OWN CORRESPONDENT, Durban | Wednesday THE South African National Defence Force has been called in to help cope with an antibiotic-resistant outbreak of cholera in KwaZulu-Natal that has killed 13 people and infected more than 1_ 000 others. Authorities say the disease appears to be spreading after new cases were reported in Eshowe last week. […]

THE man arrested two months ago for allegedly having sex with his sister for 16 years and producing two children has been granted bail. Robert Jan Fedder, 40, was released on R600 bail in the Delmas Magistrate’s Court. He has been in custody since he, his sister and parents were arrested on July 26 after […]

AN 18-year-old matric pupil died in a bizarre accident in KwaZulu-Natal when he fell asleep under a school bus and it drove over his head. The pupil was on a school trip from Ntshisekelo High School in Inanda to the Newcastle Farmers’ Hall. KwaZulu-Natal road traffic inspectorate spokesman Vijen Murugan said the accident happened when […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Pretoria | Wednesday CONTROVERSIAL South African arms manufacturer Denel, which has undergone a major transformation in recent years, has “turned the corner” and expects to start realising profits next year, says acting chief executive Flip Botha. Releasing Denel’s results, Botha said the company’s gross revenue increased by 20% in the past financial year, […]

MALAYSIA Mining Corp Bhd (MMC), caught in the middle of the fight for Australia’s Ashton Mining, expects world diamond king De Beers to raise its bid for the Australian diamond miner by next week. De Beers’ bid could go as high as A$2.50 per share. De Beers’ is locked in a battle with mining giant […]

THE NIGERIAN lower house of parliament has launched a full scale investigation into a steel project which has gulped about $4.67bn but has failed to get off the ground. In a recent report, the World Bank recommended the scrapping of the Ajaokuta Steel Project for its non-viability. The construction of Africa’s biggest steel project commenced […]

THE National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the the world’s biggest platinum producer, Anglo-American Platinum Corporation (Amplats), are engaged in a war of words over how effective NUM’s current strike is. NUM says more than half of Amplats’ staff has joined the strike, but Amplats claims mining production is only marginally affected. NUM said between […]

THE Swiss National Bank (SNB) has confirmed that it intends to sell 200 more tonnes of gold by the end of September 2001 as it continues its programme of divesting excess gold reserves. The sales are part of coordinated transactions by 15 European central banks under an agreement struck a year ago. The SNB has […]

NAMIBIA has invited bids for the country’s second mobile phone license but said applicants should have a majority Namibian shareholding. The Namibian government in May ended a monopoly held by Mobile Telecommunications (MTC), opening the door for other cellular providers to tap the more than N$100m market. MTC, which has provided cellular services since 1995, […]