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/ 2 November 2006

Can Cape Town survive another change of guard?

Another regime change and the Cape Town city administration will collapse: that is the judgement of many people who work there. Off the record, it’s no less dire and compelling. In the civic centre, a senior city-council official confides across his desk that the municipal administration cannot withstand another political transition.

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/ 2 November 2006

Ex-Zimbabwe cricketer charged with arson

Controversial former Zimbabwe Test player Mark Vermeulen was formally charged on Thursday with carrying out an arson attack on the offices and training academy of the national cricket board. The 27-year-old Vermeulen, who had been detained at Harare’s main police station, was expected to appear before a magistrate’s court in the capital on Friday, his lawyer David Dumbura told the media.

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/ 2 November 2006

US warns of threat of attacks in Kenya, Ethiopia

The United States warned its citizens on Thursday that Kenya and Ethiopia could become targets of suicide attacks by ”extremist elements” from Somalia, where Islamists control the capital and other key areas. ”These threats specifically mention the execution of suicide explosions in prominent landmarks within Kenya and Ethiopia,” said a message issued to US citizens.

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/ 2 November 2006

Gayle powers Windies into final

Chris Gayle smashed 133 not out to power holders West Indies into their third Champions Trophy final with a six-wicket victory over South Africa on Thursday. The 27-year-old Jamaican stroked his third hundred of the tournament after a 154-run opening partnership with fellow left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul to guide West Indies to 262-4 in 44 overs in reply to South Africa’s 258-8.

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/ 2 November 2006

Treasury: Provinces improve spending patterns

The nine provinces have vastly improved their spending patterns in the first six months of 2006/07, the National Treasury said on Thursday. They spent on average 45,2% or R82,7-billion of their combined budgets of R183-billion. ”This represents a spending increase year-on-year of 11,4% or R8,4-billion higher than for the same period last year,” the Treasury said in a statement.

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/ 2 November 2006

Cosatu: PW was a brutal dictator

PW Botha will be remembered with ”hatred and disgust” as a brutal dictator who presided over a system that denied the majority all their basic human rights, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Thursday. ”His hands were stained with the blood of hundreds who were murdered …,” Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said.

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/ 2 November 2006

Govt, business to discuss crime

Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula and several Cabinet colleagues in his cluster will meet with the Big Business Working Group on Friday to discuss their joint programme to fight crime. The meeting in Johannesburg comes only weeks after the two groups agreed on ways to fight crime.

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/ 2 November 2006

Thousands struck off health roll

Over 8 000 health practitioners have been struck off the roll after failing to pay their annual fees, the Health Professionals’ Council of South Africa (HPSCA) said on Thursday. ”A total of 8 593 health professionals have been struck off the roll after failing to meet the deadline,” said HPCSA spokesperson Tendai Dhliwayo.