WEDNESDAY, 3.00PM ANGOLAN Unita rebels are being trained by Moroccan mercenaries around Unita’s stronghold in the southern town of Bailundo, according to private radio station Luanda Antena Comercial. The radio station quoted deserters from Unita leader Jonas Savimbi’s armed forces, who claimed they had worked alongside the mercenaries. Meanwhile, Unita’s former secretary-general, General Eugenio Manuvakola, […]

WEDNESDAY, 12.30PM: WORLD soccer governing body Fifa announced on Tuesday it would support an African bid to host the 2006 World Cup finals. Fifa president Joao Havelange said in Cairo: “I hope that the 2006 World Cup takes place in Africa because [Africa] has the means to do it.” Currently only England and Germany are […]

WEDNESDAY, 12.30PM: MORE injured players have left the Gauteng Lions team, forcing selectors to name several rookies in the squad to face Natal in a Currie Cup clash this Saturday. Coach Dawie Snyman said of the injuries sustained during last week’s match against Northern Transvaal: “It has simply been a succession of freakish accidents. Losing […]

WEDNESDAY, 4.30PM CONVICTED murderer and former policeman and Civil Co-operation Bureau operative appeared briefly on Wednesday in the Pretoria Regional Court. The case was postponed to September 17 to determine a date for high court hearing. Barnard was remanded in custody and is expected to bring a bail application on Monday. His legal representative said […]

TUESDAY, 4.30PM BETWEEN 200 and 300 Comoran soldiers set sail on Tuesday to intervene on the island of Anjouan in the Indian Ocean republic, where a separatist uprising has broken out, eyewitnesses reported. Soldiers were seen preparing to leave for Anjouan aboard two civilian ferries during the night from Moroni port on the main island […]

TUESDAY, 11.00AM: SOWETO’S Orlando Stadium could soon become a permanent home for soccer club Moroka Swallows — the self-proclaimed “ambitious club” has plans to buy the stadium, renovate and upgrade it, and establish it as a base for their future club matches. Swallows director Mike Mangena said on Monday that the purchase will be “taking […]

TUESDAY, 11.00AM: SOUTH AFRICAN Hugh Baiocchi beat Bob Duval in a play-off to win the Pittsburgh Senior Classic in Pittsburgh on Sunday, after they were tied at 206 after three rounds. “Bob is a good friend and a good player. It was a little intimidating playing with him in the play-off because he is such […]

TUESDAY, 1.30PM: NAMIBIA’S parliament is poised to pass a contentious bill that provides agents of a new Central Intelligence Agency with unfettered rights to operate in any area they choose. “No one is exceptional, so there is no need to limit the activities of the Namibia Central Intelligence Service,” Swapo’s Henock ya Kasita said in […]

TUESDAY, 4.30PM: DRAFT legislation proposing a compulsory training levy on companies was unveiled by Labour Minister Tito Mboweni in Cape Town on Tuesday. The proposed levy will be between 1% and 1,5% of company wage bills, but this may be recouped by businesses running their own training programmes. The Skills Development Bill was approved by […]