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/ 5 December 2007

Charges dropped against radio journalist

The South African National Editors’ Forum has welcomed the withdrawal of criminal charges laid by police against a journalist who was arrested while covering a car accident in Lenasia on Tuesday. The journalist was covering an accident involving a police truck transporting prisoners when he was arrested by police.

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/ 5 December 2007

Nationwide hopes to fly again by Friday

Nationwide is hopeful it could have a plane in the air on Friday, the company said on Wednesday. ”That’s what we’re hoping, but it’s not guaranteed,” said Nationwide spokeswoman Charmaine Thome. ”We don’t want to get people’s hopes up.” If possible, a plane would fly to London on Friday, she said.

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/ 5 December 2007

Hundreds march against gender violence

Hundreds of men and women, including Cabinet ministers, marched in Pretoria on Wednesday in support of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign. The crowd marched from Sammy Marks Square to the Union Buildings to hand over a memorandum calling for more to be done for gender equality.

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/ 5 December 2007

Business confidence at new low for 2007

The business confidence index (BCI), after dipping to 96,9 in October, dropped further to 95,8 in November, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry said on Wednesday. ”The November 2007 BCI is the lowest level of the BCI since February 2004 and yet another new low for 2007,” the chamber said.

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/ 5 December 2007

ANC race stirs economic concerns

South Africa’s economic boom looks set to persist but concerns linger over the direction of policy after the crucial African National Congress (ANC) conference, which seems likely to choose Jacob Zuma as the ruling party’s new leader. Economic growth jumped to 5,4% in 2006 — its fastest rate since 1981 — and wealth is spreading to a burgeoning black middle class.

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/ 5 December 2007

Selebi’s friend guilty of drug dealing

Glenn Agliotti, once called the ”Landlord” and an associate of police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi, on Wednesday pleaded and was found guilty of dealing in drugs. He appeared in the Germiston Regional Court for a special plea and sentencing agreement. Agliotti is also accused of the murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble.

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/ 5 December 2007

Zille: Cape housing projects hampered by politics

Political interference, red tape and legislation are among the factors slowing the City of Cape Town’s housing projects, mayor Helen Zille said on Wednesday. Delivery of housing opportunities had been delayed and several causes of this identified, she told the last full council meeting of the year. A shortage of project managers in the housing department was a major factor.

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/ 5 December 2007

Manufacturing output quickens to 5,2%

South Africa’s manufacturing output recovered in October to grow an unadjusted 5,2% year-on-year in volume terms, after contracting 1,4% in September, official data showed on Wednesday. Compared with September, manufacturing production rose a seasonally-adjusted 7,2% in October, Statistics South Africa said.

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/ 5 December 2007

SA holds back on signing trade pact with EU

South Africa said on Wednesday it would not sign a new trade pact with the European Union until its concerns over possible "detrimental impacts" new accords could have on Africa had been addressed. "South Africa is very much opposed to the inclusion of certain trade and services clauses," Foreign Ministry Deputy Director General Gert Grobler told journalists.

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/ 5 December 2007

Cash boost for training of Gauteng detectives

The Gauteng provincial police service received a cash boost of R500 000 on Wednesday for the specialised training of detectives. The South African Insurance Association’s deputy executive officer, Refiloe Moletsane, said the unacceptable levels of crime in the country had prompted the association to assist with the funding of the training programme.

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/ 5 December 2007

Van der Vyver may sue state for wrongful prosecution

The family of Fred van der Vyver, the acquitted accused in the Inge Lotz murder case, intends suing the state for his wrongful prosecution, the Times online reported on Wednesday. Van der Vyver’s father, Louis, said the next logical step would be an investigation into the actions of the detectives responsible for presenting controversial fingerprint evidence.

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/ 5 December 2007

Absa announces increase in bank charges

Absa will increase its bank charges by 4,2% on average for 2008, it announced on Wednesday. However, it said a number of products and services would cost less or be free of charge from January 1. The new pricing was aimed at encouraging customers to use the cheaper digital banking rather than going into branches, Absa said in a statement.

