No image available
/ 26 October 2007
South Africa’s lack of support for farmers is worrying and will have negative consequences for the agriculture sector if not addressed, a farm expert said on Thursday. Farmers have raised concerns over a lack of support from the government, which has seen farmers’ fortunes take a dive after a cut in state subsidies.
No image available
/ 24 October 2007
Four men were arrested after allegedly kidnapping a young boy and demanding R75 000 ransom from his parents on Wednesday, Pretoria police said. ”The [boy’s mother] told the men to come to her office today [Wednesday] to collect the money, and at the same time, she called police,” Inspector Paul Ramaloko said.
No image available
/ 24 October 2007
![]()
The African National Congress (ANC) succession debate does not pose a significant threat to the creditworthiness of rand-denominated debt, Business Unity South Africa (Busa) said on Wednesday. ”We do not expect significant shift in the ANC policy, regardless of the outcome of the conference,” Busa CEO Jerry Vilakazi said.
No image available
/ 22 October 2007
The Department of Health is recalling a second consignment of defective condoms, this time from Kohrs Medical, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said in Pretoria on Monday. ”At least five batches belonging to Kohrs Medical were sampled and failed an air-burst test,” Tshabalala-Msimang said.
No image available
/ 19 October 2007
The responsibility of addressing South Africa’s apartheid past lies within the country itself and not the United States courts, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Brigitte Mabandla said on Friday. In a statement issued by her office, she reiterated the government’s stance against the case brought by a group of apartheid victims in US courts.
No image available
/ 18 October 2007
World trade talks appeared to be making progress on Wednesday as the leaders of Brazil, India and South Africa said they were committed to reaching a deal. The leaders said differences with rich countries were still blocking agreement in the Doha round, launched nearly six years ago to help developing countries grow out of poverty and boost the world economy by opening up global trade.
No image available
/ 17 October 2007
A ruling by a full bench of the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday put another nail in the coffin of Afrikaans-only education in state schools. The court dismissed with costs a review application by Hoërskool Ermelo to set aside a decision forcing it to admit English-speaking pupils and become a parallel-medium school.
No image available
/ 17 October 2007
The National Empowerment Fund (NEF) has approved expansion capital funding of R7,2-million to Iglhaut-Allrad SA, a black economic empowerment (BEE) company in the automotive industry. The NEF’s chief investment officer, Frencel Gillion, announced the initiative in Pretoria on Wednesday.
No image available
/ 17 October 2007
The Public Servants’ Association of South Africa said on Wednesday that it foresaw chaos in the country’s prisons on weekends following failure of the Department of Correctional Services to compensate its employees who work on Saturdays and Sundays. Correctional services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela said the matter was still under discussion.
No image available
/ 17 October 2007
The leaders of Brazil, India and South Africa on Wednesday vowed to push the interests of poor nations in stalled international trade talks and said any agreement would have to benefit the developing world. Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and South African President Thabo Mbeki met at a summit in Pretoria.
No image available
/ 16 October 2007
Lawyers acting for Chris Hani’s killers said they would proceed with an application to the high court, asking it to compel President Thabo Mbeki to make a decision on their application for a presidential pardon. Janusz Walus and Clive Derby-Lewis unsuccessfully sought amnesty from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1999 for the 1993 assassination of Hani.
No image available
/ 16 October 2007
The opening of the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to public transport and cars carrying more than three passengers was hailed as a success by Gauteng provincial minister for public transport, roads and works Ignatius Jacobs on Tuesday.
No image available
/ 15 October 2007
Burundi rebels will rejoin a truce-monitoring team they quit in July, the facilitator, South African Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula, said on Monday, boosting efforts to bring a lasting end to a decade of conflict. ”The stalled Burundi peace process will be resumed on Saturday October 20,” Nqakula told a news conference.
No image available
/ 15 October 2007
The leaders of emerging powerhouses South Africa, India and Brazil will meet in Pretoria this week to bolster trade and energy ties as well as flex their collective muscle on world affairs. All three countries see their alliance, known as Ibsa (India-Brazil-South Africa), as an opportunity to push the concerns of developing countries in the southern hemisphere.
No image available
/ 11 October 2007
South Africa and Namibia’s presidents has given the go-ahead to see if a hydro-electrical power station can be build in the Orange River between the two countries. President Thabo Mbeki hosted his Namibian counterpart, Hifikepunye Pohamba, for a bilateral economic meeting at the presidential guest house in Pretoria on Thursday.
