MONDAY, 11.30AM: In a deal that will almost double its number of retail outlets from 185 to 332, Shoprite Holdings has bought the OK Bazaars Group from South African Breweries. Under the deal, announced at the weekend, the OK Bazaars name may become the franchise brand for the Shoprite Checkers group. Those OK stores not […]

MONDAY, 8.30AM: MAMELODI Sundowns and Orlando Pirates drew their Rothmans Cup semi-final match 2-2 at FNB Stadium on Saturday. Pirates led 2-1 at interval. In the 44th minute Daniel Mudau’s goal was ruled offside much to the delight of the Pirates fans. It was the big Nigerian Raphael Chukwu who opened the score in the […]

MONDAY, 2.00PM: Bantu Holomisa, co-leader of the United Democratic Movement, claims there is an African National Congress conspiracy to discredit him and, perhaps, to kill him. In a five-page letter to President Nelson Mandela, he asks that his safety be assured. He says he was briefed by ANC members on Sunday that the party is […]

MONDAY, 9.00AM: A R2,5-billion contract to upgrade and operate transport links between Matadi and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been won by Group Five Goodwin, a subsidiary of the South African construction compay Group Five. The contract, which will stretch over a number of years, will entail upgrading port facilities in both […]

MONDAY, 5.00PM: IRAN’S foreign minister Kamal Kharrazi says his visit to South Africa (see below) is chiefly to encourage trade and sign a treaty to abolish double taxation and protect investments. South African foreign minister Alfred Nzo says the talks, on Monday and Tuesday, will look at ways to narrow the trade gap by encouraging […]

MONDAY, 11.30AM: More than a third of the 850 municipalities in South Africa are not financially sustainable, Constitutional Development deputy director general Chippie Olver told the Presidential Review Commission at the weekend. And a lack of co-ordination and co-operation between government departments is hampering delivery. The commission, reviewing transformation and delivery in the public service, […]

MONDAY, 6.00PM: The gardener who implicated a Truth Commission investigator in the bombing of a pub, has privately admitted to TRC chairman Archbishop Desmond Tutu that he had made false statements after having been tortured in 1994. Tutu told a press conference on Monday that gardener Bennet Sibiya had been tortured by unnamed persons and […]

KAUNDA AND CHONWE STAY OUT FORMER Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda, expected home on Monday, has instead flown off to London, following pressure from party associates who believe he will be arrested under the new state of emergency. His son, major Wezi Kaunda, claims to have been told that the government has already issued warrants of […]

MONDAY, 8.55AM: CAPE Town Spurs walloped Jomo Cosmos 4-0 in a Castle Premier Soccer League match at Greenpoint Stadium on Sunday. In the 40th minute Ian Gorowa scored Spur’s first goal after receiving a pass from Mumba Ngandu. Spurs went to the interval 2-0 up after Theo Hempe scored the second goal from a Mathew […]