No image available
/ 13 January 2004
The Gauteng government stands to recover in excess of R200-million from unscrupulous developers and contractors in its probe into corruption in housing development, the provincial housing department said on Tuesday. Until March last year about 20 projects were investigated, involving more than 2 400 acts of fraud.
No image available
/ 12 January 2004
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress cannot claim to have a well-managed economy in place although economic fundamentals on a macro-level have improved, says opposition Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille, reacting in a statement to the weekend ruling party’s election campaign launch.
No image available
/ 12 January 2004
The Democratic Alliance should be in control of KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape following this year’s elections, its leader said on Monday. DA leader Tony Leon said: "We are extremely competitive there and we are going to go for a win with our coalition partners."
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=29541">IFP: ‘We will bring hope'</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=29493">ANC kicks off election battle</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=29547">SA economy ‘not well-managed'</a>
No image available
/ 12 January 2004
Andrew Lionel Phillips, facing charges relating to operating three alleged brothels in Johannesburg’s northern suburbs, appeared in the city’s regional court on Monday. ”I have been singled out because the Asset Forfeiture Unit identified me as a source of sizeable assets,” Phillips said.
No image available
/ 12 January 2004
South Africa’s largest opposition party, the Inkatha Freedom Party, will launch its national election campaign in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, on Sunday January 18. The pro-free-enterprise party is expected to underscore the importance of fast-tracking privatisation of state-owned enterprises.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=29555">DA eyes KZN, Western Cape</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=29493">ANC kicks off election battle</a>
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=29547">SA economy ‘not well-managed'</a>
The African Christian Democratic Party on Thursday criticised the SABC for its intention to broadcast the African National Congress’s election manifesto, and the National Action urged President Thabo Mbeki to ”personally see to it” that the SABC does not broadcast the speech he is to make this weekend at the launch of the manifesto.
The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) lamented on Thursday what it described as a grotesque distortion of its programmes by the media, and denied having any violent or lawless intentions. It said it has no plans to ”launch ‘revenge attacks’ or any other ‘vigilante’ action against abusive white farmers or any other landowners”.
Of an estimated 27-million eligible voters in the country, about 19,4-million have registered to date, the IEC said on Thursday. According to IEC chairperson Brigalia Bam, this is a high rate. If two or three million more people register during the next targeted enrolment weekend, that will amount to a world record, she said.
An inquiry must be launched into the impact the Zimbabwean banking crisis will have on South African banks that have major equity stakes or subsidiaries active in Zimbabwe, the Democratic Alliance said. ”Minister [Trevor] Manuel must break his silence on the economic consequences of quiet diplomacy,” a DA spokesperson said.
Shares in South African retailer Woolworths lost ground in morning trade on Thursday after the group released a trading update for the six months to July showing a disappointing performance from its Australian subsidiary and slightly softer-than-expected sales for the Christmas period.
Three members of the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union involved in a national baggage handlers strike were arrested on Wednesday after they allegedly assaulted six non-striking workers of Equity Aviation Services on Monday. Earlier the African National Congress urged the two parties to return to the negotiating table.
The man at the centre of a Western Cape shark-baiting controversy on Wednesday explained his motives and actions in a letter to a local newspaper, saying they were misunderstood by the public. ”My motive and intention was to attract the large white shark out to the open sea away from the beach area,” he said.
Listed fashion retailer Truworths International has concluded an agreement to acquire a controlling stake in Young Designers Emporium (YDE) for an undisclosed sum, with effect from December 1 2003. The YDE chain has 10 stores across South Africa in the country’s premier shopping malls, as well as a factory shop outlet.
New car sales for 2003 are expected to rise by 5%, a banking group reported on Wednesday. Old Mutual Bank manager Ben Stander said sales are expected to continue growing in 2004. He said lower interest rates and increased advertising are among the causes for the growth.
There were scenes of jubilation and tears of joy on the steps of the Cape High Court on Wednesday when a group of Seven-11 franchisees celebrated a judgement effectively holding the mother corporation liable for about R50-million in claims. The case was described as a ”landmark” for the South African franchise industry.
South Africa’s opposition political party the Democratic Alliance wants the government to do away with the country’s current centralised national matriculation (senior certificate exam) system, according to DA MP and education spokesperson Willem Doman.
