BLACK empowerment consortium AfricaSpeaks — formerly Telecommunications Empowerment Corporation — announced on Thursday it is applying for the third cellular licence. The organisation describes itself as a broad consortium comprising some 100 groups — including the National Empowerment Corporation and the National Sports Council — drawn from all nine provinces. The group, chaired by businessman […]

PAPER and pulp group Sappi reported a ”strong” cashflow for the first six months of the year with cash generated by operations of R1,9-billion. Net finance costs were however up by some R50-million due to a reduction in interest capitalised. Although Sappi’s results in the six months to March,continued pressure on paper prices worldwide saw […]

PRESIDENTIAL and legislative elections in Malawi have been postponed from May 25 to June 15, the electoral commission announced on Monday. Chief elections officer Roosevelt Gondwe said the new date was reached on Sunday night following an amendment to the law by an emergency parliamentary session on Friday. The election date has thus been moved […]

ZAMBIAN fuel production is expected to be shut down for several weeks while urgent repairs are carried out after fire damaged the nation’s only oil refinery, officials said on Thursday. The shut-down is likely to affect copper production, Zambia’s main hard currency earner. The Energy Ministry said it will import processed fuel and may have […]

JAPAN will join international observers to monitor South Africa’s general elections on June 2 by sending six people, the foreign ministry said on Friday. The six will monitor polling stations and ballot counting, a foreign ministry official said. South Africa has asked for some 500 international monitors, the ministry said. In February, the Japanese government […]

THE African National Congress and the Gauteng division of the Inkatha Freedom Party resolved to postpone the opening of the Thokoza Monument until after the June 2 elections. The move was taken to “ensure peace and foster reconciliation”. Campaign duties prevent the presidents of the parties being present before the poll, and their participation will […]

CATHY O’DOWD and Ian Woodall will reach the peak of Mount Everest on Saturday, if all goes well, Punt Geselsradio reported on Monday. O’Dowd and Woodall will leave for Camp 1 on Tuesday, where they will rest for a day. On Thursday they will try to reach the second camp and on Friday the third […]

THREE Americans, members of an evangelical Christian group alleged to be mercenaries, go on trial in Harare’s high court on July 12 on charges of plotting terrorism and sabotage acts against the government, court officials said on Friday. Harare magistrate Jefta Makasa ordered prison authorities to bring them before him again on June 4 when […]

BBC executives fear their 70 years of exclusive rights to the Wimbledon tennis championships might end in July in the face of a multi-million pound assault from Rupert Murdoch. The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club is considering bids from the Murdoch-owned BSkyB television and Talk Radio, in which he has a 20% stake. […]

AFRICAN National Congress Women’s League stalwart Adelaide Tambo underwent a two-hour surgical operation at Johannesburg’s Milpark hospital on Monday morning after being injured in a car accident over the weekend. Tambo, widow of late ANC president Oliver Tambo, was rushed to hospital by ambulance after an allegedly drunk driver collided with her car in Sharpeville […]