WEDNESDAY, 12.30PM A DISPUTE between environmentalists and the minerals and energy department threatens to add sourcing and transport costs to the operations of Sasol subsidiary Sasol Chemical Industries (SCI). The unit stands to be affected if the fuel producer has to abandon plans to extend its Sigma mining operations. SCI’s coal requirements have traditionally been […]

BRAZZAVILLE FIGHTING CONTINUES RIVAL factions in the Congolese capital Brazzaville hammered each other with heavy weapons fire overnight, as forces loyal to President Pascal Lissouba and former dictator Denis Sassou Nguesso seem determined to find a military solution to the conflict. Bitter fighting between Lissouba’s troops the militia of Sassou Nguesso has continued despite increasingly […]

WEDNESDAY, 11.30AM: BAFANA BAFANA are scheduled to play a number of matches as part of their preparations for the World Cup finals in France next June. The South African Football Association (Safa) have also accepted invitations to play Austria and Denmark next year. They play Austria on May 31 in Vienna and Denmark in Copenhagen […]

WEDNESDAY, 1.00PM OIL company Engen will spend more than $60-million in expansion into sub-Saharan Africa within the next few years. John Slee, Engen’s managing director for Kenya, says the company will soon shift its focus to fuels, from lubricants, petrochemicals and bitumen, with the bulk of the investment going into marketing and brand diversification. “We […]

WEDNESDAY, 4.30PM The armed wing of the banned Islamic Salvation Front on Wednesday announced a ceasefire in Algeria effective as of Wednesday next week. The statement from the Islamic Salvation Army, dated September 21, was signed by its national leader Madani Mezerag. The ceasefire call comes two days after up to 200 people were slaughtered […]

TUESDAY, 4.00PM The trial of former Zimbabwean president Canaan Banana on charges of sodomy and indecent assault was adjourned on Tuesday while the judge considers a defence application for the case to be thrown out of court. Banana faces trial on 11 counts of sodomy, attempted sodomy and indecent assault involving seven aides, a cook, […]

TUESDAY, 12.30PM BRITISH-based National Westminster Bank is reviewing its joint venture operation in South Africa with the Board of Executors. The review is part of the bank’s restructuring of its global securities operations, moving the most profitable treasury and foreign exchange operations into a separate arm, Global Financial Markets. Press reports indicate that BoE Natwest […]

MONDAY, 10.30AM The market value of New Africa Investments Limited (Nail) more than doubled to R3,4-billion on Monday, in its first share rights offer. Chairman Ntatho Motlana said Nail’s capital raising made corporate history: “We don’t believe any company has more than doubled its market capitalisation with its first rights offer,” he said. Nail issued […]

WINNIE MUST APPEAR TRUTH commission spokesman John Allen said on Monday that Winnie Madikizela-Mandela will have to appear in person before the commission on Thursday, even if she wishes to apply for a postponement of her in camera hearing. Madikizela-Mandela’s lawyers said at the weekend they will apply for a postponement of the inquiry because […]