The African National Congress (ANC) Youth League on Monday called for the immediate closure of Johannesburg’s Noord Street taxi rank after a second woman was assaulted. Spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said the continued abuse and harassment of women by taxi operators at the rank undermined the dignity and freedom of women.
South Africa’s monthly trade deficit narrowed to R5,8-billion in February, compared with January’s R10,2-billion shortfall, the South African Revenue Service said on Monday. Compared with the previous month, exports rose by 19,28%, largely due to a sharp rise in vehicle exports, while imports increased by 6,44%.
Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille on Monday again asked African National Congress president Jacob Zuma for a meeting to discuss the Scorpions’ future. ”In a press interview published on the weekend, Jacob Zuma declared that he is willing to ‘debate anything’ — even the future of the Scorpions,” said Zille.
Gold Fields chief executive officer Ian Cockerill is to step down from his position, the company’s board said on Monday. Cockerill will be succeeded by Nick Holland who has been the chief financial officer of the company. Terence Goodlace, executive vice-president and head of South African operations, will be appointed to the new position of chief operating officer.
South Africa plans to boost livestock and crop production by up to 15% in the next two to five years and help tame soaring food inflation, an agriculture official said on Monday. Priscilla Sehoole, chief communication officer at the Department of Agriculture said the government was ”confident” it would achieve its expansion targets.
The Western Cape’s economy remains extremely healthy, although some factors are hampering accelerated growth. This is one of the key findings of the new Sake24 Western Cape Barometer (WCB) launched in Cape Town on Monday. The WCB is a unique statistical index that measures business activity in the province.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Monday called for a constitutional amendment to grant school principals the power to appoint teachers. Presenting proposals on education, party spokesperson George Boinamo said school principals could only be held accountable for the performance of their schools if they were given the power to hire and fire teachers.
Four bouncers accused of kidnapping and assaulting two men appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, police said. Spokesperson Captain Bhekizizwe Mavundla said two of the suspects were released because they could not be directly linked to the case.
Hikes in the petrol price will impact negatively on motorists’ and commuters’ disposable income, the Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa warned on Monday. ”The impact of the highest fuel prices ever in the history of transport in South Africa will without doubt be felt on the supermarket shelves,” the AA said in a statement.
Neil McKenzie and Hashim Amla moved up the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings on Monday after outstanding performances in the drawn match against India. McKenzie, who made 94 and 155 not out, made his first appearance in the top 40 in four years and is ranked 36th in the world, while Amla’s 159 and 81 saw him shoot up 10 places to 24th position.
Siyabonga Nqakula, son of the Minister of Safety and Security, was on Monday found guilty in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol. The charge stemmed from a late night head-on collision in the Cape Town CBD in March last year.
Telkom said it has rejected an approach from Oger Telecoms and will not consider the sale of the group or any of its units or joint ventures without a strategic rationale. Telkom said in a statement on Monday it had turned down the approach from United Arab Emirates-based Oger as it was not in the interest of shareholders.
After all the endless mediocre, soulless PSL games played in front of near-empty stadiums, Mamelodi Sundowns’ penalty shoot-out victory over rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup at King’s Park in Durban on Sunday evening provided high drama and exceptional entertainment.
Legislation is in the pipeline to have pseudoephedrine — a key ingredient in the manufacturing of the drug tik, or methamphetamine — reclassified, the Democratic Alliance said on Sunday. The restriction of these drugs would make it more difficult for backyard tik manufacturers to produce the drug.
Operation Juggernaut netted 39 road offenders with outstanding traffic fines and 27 illegal immigrants, Ekurhuleni metro police said on Sunday. Spokesperson Superintendent Vusi Mabanga said the arrests were carried out between 7am and 11am on Sunday.
Bamuza Sono, son of Jomo Sono and owner and coach of Jomo Cosmos FC, missed a penalty and Nathi Lions Luyanda Nxumalo scored the final spot kick to book a place in the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup for the national first division outfit. Lions won 5-3 in the shoot-out after the game ended goalless after 120 minutes.
