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/ 28 November 2007

Hospital care at home

When patients hear they have Aids, their first reaction often is to think they have been given the death sentence. But, between the disease and dying lies a grey area, and that’s when palliative caregivers are most needed by patients. Palliative care aims to relieve the suffering and improve the quality of life of patients with life-threatening illnesses.

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/ 28 November 2007

Stones into bread

Five minutes in the company of Rhodes Park library assistant Edith Mvelase is sufficient to dispel any residual images of librarians as people with pursed lips and dusty fingers. Not only does she have apple cheeks and laughing eyes, Mvelase is also quite likely to have muddy hands from digging in the library’s food garden.

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/ 28 November 2007

Creative healing

Bombarded by HIV/Aids campaigns, South Africans have grown almost immune to the messages so crucial in the fight against the pandemic. For many it is a case of ”we’ve heard it all before”. This is why many organisations have put on their creative shoes to find unique ways to reach affected people and help the cope.

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/ 27 November 2007

Sanac adopts strategic plan to combat HIV/Aids

The South African National Aids Council (Sanac) has adopted a strategic plan to respond to HIV/Aids challenges in the country, it said on Tuesday. This was announced at a Sanac conference in Johannesburg. Spokesperson Mark Heywood said the plan might not be perfect, but it was the best available as it had been endorsed by the Cabinet.

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/ 27 November 2007

Zuma thrives on Mbeki blunders

It would have seemed all but unthinkable two years ago, but Jacob Zuma appears set to become leader of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC). Despite being dogged by graft allegations, analysts say he has patiently capitalised on the political blunders of his rival, President Thabo Mbeki, to win overwhelming support.

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/ 27 November 2007

Rasool apologises to provincial legislature

Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool has apologised to the provincial legislature for ”incorrect” statements made before it on overspending. ”To bring finality and closure to an unfortunate episode, I apologise for anything I said that led to the conclusion of the ad-hoc committee,” he said in Cape Town on Tuesday.

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/ 27 November 2007

Cosatu: NPA must not be used to bring down Zuma

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) must not be used to bring down Jacob Zuma ahead of the African National Congress conference to elect its next president, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Tuesday. Zuma, the current ANC deputy president, is the frontrunner to become the party’s next president.

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/ 27 November 2007

Accused’s illness delays nuclear trial

The trial of the Swiss design engineer Daniel Geiges, who was allegedly part of an international nuclear smuggling ring, was postponed on Tuesday because he was too ill to stand trial. The Pretoria High Court was earlier told that Geiges (69) had been diagnosed with cancer of the rectum and was undergoing ”severe treatment”.

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/ 27 November 2007

Gauteng economy on the up, says provincial minister

Progress was being made in strengthening Gauteng’s economy but unemployment was still a concern, Gauteng minister of finance Paul Mashatile said on Tuesday. ”[W]hen we report back to the people of Gauteng [in 2009] we will be able to say boldly and without fear of contradiction that we have successfully completed our five-year mandate,” he said.

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/ 27 November 2007

No judgement yet in chieftaincy tussle

Two cousins took their battle for chieftaincy of the Valoyi tribe to the Constitutional Court on Tuesday, in a case that challenges customary law in their tribe that says only men may be chiefs. Tinyiko Shilubana and Sidwell Nwamitwa each insist that they are the rightful head of the Valoyi tribe.

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/ 27 November 2007

Kalahari.net scoops e-commerce award

Local online retailer Kalahari.net, a popular stop on the web for South Africans looking to buy especially CDs, books and DVDs, has been chosen as best e-commerce store of the year, for the second year in a row. The South African e-Commerce Awards is an initiative hosted by online shopping search engine Jump Shopping.

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/ 27 November 2007

Briton responsible for Table Mountain fire, court hears

A taxi driver saw British citizen Anthony Cooper flick a burning cigarette on to dry grass, which started a runaway fire on Table Mountain, the Cape Town Regional Court heard on Tuesday. The driver, Craig Ward, testified before magistrate Wilma van der Merwe in Cooper’s trial on a charge of culpable homicide and one of contravening the National Forestry Act.

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/ 27 November 2007

Move to expedite Pikoli inquiry

The commission appointed to investigate whether National Prosecution Authority head Vusi Pikoli was fit to hold office on Monday held a meeting with Department of Justice and Constitutional Development officials and Pikoli in a bid to expedite the investigation, the commission said on Tuesday.

