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.
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.
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.
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.
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The African National Congress’s national executive committee will meet for the first time on Monday since being elected at the party’s national conference in Polokwane. Items on the agenda include the National Prosecuting Authority’s decision to charge new ANC president Jacob Zuma with fraud and corruption.
Nationwide Airlines has resumed all flights in the Eastern and southern Cape after it was grounded for safety reasons last year, a media report said on Monday. Nationwide corporate quality director Rodger Whittle said it was safe to say the airline was ”back to normal”.
The Young Communist League will on Tuesday launch a ”Right to Learn” campaign in memory of Joe Slovo. Spokesperson Castro Ngobese said the purpose of the campaign was to to ensure that schools re-opened smoothly. ”He was a selfless and dedicated communist, a fighter par excellence for the working class and the poor,” he said.
The acceptance period for global brewing giant SABMiller’s offer for Dutch brewer Koninklijke Grolsch NV (Grolsch) commences at 9am, Amsterdam time on January 8 and will end at 3pm Amsterdam time on February 5, unless extended, the company said on Monday.
A determined search by internet-coordinated volunteers on Saturday found the body of pilot Dirk Boosyen 11 days after he went missing in the Bavianskloof region of the Eastern Cape, police said on Sunday. ”They discovered the burnt-out wreck at about 6pm [on Saturday] in the Matjiesfontien farm in the Baviaanskloof area on the peaks of the mountain,” said Captain John Fobian.
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The corruption charge against Jacob Zuma, the new head of the African National Congress (ANC), is on the agenda of the first meeting since his election of the party’s national executive council on Monday, the party secretary general said on Sunday. ”The corruption charge against Zuma is on the agenda,” Gwede Mantashe, said.
South African HIV/Aids activist Zackie Achmat got married to his co-campaigner boyfriend at a ceremony attended by hundreds of guests, newspapers reported on Sunday. Achmat (45), founder and chairperson of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), the country’s main Aids lobby, married Dalli Weyers on Saturday at a colourful occasion near Cape Town.
South Africa captain Graeme Smith blasted 85 off 79 balls to guide his team to a seven-wicket win on the fourth day of the second Test against the West Indies at Newlands on Saturday. Smith’s innings enabled South Africa to square the series with one match to play. Victory with a day to spare seemed unlikely after a heroic effort by West Indian skipper Chris Gayle.
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African National Congress president Jacob Zuma married his fourth wife, Nompumelelo Ntuli of KwaMaphumulo, at his homestead at Nkandla in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday. Between 400 and 500 guests — mainly family — attended the ceremony, which lasted about three hours.
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African National Congress president Jacob Zuma’s innocence or guilt should be decided by the courts and not through rhetorical statements from his detractors or supporters, retired chief justice Arthur Chaskalson and one of South Africa’s top lawyers, George Bizos, said on Saturday.