TUESDAY, 9.30AM: RADICAL reforms to the monetary system, allowing more flexible interest rates, have been proposed by the Reserve Bank. In a discussion document, the Bank outlines a system whereby the repo rate — the currently fixed rate at which cash is provided to banks — fluctuates on a daily basis, and the demand and […]

TUESDAY, 200PM: The former bookkeeper of Dr Allan Boesak’s Foundation for Peace and Justice was sentenced on Tuesday to six years in prison. Bookkeeper Freddie Steenkamp, who had testified that he had been awed by Boesak and seduced by his lavish lifestyle, was two weeks ago found guilty of fraud and theft in connection with […]

TUESDAY, 3:00PM: The Zimbabwe government which has been warning white farmers for the past three months that their land is likely to be expropriated, without payment launched a campaign on Tuesday to soften its stand. In an interview in the government-controlled Herald, Lands Minister Kumbirai Kangai said the government doesn’t want “to get rid of […]

TUESDAY, 4.30PM: The National Assembly has approved legislation providing public funding for political parties represented in Parliament or provincial legislatures. The Bill deals with the day-to-day expenses of political parties, not those incurred in fighting elections. Parties not represented like the newly-formed United Democratic Movement will not be entitled to funds, a position which brought […]

MONDAY, 7.00PM: LOCAL phone calls could go up by 25% early next year if plans submitted to the SA Telecommunications Regulatory Authority are passed. During business hours, the cost of a call from a home or business could go up by 7,7 cents per unit from January 6 1998, while a unit on a payphone […]

MONDAY, 9AM: The Angolan government has appealed to the South African government to clamp down on what it believes to be illegal arms traffic via Lanseria airport, near Johannesburg, to the rebel group Unita. In the aftermath of United Nations sanctions imposed on Unita last week, Zambia has also come under pressure to cut off […]

MONDAY, 2.30PM TORRENTIAL rains in northern Kenya have cut off communication links between towns in most parts of north-eastern and eastern provinces. The government has declared a disaster zone in the area, where at least ten people have been reported drowned, families have been forced to flee and their houses have been destroyed. Information from […]

MONDAY, 11.30AM: In a deal that will almost double its number of retail outlets from 185 to 332, Shoprite Holdings has bought the OK Bazaars Group from South African Breweries. Under the deal, announced at the weekend, the OK Bazaars name may become the franchise brand for the Shoprite Checkers group. Those OK stores not […]

MONDAY, 8.30AM: MAMELODI Sundowns and Orlando Pirates drew their Rothmans Cup semi-final match 2-2 at FNB Stadium on Saturday. Pirates led 2-1 at interval. In the 44th minute Daniel Mudau’s goal was ruled offside much to the delight of the Pirates fans. It was the big Nigerian Raphael Chukwu who opened the score in the […]

MONDAY, 2.00PM: Bantu Holomisa, co-leader of the United Democratic Movement, claims there is an African National Congress conspiracy to discredit him and, perhaps, to kill him. In a five-page letter to President Nelson Mandela, he asks that his safety be assured. He says he was briefed by ANC members on Sunday that the party is […]