The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Tuesday asked that acting National Director of Public Prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe be called to Parliament to explain the delay in making public the decision on whether or not to charge police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi.
The ANC’s national executive committee elected its 28-member national working committee (NWC) on Monday. Get the complete list of NWC members here, as well as the names of the eight ANC members who will form part of the ad hoc committee to draw up a report on the arms deal.
Routine maintenance at Koeberg Power station was ”a necessary evil” at a time when reserve supplies were low and the risk of load shedding high, Eskom said on Tuesday. ”For five to seven years the reserve margin is going to be low. It’s an agonising decision sometimes, but we have to take a long-term view,” said Eskom spokesperson Andrew Etzinger.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for the Presidency to break its silence over the ongoing fracas in Kenya. ”An upfront reiteration by the South African Presidency that it will not countenance ballot rigging and improper retention of power would be both appropriate and timeous,” the DA’s Tony Leon said.
A French chef who had made her home on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast and earned accolades for her cooking over the years was found bludgeoned and burnt to death in her Ramsgate home, police said on Tuesday. The partially burnt body of Yvonne Cosson (69) was found covered with soil next to one of the walls of her home.
The estimated consumption of electricity in November 2007 increased by 2,8% compared with November 2006, Statistics South Africa said on Tuesday. The estimated volume of electricity consumed (available for distribution) for the three months ending November 2007 increased by 3,8% compared with the three months ending November 2006.
The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) on Tuesday called on Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel to sack the statistician general, Pali Lehohla. Revelations in morning newspapers that a crucial survey by Statistics South Africa contains serious errors has resulted in a serious crisis of confidence in this institution, according to the party.
Concerns have been raised about the reliability of an R600-million state-funded Statistics South Africa survey endorsed by President Thabo Mbeki. The Statistics Council of South Africa said irregularities in the survey made it questionable as to whether the survey could provide a ”scientific basis” for government policy.
The African National Congress (ANC) will appoint an ad-hoc committee to draw up a ”detailed factual report” on the arms deal, the party announced in Johannesburg on Tuesday. ”We are not asking for the re-opening of the arms deal. We need to get a detailed formal report … to take informed decisions,” party secretary general Gwede Mantashe told journalists.
Zimbabwe’s state-run power company, Zesa Holdings, says it will step up efforts to revive operations of its three small thermal power stations in light of the diminishing electricity imports from conventional suppliers, the state-controlled Herald newspaper reported on Tuesday. Zesa spokesperson Ben Rafemoyo said nearly Z-trillion has been set aside.
The weeding out of apparent corruption in the Gauteng education department was to blame for textbook order delays for the 2008 school year, Gauteng provincial minister of education Angie Motshekga said on Tuesday. ”We had our own internal challenges,” she said at a media briefing in central Johannesburg about the department’s readiness for 2008.
The JSE was firmer by midday on Tuesday as a weaker United States dollar helped precious metals boost mining stocks on the bourse. By noon, the broader all-share index was 0,57% better, led by a 1,74% climb in the gold-mining index. The platinum-mining index gained 1,4% and resources added 1,17%.
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Top leaders of the African National Congress said on Tuesday they had ”grave misgivings” about the timing and handling of corruption charges against newly elected leader Jacob Zuma. Zuma has been charged with fraud, corruption, money laundering, racketeering and tax evasion.
A weakened Dolphins cricket side, including a player fresh out of school, has been named for the key away fixtures against the Titans and the Eagles in the Supersport Series over the next two weekends. The Dolphins, currently in second spot, ended the 2007 half of the season on a dismal note as their batting collapsed.
The African National Congress clarified the absence of President Thabo Mbeki and a close ally, Joel Netshitenze, from Monday’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting, saying both men had excused themselves a week ago, citing prior engagements.
The funeral service of Mlungisi Sisulu, grandson of liberation struggle icon Walter Sisulu, will be held on Sunday in Randburg, the family said on Monday. ”The funeral service will be held on Sunday January 13 at the Walter Sisulu Hall in Randburg, Johannesburg, at 10am,” the family’s spokesperson, Zwelakhe Sisulu, said in a statement.
