WEDNESDAY, 5.00PM SOUTH AFRICA will have its first public hearing into ‘racism’ at schools, the government’s Human Rights Commission announced on Wednesday. Three commissioners, assisted by two education experts, will hear written and oral evidence about the explulsion of twelve youths from Springs Boys High School in Gauteng. A commission statement said twelve pupils at […]

WEDNESDAY, 4.00PM THE JSE was marginally weaker on Wednesday as investors stayed out of the market ahead of Thursday’s release of US September consumer inflation figures and next Monday’s tenth anniversary of the stock market crash. The industrial index was 5,7 points lower at 8846,9, the all gold index was 8,7 points off at 1034,5 […]

WEDNESDAY, 10.20AM: WESTERN Province rugby selectors have made only one change in the squad for the Bankfin Currie Cup semi-final match against Gauteng Lions at Newlands on Saturday. Percy Montgomery replaces Christiaan Stewart at centre. The Province coach Harry Viljoen believes the strong running Montgomery could add another dimension to the backline play. Despite defence […]

WEDNESDAY, 2.30PM UGANDA’S rebels attacked a jail in the northern town of Adjumani on Monday, killed two prisoners and marched the other 80 off into captivity in the bush. They also attacked the local hospital and seized all medical supplies. At the weekend, they ambushed a mini-bus and abducted all 14 passengers. The rebels of […]

WEDNESDAY, 10.50AM: ORLANDO Pirates will be looking to new Bafana Bafana star, Willem Jackson, to help them gain maximum points in their Premier Soccer League match against Bloemfontein Celtic at FNB on Thurday. Pirates coach Ronald Mkhandawire praised Jackson and John Moeti for the brave performance they put up aganist France on Saturday and said […]

WEDNESDAY, 7.00PM THE South African luxury department store chain Woolworths has announced plans to take over the giant Australian retail group Country Road. Woolworths has made a R396 million offer to all ordinary shareholders of Country Road to buy them out at R6,85 a share. Woolworths already has an Australian subsidiary, which owns 19,9% of […]

WEDNESDAY, 6.30PM THE National Assembly’s education committee approved on Wednesday of changes to the Education Laws Amendment Bill, including last-minute changes which will give the Education Minister the power to regulate the funds used for employment of additional staff at public schools. The controversial amendments also require public schools to fill vacant posts from government […]

WINNIE ANSWERS QUESTIONS WINNIE MADIKIZELA MANDELA spent the entire day on Monday before a closed session of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. TRC officials would say only that she had answered all questions, and that no witnesses had yet been called. The hearing, into eight murders allegedly linked to Madikizela-Mandela, is in preparation for public […]

TUESDAY, 12.30PM: THE Gauteng Lions selectors have made two suprise changes to the team for the Bankfin Currie Cup semi-final match against Western Province at Newlands on Saturday. Coach Dawie Snyman has named Lions Under-21 wing Dean Hall and injured Springbok lock Hannes Strydom in the 21-man squad. Hall, who has only had one training […]

TUESDAY, 11.00AM The production price index plummeted one percentage point to 5,9% in August, from July’s annualised 6,9% and the lowest producer inflation since May 1996, when it was 5,8%. According to the Central Statistical Service, greatest contributor to August’s producer costs were agricultural products, followed by mining products, minerals and metals. The CSS said […]