HEALTH Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has acknowledged that MPs enjoy subsidised access to the anti-Aids drug AZT, which the state has decreed should not be given to HIV-infected people at public hospitals. The Sunday Times reported that the parliamentary medical aid scheme, which also serves provincial legislatures, pays R35_ 000 for anti-HIV therapy and provides AZT […]

BUCHIZYA MSETEKA AND OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Tuesday STRIKING miners at the world’s top platinum producer Anglo American Platinum (Angloplat) will march on the firm’s headquarters on Wednesday to press for higher wages, their union said. As the strike dragged into its 23rd day, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which is representing strikers at […]

SOUTH Africa’s Competition Tribunal has approved four outsourcing deals concluded by telecoms operator Telkom aimed at cutting its non-core activities ahead of a 2001 initial public offering. It said the deals, some of which had initially faced opposition from workers concerned about their jobs, were subject to a stay of retrenchments by all parties in […]

IVORY Coast’s junta leader, General Robert Guei, is said to be alive and well after rumours circulated in Abidjan that he had been involved in a serious road accident. Sources said three paramilitary gendarmes had died and a dozen were injured in a road accident after they had been on presidential security duty along a […]

MINER Rio Tinto has rejected a London newspaper report that it had abandoned the battle for Australia’s Ashton Mining Ltd in the face of a higher bid by rival De Beers. The Times said Rio had pulled out after De Beers increased its bid to A$745m for Ashton, which owns 40% of Argyle – the […]

SOUTH Africa’s telecommunications operator Telkom has launched a $250m one-year revolving credit facility in the euro-syndicated market to restructure existing group indebtedness and for general corporate purposes. The tenor of the facility is one-year, with a 15-month term out option, Telkom said in a statement. The deal is being managed by Credit Agricole Indosuez and […]

JOHN GROBLER, Windhoek | Saturday THE United States’ new African Growth and Opportunities Act is expected to generate some controversy at a southern African economic summit in Windhoek next week. Many of the countries in the region have been excluded by the terms of the new law, say the organisers of the Southern Africa Trade […]

AMID thinly-veiled threats against South Africa’s judiciary, beleaguered Muslim vigilante group Pagad has vowed to continue to pursue its goals even if it is banned under the government’s proposed anti-terrorism legislation and has to meet “in the dark of night”. Addressing several hundred supporters at a meeting in Lavender Hill, the organisation’s legal co-ordinator Cassiem […]

SOUTH African President Thabo Mbeki has attacked the ruling junta in Ivory Coast, saying the world cannot stand by and condone the “fruits of tyranny”. “It … cannot and will not be that, when armed soldiers rob the people of their freedom, the rest of us maintain a treacherous silence,” Mbeki said in an address […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Monday PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki has launched the African National Congress’ (ANC) local election campaign with a pledge that free basic services will be provided to the poor – but first faces a potential showdown with traditional leaders threatening to derail the elections. Mbeki unveiled his party’s manifesto to a subdued crowd […]