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/ 25 October 2007
An independent mediator has been appointed to facilitate talks between students and management at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), its Student Representative Council (SRC) said on Thursday, The Department of Education had on Monday appointed mediator Onkgopotse Tabane, said SRC president Mhlobo Hoyi.
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/ 25 October 2007
A man who may have been the victim of a money scam was arrested by police outside the United States embassy in Pretoria on Thursday. The man, who is in his early 40s and who was initially reported to have been planning an attack on the embassy, was praying and chanting across the street from the embassy when police were alerted.
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/ 25 October 2007
Special methods are needed to combat the epidemic of drug trafficking and abuse, it was contended by the state on Thursday in the drug-trafficking case involving Nazier Kapdi and four alleged accomplices. The ”special methods” referred to a police trap set up to bring to book Kapdi and those involved with him in his network.
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/ 25 October 2007
Entertainer Taliep Petersen and his wife, Najwa, were involved in dodgy diamond and currency deals, the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court heard on Thursday. One of these deals was in progress on the night he died, according to an affidavit handed in as evidence in Najwa’s second bail application.
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/ 25 October 2007
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South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale said on Thursday he had not ruled out joining the race to head the African National Congress (ANC), a position that traditionally leads to the country’s presidency. ”I haven’t made a final decision. I am waiting for the nominations process,” he told the Cape Town Press Club.
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/ 25 October 2007
In a bizarre case of overloading, two policemen in northern KwaZulu-Natal impounded a blue Fiat Uno on Thursday that was being used to transport two cows and two goats. Police spokesperson Captain Jabulani Mdletshe said two off-duty policemen were informed by residents of the Phelindaba area near Emanguzi that they had seen a man loading a cow into the small vehicle.
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/ 25 October 2007
Everyone knew Lucky Dube was a big star, as synonymous with reggae in Africa as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh were on the world stage.
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/ 25 October 2007
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) on Thursday dismissed an application by the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) to get the full record of the blacklisting inquiry at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). The FXI had asked Icasa to subpoena the record to help it defend its complaint that the SABC had violated licensing conditions.
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/ 25 October 2007
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The Springboks were accused on Thursday of blowing the chance of spreading rugby among South Africa’s black population by scrapping plans to include the biggest township on a World Cup victory parade. SA Rugby, already under fire over the lack of black players in the Springbok team, said it had had to strike Soweto off its list of venues because of time constraints.
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/ 25 October 2007
South African theatre icon Patrick Mynhardt, famous for portraying the Herman Charles Bosman character Oom Schalk Lourens on stage, has died at the age of 75, it was announced on Thursday. Mynhardt passed away of natural causes in London where he was performing his biographical one-man show Boy from Bethulie.
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/ 25 October 2007
Rand Water intends spending R4-billion on upgrading and refurbishing its distribution infrastructure in the next five years, the company announced in releasing its results on Thursday. Of this, 57% would be allocated to augmentation projects and the rest to the renovation and upgrading of existing infrastructure, said Rand Water acting chief executive Zvinaiye Manyere.
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/ 25 October 2007
The use of consultants cost the Department of Labour over R23-million in the last financial year, the department said on Thursday. According to the department’s own documentation, it spent R23 601 014,40 on nine different contracted experts, including auditors and trainers, during the last financial year.
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/ 25 October 2007
Women can have it all, said Transport Minister Jeff Radebe in Midrand on Thursday. ”Quite frankly, women are now expected to be a Jack, or rather a Jane, of all trades, as well as a mistress of all,” said Radebe at the launch of the Women in Transport seminar.
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/ 25 October 2007
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Most South Africans think Jacob Zuma will become South Africa’s next president, TNS Research Surveys said on Thursday — although many also fear a Zuma presidency would be disastrous. Two thousand respondents were asked in a survey who would become the next president of South Africa in 2009.
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/ 25 October 2007
The sixth teenager accused of the murder of King Edward VII school pupil Mfundo Ntshangase was denied bail in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. Bail was denied because the state said there were not enough grounds to grant him bail. He had been in custody since his arrest in September.
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/ 25 October 2007
A 12-day-long strike at Sasol Mining in Secunda has come to an end with both Sasol and employees represented by the newly recognised United People’s Union of South Africa trade union agreeing that work would resume on Thursday afternoon. An estimated 2 000 employees embarked on the strike almost two weeks ago.
