Twenty-two striking Anglo Platinum mineworkers were injured on Tuesday morning when police fired rubber bullets to break up a roadblock outside a mine near Rustenburg, North West province police said. About 500 protesters started gathering outside the mine from about 4am and barricaded the entrance to the facility, said Captain David Serepa.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/pd.asp?cg=BreakingNews-Business&ao=123171">Strikes: Mine loses R28m a day</a>
The JSE Securities Exchange South Africa started on a firm note on Tuesday and remained strong throughout the morning session, buoyed by firm world markets and the weaker rand. By midday the all share index had added 0,72%, industrials were up 0,81%, resources were 0,98% better, the gold mining index advanced 1,09% and the platinum index was 1,41% firmer.
The ambulance crew who failed to transport an injured, homeless man to hospital in Johannesburg will appear before a disciplinary tribunal on Thursday. Johannesburg Metro spokesperson Gabu Tugwana said on Monday that an initial inquiry by the city’s emergency management services into the incident had found the men had acted negligently.
Pirates attacked two tugboats within three days of each other in the Malacca Strait, taking a captain and engineer from one of the vessels, news reports said on Tuesday. The two men were kidnapped on Saturday when the heavily-armed pirates boarded the MV Erna in Indonesian waters off the coast of Belawan in North Sumatra, The Straits Times said.
Tearful outbursts by convicted paedophile William John Creasey on Monday brought his trial in the Wynberg Regional Court to a halt. The 55-year-old teacher is to be sentenced, probably this week, on nine counts of indecent assault involving three teenage boys, and for possession of child pornography.
A non-governmental organisation has introduced chocolate, banana, and strawberry-scented condoms, saying they would attract even the most reluctant users in Zambia, state media reported on Monday. The condoms, intended as a novelty for the rich, were introduced in the mining town of Kitwe in the Copperbelt region by Clyde Robinson of the Society for Family Health.
Thai police have arrested the mother and three aunts of a 12-year-old girl who was killed in a ritual sacrifice to the Hindu God Indra ”to bring light to the world,” media reports said on Tuesday. Police raided the house of Kanchana Jiamcharoen (50) near Ratchburi’s ”Floating Market,” on Monday afternoon after neighbours said they had heard screams coming from the compound at about 2am.
Impala Platinum (Implats) and Anglo Platinum (AngloPlats) are losing tens of millions of rands per day as strike action by the National Union of Mineworkers continues. Implats spokesperson Humphrey Olifant said on Monday the company was losing about R28-million a day due to the strike which started last Friday.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has reported no progress by the Sudanese government to end the crisis in the western Darfur region, citing continuing clashes, attacks against civilians, escalating banditry and tribal conflict.
In a report to the UN Security Council circulated on Monday night, Annan described fresh promises by the Khartoum government but no positive action during September to end the 19-month conflict that has killed over 50Â 000 people and forced 1,4Â million to flee their homes.
”’You are so lucky! Oh I wish I was in your shoes, leaving this dreadful country and its problems. I wish I could fit in your suitcase!’ So they all said to me. My friends, my family, colleagues in the office, complete strangers at Harare airport immigration.” Everjoice Win on how being fresh out of Zimbabwe doesn’t necessarily make you a lucky fish.