Nine people were killed and four others seriously injured when a minibus overturned on the N1 between Richmond and Three Sisters on Wednesday, Northern Cape police said. Among the dead, seven were schoolgirls between the ages of 13 and 15, while the other two were adults.
The almost 900 Mpumalanga matric pupils who had their 2004 exam results nullified for allegedly cheating will get a second chance, the Mpumalanga department of education said on Wednesday. The department feels that falling behind by a whole year on future plans is punishment enough.
Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena says his side will be taking no chances when they host Uganda in a crucial World Cup qualifier at the FNB Stadium on Saturday. Bafana head the African group-two standings with nine points after the five teams in the group completed their five first-round fixtures last October.
Forty percent of drinking water used in South Africa is unaccounted for, Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Buyelwa Sonjica said on Wednesday. Municipalities are the key to stopping this huge wastage, she said at the launch of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry’s water-conservation strategy at Gallagher Estate in Midrand.
Listed hotels and gaming group Sun International plans to dispose of its 38,6% stake in fellow hotel group City Lodge Holdings for R627-million, equating to R38,50 per share. Once the transaction is completed, BEE individuals and groupings will hold more than 25% interest in Sun International and its subsidiaries.
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has welcomed the appointment of a one-person commission, to be headed by Judge Sisi Khampepe, to make recommendations on the future of the Scorpions. However, it has backed the incorporation of the unit into the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Free State Premier Beatrice Marshoff said on Wednesday she was shocked by the murder of Noby Ngombane, a top official in her office. Ngombane was the head of the Free State’s policy monitoring and evaluation unit in the premier’s office. He was the premier and the provincial government’s spokesperson, as well as a close confidant of the premier.
The Zimbabwe Supreme Court has granted the country’s attorney general leave to appeal against the early release of a group of alleged South African mercenaries held there, their lawyer said on Wednesday. ”The men will be staying in Zimbabwe,” attorney Alwyn Griebenow said. It is not yet clear when the appeal will begin.
The South African cricket team leave for the West Indies on Wednesday night for a tough eight-week tour that will include four Tests and five one-day internationals. South Africa have a good record against the West Indies, but team coach Ray Jennings has no intention of allowing the team to rest on their laurels.
Prison reformers are calling for the Department of Correctional Services not to punish consensual sex between prisoners and for eventually allowing such sex in prisons. This seemingly far-fetched proposal is even suggested by the Judicial Inspectorate of Prisons, a statutory agency tasked with making recommendations on correctional services.
Collusion claims against South African Airways, SA Airlink, SA Express and Nationwide have been referred to the Competition Tribunal for a ruling, the Competition Commission said on Tuesday. The airlines are accused of agreeing to introduce a fuel surcharge simultaneously on the price of domestic tickets.
South African opening bowler Shaun Pollock will miss the first Test against the West Indies in Guyana due to his injured left ankle. Team physiotherapist Shane Jabaar confirmed on Monday that Pollock will remain in Durban to undergo treatment and a strict rehabilitation programme.
Union members spared Minister of Correctional Services Ngconde Balfour any discomfort on Tuesday when he addressed a range of issues at a community imbizo (meeting) in Mitchells Plain. ”We don’t want to speak, we would be guillotined back at work,” said a Prisons and Police Civil Rights Union member.
One of South Africa’s large spice manufacturers, Robertsons, said on Tuesday it has withdrawn some of its products from supermarket shelves following the Sudan Red dye scare. ”The products were withdrawn as an extreme precautionary measure because they use similar raw materials to the Robertsons peri peri spice withdrawn on Friday,” the company said.
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South African civil society groups came back from Zimbabwe disillusioned about the state of democracy in the country, they said on Tuesday. The six-member delegation said that ”only the most optimistic MDC [Movement for Democratic Change] politicians” could hope for political change through free and fair elections.
Almost R700 000 was given to the South African Red Cross towards the tsunami relief fund by the South African Jewish Board of Deputies in Pretoria on Tuesday. ”We are proud as Jewish people to be part of South Africa where people care about those in suffering halfway around the world,” said Zev Krengel on behalf of the board.
