TUESDAY, 12.30PM The rand fell to a five-month low against the US dollar on Monday as banks stockpiled dollars ahead of today’s relaxation of foreign exchange controls. The rand traded between R4,528 and R4,531 to the dollar on local markets, its lowest level since February 5. However, despite the tribulations of the currency, financial markets […]
BOMB THREAT THE African National Congress’s Shell House headquarters in Johannesburg received a bomb threat on Monday night. The police searched the building but nothing was found. The entire block was cordoned off overnight SAMWU STRIKE ALMOST 80% of all municipal workers in Greater Johannesburg took part in a strike by the South African Municipal […]
TUESDAY, 4.00PM PRELIMINARY results from last year’s census show that there are 37,9-million people in South Africa, the Central Statistical Service said on Tuesday. According to the CSS figures released today, 18,2-million (48%) of the total are males and 19,7-million (52%) females. KwaZulu-Natal is the most populous province with 7,7-million inhabitants (20,3% of the total), […]
TUESDAY, 10.00AM AXED housing director-general Billy Cobbett has been appointed to head Cape Town’s sonn-to-be-formed housing department. Cobbett’s position as director general expired at midnight on Tuesday and it is believed he could take up his new post in days. Confirming that he had accepted the post, one of a number of job offers he […]
TUESDAY, 4.30PM JUSTICE Minister Dullah Omar has introduced a new State of Emergency Bill to Parliament, which will allow the declaration of a state of emergency in conformity with the new Constitution. In terms of the Constitution, a state of emergency may only continue for 21 days unless extended by the National Assemble, in which […]
TUESDAY, 12.00NOON: WITH all the South African singles Wimbledon players eliminated, hopes are high that the doubles players will fare better. In second-round matches on Monday, Chris Haggard and American partner Bill Behrens won against Pablo Albano of Argentina and Slava Dosedel of Czechoslavakia, 7-6, 6-7, 7-4. Piet Norval and Neil Broad (UK) beat Cristian […]
TUESDAY, 4.30PM ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe, in his opening address to parliament, unveiled his most comprehensive plan yet to strip whites, foreign nationals and foreign companies of a total of 8,3-million hectares of land, intended for redistribution among the country’s 11,5-million black people. A tax that will make large holdings unaffordable, a “one man one […]
TUESDAY, 11.00AM: SOUTH African Football Association general manager Dennis Mumble confirmed on Monday that Bafana Bafana will play World Cup ’98 hosts France on their home ground in Lens in October. This World Cup build-up will be South Africa’s second match on European soil. They lost to England 2-1 in May. In order for South […]
TUESDAY, 11.00AM: THE United Cricket Board of South Africa has announced its support for the Australian proposal to allow international series matches to be played under lights. Floodlights have been used to eliminate poor visibility and to finish the overs in one-day cricket, and the rule may soon be extended to series matches, if the […]
MONDAY, 11.15AM: LEONARD CHEUNE retained the presidency of Athletics South Africa (ASA) at the national body’s annual meeting at Esselen Park on Saturday. This was after the Western Province Athletics boss, Alex Marshall, withdrew his nomination for president and vice-president, leaving Cheune unopposed for the top position. The Gauteng North chairman, Stix Stiglingh, won the […]