week ago to 100, medical information service Medinfo reported on Wednesday. Three people have already died from the disease.
No image available
/ 14 January 2004
The report of the Hefer Commission of Inquiry into allegations that National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka was an apartheid spy was handed to the government on Wednesday. Hefer would not disclose the report’s contents, but the former judge said his final decision had been easy to reach.
No image available
/ 14 January 2004
The JSE Securities Exchange South Africa was up in noon trade on Wednesday after opening an hour and 45 minutes late due to a technical problem. The rand weakened sharply in this time, which boosted the local bourse. The rand was trading at R7,13 per dollar from R6,90 when the JSE closed on Tuesday.
No image available
/ 14 January 2004
Thailand, one of Asia’s largest poultry exporters, said on Wednesday it is free of the bird flu epidemic that has swept parts of Asia, but said hundreds of thousands of chickens have died from cholera and bronchitis. Thailand was estimated to produce about one billion chickens in 2003.
No image available
/ 14 January 2004
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) released its position paper on control and ownership of the broadcasting industry in the country on Tuesday, SABC television news reported. It said Icasa plans to lure more players and investors into the industry.
No image available
/ 14 January 2004
The Swiss parent company of Nestle South Africa has approved a R64-million upgrade of its Wilsonia plant in East London, it was reported on Tuesday. Nestle SA MD Alfred Kaelin said the upgrade will enhance the facility’s production capability to export to 19 south-east African countries and the Middle East.
No image available
/ 14 January 2004
A square in South Africa’s capital Pretoria where eight people were shot dead by a white supremacist, is set to be renamed after a leading figure in the struggle against apartheid. In 1988, eight people were shot dead in the square by Barend Strydom, a member of the Wit Wolwe, a right-wing organisation.
No image available
/ 14 January 2004
South African President Thabo Mbeki began a two day visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Tuesday aimed at encouraging the transition to democracy here and rebuilding ties with a country traumatised by five years of war.
No image available
/ 14 January 2004
Canada became the third largest producer of diamonds in 2003, behind Botswana and Russia, but ahead of South Africa, the government statistics agency announced Tuesday. Between 1998 and 2002, Canadian companies mined about 13,8-million carats, diamonds collectively worth ,8-billion Canadian dollars, it said.