Cape Town

Former African National Congress chief whip and fraud convict Tony Yengeni will be hauled before a Correctional Services Department hearing for his alleged breach of the parole code of conduct. Yengeni, who was granted parole for the past weekend, is being investigated following claims he contravened the code of conduct.

The granting of a weekend pass by the Correctional Services department to fraud convict and former parliamentary African National Congress (ANC) chief whip Tony Yengeni "sends the wrong message about corruption to the South African public", says Democratic Alliance correctional services spokesperson James Selfe.

Jailed African National Congress fraud convict Tony Yengeni could be out in time to make a guest appearance at next year’s opening of Parliament. A source in the Department of Correctional Services said on Friday that the Malmesbury prison parole board has set January 15 as the date for Yengeni’s release.

Africa’s recognition that the Chinese economy is one of the biggest in the world does not mean the continent’s countries should define themselves as recipients of charity, President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday, writing in his weekly newsletter on the African National Congress website

Khoisan rights supporters marched through Cape Town’s city centre on Friday to protest what an organiser said was the lack of Armistice Day recognition of the historic role of indigenous Khoisan warriors. The City of Cape Town will hold its annual Armistice Day ceremony at the Cenotaph in Adderley Street on Saturday morning.

Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon lambasted the government on Friday, and particularly Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, for neglecting the critical issue of climate change. Leon said climate change was arguably the biggest threat to the planet, evidenced by shrinking glaciers and soaring carbon emissions.

The Public Protector’s finding that Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya was not duly influenced in awarding a large government contract to an investment company defied common sense, the official opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Thursday.

The executive has full confidence in police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi, despite recent media allegations again linking him to alleged criminals, Government Communications and Information System head Themba Maseko said on Thursday. Selebi has said he believes a smear campaign is being waged against him.

Deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and his cronies deserve severe punishment and should spend the rest of their lives behind bars, but he should not have received the death sentence, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Tuesday.

South Africa’s top leadership should set a better example on corruption if the country is to improve its rating on perceived levels of corruption, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Tuesday. ”Corruption scandals involving government officials and public representatives continue to undermine the country’s image,” the DA said.

Both President Thabo Mbeki and former president FW de Klerk will attend PW Botha’s funeral on Wednesday. Botha, who was head of the government from 1978 to 1989, died peacefully at his Wildnerness home last week, aged 90. The Presidency said Mbeki had emphasised the need for a ”balanced” appraisal of Botha’s life.

A South African inventor claims to have found a solution to a common romantic mood spoiler — putting on a male condom. A Capetonian is marketing his Pronto condom as an answer to the annoyance of tearing off condom wrappers and figuring out the right way up, saying his patent can be donned in less than three seconds.

As summer descends on Cape Town, visitors and locals are swapping bikinis for ponchos at the coastal city’s latest and undoubtedly coolest attraction — a cocktail lounge made entirely of ice. Sixty tonnes of frozen water have been used to construct the Ice Lounge in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront complex.

The Directorate of Special Operations of the National Prosecuting Authority has raided two homes of former Limpopo premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi, he said in a statement on Friday. The raids relate to allegations made against him with respect to alleged corruption in Limpopo, he said.

The two men accused of the murders of actor Brett Goldin and fashion designer Richard Bloom will go on trial in the Cape High Court in March next year, the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court heard on Friday. Magistrate Hafeesa Mohamed remanded Clinton Davids (22) and Shavaan Marlie (25) to December 14.

The nine provinces have vastly improved their spending patterns in the first six months of 2006/07, the National Treasury said on Thursday. They spent on average 45,2% or R82,7-billion of their combined budgets of R183-billion. ”This represents a spending increase year-on-year of 11,4% or R8,4-billion higher than for the same period last year,” the Treasury said in a statement.

South Africa’s two biggest opposition parties , the Democratic Alliance (DP) and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), are sceptical of Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula’s proposal to lengthen the 48-hour period before an arrested suspect has to appear in court. The DA said on Thursday it was outrageous for Nqakula to call for the constitutionally enshrined detention period to be extended.

Andre Petim, the Ajax Cape Town goalkeeper, secured a place for his side in the next round of the Telkom Cup knockout competition by saving two penalities against the Golden Arrows at Greenpoint Stadium on Wednesday night. Ajax won 4-2 on penalties when the game was forced into extra time.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has welcomed the ministerial review commission on intelligence announced by Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils on Wednesday. ”In particular, we are pleased with the clearly transparent process and public involvement,” DA spokesperson Paul Swart said in a statement.