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/ 5 December 2007

Kruger park launches zero-tolerance campaign

In an attempt to ensure the smooth running of the Kruger National Park during the festive season, the park launched a ”zero-tolerance” campaign on Wednesday. Running until January 2, Operation Sledgehammer will see park personnel and the police working together to ensure that ”law breakers” were brought to book.

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/ 5 December 2007

Boks bank on some Floors magic

South Africa will be looking to home-town favourite Kabamba Floors to fire up their Sevens team when the second leg of the world Sevens series is played in George this weekend. Capped once for the XV-man Springboks, Floors has been a hit on the Sevens circuit.

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/ 5 December 2007

NPA won’t comment on Kebble accused ‘deal’

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Wednesday would not comment on a report that Glen Agliotti — accused of the murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble — had entered into a deal with the Scorpions. Earlier, a media report said that Agliotti’s deal was linked to the drug charges he faces relating to an international smuggling ring.

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/ 5 December 2007

SA passengers hit by flight delays

Another local flight, this time involving an aircraft belonging to South African Express, was delayed on Tuesday in George, it was disclosed on Wednesday. This followed the delay of a South African Airways flight in East London — also on Tuesday. The South African Express flight was delayed for more than 12 hours.

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/ 5 December 2007

Bulls sign Frans Ludeke as coach

The worst-kept coaching secret of the year is out: former Cats and Golden Lions coach Frans Ludeke is the new coach of the Bulls. Ludeke’s appointment was confirmed by the Blue Bulls Company on Tuesday night after weeks of speculation. He will now join the team in George on Wednesday night.

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/ 5 December 2007

Els in the hunt at Leopard Creek

South Africans Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel return to one of their favourite hunting grounds this week, both looking for a second victory in the Alfred Dunhill Championship beginning at Leopard Creek on Thursday. They are two of the bigger names in this €1-million event which forms part of the 2008 European Tour.

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/ 5 December 2007

How do SA Cabinet members unwind?

What does President Thabo Mbeki like to do in his spare time? Ballroom dancing? Playing the piano? No, the man likes to work during leisure hours, says his spokesperson. As the ruling party’s national conference in Polokwane approaches members of the South African Cabinet certainly need ways to unwind.

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/ 5 December 2007

Sanef condemns arrest of reporters in Lenasia

Police involved in Tuesday’s arrest of journalists reporting on a car accident in Lenasia should be investigated, the South African National Editor’s Forum (Sanef) said. ”Sanef requests an investigation into the conduct of the police for this unwarranted interference with journalists carrying out their duties,” the forum said.

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/ 5 December 2007

Suspected suicide at Michelangelo Towers

Police are yet to notify the next-of-kin of a middle-aged woman who jumped to her death from the seventh floor of the Michelangelo Towers on Tuesday. A media report said a note with the words ”I’m tired of life” was found in her room. The general manager at the Michelangelo Towers, Johan Troskie, refused to disclose any information,

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/ 4 December 2007

Kirsten signs contract to coach India

Former South African opener Gary Kirsten signed a two-year contract to coach India on Tuesday. ”It will be a great honour to coach the game’s most passionately supported team, and I can’t wait to take on what I know will be one of the biggest challenges of my ongoing career in cricket,” Kirsten said from Cape Town.

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/ 4 December 2007

Claims of intimidation in North West

North West African National Congress delegates are being threatened and bribed to vote for President Thabo Mbeki at the party’s national conference later this month, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Tuesday. Solly Phetoe, North West provincial secretary of Cosatu, said a number of delegates had complained of this.

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/ 4 December 2007

Civil aviation CEO resigns

The embattled South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) suffered yet another blow on Tuesday with the resignation of its CEO, Zakes Myeza. Myeza was touted as the saviour of the CAA when he took office in February last year, becoming the first permanent appointee to the post in years — at least since the debacle surrounding Trevor Abrahams.

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/ 4 December 2007

Thousands down tools over mine safety

Thousands of mineworkers took to the streets of central Johannesburg on Tuesday, urging industry bosses to beef up safety in South African mines. This year, there have been more than 200 deaths in the mining industry. Major mining companies said they were badly affected by the one-day strike.