OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Thursday THE South African Competition Tribunal has approved a multi-billion dollar bid for diamond giant De Beers, the company announced Thursday. “That clears the last regulatory hurdle for the takeover to go ahead,” said a spokesman. Investors were meanwhile positive but careful after an announcement by a major American shareholder that […]
US oil company Chevron on Thursday reported a minor oil spill off the Nigerian coast after reports from local community leaders of a major spillage. Chevron Nigeria Limited said around 140 barrels of low-sulphur crude oil had leaked from an underwater pipeline about six nautical miles off the southern coast in its Delta Oil Field. […]
A SOUTH African magistrate ordered an art restorer to pay out R20_000 on Thursday after an oil painting of a tavern scene by 17th century Dutch master Adriaen Van Ostade was returned to its owner with a beard added to a face. The painting had also gained a traditional South African touch – a black […]
Forty-four people, including two policemen, were arrested for possession and dealing in stolen gold in Welkom on Wednesday, the Diamond and Gold Unit said on Thursday. Superintendent Ernie van Rensburg said the unit had launched a covert operation six months ago targeting two mines in the Welkom and Virginia areas in the Free State. Van […]
ELEVEN people were killed when two ferries sank in Benin’s Lake Nokoue early on Wednesday, state radio reported. It said four people were rescued and were hospitalised, but it gave no indication of how many people were on board the ferries. The radio attributed the accidents to heavy rains that had lashed the region since […]
Time was when REM, and the band_s singer Michael Stipe in particular, were the last people you_d think of as shiny or happy. Today, after a period of regrouping, they_re more content with life and music than ever Sean O_Hagan There was a time when Michael Stipe would get offended if you called him a […]
Jaspreet Kindra The ruling African National Congress’s alliance partners the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Communist Party are unlikely to field a candidate against President Thabo Mbeki next year. “Unless the current leadership continues down the self-destructive path,” adds a senior alliance leader referring to Minister of Safety and […]
Paul Kirk Unfortunately for Director Henry Manzi, the newly appointed head of the Durban Metro Police, he can choose his friends but not his relatives. In the latest edition of Metro Beat, a free magazine given to Durban ratepayers, Manzi admits to having no close personal friends. He is quoted as saying: “Friends might ask […]
The government could find itself in court again for its failure to supply promised anti-retroviral drugs Paul Kirk The government is likely to face a new legal battle after temporarily halting the use of a drug, nevirapine, that prevents mother-to-child infection Last year the national Department of Health promised to begin widespread trials of the […]
A decision is expected soon on whether criminal charges will be brought against Matthews Phosa. Justin Arenstein reports Forensic investigators are finalising a secret 13-month fraud probe into former Mpumalanga premier Matthews Phosa. The probe, spearheaded by private sector forensic auditors in the Eastern Cape to prevent leaks and intimidation, is believed to have uncovered […]