The soccer World Cup fills me with dread. I want to look, but also to look away. Not because I don’t like football. I do. Not because I’m fussed about the St George flag. I’m all for it. Nor am I in any liberal confusion about wanting England to win. I want that too. Not even because I can’t stand the hysteria: Why can’t we have a commentary-free channel that just shows the games?
Citizens of the first republic to be established on the continent, in 1847, visited the most recently established democratic African republic to seek guidance and insight for their fledgling Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Members of Liberia’s TRC were on a week-long study tour of the country to learn how South Africa’s transition and healing process was managed.
The 2010 Fifa World Cup is a prestigious and much anticipated international sporting event. South Africa has been granted the opportunity to host this event in nine cities and 10 stadia across the country. This has generated much speculation among the South African public, writes CEO of the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa, Danny Jordaan.
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United Nations inspectors have found new traces of highly enriched uranium in Iran, in equipment at a technical university in Tehran, the UN nuclear watchdog said on Thursday in a confidential report obtained by Agence France-Presse. Uranium can be enriched to produce nuclear-reactor fuel. But if it is enriched to a much greater degree it can be used to manufacture atom bombs.
Defending champion Justine Henin-Hardenne overcame Belgian compatriot Kim Clijsters 6-3, 6-2 to reach the final of the French Open on Thursday. The 24-year-old fifth seed will meet Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final on Sunday after the eighth seed put out teenager Nicole Vaidisova 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2.
Former state president FW de Klerk had a second operation on Thursday after developing respiratory problems and is on a ventilator, according to Cape Town’s Panorama Medi-Clinic. De Klerk underwent surgery at the clinic on Saturday to remove a tumour, which was later found to be cancerous, from his colon.
The four main South African banks will increase the prime lending rate to 11%, in line with the repo rate hike Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni announced on Thursday. The prime overdraft rate at Absa, Nedbank and Old Mutual Bank will rise by 0,5 percentage points — from 10,5% to 11% — with effect from Friday.
Former US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova produced a gritty comeback to reach the final of the French Open on Thursday at the expense of teenager Nicole Vaidisova. The eighth-seeded Russian won 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 to set up a final against the winner of the all-Belgian semifinal between former world number ones Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne.
Advocate Cezanne Visser, also known as Advocate Barbie, was forced to call her lover, Advocate Dirk Prinsloo, her ”sex god”, the Pretoria High Court heard on Thursday. Prinsloo was a narcissist and a control freak, and became abusive when he did not get his way, his former personal assistant told the court.