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/ 7 December 2006
South African Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni’s words in mid-November that South Africans need to tighten their belts came home to roost on Thursday when he put a dampener on the Christmas spirit by raising the repo rate by 50 basis points to 9%. In mid-November he sent a strong message that this rise was coming. On Thursday he followed through with this.
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/ 7 December 2006
The South African Cabinet has dismissed opposition parties’ end-of-year report cards on its performance, saying it will not be judged by the wish lists of opposition parties. ”The ‘silly’ season is upon us and with it comes the publication of the so-called ‘score cards’,” government communications chief Themba Maseko told journalists.
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/ 7 December 2006
Legislation to ensure greater cooperation between the Scorpions and the police will be tabled early next year, government communications head Themba Maseko said on Thursday. The Cabinet had reviewed progress made in implementing the recommendations of the Khampepe Commission regarding the location of the Scorpions, he told a media briefing.
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/ 7 December 2006
The South African Cabinet has condemned the unruly behaviour by a section of the crowd who interrupted President Thabo Mbeki’s speech at the weekend re-burial of struggle veteran Moses Mabhida in Pietermaritzburg. Government communications head Themba Maseko said the meeting took note of the Pietermaritzburg incident.
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/ 7 December 2006
Demands for bribes from police and other public officials is a major problem across the developing world and even European Union countries like the Czech Republic and Greece are major offenders, a corruption watchdog said on Thursday. ”Corruption has infiltrated public life and burrowed in,” said Robin Hodess, policy and research director at Transparency International.
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/ 7 December 2006
Much-vaunted England spinner Monty Panesar says he is ready to produce if given an Ashes call-up, despite a lack of match practice on the tour. The left-arm finger spinner was a frustrated onlooker for the first two Tests, with England selectors preferring Ashley Giles’s extra experience and superior batting ability.
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/ 7 December 2006
Natalie du Toit continued her relentless form at the IPC World Swimming Championships on Wednesday evening, winning her fourth gold medal at the King’s Park Aquatic Centre. Swimming in the women’s S9 400m freestyle, the 22-year-old beat rival Stephanie Dixon for the fourth time this week, missing out on her own world record by just four seconds.
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/ 7 December 2006
South Africa will be looking to win on home soil for the first time this week, having won the Dubai leg of the World Sevens circuit last weekend. The hosts have never won in George, where the competition heads this weekend, but after winning all their matches last week, including downing the mighty All Blacks in the final, confidence will be soaring in coach Paul Treu’s camp.
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/ 7 December 2006
Kaizer Chiefs added to AmaZulu’s relegation woes when they beat them 2-0 in their Premier Soccer League (PSL) encounter at Chatsworth Stadium on Wednesday. The game started on a high note with Chiefs putting pressure on their hosts, but they failed to penetrate a stubborn-looking AmaZulu defence.
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/ 7 December 2006
The JSE was weaker in noon trade on Thursday as a stronger rand and lower commodities prices resulted in resources stocks feeling the pinch. Overall the market was quiet, marking time ahead of the Monetary Policy Committee announcement on interest rates.