No image available
/ 11 October 2007
Charges of murder, kidnapping and violating a corpse were withdrawn on Thursday against two men accused of killing a four-year-old girl for muti. Hairdresser Lourenco Eric Ngoveni (30) and sangoma and prophet Mandla Ephraim Zulu (46) were supposed to appear in the Pretoria District Court.
No image available
/ 11 October 2007
The South African government is speaking to the mining sector about setting up the industry safety audit called for by President Thabo Mbeki. ”The government calls on the industry to work with the Department of Minerals and Energy and other stakeholders to ensure that concrete steps are taken,” government spokesperson Themba Maseko said on Thursday.
No image available
/ 11 October 2007
There was no need for President Thabo Mbeki to make any statements on the suspension of Vusi Pikoli, the National Director of Public Prosecutions, the Cabinet has decided. Government spokesperson Themba Maseko said the Cabinet urged the public to be patient.
No image available
/ 11 October 2007
South Africa is confident that a ”critical number” of European and African leaders would be in attendance at the planned European Union (EU)-African Union (AU) summit in Portugal in December to make it worthwhile. Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said: ”Summits depend on a number of people to be there, not just one person.”
No image available
/ 10 October 2007
![]()
The Springboks might be used to hordes of female supporters, but usually they are not of the stature of Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sue van der Merwe. In what could be described as a case of all the president’s women, the two politicians would lend ”moral support” to the national side ahead of Sunday’s semifinal.
No image available
/ 10 October 2007
The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday expressed shock concerning the Public Protector’s decision to suspend its investigation into allegations of financial misconduct against Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba. ”The DA feels it is far more important that the Public Protector continues his investigation,” DA spokesperson for home affairs Mark Lowe said.
A review of the free-trade treaty between the European Union and South Africa is to top the agenda of a South Africa-EU troika ministerial meeting in Pretoria on Wednesday. South Africa’s ambassador to the EU, Anil Sooklal, said it is hoped the mid-term review of the trade treaty could be finalised during the troika meeting.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad will return to South Africa this week after being discharged from a Swedish hospital. Foreign affairs spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa on Tuesday said Pahad was discharged after spending almost a week being treated for an illness.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad is still not well enough to travel back to South Africa after being admitted to a Swedish almost a week ago. ”He is stable and improving,” Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said on Monday when asked at an unrelated press conference about the well-being of her deputy.
National Lottery operator Gidani had sold more than 1,5-million lottery tickets by Monday morning, said its CEO, Bongani Khumalo. ”We have worked hard to meet the start deadline and we are seeing a good start ahead of the first draw to due to take place on Saturday October 13,” he said.
African countries should make use of intellectual provisions to protect their innovations when it comes to African traditional medicines, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Monday. ”Africa should make use of intellectual-property provisions to protect its innovation with regard to indigenous knowledge and African traditional medicine,” she said Johannesburg.
The number of deaths in police custody or as a result of police action increased by 11% compared with the same period last year, a report by the Independent Complaints Directorate revealed on Monday. A total of 698 deaths occurred between April 2006 and March 2007, compared with 621 casualties in 2005/06.
The Free State Cheetahs pulled off the double over the Blue Bulls with a near-clinical 29-17 victory at Loftus Versfeld on Friday evening. The Bulls had begun with plenty of gusto but soon found themselves running out of steam and handing the game to the Cheetahs.
The 2010 Soccer World Cup is an opportunity to create a new image for Africa, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told President Thabo Mbeki on Friday. The two leaders met at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where Mbeki hosted Merkel for talks as part of her official state visit to South Africa.
President Robert Mugabe presides over a disaster in Zimbabwe but should still be entitled to attend a forthcoming Europe-Africa summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday. Summing up talks in Pretoria with President Thabo Mbeki, Merkel said she made clear her disquiet about the situation across South Africa’s northern border.
Visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel was expected to urge South African President Thabo Mbeki in talks in Pretoria on Friday to increase pressure for a resolution to the crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe. German sources said Merkel was determined to press Mbeki to do more to ensure an end to alleged human rights abuses in the country.
Boeremag accused Mike du Toit on Thursday told the Pretoria High Court he did not trust the state or police because he believed they were controlled by former terrorists. Du Toit, a Herstigte Nasionale Party supporter, said not only did he and many others distrust the police, he also believed the African National Congress government was behind farm attacks and murders.