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/ 13 February 2008

Scopa rebuffs DA effort to discuss arms deal

A resolution to open up the arms deal to further discussion was shot down by the standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) on Wednesday. Democratic Alliance MP Eddie Trent, who brought the proposal, finally withdrew it and agreed to the suggestion that the committee merely look into what progress has been made in implementing Scopa’s recommendations.

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/ 13 February 2008

Railway police arrest more than 7 000 people

The railway police have arrested 7 487 people during the last 10 weeks, the National Rail-Crime Combating Forum said in a statement on Wednesday. ”The presence of policemen and policewomen within the rail environment is certainly having a huge impact on crime prevention as well as the safety of commuters,” the forum said.

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/ 13 February 2008

JSE slightly lower on miners

South African stocks were slightly lower at midday on Wednesday as heavily weighted miners continue to falter on falling metal prices, while other investors refrained from making any large moves ahead of Wall Street opening. At midday, the broader all-share index had was off 0,18% at 28 533,810.

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/ 13 February 2008

Ljubicic sneaks into second round at SAA Open

Top seed Ivan Ljubicic had to survive a second-set scare before putting away qualifier Lamine Ouahab of Algeria in the first round of the SAA Tennis Open at Selborne Park on Tuesday. After one hour and 40 minutes, the Croatian finally won through 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 and set up a second round encounter against Laurent Recourderc of France.

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/ 13 February 2008

School to remember slain Randpark girl

Pupils at the Trinity House Preparatory School will remember their slain classmate Emily Williams (12) with a memorial service in the school hall on Monday. Williams died when she was hit by a bullet fired in a stand-off between robbers and security guards at a house in Kessel Street, Fairlands, on Tuesday morning.

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/ 13 February 2008

Power cuts take toll on mines, factories

Manufacturing slowed in December and mining output also fell, official data showed, fanning concern the economy’s two main power consumers will suffer from electricity constraints this year. At the same time, the Bureau for Economic Research warned that power shortages may trim the pace of economic growth to 3,4% this year.

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/ 13 February 2008

Rainbow nation wrestles with race

South Africa has been plunged into a fresh debate over the racial make-up of its sports teams 14 years after the country emerged from apartheid. As the cricket squad prepared on Wednesday to fly to Bangladesh after a furious row over the dearth of black players in its line-up, white rugby legends protested against government pressure on selectors to put colour ahead of ability

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/ 13 February 2008

Tsvangirai robbed in Johannesburg

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was robbed at his Johannesburg offices on Tuesday evening. Police spokesperson Thembi Nkhwasu said Tsvangirai and two of his officials were in their offices in Homestead Avenue in Bryanston at about 6pm when they were confronted by three men armed with pistols.

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/ 12 February 2008

Adcock head suspended in collusion probe

The head of Adcock Ingram Critical Care, Tiger Brands’s healthcare division, has been suspended following allegations of collusion by the Competition Commission, the company said on Tuesday. Tiger Brands non-executive chairperson Lex van Vught said the company is ”devastated” by the allegations.

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/ 12 February 2008

ID wants Mbeki, Cabinet to resign

Independent Democrats (ID) leader Patricia de Lille on Tuesday moved a motion calling on President Thabo Mbeki and his Cabinet to resign over the energy crisis. Speaking in the National Assembly during debate on Mbeki’s State of the Nation address, she said the ID has lost confidence in the government and its leaders.

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/ 12 February 2008

Red Devils coming for Chiefs, Pirates

English Premiership champions Manchester United will once again square off against Premier Soccer League giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in the 2008 Vodacom Challenge championship. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said on Tuesday he is going to bring the best available squad for the tournament.

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/ 12 February 2008

Judgement reserved in silicosis case

Former mineworkers on Tuesday listened during the resumption of former miner Thembekile Mankayi’s bid to secure R2,6-million from AngloGold Ashanti after he contracted silicosis. One of the group, Willie Fuledi, said he hoped the court would make a ruling for other mineworkers seeking a payout for the disease.

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/ 12 February 2008

Dissolve Parliament and start over, says DA

Democratic Alliance (DA) parliamentary leader Sandra Botha tabled a notice of motion in the National Assembly on Tuesday calling for Parliament to be dissolved. Speaking during debate on President Thabo Mbeki’s State of the Nation address, she said in order to tackle the challenges currently facing South Africa, it is necessary to start from a clean slate.

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/ 12 February 2008

Nqakula: Scorpions to be dissolved

South Africa’s elite, FBI-style Scorpions anti-crime unit will be dissolved, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said on Tuesday. ”The Scorpions … will be dissolved and the organised crime unit of the police will be phased out and a new, amalgamated unit will be created,” Nqakula told Parliament in Cape Town.

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/ 12 February 2008

New price shocks for Zimbabwe

A shocking new range of price increases were announced on Tuesday as Zimbabwe’s world-record hyperinflation spun further out of control, with charges for cellphone calls soaring by nearly 1 700%. The official National Incomes and Prices Commission said international calls were up to Z,2-million from Z 400 per minute.

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/ 12 February 2008

What to expect of tax rates in budget

Billy Joubert, director of tax at Deloitte, said on Tuesday during a pre-budget seminar that no rate changes to personal income-tax rates are expected, while at best the corporate tax rate may be cut to 28% from the current 29%. Joubert noted that South Africa’s corporate tax rates compare favourably with other countries.

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/ 12 February 2008

Shot UDM councillor dies in hospital

The United Democratic Movement councillor for the Metsimaholo municipality in the Free State, who was shot in the face recently, has died in hospital, police confirmed on Tuesday. Isaac Mokgatla (38) was shot in the Tshepiso informal settlement after he collected his two children from a school on January 31.