The South African government on Tuesday called a special media conference in which it again defended President Thabo Mbeki’s attendance at Haiti’s celebration of its independence bicentennial. It also criticised the media for spreading ”deliberate falsifications” about an alleged attack on the presidential contingent in Haiti.
No image available
/ 30 December 2003
South Africa’s 2003 national matriculation pass rate has improved by 4,4% to a total of 73,3%, Education Minister Kader Asmal announced on Tuesday, up from 68,9% in 2002, 61,7% in 2001 and only 48,9% in 1999. Asmal said the results ”clearly show that the tide has turned” for South Africa’s education system.
No image available
/ 30 December 2003
By Sunday, December’s road death toll was more than 10% lower than last year’s, the Department of Transport said on Tuesday. A total of 846 people had died in 690 accidents, compared with 947 deaths in 734 crashes by the same date last year, it said in a statement.
No image available
/ 30 December 2003
KWV International, the export subsidiary of KWV Ltd, one of South Africa’s largest producers of wine and spirits, has continued to see its export volumes grow in the first half of its financial year, but financially the strong rand is having a negative impact on the group, according to managing director Vernon Davis.
No image available
/ 29 December 2003
As a South African team hastens to assist tens of thousands of Iranians reeling from an earthquake, what could South African citizens expect the government’s response to be in the event of a major catastrophe at home? New disaster management legislation will possibly come into effect in early 2004.
No image available
/ 29 December 2003
The risk of the deadly ebola virus being found in the remains of a man who died in a hospital in Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls is quite low and people should not panic, a microbiologist involved with the investigation said on Monday. A South African laboratory is investigating the death of a trader in the resort town on Christmas Day.
No image available
/ 29 December 2003
South African President Thabo Mbeki has arrived in the Bahamas as part of a state visit aimed at forging closer relations with the countries of the Caribbean Community, as well as strengthening and consolidating bilateral political and economic relations between South Africa and the Bahamas.
No image available
/ 27 December 2003
The Democratic Alliance expressed relief on Friday that this year’s matric exams went off with fewer hitches, but it partly blamed the lack of job creation on the government’s restrictive labour legislation. It said the current curriculum does not prepare young people for the requirements of the workplace.
No image available
/ 27 December 2003
A 23-year-old man sought for at least 44 counts of armed robbery and murder was arrested in Boksburg in the East Rand on Friday. Police received information about the man’s whereabouts and set out to apprehend him. A car chase ensued, but the man apparently lost control of the vehicle, crashing it into a tree.
No image available
/ 25 December 2003
The Presidency has hit back at religious leaders for criticising the South African government’s stance on human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. Their ”attack” on the government had been based on untested information, Director General Frank Chikane said in a statement published on Wednesday.
No image available
/ 24 December 2003
Two men whose disruptive begging at Cape Town’s premier shopping complex, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, led to a court battle, have been given the city’s High Court’s permission to go back, but have been ordered to behave with the requisite decorum.
No image available
/ 24 December 2003
Former Miss South Africa Diana Tilden-Davis underwent further surgery on Wednesday following an attack by a hippopotamus in the Botswana delta earlier this month. Tilden-Davis, who won the pageant in 1991, was attacked last Thursday while paddling in the remote northern reaches of the delta.
No image available
/ 24 December 2003
Risk, auditing and financial services consulting group RisCura has released the results of its monthly investment performance survey, RisCView, to the end of November 2003. The surveys assess the risk and performance of retirement fund products offered by the largest fund managers in the local South African market.
No image available
/ 24 December 2003
As the government announced additional drought relief measures on Tuesday, hopes remained dim for substantial rains in the near future. A comprehensive drought mitigation programme has been put in place following an urgent meeting called on Monday, the Ministry of Provincial and Local Government said.
No image available
/ 24 December 2003
A baggage-handling company was denied an urgent interdict on Tuesday to have a strike by South African Transport and Allied Workers Union members at South Africa’s larger airports declared illegal. Equity Aviation Services was seeking the interdict against workers who were in their sixth day of striking.
No image available
/ 18 December 2003
The South African government said on Thursday it joins the international community in expressing its rejection of calls for the execution of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. ”Such calls will only serve to pre-empt the outcome of any trial … instituted against Saddam Hussein,” it asserted in a statement.