JUSTIN ARENSTEIN, Nelspruit | Tuesday MPUMALANGA Province has reiterated its ban on government hospitals issuing AZT or other anti-Aids drugs to rape survivors, despite urgent representations by rape counsellors, church groups and political parties. Health MEC Sibongile Manana said in a statement that the provincial administration had reviewed and reaffirmed its decision not to allow […]

NEARLY 500 people were killed during Ivory Coast’s political and ethnic clashes last week, a local human rights group said. Quoting a police source, the Ivorian Movement for Human Rights (MIDH) said at least 1 000 people had been seriously hurt during mass protests which chased army ruler General Robert Guei from power and political […]

SASOL Chemical Industries is to buy chemical group AECI’s 50% interest in Fedmis Phalaborwa, a manufacturer and seller of phosphoric acid, the companies said this week. The sale is subject to approval by the Competition Commission, AECI and Sasol said in a statement. AECI said the sale was in line with its intention to refocus […]

MARIAM ISA, Cape Town | Tuesday SOUTH African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has painted a rosy picture for the economy, predicting a sharp pickup in growth and lower inflation, which he said would allow interest rates and taxes to fall once again. ”The underlying economy is strong. That is exceedingly important to understand,” Manuel said […]

ZIMBABWE war veterans’ leader Chenjerai Hunzvi has told a court he suffered injuries to his head, back and legs during the 1970s independence war, as his trial resumed for making fraudulent compensation claims. Hunzvi, a member of parliament for President Robert Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF party, is accused of falsely claiming Z$476,265 from the National War […]

NATIONAL Director of Public Prosecution Bulelani Ngcuka and London’s Commissioner of Metropolitan Police John Stevens have produced a formal draft agreement on closer co-operation following last week’s four day visit by members of Scotland Yard to South Africa. They also met with the elite investigation unit, the Scorpions, and SA Police Service senior officers in […]

THE Angola Supreme Court said this week it had slapped suspended prison sentences on three journalists for defamation earlier this year. Two journalists were convicted of insulting President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, while a third was found guilty of defamation of an aide to the president, the court said. Rafael Marques, known for his human […]

A BI-NATIONAL police task team recovered almost 200 stolen South African vehicles from Mozambican motorists in the capital of Maputo last week. Interior ministry spokesman Abilio Quive said a joint team of police, customs and Attorney General officials from both countries seized 90 vehicles on Tuesday alone. “Word immediately spread about the operation and people […]