South Africa’s judiciary does not need an uncritical media that is over respectful of the courts, Chief Justice Pius Langa said in Durban on Sunday. He said the judiciary should ”jealously protect” the media and its right to free expression, but at the same time the media’s right was ”not totally unfettered and unrestricted”.
South Africa’s Sevens team may have been beaten 26-12 by New Zealand in the final of the Hong Kong World Sevens on Sunday, but they showed they are closing the gap on the runaway leaders of the competition. New Zealand are now on 110 points after winning all five finals this season, while the Boks remain in second spot with 72 points.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) said on Sunday it regarded reported threats against senior political reporters as serious. Sunday newspapers reported that the SABC’s Miranda Strydom and Sophie Mokoena were ”lined up for slaughtering by unknown people”.
Four people died when a bakkie failed to stop at a railway crossing and was struck by a goods train near Lichtenburg, North West police said on Sunday. The bakkie had about 20 passengers, most of whom were children aged between six and 16, said Captain Aafje Botma.
AmaZulu repeated their high-scoring Nedbank Cup form by beating Vasco da Gama 5-0 at the Chatsworth Stadium in Durban on Saturday night to qualify for the quarterfinals. The Cape team made too many elementary errors and barely created a single chance for themselves.
The Sharks moved up to second in the Super 14 after a pair of second-half tries secured a 22-10 victory over the Queensland Reds on Saturday. The South Africans touched down in the 63rd and 67th minutes, breaking a determined Reds defence that was put under relentless pressure.
South Africa qualified for their first final in a Hong Kong leg of the IRB World Sevens series when they came from behind to beat defending champions Samoa 12-10 in the semifinal on Sunday. The Springboks will meet New Zealand in the final later on Sunday.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may have to play home World Cup qualifiers away from Kinshasa after being given an ultimatum to fix security infrastructure at the capital’s Martyrs stadium. The Congolese federation have been asked to name an alternate venue because Fifa are not satisfied that changes to improve the safety at the stadium had been implemented.
In February this year Santos beat Moroka Swallows 4-1 in an Absa Premiership league game, and on Friday night the Cape side transformed their fine league form in to an emphatic 3-1 Nedbank Cup tournament win against the same opponents at the Germiston Stadium on Friday night.
The Presidency and the African National Congress moved on Friday to dispel Democratic Alliance (DA) allegations over President Thabo Mbeki’s refusal to release the Khampepe commission’s report on the Scorpions. There was no intention to ”cover up” the report as alleged by DA leader Helen Zille, the Presidency said.
Planned power cuts will occur every other day except Sunday from next week, Eskom confirmed on Friday. ”Predictable and scheduled load shedding that will typically average two to two-and-a half hours of interruption will occur every second day, excluding Sundays,” said Eskom in a media statement.
President Thabo Mbeki and African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma have established a ”solid working relationship”, the ANC said on Friday. ”Contrary to some expectations, a solid working relationship has been established, with the president of the Republic interacting regularly with the officials,” ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said.
It is a matter of hours to go before voting stations open for Saturday’s elections in Zimbabwe. The Mail & Guardian Online spoke to South African political parties and NGOs ahead of the controversial poll. ”Mugabe will rule again. It would be a miracle if he didn’t,” said the Inkatha Freedom Party’s Musa Zondi.
Ferial Haffajee on why she agreed to model for Clover.
In the aftermath of his failure to become the president of the South African Rugby Union (Saru), Mike Stofile said the elections at the annual general meeting held on Friday proved there was no place for black people in South African rugby. Stofile, the former deputy president of Saru, was the only candidate opposing Oregan Hoskins for the top post.
Those persisting with efforts to move a motion of no confidence in Cricket South Africa president Norman Arendse do not have the interests of transformation at heart, the African National Congress’s (ANC) Butana Komphela said on Friday. The ANC’s parliamentary sport and recreation study group rejected the idea of a motion of no confidence, Komphela said.