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/ 14 January 2008

Threatened flamingos breed on man-made island

Lesser flamingos have started breeding on a specially constructed artificial island at the Kamfers Dam, the Northern Cape department of tourism, environment and conservation said on Monday. The birds at Kamfers Dam are of historic significance because it is only the sixth breeding locality in the world for the near-threatened species.

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/ 14 January 2008

Visiting Irish leader concerned about Zim

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern expressed ”great concern” over the economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe at the outset of a visit to South Africa on Monday.
”I would like to thank President [Thabo] Mbeki for his work as the SADC [Southern African Development Community] mediator in Zimbabwe,” Ahern said.

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/ 14 January 2008

Cosatu slams bread-price increase

Tiger Brands began charging 40 cents more for a loaf of Albany bread on Monday, with Pioneer Foods and Premier Foods in the process of considering their increases. In response, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) suggested the increases were linked to last year’s bread price-fixing scandal.

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/ 14 January 2008

Police move to reassure South Africa

South Africa’s embattled police force on Monday sought to reassure the crime-ridden country after a weekend that saw its police chief placed on extended leave in a widening corruption scandal. The South African Police Service was under intense public scrutiny before it was disclosed last week that Jackie Selebi would face charges of corruption and defeating the course of justice.

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/ 14 January 2008

More power cuts this week, says Eskom

Power cuts resumed on Monday and would continue nationally for the rest of the week, Eskom said. Eskom’s media desk said some areas might experience power cuts up to twice a day, for up to two-and-a-half hours at a time. Eskom needed to reduce demand for electricity in order to stabilise the electricity system nationally, the power utility’s statement said.

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/ 14 January 2008

SA receives housing boost from Ireland

The Irish government has approved a €5-million grant (about R50-million) for building township houses in South Africa. Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern announced details of the grant in Cape Town on Monday during an official visit aimed at, among other things, monitoring projects funded by Irish Aid, a government development agency.

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/ 14 January 2008

Charges against Gerrie Nel withdrawn

Charges against Gerrie Nel, the head of the Directorate of Special Operations, or the Scorpions, in Gauteng, were withdrawn in the Pretoria Regional Court on Monday. ”After careful consideration of the evidence in the docket, the decision was made to withdraw the charges,” chief prosecutor Matric Lupondo said during Nel’s brief appearance.

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/ 14 January 2008

Sterne wins Jo’burg Open after thrilling play-off

South African Richard Sterne won the Jo’burg Open on Sunday at the Royal Johannesburg and Kengsington Golf Club after a dramatic three-way sudden death play-off against countryman Garth Mulroy and Swede Magnus Carlsson. The threesome who were tied at minus-13 after regulation play could still not be separated after they all birdied the par-five 18th.

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/ 14 January 2008

Selebi’s lawyers wait for court date

Police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi’s legal team were on Monday waiting for a date for a hearing for his application to stop the investigation against him, after last week’s attempt to have it heard urgently failed. ”The judge president must provide a date for a full bench,” said Selebi’s advocate Jaap Cilliers.

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/ 14 January 2008

NPA meets to consider Selebi options

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will meet this week to discuss how to proceed with their case against police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi, a spokesperson said. On Friday Selebi failed to secure an urgent application in the Pretoria High Court to stop the investigation against him.

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/ 13 January 2008

Mbeki appoints acting police commissioner

Police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi has been granted an extended leave of absence, President Thabo Mbeki said on Saturday. Speaking at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Mbeki said Selebi had requested the leave himself. This follows Friday’s revelations by the National Prosecuting Authority that it was ready to charge Selebi with corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering.

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/ 12 January 2008

Zuma backers put SA judges on trial

Judicial autonomy in South Africa’s young democracy will be put to the test as politicians and judges eye each other with growing distrust ahead of the graft trial of African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma. His backers say there is no chance of Zuma getting a fair trial from a judiciary which is still largely male and white.

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/ 12 January 2008

Selebi quits as Interpol chief

Police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi has quit as head of international crime-fighting body Interpol, the organisation said on Sunday. The news follows President Thabo Mbeki’s announcement on Saturday that Selebi, who faces allegations of corruption, fraud, racketeering and defeating the ends of justice, was going on extended leave of absence.

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/ 12 January 2008

All eyes on Zuma at ANC anniversary

New African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma will make his first keynote speech on Saturday, since taking over the party leadership from President Thabo Mbeki. His speech will form part of celebrations for the 96th anniversary of the party. The anniversary rally will take place at the Super Stadium in Atteridgeville, Pretoria.

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/ 12 January 2008

Parties call for Selebi’s head

Opposition parties have called for the immediate suspension of police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi, in light of his failure to prevent the National Prosecuting Authority from prosecuting him. Selebi’s urgent application was denied in the Pretoria High Court on Thursday. Judge Nico Coetzee said the application bore no merit and it was struck off the roll.

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/ 11 January 2008

Pollock announces international retirement

South Africa all-rounder Shaun Pollock announced his retirement from international cricket following the second day’s play of the third Test against the West Indies in Durban on Friday. Pollock (34) only returned to the South Africa line-up for the current Test after having been overlooked by selectors for Test duty in recent months.

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/ 11 January 2008

Proteas close in on series win

South Africa stamped their authority on the third and deciding Test on Friday, declaring on 556-4 to set the injury-plagued West Indies a mammoth target of 418 to make the Proteas bat again. At close of play on the second day, the West Indies were 23 without loss, still trailing by 394 runs.

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/ 11 January 2008

Mpumalanga works towards name changes

Mpumalanga is considering name changes to major towns, including provincial capital Nelspruit, the city said on Friday. City spokesperson Gordon Nkgathi said: ”The proposed geographical name changes, including the renaming of Nelspruit to Mbombela, have been considered and recommended by the Mpumalanga provincial geographical names committee.”