The African National Congress in the Western Cape on Monday plastered over its cracks with an announcement that provincial transport and public works minister Mcebisi Skwatsha is to quit his post on July 27. This followed a politically damaging dispute between Premier Ebrahim Rasool and the recently elected ANC provincial leadership.
Relations between Britain and Pakistan in the aftermath of the London bombings were put to the test on Sunday when one of Islamabad’s most senior diplomats advised against trying to shift responsibility to his country, and blamed British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s policies in the Middle East.
South African investors should put some of their savings in offshore markets in order to take advantage of the opportunities not available in South Africa, as well as for diversification and risk reasons, it emerged at Stanlib’s second investment cnference in Cape Town on Monday.
The Nation Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) and Solidarity on Monday said they are still consulting their members on whether to accept the new wage offer from electricity utility Eskom. Numsa spokesperson Dumisa Ntuli said that Eskom has increased its wage offer from 5,5% to 6,5%.
Urgent national legislation is needed to curb irregular and unethical practices in the country’s hunting and wildlife industry, animal welfare groups said on Monday. This has become clear in private workshops and talks with industry role players, said the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and others.
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Durban businessman Schabir Shaik’s application for leave to appeal against his fraud and corruption conviction and 15-year jail sentence will be argued in the city’s High Court next Tuesday. ”It could take 10 minutes or two days,” Shaik’s attorney, Reeves Parsee, said on Monday.
Tributes poured in for South Africa’s former president Nelson Mandela who turned 87 on Monday.
Tributes poured in on Monday for former British leader Sir Edward Heath who has died aged 89, with fellow political veteran Margaret Thatcher describing him as a ”political giant” and Prime Minister Tony Blair calling him a ”man of great integrity”. Heath passed away on Sunday after growing weak in recent days.
World oil prices rose on Monday as deadly Hurricane Emily continued to threaten oil platforms and refineries in the United States Gulf of Mexico, while a strike by Iraqi workers added to market jitters, dealers said. Emily caused two deaths on Sunday when winds slammed a helicopter trying to evacuate an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico.
Powerful Hurricane Emily was lashing Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and its popular beach resorts early on Monday with 215kph winds and drenching rains. In eastern China, at least 77 000 people have been evacuated in the coastal city of Wenzhou as Typhoon Haitang bore down on the region after pounding Taiwan on Monday.