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/ 27 November 2007

Union gets go-ahead for mine-safety strike

South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Tuesday it had been given the go-ahead by authorities to stage a one-day nationwide strike on December 4 to highlight the issue of safety at mines. ”Yes, we are going on strike on December 4, we have been given the go-ahead,” NUM spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said.

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/ 27 November 2007

Els eyes record fourth win at Sun City

Three of the world’s top 10 golfers and eight of the top 20 will contest the annual Nedbank Golf Challenge over the Gary Player Country Club course at Sun City, beginning on Thursday. South Africa’s world number five, Ernie Els, who is chasing a record four victories in the 27th edition of the tournament, is the highest ranked player in the 12-man line-up.

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/ 27 November 2007

SA GDP growth increases in third quarter

South African third-quarter growth rose to an annualised 4,7%, beating forecasts and backing the case for another interest-rate hike. Statistics South Africa on Tuesday said the annualised quarter-on-quarter growth in real gross domestic product (GDP) has increased to 4,7%, compared with a downwardly revised 4,4% in the second quarter of 2007.

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/ 27 November 2007

DA highlights problem of stock theft

More than 28 000 animals were stolen from farms around the country over the past 18 months, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Tuesday. Less than 40% of the stock — including game, cattle, sheep and goats — was recovered, DA rural safety spokesperson Ryno King said in a statement.

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/ 27 November 2007

Richtersvelders to celebrate return of land

After a decade-long struggle in the courts, Richtersvelders will on Saturday celebrate the return of their land in a handing over ceremony in Alexander Bay. Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin and Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Lulu Xingwana will hand over to the community the deeds to 194 600ha of land.

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/ 27 November 2007

JSE flat after weak opening

A weaker rand offset the JSE’s earlier losses on Tuesday and the bourse was flat by midday. The JSE initially opened weaker following an overnight drop on Wall Street. At noon, the JSE’s all-share index was barely changed (+0,02%). The gold mining index climbed 0,62%, and resources lifted 0,24%.

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/ 27 November 2007

Naspers says core headline earnings up 32%

Africa’s biggest media group Naspers’ half year core headline earnings rose 32% to R1,75-billion. Naspers said core headline earnings per share came in at 506 cents, compared to 455 cents in the previous period. The firm warned that consumer spending would continue to slow, placing pressure on advertising and circulation revenues.

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/ 27 November 2007

SABC gets sole rights to Polokwane conference

The South African Broadcasting Corporation has been awarded exclusive rights to provide the feed at the African National Congress conference in Polokwane in December to all other broadcasters. Five SABC cameras would be allowed in the plenary hall during open sessions and would be providing ”clean feeds” and unedited material.

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/ 26 November 2007

Govt declares Highveld regions air-pollution hot spots

The Highveld regions of eastern Gauteng and western Mpumalanga, including towns such as Witbank, Standerton and Boksburg, have been declared air-pollution hot spots. ”There is little doubt that people living and working in these areas do not enjoy air quality that is not harmful to their health and well-being,” the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism said on Monday.

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/ 26 November 2007

James Dalton, wife reach interim settlement

Former Springbok hooker James Dalton and his wife, Andrea, who are involved in a bitter divorce battle, reached an interim settlement on Monday. The couple made headlines when Andrea Dalton (49) launched an urgent court application for a protection order against James (35), who she claimed physically and mentally abused her.

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/ 26 November 2007

Yengeni arrested for drunken driving

The possible breach of the parole conditions of former African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni was under investigation after he was arrested for drunken driving, the Correctional Services Ministry said on Monday. Yengeni was arrested in Cape Town on Sunday evening on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol, police said.

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/ 26 November 2007

Cops defend Selebi’s assurances

Police have defended National Commissioner Jackie Selebi’s undertaking that crime would not mar the past weekend’s World Cup qualifying draw in Durban. ”The commissioner was 100% correct in that he was talking about what the police could be responsible for,” said national police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Vish Naidoo on Monday.

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/ 26 November 2007

East Rand home affairs hit by phone problems

Phone lines have been cut at East Rand offices of the Department of Home Affairs — allegedly due to unpaid phone bills, a home affairs official said on Monday. Regional home affairs manager for Springs Themba Ndebele said the lines had been out of order since last week. ”This is crisis point,” said Ndebele. ”We can’t function.”