No image available
/ 11 February 2004

Gold Fields sees competition for gold assets

There is likely to be continued competition among the world’s major gold players for the remaining listed quality bullion assets, says world number-four gold miner Gold Fields’s director of international operations John Munro. During the past decade global gold mining has seen consolidation that has left about six major producers/

No image available
/ 9 February 2004

African states launch mining partnership

Sixteen African ministers responsible for mining in their respective countries have launched the African Mining Partnership, with the aim of championing and coordinating mining and mineral-related initiatives under the auspices of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=30904">African mining risks loss of funding</a>

No image available
/ 9 February 2004

Court hears closing arguments in Adams case

Former Western Cape premier Peter Marais had been a temperamental and often melodramatic witness, and his evidence was contrived and self serving, the Cape High Court heard on Monday. Judge Anton Veldhuizen was hearing closing arguments in the case in which former MEC Freda Adams is suing Marais for R2,3-million for defamation and sexual harassment.

No image available
/ 7 February 2004

‘Manto should be disciplined’

Doctors protesting in Cape Town on Friday against what they called the declining state of public health care were angered when they were prevented from marching to Parliament, as originally planned. The march was held to protest against, among other things, draft legislation that will prevent them from dispensing medication.

No image available
/ 6 February 2004

Mbeki avoids fireworks

South African President Thabo Mbeki avoided fireworks in his State of the Nation speech on Friday, but gave reassurances on his government misusing a potential two-thirds majority in the next election while promising that the stability of the past 10 years will be maintained.

  • ‘We were very disappointed’
  • Mbeki: No major policy shifts
  • Economists react to Mbeki speech
  • Parliament a riot of colour
  • Mbeki’s speech: Full text (PDF)
  • No image available
    / 6 February 2004

    SA to invite Durban port concessions ‘soon’

    The South African government will "soon" be inviting proposals for private-sector participation in certain port operations, starting with the Durban Container Terminal, according to Minister of Public Enterprises Jeff Radebe, who was speaking at the opening of the second African Intermodal conference in Cape Town.

    No image available
    / 5 February 2004

    Cape Town to get R400m film city

    Anant Singh’s DreamWorld consortium has been confirmed as the successful bidder to establish a multimillion-rand film city outside Cape Town. Construction is expected to start in the first quarter of next year, and finish early in 2006. Singh told a media briefing the consortium planned an investment of R400-million.

    No image available
    / 4 February 2004

    DA suggests tips for Mbeki

    South African official opposition leader Tony Leon has suggested that President Thabo Mbeki’s State of the Nation speech should signal a return to the "rainbow nation" philosophy. Mbeki is to open Parliament on Friday with the annual State of the Nation speech.

    No image available
    / 4 February 2004

    Third term for Mbeki a ‘non-issue’

    A third term of office for President Thabo Mbeki has never been posed within the African National Congress, ANC secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe asserted on Wednesday. He was responding to a letter to Mbeki sent by Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon, seeking clarity on the matter.
    <li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=30621">DA suggests tips for Mbeki</a>
    <li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=30459">Mbeki won’t accept instructions</a>

    No image available
    / 3 February 2004

    Asset Forfeiture Unit wants legal loophole closed

    The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) intends recommending the minister of justice closes a loophole used to contest legislation that the AFU uses to assist other countries by freezing proceeds of crime hidden in South Africa. ”In many cases the international cooperation in criminal matters law is fairly ineffective,” said AFU head Willie Hofmeyr.

    No image available
    / 2 February 2004

    Nepad economic vision ‘not unrealistic’

    The vision that drives the New Economic Programme for Africa’s Development is not unrealistic, chairperson of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) steering committee Wiseman Nkuhlu said on Sunday at the opening of the first-ever African ministerial conference on open learning and distance education.

    No image available
    / 2 February 2004

    Coega set for boost of billions

    South Africa’s Coega industrial development zone and neighbouring deepwater port of Ngqura outside Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape have firm funding commitments totalling about R7,4-billion from the public sector for their ongoing development.

    No image available
    / 2 February 2004

    Van Schalkwyk calls for return of the rope

    President Thabo Mbeki should declare war on crime and announce the return of the death penalty when he delivers his state of the nation address this week, New National Party leader Marthinus van Schalkwyk said on Sunday. Mbeki should commit government to ”concrete actions that will improve the lives of our people”.

    No image available
    / 30 January 2004

    IFP says it’s sorry

    The Inkatha Freedom Party, which shares the provincial government in KwaZulu-Natal with the ruling African National Congress, said on Friday it was sorry about an incident in which South African President Thabo Mbeki’s motorcade was hindered by a number of its supporters.

    No image available
    / 30 January 2004

    Mining royalty tax a ‘disincentive’

    The Democratic Alliance on Friday called for less state intervention in the mining sector, saying it should be allowed to get on with business without government interference. DA spokesperson Ian Davidson said the proposed royalty tax on mining operations in the draft Mining Royalties Bill should be opposed.

    No image available
    / 30 January 2004

    Who will carry the Olympic torch?

    The Athens 2004 Olympic torch relay brings for the first time the Olympic flame to the streets of Cape Town in June this year. Beginning in early June, the Olympic flame will embark on a 21st-century-style tour that circles the earth. More than 3 600 torch bearers will play a part in carrying the flame.

    No image available
    / 29 January 2004

    SA minister may be destined for glory

    South Africa’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Alec Erwin, has been tipped by an influential American journal as the favourite candidate for the director general’s post at the World Trade Organisation, which becomes vacant in September 2005. Erwin’s ministry has poured cold water on the speculation.

    No image available
    / 29 January 2004

    ANC condemns IFP for blocking Mbeki

    South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has moved to swiftly condemn the actions of what it said were opposition Inkatha Freedom Party supporters who tried to block South African President Thabo Mbeki’s entrance to an imbizo event in the troubled Tugela Ferry in KwaZulu-Natal earlier on Thursday.
    <li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=30353">IFP, ANC to discuss tension</a>
    <li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=30339">IFP supporters block Mbeki</a>

    No image available
    / 28 January 2004

    Moosa red-faced over dead leopard

    Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Valli Moosa says he is ”absolutely embarrassed” about a leopard that had to be put down after being injured in a trap on his family’s farm in the Western Cape. According to reports, the leopard was caught in a gin trap set by workers on Monday.

    No image available
    / 28 January 2004

    DA fuelling racism, says NNP

    South Africa’s official opposition Democratic Alliance is "fuelling the fires of racism using the fig leaf of a strong opposition", the New National Party argued on Wednesday. In a raging set of pre-election volleys — the NNP and the DA have been at each other’s throats all week

    No image available
    / 28 January 2004

    Buthelezi plays down meeting with ANC

    Inkatha Freedom Party leader and Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi has played down a meeting held with the ruling African National Congress this week, describing it as having "no bearing" on the coming elections.
    <li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=30281">ANC, IFP meet, details kept secret</a>