No image available
/ 3 June 2008

Judgement reserved on Judge Motata video

The Pretoria High Court on Tuesday reserved judgement in an application by Judge Nkola John Motata to stop the state from playing five potentially incriminating video and audio recordings made at the scene of his car accident. Motata was charged with drunk driving and defeating the ends of justice after smashing his Jaguar.

No image available
/ 3 June 2008

‘Liar’ Jordaan guilty of Sheldean murder

Andrew Jordaan took seven-year-old Sheldean Human to isolated bushes 500m from his home in a ”premeditated manner” to sexually assault and murder her, the Pretoria High Court found on Tuesday. Acting Judge Chris Eksteen rejected Jordaan’s version of what happened on February 18 2007 when Sheldean disappeared, calling him ”a blatant liar”.

No image available
/ 2 June 2008

Slowdown in house-price growth

Nominal and real house-price growth slowed further in the first quarter of 2008, according to the latest Absa housing review. The slowdown in growth was largely as a result of the tightening of monetary policy, stricter requirements for credit extension, and less affordable housing.

No image available
/ 28 May 2008

Battle for Scorpions not yet over

Johannesburg businessman Hugh Glenister has instructed his legal team to apply to the Constitutional Court for an order to prevent the government from disbanding the Scorpions. This was after the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday struck his application from the roll, saying it did not have the jurisdiction to decide on the matter.

No image available
/ 28 May 2008

Sheldean murder trial set for final argument

Murder accused Andrew Jordaan on Wednesday closed his case without calling any further witnesses to support his claims of innocence in the murder of seven-year-old Sheldean Human. This was after the defence counsel earlier indicated that Jordaan wanted to call a further witness, but closed his case without further explanation.

No image available
/ 27 May 2008

GDP slows due to contraction in mining

South Africa’s economic growth rate slowed to 2,1% in the first quarter of 2008 on a seasonally adjusted and annualised basis, official data showed on Tuesday, citing a sharp drop in mining due to a power crisis. Statistics South Africa said Q1 GDP slowed from 5,3% in the fourth quarter of 2007.

No image available
/ 26 May 2008

Minister: Xenophobic violence under control

Xenophobic violence against foreign nationals has been brought under control, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said on Monday. ”I do believe the situation is under control … the violence has subsided,” he said at a briefing at the Union Buildings in Pretoria following an inter-governmental task team meeting with President Thabo Mbeki.

No image available
/ 26 May 2008

Sheldean murder accused says he is innocent

Murder accused Andrew Jordaan on Monday admitted in the Pretoria High Court he smoked dagga and had a large porn collection, but denied he had a sexual interest in little girls, or that he had raped and murdered seven-year-old Sheldean Human. Jordaan took the stand after the state closed its case against him on Monday.

No image available
/ 26 May 2008

Samwu to down tools in Ekurhuleni

Members of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) in Ekurhuleni are to down tools over salaries and worker rights. ”Samwu members in Ekurhuleni are embarking on a strike from tomorrow [Tuesday] onwards,” said union spokesperson Koena Ramotlou in a statement issued on Monday.

No image available
/ 24 May 2008

Who should finance Eskom?

The question of whether the government or the public should finance Eskom dominated the first day of hearings on Friday on the utility’s proposed 53% tariff increase. Eskom’s non-executive chairperson Valli Moosa opened the debate at the National Energy Regulator of South Africa public hearings, saying fiscal injections from government were needed.

No image available
/ 23 May 2008

Eskom, govt under fire at power price hearings

The government and Eskom were criticised for the present energy crisis at Friday’s National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) hearings into the power utility’s request for a proposed 53% tariff increase. Eskom chairperson Valli Moosa and CEO Jacob Maroga said the increase was needed as the system was tight and the reserve margin was very low.

No image available
/ 22 May 2008

Sheldean murder accused takes the stand

The Pretoria High Court has ruled that a statement to police by the man accused of killing seven-year-old Sheldean Human was admissible as evidence. Acting Judge Chris Eksteen said on Thursday he would only give reasons for his ruling at a later stage. This was after Andrew Jordaan of Pretoria West took the stand on Thursday, claiming he was innocent.

No image available
/ 21 May 2008

Court ruling on Scorpions expected next week

Johannesburg businessman Hugh Glenister will likely hear next week whether his court bid to stop the government from disbanding the Scorpions has succeeded. The Pretoria High Court on Wednesday reserved judgement in his case, with Judge Willie van der Merwe indicating it was likely he would deliver judgement sometime next week.

No image available
/ 21 May 2008

Decision on Scorpions illegal, court hears

President Thabo Mbeki abdicated his power in deciding to disband the Scorpions, the Pretoria High Court heard on Wednesday. United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa was in court listening as counsel for his and four other opposition parties argued that Mbeki and the Cabinet took their cue from the African National Congress on a decision to dissolve the Scorpions.

No image available
/ 20 May 2008

Eskom ‘heading for skills crisis’

A skills shortage at Eskom could affect its expansion plans, trade union Solidarity said on Tuesday. ”Eskom’s current skills shortages are already causing problems, but if the levels of alienation among Eskom staff are any indication, the company is heading for a crisis,” said the union’s Dirk Hermann.

No image available
/ 18 May 2008

Stars thump league champions Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns had their minds on Saturday’s Nedbank Cup final and paid the price when Free State Stars thumped the defending Premier Soccer League champions 4-0 in the final league fixture of the season. Meanwhile, Santos ended in third position on the league table after beating Platinum Stars 1-0, and Orlando Pirates beat AmaZulu 4-1.

No image available
/ 17 May 2008

Bulls R1m richer in Vodacom Cup

Blue Bulls flyhalf Burton Francis put on a match-winning kicking display as the Blue Bulls edged out the Free State Cheetahs 25-21 to be crowned Vodacom Cup champions at Loftus Versfeld on Friday. It was a relieved Carel Hoffman, Blue Bulls captain, who accepted the trophy and R1-million winners’ cheque.

No image available
/ 15 May 2008

Army’s HIV policy unconstitutional, court hears

It is impossible to have an HIV-free South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and a defence-force policy discriminating against people with HIV is unconstitutional, the Pretoria High Court heard on Thursday. Advocate Gilbert Marcus, SC argued that people should be assessed individually, since an individual who was HIV-positive was not necessarily sick.

No image available
/ 15 May 2008

SuperSport edge closer to title

SuperSport United took a step closer to winning their first Absa Premiership title when they beat Golden Arrows 2-0 in their penultimate fixture of the season at Atteridgeville’s Super Stadium on Wednesday night. United led 1-0 at half-time. The win heaps pressure on second-placed Ajax Cape Town, who play Santos on Thursday night.

No image available
/ 14 May 2008

Generals’ report may sway Mbeki on Zim

A report by six former South African National Defence Force generals might lead to action being taken to address the violence in Zimbabwe, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Aziz Pahad said on Wednesday. He said President Thabo Mbeki was waiting for a report from the generals on the violence before considering appropriate action.