THE International Monetary Fund and Ghana on Monday signed a $209-million dollar-year loan program, with a first tranche of $30-million available immediately, the Fund said. The 1999-2001 program aims to reach economic growth of 6% from 5,6% in 1998, and to beat down inflation to 5% by 2001 from 19,3% last year, the Fund said […]

SAMUEL Matsoso of Goldfields Striders ran to a resounding victory in the annual Bloem ultra-marathon in Bloemfontein on Saturday. Matsoso clocked four hours, five minutes 26 seconds for the 64km run in ideal weather conditions. Veteran Buti Mochesane (Bloem Achilles), who finished second in 4:21:12, was 15:46 behind the winner. Isaac Moreki (Alberton) filled third […]

PAUL RICHARDSON, Johannesburg | Thursday 4.00pm. SOUTH Africa will post higher growth this year as interest rates fall with inflation, the rand declines more gently than last year and the country’s balance of payments improves, according to a survey of economists. A quarterly poll of 23 analysts showed the economy, which grew by just 0,1% […]

THE South African Football Association (Safa) overruled Bafana Bafan coach Trott Moloto’s wish to play an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Mauritius in Soccer City, returning the game to King’s Park in Durban. The park has been double booked, however, since a rugby match between Western Province and Border is also scheduled for that […]

MICHAEL METELITS, Johannesburg | Wednesday 3.00pm. MANNING RANGERS’ coach Gordon Igesund, himself the subject of speculation about switching teams, has put 12 Rangers players on the transfer list, saying he wants to change the Durban-based club’s style next season. Igesund will not name the players on the list, although in consultation with the club’s directors […]

KENYA’S posts and telecommunications monopoly is to be split in June to facilitate liberalisation and privatisation of the country’s telecommunications and postal sector, officials said on Tuesday. A communications commission has already been established to oversee privatisation of the state-owned Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation ). The Communications Commission of Kenya is expected to license […]

THE National Medical Alliance has affiliated to the South African Medical Association after nearly five years of negotiations, SAMA announced on Tuesday. The NMA, representing the SA Medical and Dental Practitioners, Society of Dispensing Family Practitioners, Family Practioners’ Association, Dispensing Family Practitioners Association, and the Eastern Cape Medical Guild, took up seats on SAMA’s board […]

ANGOLA, one of the world’s most heavily mined countries, on Thursday finally joined the Maputo conference of parties to the Ottawa Convention banning landmines. A delegation headed by deputy minister of external relations Toko Serao arrived in the Mozambican capital amid speculation that its failure to turn up was connected to its continued violation of […]

THE South African Football Association (Safa) will hold a meeting to plan for the future of women’s soccer in South Africa after Banyana Banyana’s crash and burn in Nigeria last October. Safa GM Dennis Mumble says the meeting will focus on skill-building to provide a foundation for women’s soccer into the next millenium. International guests, […]

MOZAMBIQUE’S development has been “retarded by three generations of land mines”, President Joaquim Chissano said at the opening of a five day conference in Maputo this week of countries that have signed the Ottawa landmine-ban treaty. Chissano said it would take Mozambique 160 years to clear the estimated two million mines strewn across the country. […]