TUESDAY, 11.00AM: THE Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa has begun a restructuring programme that will see several of its divisions merged, to leave the body with four divisions. The four divisions to remain will be: trade, customs and monetary affairs; investment promotion and private sector development; infrastructure development; and information. Comesa acting secretary-general […]

TUESDAY, 3.30PM: JONATHAN OPPENHEIMER will captain the Nicky Oppenheimer XI to face Pakistan in their opening tour match of South Africa, starting January 29. Pakistan’s tour of more than a month will include three Tests against the South African national squad. The opening match of the tour will be played at Oppenheimer’s Randjesfontein Oval, where […]

MONDAY, 11.30AM: AFTER playing well during their follow-on innings in the first Test against Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe were decisively beaten on the final day in Asgiriya on Sunday Zimbabwe started the day at 289/7, still needing 40 runs to make Sri Lanka bat again. Paul Strang ensured that Sri Lanka bat again after he cut […]

Robert Kirby : Loose cannon The Christmas hols done with, it’s time once again to reflect on how we did as a nation honouring this fine occasion. As of going to press, South Africa’s extermination road network was doing quite well in its disciplined attempt to outstrip last year’s carnage. With but a day or […]

FRIDAY, 2.30PM: A SIX-member International Monetary Fund delegation arrives in Zimbabwe on Tuesday for its second visit since November, to launch a US$183-million stand-by credit arrangement to prop up the country’s fast-deteriorating balance of payments position. It is expected that the funds will be disbursed in two tranches, with a first payment available immediately after […]

FRIDAY, 4.30PM: THE Johannesburg Stock Exchange ended Friday 1% down amid continuing fears that Asian markets have not yet seen the end of their financial crisis. Dealers said sentiment was bearish, not only in South Africa, but on around the world, as investors are getting to grips with the impact on corporate earnings of the […]

As blame for the poor matric results is bandied about, schools are set to reopen with no hint of a resolution. Andy Duffy reports State schools open their doors next week on the eve of a potentially bruising and bloody battle between the government, the provinces and their union allies over the floundering education system. […]

Madeleine Wackernagel : Taking Stock Looking for a cheery subject to start the new year, I thought of the massive influx of foreigners and all that lovely foreign exchange providing a welcome boost to our beleaguered economy. But events conspired against me. Lurid tales of foreign visitors mindlessly slaughtered around the country will deal a […]

THURSDAY, 12.30PM: WORLDWIDE demand for gold rose 16% last year as falling prices led to a higher demand for gold in jewellery, electronics and coin production. Total demand rose to 4 025 tons from the 1996 figure of 3 477 tons. The rise, however, was offset by record sales of above-ground gold by central banks, […]

Anglo American and its associated companies are facing a $3-billion lawsuit in the United States after allegations that it “interfered” in a tender already awarded to another mining company in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s fabulously rich copper belt. On Wednesday, the Arkansas-based junior mining company America Mineral Fields (AMF) filed the damages suit against […]