CHILDREN at Northern Province schools will be able to learn in their own language, isiNdebele, for the first time when it is introduced as a subject for first-language speakers next year. Although isiNdebele is one of South Africa’s 11 official languages, it has never been taught as a school subject. Northern Province has an estimated […]

CABINET on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Tito Mboweni as Reserve Bank governor and as the country’s representative on the International Monetary Fund’s board of governors. It also appointed Deputy Finance Minister Sipo Mpahlwa as the country’s alternative governor on the board of governors of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, government spokesman Joel […]

THE German company, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) has acquired a 33% stake in South African defence electronics firm Reutech Radar Systems. The German aerospace firm said in a statement it views the stake as a “first strategic step” towards establishing a comprehensive partnership with the Stellenbosch-based electronics company. Newly-formed Reutech Radar Systems is engaged mainly in […]

JORDAN’S minister for tourism and antiquities, Akel Beltaji, on Wednesday handed over to Egypt 28 Pharaonic and Roman antiquities that had been smuggled across the border. The objects, including scarabs, an amulet to the god Ptah and statuettes placed in the tombs of pharaohs and nobles, were seized earlier this year at the southern Red […]

EUROPEAN Union inspectors said here Wednesday that they would maintain a ban on fish imports from Kenya imposed because of the alleged use of poison by Lake Victoria fishermen. “Although the lake’s beaches look all right, there are still deficiencies which might still risk the consequences of international standards,” said Claus Norbert Fink, the head […]

THE opening of the Gender Commission office in Parliament is the first step towards addressing the imbalances between men and women in the decision-making process, commission chair Joyce Seroke said on Wednesday. Speaking at the launch of the Gender Commission’s parliamentary and Western Cape offices, Seroke said the office in parliament would focus on gender […]

THE Hospital Personnel Trade Union (Hospersa) confirmed on Friday it would continue preparations for industrial action later this month following the government’s decision to implement an average 6,3% pay increase for public servants. “Our members will … not give way and we are therefore continuing with our plans of action,” Hospersa, which represents 70000 health […]

PUBLIC Enterprises Minister Jeff Radebe on Thursday said he intends to institute an investigation by the department of minerals and energy affairs into ”financial management issues” at Alexcor mine. However, the investigation will not include his department, he said in a statement. Although not a signatory to the management contract agreement between Alexcor and its […]

EASTERN Cape conservation officials on Tuesday denied that 35-year-old Tom, South Africa’s oldest white rhino, would be auctioned as a hunting trophy to raise R200000 for nature conservation in the province. Tom is believed to have the longest rhino horn in Africa. Jaap Pienaar, Eastern Cape conservation assistant director said the idea was considered, but […]