FRIDAY, 6.00PM The statistics released by the Council of South African Banks today revealed that robbers have gotten away with more than R30-million in 164 bank robberies so far this year, while R105,3 million was robbed in 1996. COSAB head Bob Tucker said police indicated the robberies are the work of syndicates, made up of […]
TEACHERS WALK OUT ALL teacher unions walked out of pay negotiations yesterday, the third such walkout this year, accusing the government of lack of transparency. And protests seem likely to come from nurses as well, offered increases of 7,04%, compared to some 22% offered to other low-paid civil servants. IRAQIS IN SUDAN A UGANDAN newspaper, […]
FRIDAY, 5.00PM: The proposed May 12 strike planned by the Congress of SA Trade Unions was delared unlawful in the Labour Court, in Johannesburg today. Cosatu organised the countrywide protests in reaction to certain clauses of the Conditions of Employment Bill. The National Council of Trade Unions voiced its support of the protest action earlier […]
THURSDAY, 11.30AM GOVERNMENT may consider closing its accounts with private-sector banks which show no interest in financing small and medium enterprises, Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka told Parliament on Wednesday. We doubt and question the banks’ interest in the transformation and promotion of small and medium-sized businesses. These banks have government accounts from […]
THURSDAY, 12.30PM: The cash-strapped SA Tennis Association has received good news — they are not hosting the Fed Cup tie between SA and Austria on July 12 and 13. The meet will be held in Austria, and Sata’s only financial requirement will be to get the SA side there. The news comes as a relief […]
THURSDAY, 4.00PM: POLICE this morning used a water cannon to disperse Inkatha Freedom Party supporters resisitng eviction from Penduka section in Thokoza on the East Rand. The houses in Penduka section have been illegally occupied by IFP-supporting families since the early 1990s, when political violenec between supporters of the African National Congress and the IFP […]
THURSDAY, 11.30AM TSOGO Sun’s position as preferred finalist for a casino resort in the Mpumalanga capital of Nelspruit was placed in jeopardy yesterday when rivals Karos Hotels and Esikhehleni won a dramatic high court ruling which will likely delay the establishment of a Nelspruit casino complex for several months. Karos and its associate Esikhahleni argued […]
THURSDAY, 8.30AM FW DE KLERK, widely believed to have fallen out with his heir apparent Roelf Meyer, announced last night that he was scrapping Meyer’s task group investigating the possibility of forming a new party. The decision is a victory for the party’s Western Cape right-wing, which opposes radical changes to the party. Meyer, former […]
THURSDAY, 2.30PM: RESCUE operations at Gold Fields’ Deelkraal mine have been halted following this morning’s discovery of a ninth body after two seismic tremors last night caused rockfalls 2,6km down the mine. Mineral and Energy Affairs Minister Penuell Maduna is at present visiting the mine, following which he will visit injured miners in hospital. Following […]
THURSDAY, 11.00AM ELECTRICITY parastatal Eskom yesterday announced it has made a bid for 75% of the Zambian power utility, and is investigating constructing a 400kV power line through Swaziland to Mozambique. Eskom made the announcement at the launch of a major low-cost housing project in Midrand, with the capacity tomprovide 8 000 rental units and […]