Injured West Indies captain Chris Gayle is out of the deciding third test against South Africa, the touring team said on Monday. Gayle broke his thumb while batting in the second Test in Cape Town, which South Africa won by seven wickets on Saturday to level the series at 1-1. ”Chris is not going to be ready to play,” West Indies media officer Philip Spooner said.
The Ginwala inquiry into suspended prosecutions head Vusi Pikoli on Monday announced a timeline for key submissions to it, it was reported. Lawson Naidoo, spokesperson for Frene Ginwala, said they were expecting Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Brigitte Mabandla’s submission on January 15 and Pikoli’s on January 31.
The recent concerns of former chief justice Arthur Chaskalson and liberation struggle lawyer George Bizos about statements made by supporters of African National Congress president Jacob Zuma should be dismissed, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Monday.
The newly elected leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) should not undermine South Africa’s economic credibility for petty party political reasons, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Monday. This would be to the detriment of all South Africans, poor and rich, the DA’s deputy finance spokesperson, Kobus Marais, said in a statement.
South Africa’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) safety standards compare favourably with the best in the world, a United States Federation Administration Audit report said on Monday. CAA spokesperson Phindiwe Gwebu said the audit was conducted from July 30 to August 2 2007, and the report was released on Monday.
The task of finding a new South Africa rugby coach shifted up a gear on Monday when the first two candidates for the vacant position were interviewed by the country’s rugby bosses. The favourite for the position, former Bulls boss Heyneke Meyer, and South African under-21 coach Peter de Villiers were subjected to lengthy interviews on Monday.
The December holidays always bring turmoil and carnage to South African roads, but this year has seen the number of road fatalities reduced by 18%. Statistics released by the Department of Transport for last month show that the number of deaths had dropped by 263 from the previous year.
The African National Congress (ANC) will mark its 96th anniversary and deliver its traditional ”January 8” address during a huge event at Tshwane’s Super Stadium in Atteridgeville on Saturday. The address will be delivered by the party’s newly elected president, Jacob Zuma, to mark the day the party was established.
A 29-year-old man was arrested after two Somalis were found burnt to death in their shop at Duncan Village in East London, Eastern Cape police said on Monday. Spokesperson Captain Stephen Marais said the deceased, Said Khalif (17) and Badal Shiek Mohamed (26), were confronted by four men who took money and household goods before killing them on Sunday.
Former state vice-president Alwyn Schlebusch died in Pretoria on January 7 at the age of 90, his son said. Schlebusch, who served as a National Party MP for two decades and held several Cabinet portfolios, was admitted to the Pretoria East Hospital two weeks ago and was in the intensive-care unit when he died.
The Bulls’ chances of defending their Super 14 rugby title suffered a blow Monday when inside centre Wayne Julies was ruled out of the competition with a knee injury. Team doctor Tommie Smook, who will stay on with the Bulls until the end of the Super 14, on Monday said Julies had to undergo an operation and will not be able to play for at least six months.
A Boeing 747 was forced to return to OR Tambo International Airport after an engine failed more than one hour into the flight, KLM said on Monday. Air France and KLM general manager Yeshwant Pawar said flight 592 was on its way to Amsterdam when engine number one failed only one-and-a-half hours into the flight.
The African National Congress (ANC) needs to assure South Africans it will not follow the path that has led to chaos in Kenya, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said on Monday. ”Events in Kenya have shown us how quickly a combination of cronyism, populism and ethnic mobilisation can destroy a country’s democratic prospects,” she said.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Brigitte Mabandla on Monday rejected as ”untrue” reports that she had delayed the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) decision on whether or not to charge police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi. The NPA ”does not have to get any permission from the minister”, said Mabandla’s spokesperson.
Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s on Monday announced the launch of a new investable index for investors seeking exposure to environmentally responsible investment strategies. The index provides diversified, liquid exposure to 30 of the largest publicly listed companies operating in ecology-related industries.
An indication from positive United States futures that a battered Wall Street could open firmer on Monday, led to a slight recovery on the JSE by noon. The JSE was down over 1,5% in the morning session on concerns that the US market could go into a recession after job numbers came out worse than expected on Friday.