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/ 25 October 2007
With five forwards and only two backs on the bench, it does not take a rocket scientist to predict that the Cheetahs will play it mostly tight in Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup final against the Lions in Bloemfontein. And the Lions are aware of it. ”They will probably try and make a statement with their forwards, but we’ll just play our own game,” said Lions coach Eugene Eloff.
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/ 25 October 2007
A trial within a trial will be held to decide on the admissibility of certain evidence in the drunken-driving case of Pretoria High Court Judge Nkola Motata. ”I’m of the view that the objection by the defence for the state to tender evidence in the manner it requests is to be sustained,” Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court magistrate Desmond Nair ruled on Thursday.
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/ 25 October 2007
There is no compelling evidence that circumstances in Zimbabwe currently pose a threat to financial stability in South Africa, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) said on Thursday. Releasing the <i>Financial Stability Review</i>, it said that currently the potential for negative news from Zimbabwe to affect investor sentiment towards South Africa is small.
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/ 25 October 2007
All wild abalone (perlemoen) fishing will be suspended from November 1 to ensure the survival of the species, the government announced on Thursday. A social plan to address the job losses resulting from the decision has been approved, government communications head Themba Maseko said.
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/ 25 October 2007
Ten men and a sangoma are to appear in the Westonaria Magistrate’s Court after they were arrested for the murder and armed robbery of a Jagfontein man, Gauteng police said on Thursday. The 70-year-old owner of Ashvalley Bricks and Sand was shot in the upper body while his wife and son were tied up.
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/ 25 October 2007
South African bank shares leapt on Thursday after reports that China’s biggest bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, has agreed to buy a 20% stake in Standard Bank, in a deal reported to be worth ,5-billion. Trading in Standard Bank shares was halted ahead of the release of a statement by the bank on the outcome of negotiations.
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/ 25 October 2007
South Africa claimed their second sporting title within five days thanks to a 4-3 penalty shootout victory against Zambia in the Cosafa Castle Cup final on Wednesday. The success of Bafana Bafana following a goalless draw in Bloemfontein came five days after the Springboks lifted the Rugby World Cup with a 15-6 triumph over England in Paris.
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/ 25 October 2007
South Africa’s producer price index (PPI) rose by 9,4% year-on-year (y/y) in September, unchanged from August, Statistics South Africa data on Thursday showed. The PPI declined 0,7% on a monthly basis after August’s monthly increase of 0,7%. PPI was at 9% y/y a year ago.
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/ 25 October 2007
The JSE remained firm at midday on Thursday as activity in the banking sector continued to dominate the market. At noon, the all-share index was up 0,97%, led by a 3,34% climb in the platinum mining index. The gold mining index gained 1,34% and resources rose 0,69%.
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/ 25 October 2007
Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhenkhesi Stofile has said South Africans would be given an opportunity to take part in a national debate regarding the Springbok emblem. He said the debate would not only focus on the Springbok emblem, but would include all the other sports emblems in the country.
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/ 25 October 2007
Gold Fields reported on Thursday an 18,6% fall in first-quarter adjusted earnings per share compared with the prevous quarter, blaming higher costs and falling output overseas. Gold Fields, the world’s fourth biggest gold producer, said adjusted EPS declined to 61 cents.
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/ 25 October 2007
South African public finances are sound and the financial system is healthy, while strong economic growth will continue, albeit as a slower pace, Moody’s Investor Service said on Thursday. But political and socio-economic risks may dampen investor sentiment and cloud prospects for a ratings upgrade.
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/ 24 October 2007
South Africa needs to review its crime-prevention strategy, the South African Human Rights Commission has recommended. ”In addition, policies and legislation should be revisited to improve integration, coordination and cooperation across the criminal justice system,” it said in a report on its crime conference in March.
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/ 24 October 2007
Steel giant ArcelorMittal on Wednesday stopped waste disposal at its Vaal site after being ordered to do so by the government, the company said. Waste disposal at the site was halted due to air and water pollution and the dumping of hazardous waste.
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/ 24 October 2007
The African National Congress (ANC) wants to consider setting up a media tribunal to discuss how participation of the public is juxtaposed with current self-regulation in the media. ”It’s not a policy position, we just want to set up a task team to investigate this,” ANC information head Smuts Ngonyama said on Wednesday.
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/ 24 October 2007
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SA Rugby has confirmed details of the Springboks’ victory tour, starting on Friday, to honour the team’s World Cup-winning performance in France. South African Rugby Union president Oregan Hoskins has appealed to the public to join in the celebrations by wearing green and gold.