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/ 5 December 2007
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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
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
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
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
The Department of Home Affairs said on Wednesday that it had not abolished border passes for Zimbabweans, as was reported in a number of newspapers. "There is no such thing as a border pass," said a statement from the department.
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/ 5 December 2007
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
<i>News24</i>, the breaking news service in the 24.com stable, has become South Africa’s first website to record more than one million unique South African visitors in a month. But is <i>News24</i>’s achievement an indicator that South Africa is more digitally developed than previously believed?
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/ 5 December 2007
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
Suhail Abu al-Sameed looked calm, yet he was shaking inside. He was seated before a row of ulama, distinguished Islamic scholars.
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/ 5 December 2007
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
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
Africa cannot stop the European Union (EU) if it wants to discuss the issue of Zimbabwe during the weekend’s European-African summit in Lisbon, Portugal, South African Foreign Affairs Deputy-Director General Gert Grobler said on Wednesday. He said that Zimbabwe was not part of the agreed agenda.
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/ 5 December 2007
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
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
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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/ 5 December 2007
The JSE remained firm at noon on Wednesday in line with overseas markets, while ongoing mergers and acquisitions talk and higher commodity prices boosted miners. But investors remained jittery ahead of the local central bank’s interest rate decision on Thursday afternoon.
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/ 4 December 2007
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
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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
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 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.
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/ 4 December 2007
A senior Cape Town police officer may face disciplinary charges after making conflicting statements on the time of the recent arrest of former African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni for drunken driving. The step follows reports that police may have bungled the arrest by delaying taking a blood-alcohol sample.
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/ 4 December 2007
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Jacob Zuma is hounded by corruption allegations and his rape trial often overshadows his status as a hero of the anti-apartheid struggle. Yet the burly Zulu politician has shrugged off obstacles that would have crippled others to emerge as favourite to lead the ruling African National Congress.
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/ 4 December 2007
The first South China tiger cub born in South Africa was shown to the media at the Laohu Valley Reserve in the southern Free State on Tuesday. The cub, not named yet, was born 11 days ago, weighing 1,2kg, and opened his eyes on Monday. The South China tiger is one of the most endangered species in the world.
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/ 4 December 2007
A delegation of the world’s elder statesmen on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan’s Darfur and for the international community to urgently honour its pledge to send in a peacekeeping force. ”The future of Darfur, and indeed the whole of Sudan, sits on a knife-edge,” said a report following a fact-finding mission.
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/ 4 December 2007
In a further effort to protect South Africa’s fast-diminishing perlemoen stocks, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk has imposed a ban on scuba diving and snorkelling in certain areas along the Cape coast. The envisaged prohibition, subject to a process of public comment, will take effect from February 1 next year.
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/ 4 December 2007
The South African Civil Aviation Authority and Nationwide Airlines have agreed to a media blackout regarding the grounding of the carrier. They said they would no longer make independent statements to the press, but would speak jointly on the process, it was announced on Tuesday.