Witnesses summoned by the Hefer Commission of Inquiry — which is investigating spy allegations against National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka Bulelani Ngcuka — may not refuse to testify or refuse to answer any question, commission secretary John Bacon said on Tuesday.
Burkina Faso has arrested 12 people, both members of the military and civilians, in an alleged coup attempt in the impoverished West African country, authorities said on Tuesday. The suspects were ”conspiring to carry out subversive activities” leading to ”an attempt on the security of the state”.
A South African man has been caught with seven kilogrammes of cocaine — the second largest amount ever seized in New Zealand — at Auckland International Airport, customs officials said on Tuesday. The cocaine was found in the false sides of a suitcase being carried through customs by a 40-year-old South African.
Iran will not stop enriching uranium for peaceful purposes, despite a request from the UN nuclear agency, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said in remarks published on Tuesday. Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency imposed a deadline of October 31 for Iran to prove that its nuclear programme is peaceful.
There is no alarm in South Africa about Aids, Minister of Defence Mosiuoa Lekota said on Tuesday. "All of this noise every day about HIV/Aids and so on … is really unfounded," he told senior foreign envoys in Pretoria. Lekota said programmes run by the government will enable it to contain the disease.
The South African Chamber of Business has called for a further 300 basis points cut in the prime interest rate by year-end to accelerate economic growth. "In my opinion, the correct level for the real prime rate is between 4% and 5%, so the Reserve Bank is lagging the decline in inflation," said a Sacob economist.
A strong rand — dipping down to R6,82 — and basket-selling by futures players drove the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa into the red on Tuesday, with the overall index more than 1% weaker in noon trade. Softer world markets added to the negative tone.
Nigerian-funded <i>ThisDay</i> hit the South Africa’s streets with a resounding thump on Tuesday, landing in an already crowded media market where it is expected to face stiff competition. Editor Justice Malala said in an editorial that the newspaper would offer coverage of "politics to business, arts to sport and comedy to science".
Most Eastern Cape provincial departments have not responded to a request in May from the Public Service Accountability Monitor to provide it with information on disciplinary action taken against those allegedly involved in 409 reported cases of misconduct, corruption and maladministration.
Economists have warned of fresh shortages of basic commodities and an expanding parallel market after the Zimbabwean government announced plans for new price controls — to curb what it termed a "price increase madness" — across all sectors of production, to take effect within the next two weeks.