MONDAY, 6.30PM: THE Johannesburg Stock Exchange started the week on its back foot on Monday, with the all share index dropping 3% in early trade. All eyes were on the interest rate, which, floated by the Reserve Bank on Friday, rose further to 23,985% from 20,377% on Monday prompting fears of further bank prime rate […]
FOURTEEN Zambian children face death by brain seizure after a dog suspected to have rabies bit them during a two day rampage in the country’s central province of Kabwe. The only way to avoid the fatal disease after exposure is immediate and relatively expensive treatment. “Victims of the mad dog’s rampage are in despair, as […]
MONDAY, 8.00AM: TWO Bafana Bafana players, Brendan Augustine and Naughty Mokoena, have been sent home after going nightclubbing in the early hours of Sunday morning. And coach Philippe Troussier has threatened to quit once again, saying: “I have received a message from South Africa that they don’t want a foreign coach. Perhaps it is time […]
OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Tuesday 5.45am. GAUTENG’s health services are on the verge of collapse, and intensive-care patients will begin to die unnecessarily if a freeze on hiring new doctors at Johannesburg’s four teaching hospitals is not reversed by month’s end. That was the sobering message of a panel of four senior state-employed doctors, who […]
THE state has decided not to prosecute music legend Ray Phiri on three criminal charges that his former landlord laid against him in March. Senior public prosecutor Marius van Heerden said on Friday that he decided not prosecute Phiri, but declined to give reasons for his decision. Phiri was facing charges of housebreaking, theft and […]
THE South African Democratic Teacher’s Union has cut ties with the Mpumalanga education department, insisting more officials were involved in the recent matric exam scandal than just the two senior officials who were fingered two weeks ago. Former education MEC David Mabuza suspended the department’s chief education specialist Gogo Alphina Anna Ndlovana, and first education […]
OWN CORRESPONDENT, Sydney | Tuesday 4.30pm. KENYAN great Kip Keino on Tuesday predicted a continuing hold for his country on the steeplechase title at the 2000 Olympics. The soft-spoken Keino, who gave Kenya its first gold medal at the 1968 Olympics when he won the 1,500 metres and went on to win the steeplechase gold […]
PRESIDENT Mbeki’s office has begun advertising key positions, including that of presidential spokesperson. The post of chief director of communication will pay a basic R208326 for a person with “high-level managerial, communication and negotiation skills”, whose duties will include researching and writing speeches for the president. Mbeki’s current spokesperson, Ronnie Mamoepa, who is expected to […]
THE State on Tuesday provisionally withdrew charges against two people accused of murdering 31-year-old teacher Nandi Mhlengo. Nkosisana Ximba and Ntambizini Mandazi were charged with the murder after Mhlengo was gunned down in full view of her Grade One pupils at a Olifantsvlei pre-primary school two weeks ago. Prosecutor Edward Engelbrecht said in the Johannesburg […]
OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Tuesday 1.30pm NEW regulations boosting the powers of ministers in managing their departments were launched in Pretoria on Tuesday. The public service management framework, which comes into effect on July 1, will enable ministers to create and abolish posts, as well as to recruit, appoint, promote, transfer and discharge employees. Deputy […]