Security has been beefed up on South African trains to deal with possible incidents of violence following the ending of the nationwide security workers’ strike, Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana said on Friday. Speaking to the media in Cape Town, the minister said that government is concerned that many security workers "are armed".
The South African Parliament is lagging behind in its responsibilities to South Africa hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup, official opposition Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon said on Friday. Some commentators have also pointed out that South Africa is lagging behind in its planning to build new stadiums.
Race is still a key factor in access to wealth in South Africa, says a government report on macro-social trends released on Friday. The 109-page document released in Pretoria, titled A nation in the making: A discussion document on macro-social trends in South Africa, revealed a society still grappling with transition.
The former South African prisoner pardoned by Equatorial Guinea, Marius ”Bone” Boonzaaier, was better but still receiving medical treatment, his family said on Friday. ”Bone received medical treatment on arrival at Johannesburg International airport and is still receiving medical attention,” his wife Georgia said in a statement.
Three men died in Bellville, Cape Town, after being overwhelmed by gas fumes while watching a World Cup soccer match on television, Die Burger reported on Friday. Thomas Philander (44), Shane Solomons (22) and an unnamed man were found dead on Thursday in a house they were looking after during construction.
Zimbabwe’s three major milling companies have switched off their milling plants because of a serious shortage of grain in the country, Zim Online reported on Friday. ”There is nothing at major millers. We have not been milling for two weeks now,” said an official at a Harare milling company.
Samke Lozondi leads his dog, Rocky, on to the sports field of Mpophomeni township school, 20km from Howick, KwaZulu-Natal. He has trouble restraining the three-year-old Rocky from going over to sniff the white Jack Russell that is barking to their left. ”I got him as a puppy, but he just keeps on growing,” says the young owner as he strokes his black and bristle-haired companion that already stands level with his chest.
A striking security guard accused of murdering a non-striking colleague appeared briefly in Dunnottar Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, said East Rand police. Themba Mokwebho (35) was not asked to plead and the case was postponed until June 29, when he is expected to apply for bail, said Inspector Prudence Mvelase.
Clothing workers have hailed an understanding reached between South Africa and China on textile imports as a chance to rebuild the local industry. Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao expressed on Wednesday his country’s willingness to restrict textile exports to South Africa.
Heavy snowfalls are likely over the north-eastern parts of the Eastern Cape on Thursday, the South African Weather Service said. Forecaster Deon van der Mescht said very cold and wet conditions were expected in Aliwal North, Queenstown and Molteno. Snowfalls would then move to the Drakensberg.
They failed to get going against the World XV, showed potential in the first Test against Scotland and stuttered to a worrying victory in the second. However, Springbok coach Jake White is not scampering to pressing any panic buttons yet as his team prepare for a one-off Test match against France in Cape Town on Saturday.
The Young Communist League (YCL) on Thursday accused the leadership of the African National Congress of bullying and malice. It also ”rejects with contempt the insinuation” by the ANC’s national working committee that the YCL was being funded by unnamed foreign donor agencies. ”The insinuation is littered with malice, rumour-mongering and is without substance,” the YCL said.
Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana has referred allegations of corruption at a sectoral education and training authority (Seta), involving at least R13,7-million, to the Scorpions for further investigation. He has also given its board two weeks to study a forensic report by the auditor general and act on its findings.
A Gauteng man has spent more than R42 000 to propose to his ”angel” Anita in a full-page newspaper advert on Thursday. On bended knee in the Afrikaans daily Beeld, looking imploringly into the camera and clutching more than 25 red roses, the man asks: ”Anita, my angel, will you marry me?”
Former president FW de Klerk, recovering in hospital following surgery to remove a malignant colon tumour, is completely off his ventilator, a family spokesperson said on Thursday. ”He’s doing very well and we’re all very pleased with his progress,” said Dave Steward.
South Africa spent about 0,87% of its gross domestic product on research and development (R&D) in 2004/05, the Department of Science and Technology said on Thursday. It said this amounted to about R12-billion — up from R10,1-billion, or 0,81% of GDP, the previous year.
