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/ 6 December 2007

Opposition lament new crime statistics

Opposition parties have lamented the increases in crime detailed in the latest statistics for April to September, which were released on Thursday. It was deplorable and made a mockery of Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula’s assurances that the crime rate was under control, Democratic Alliance spokesperson Diane Kohler-Barnard said.

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/ 6 December 2007

Court to decide on bail for Najwa Petersen

The Wynberg Regional Court in Cape Town is to deliver judgement on Monday in the second bail application launched by Najwa Petersen, who goes on trial in the Cape High Court next year for the alleged murder of her famous husband, Taliep. Her senior counsel on Thursday urged the court to ”be bold and release her on bail.

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/ 6 December 2007

SA excludes maize from biofuels policy

South Africa will not include maize in the initial stages of the country’s biofuels policy in order to keep a lid on high food prices, the Department of Minerals and Energy said on Thursday. The decision followed the South African Cabinet’s approval of a long-awaited biofuels plan, which officials hope will revive the ailing agriculture industry.

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/ 6 December 2007

Govt: Stretched judiciary hampers mine prosecutions

An overstretched judiciary is hampering attempts to prosecute those responsible for mining accidents, South Africa’s minerals and energy minister said on Thursday. Mining companies in South Africa, the world’s top source of platinum and gold, are under pressure to improve safety at mines, where about 200 workers have been killed this year.

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/ 6 December 2007

Cabinet approves long-term electricity plan

The Cabinet has approved an electricity master plan for the country to plug a gap that has led to criticism of the failure to plan energy needs over the long term. Elaborating on the plan at a media briefing on Thursday, Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica said that the plan "is a high-level plan, and not necessarily a pronouncement of new policy".

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/ 6 December 2007

Mbeki wants debate on floor-crossing

President Thabo Mbeki said on Wednesday he hoped the African National Congress (ANC) would discuss floor-crossing at its national conference in Polokwane this month. Speaking in a South African Broadcasting Corporation radio interview, he said the ANC had been opposed to floor-crossing when the issue was first raised by opposition parties.

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/ 5 December 2007

Mbeki looks beyond Polokwane conference

The outcome of the African National Congress’s (ANC) leadership contest is up to its membership and the contest should not be seen in a negative light, President Thabo Mbeki said on Wednesday. The people nominated were ”not nominated because they are enemies”, and should not treat one another as such.

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/ 5 December 2007

Zille: Cape housing projects hampered by politics

Political interference, red tape and legislation are among the factors slowing the City of Cape Town’s housing projects, mayor Helen Zille said on Wednesday. Delivery of housing opportunities had been delayed and several causes of this identified, she told the last full council meeting of the year. A shortage of project managers in the housing department was a major factor.

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/ 4 December 2007

Kirsten signs contract to coach India

Former South African opener Gary Kirsten signed a two-year contract to coach India on Tuesday. ”It will be a great honour to coach the game’s most passionately supported team, and I can’t wait to take on what I know will be one of the biggest challenges of my ongoing career in cricket,” Kirsten said from Cape Town.

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/ 4 December 2007

Did police bungle Yengeni arrest?

A senior Cape Town police officer may face disciplinary charges after making conflicting statements on the time of the recent arrest of former African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni for drunken driving. The step follows reports that police may have bungled the arrest by delaying taking a blood-alcohol sample.

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/ 4 December 2007

Govt announces diving ban in certain perlemoen areas

In a further effort to protect South Africa’s fast-diminishing perlemoen stocks, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk has imposed a ban on scuba diving and snorkelling in certain areas along the Cape coast. The envisaged prohibition, subject to a process of public comment, will take effect from February 1 next year.

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/ 4 December 2007

Radio Orania gets green light from Icasa

The predominantly Afrikaner settlement of Orania in the Northern Cape has been granted a community broadcast licence by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa). The licence is valid from December 1 this year to November 30 2011, after which the community can apply for an extension.

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/ 4 December 2007

The great Zuma debate

In the fierce debate raging around the man tipped to become South Africa’s next president, African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma, there are few neutrals. With less than a fortnight to go before the ruling party’s national conference in Polokwane, reports show a country split over the politician.

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/ 4 December 2007

Kirsten wants players’ ‘buy-in’

Former South Africa opening batsman Gary Kirsten has delayed taking over as India coach, saying he wants assurances from the players over the job. ”I have heard rumours about some senior players expressing their concern about my possible appointment and I would prefer to have clarity on that before I commit myself,” Kirsten said.

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/ 3 December 2007

Cosatu rejects call for Mbeki to step down early

The Congress of South Africa Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Monday rejected calls for President Thabo Mbeki to step down as president of the country in the event African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma is elected party head in Polokwane. Cosatu will oppose Mbeki ”stepping down before his term of office expires,” it said in a statement.

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/ 3 December 2007

Negligence costs Health Dept millions

Negligence or malpractice at public hospitals has cost the Health Department millions of rands in damages awards over the past few years, Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has said. However, such cases are rare exceptions to the usually excellent care provided, she said in a written reply to a parliamentary question by Gareth Morgan of the Democratic Alliance.

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/ 2 December 2007

Majestic Gibbs seals series for SA

Herschelle Gibbs hit a majestic century as South Africa cruised to a series-clinching five-wicket win in the third and final one-day international against New Zealand at Newlands on Sunday. Gibbs made 119 off 101 balls as South Africa chased down New Zealand’s 238-8 with 28 balls to spare.

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/ 30 November 2007

Mbeki: ANC must defend its values

The African National Congress (ANC) must defend its principles and values without hesitation or ambiguity, President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday. Some people seemed very keen to denounce any restatement of the most basic ANC positions as constituting an attack on ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma, he said in his weekly online newsletter.

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/ 30 November 2007

Zille: Aids ‘a crisis of enormous proportions’

The Aids crisis, already one of enormous proportions, is forecast to get even bigger, says Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille. ”Though a slight decline was experienced this year, analysts still predict South Africa’s HIV infection rate to increase from its current 10% to 18% by 2025,” she warned in her weekly online newsletter, SA Today, on Friday.

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/ 30 November 2007

Details on mine safety audit ahead of strike

Thabo Gazi, the chief inspector of mines, has briefed the Chamber of Mines and labour unions about the health and safety audit of mines ordered by President Thabo Mbeki. Meanwhile, the National Union of Mineworkers said on Friday that more than 40 000 mineworkers will gather ahead of next week’s safety strike.

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/ 30 November 2007

Govt works to improve reading skills of pupils

Schoolchildren in grade three and above are to be tested annually for the next three years to ensure their reading skills are up to par, the Department of Education said on Friday. Education Minister Naledi Pandor would gazette a three-year ”foundation for learning strategy … that will involve annual testing”, the department said.

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/ 29 November 2007

Hundreds pay tribute to Ian Smith

Hundreds of people gathered in a Cape Town church on Thursday to remember Ian Smith, Rhodesia’s widely reviled former prime minister, as a kind, stubborn and misunderstood son of the soil. The hall of the St John’s Anglican Church in Cape Town overflowed with well-wishers — all but a handful of them white and many ex-Rhodesian.