Corruption is a scourge of development in Africa, Business Unity South Africa’s Cas Coovadia told the second national anti-corruption conference in Pretoria on Tuesday. President Thabo Mbeki earlier told the conference that South Africa has to remain vigilant against new manifestations of corruption.
Workers at DRDGold’s North West operations arrived at work on Tuesday to find the gates locked ahead of the company’s application for provisional liquidation of that section, trade union Solidarity said. Solidarity said that workers were told they will receive their salaries at the end of March but no guarantees could be given on accumulated benefits.
A resolution adopted by Athletics South Africa (ASA) over the weekend, which forces the organisers of the Comrades and Two Oceans ultra-marathons to hold half-marathons in the future with exactly the same prize money, was confirmed by ASA’s incumbent CEO, Linda Ferns, on Tuesday.
Supersport United of South Africa set African Confederation Cup records when they humiliated Red Star of Seychelles 9-0 in the second round at the weekend. It was the biggest match-winning margin since the competition, modelled on the European Uefa Cup, was introduced last year. The 13-1 aggregate score was also a record.
A week after delivering a set of results that exceeded market expectations, it is reasonable to expect Standard Bank Group CEO Jacko Maree to be taking things easy. Not so. This unassuming, disarmingly reserved veteran banker, shy to a point of appearing intimidated, is preparing to meet his eclectic mix of shareholders.
Enforcing a human rights culture among South Africans remains the government’s main challenge, Deputy President Jacob Zuma said on Monday at an African National Congress human rights book launch. Meanwhile, the Freedom Front Plus on Monday accused the ANC of destroying minority rights under the guise of correcting the past.
The Department of Health has directed its provincial counterparts and local authorities to remove various chilli powders and chilli-powder products from shop shelves and detain them for further analysis for the Sudan Red colourant. The colourant could increase the risk of cancer if consumed over a long period in large quantities.
Two graves, believed to contain the remains of the ”Mamelodi 10”, were exhumed at the Winterveldt cemetery, north-west of Pretoria, on Monday by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to commemorate national Human Rights Day. The ”Mamelodi 10” were 10 youngsters abducted in June 1986 by the apartheid government’s security police.
Shocked residents of KwaZulu-Natal’s Mandawe village were trying to help police on Monday track down the murderers of a grandmother and her five grandchildren, who were burnt beyond recognition. ”At first, everybody was too shocked to speak but now they are trying to help us,” said police spokesperson Captain Tienkie van Vuuren.
The South African Communist Party has called on the country’s major financial institutions to stop discriminating against workers living with HIV/Aids and the poor. The party said the question that needs to be asked on Human Rights Day is: ”How far have we come, in 50 years, to realise the aspirations expressed in the clauses of the Freedom Charter?”
Forgiveness is the cure to bitterness, revenge and escalating conflict, former South African president FW de Klerk said on Sunday. He was speaking at the closing of the Arts and Reconciliation Festival and Conference held at the University of Pretoria. The event was opened by Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Monday.
A Soweto man held his wife, his mother-in-law and an adopted child hostage before killing them and then shooting himself on Monday, police said. Captain Mbazima Shiburi said a concerned neighbour in Chiawelo extension five called the police to report fighting at the house.
The African Champions league match won 5-3 in a penalty shootout by Ajax against ASFA Yennenga of Burkina Faso in Cape Town on Sunday ended as a disgrace for South African soccer when a fight broke out among several players on the side of the field during injury time.
The chief executive of the South African Football Association, Danny Jordaan, on Sunday expressed his outrage at the decision by Burkina Faso soccer team ASFA Yennenga to wear the South African national shirt during their match against Ajax Cape Town in their African Champions League match at Newlands on Sunday.
Jomo Cosmos and Wits University played to a goalless draw in a dull Castle Premier Soccer League match at the Rand Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Both sides had their chances but neither team could find the back of the net. Cosmos midfielder Innocent Ntsume tested Wayne Roberts in the 17th minute but the Wits goalkeeper managed to parry the ball away.
Mamelodi Sundowns beat wasteful Bush Bucks 2-0 during their Premier Soccer League clash played at HM Pitje Stadium in Mamelodi on Sunday. The half-time score was 1-0. Bucks created most of the opening-half chances but were denied by Sundowns goalkeeper Brian Baloyi, who was outstanding between the poles.