South African Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni on Thursday emphasised that his concerns about conspicuous consumption did not suggest he meant that the economy was overheating. He said his comments that people find themselves financially overcommitted did not mean "that we are saying that the economy is overheating".
The three-month-long security guard strike ended on Thursday with workers given until Monday to return to their posts. ”That signifies the end of Satawu’s [South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union] struggle for now,” joked union secretary general Randall Howard as he initialled the deal.
A preliminary investigation has started into the blast at Gold Field’s Beatrix mine, which claimed one life during destruction of outdated explosives, the Department of Minerals and Energy said on Thursday. ”Officials from the regional office of the department would conduct an in loco investigation into the occurrence,” said Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica.
”Our heritage is unique and precious and it cannot be renewed,” reads part of the preamble to South Africa’s heritage legislation, yet many public bodies don’t know what resources are under their custodianship. The South African Heritage Resources Agency now plans a national audit of state-owned heritage resources to help manage those collections.
The national government has failed on a grand scale to properly manage public money, Democratic Alliance public accounts spokesperson Eddie Trent said on Thursday. An overview of the audit outcomes of government departments proves that too many ministers and directors general are unable to provide proper financial management of public money, he told a media briefing at Parliament.
South African Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni said on Thursday that although things looked good at present, he warned of danger signs in the economy, which could signal "some major inflationary consequences down the road". Speaking to the Parliamentary finance portfolio committee, the governor said while "things generally look good … there are lots of dangers".
The justice system is seen as unfair to people laying a charge of rape, a survey has found. This perception was strongest in the coloured community, with black people the least critical, said Research Surveys, which conducted the study as part of ongoing research into social and political issues. It was also a belief held mainly by women, but not markedly so, the survey found.
SA Rugby said on Thursday that they were pleased the Southern Spears’ court application will not proceed this week. By agreement between the parties involved, the matter will now be heard on August 10. This means that the Currie Cup will commence on Friday without any immediate threat of legal action hanging over the process.
A blood shortage alert has been declared by the South African National Blood Service as staff and donors have been struck down with flu, it said on Thursday. The inland region has a three-day supply of blood and the east coast region a one-day supply.
Mining magnate Roger Kebble has appointed new auditors to look into five counts of fraud being brought against him, the Johannesburg Regional Court heard on Thursday. Kebble has also appointed a new legal representative, Max Hodes, SC. ”I am confident charges will be withdrawn,” Hodes told the court.
A protracted strike by security guards will hopefully end with the signing of a new pay deal at noon on Thursday. South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union (Satawu) secretary general Randall Howard said on Wednesday that the deal would be accepted.
Judgement is expected in the Durban High Court on Thursday in an urgent application by 15 Westville Prison inmates to expedite their access to anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment. Judge Thumba Pillay heard that according to the prison’s operational plan prisoners had to undergo four sessions of counselling before receiving ARV treatment.
Durban is being touted as the next city to host the 2016 Olympic Games. Launching the city’s Durban Beach Africa festival on Wednesday evening, the city’s deputy mayor, Logie Naidoo, said: ”We believe that the 2016 Olympic Games should come to Durban. Cape Town has had its chance. It’s time for Durban to bid for this biggest of events.”
China expressed willingness on Wednesday to restrict its textile exports to South Africa, but no firm deal was on the table at the conclusion of talks between Chinese premier Wen Jiabao and President Thabo Mbeki. The two leaders agreed that concerns over the alleged flooding of the local clothing and textile market would not derail otherwise strong ties, Wen told reporters in Cape Town.
A R19-million waste-water treatment plant, which will save a thirsty Cape Town millions of litres a day, is to be commissioned in the city on Thursday. The revamped Potsdam plant will eventually supply 38-million litres of non-potable water to the Blaauwberg area, project manager Anic Smit said on Wednesday.
Former president FW de Klerk was out of intensive care following complications after a cancerous colon tumour was removed, a family spokesperson said on Wednesday. Dave Steward said De Klerk was still linked to a ventilator but was now functioning ”more than 80%” on his own lungs.