The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) on Friday called for a broader political inquiry into the suspension of the director of the National Prosecuting Authority, advocate Vusi Pikoli. ”This has now become more urgent than ever,” spokesperson Patrick Craven said.
German Chancellor Angel Merkel on Friday dismissed fears of crime derailing the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa. Doomsayers had triggered heated debate in Germany with their criticisms over its hosting of the soccer spectacular in 2006 and she was sure the same ”may well happen in South Africa”.
President Thabo Mbeki steered clear on Friday of the furore over suspended National Prosecuting Authority head Vusi Pikoli, opting to devote his weekly newsletter, ANC Today, to eye-care awareness week. As readers remained in the dark on Mbeki’s own views on the controversy, he began this week’s column with: ”Those who have eyes to see, let them see!”
President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses Ernest Blom has withdrawn from the verification process of a ”7 000-carat diamond” found in the North West in August. ”I withdraw from the process completely and disassociate myself from any further press statements made by anyone but myself,” Blom said on Friday in a statement.
The lack of legislation regulating the conduct of judges has resulted in Cape Judge President John Hlophe getting away with a ”slap on the wrist”, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Friday. DA spokesperson on justice Sheila Camerer said Hlophe’s case highlighted the need to expedite the passing of such legislation.
The 2010 Soccer World Cup is an opportunity to create a new image for Africa, German Chancellor Angela Merkel told President Thabo Mbeki on Friday. The two leaders met at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where Mbeki hosted Merkel for talks as part of her official state visit to South Africa.
President Robert Mugabe presides over a disaster in Zimbabwe but should still be entitled to attend a forthcoming Europe-Africa summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday. Summing up talks in Pretoria with President Thabo Mbeki, Merkel said she made clear her disquiet about the situation across South Africa’s northern border.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Friday vowed it will pursue the controversy surrounding President Thabo Mbeki and police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi. Writing in the party’s weekly newsletter, SA Today, parliamentary leader of the DA Sandra Botha said the gravity of the situation was such that it should not be underestimated.
Recent crime statistics show that whatever is being done to fight crime in South Africa is not working, an expert said on Friday. ”It shows us that there is something wrong with our approach to this fight,” researcher Johan Burger said at the Institute of Security Studies seminar on the country’s crime-prevention strategy.
Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) president Willie Madisha has stepped down, it emerged on Friday. A special task team will now be established to make recommendations to Cosatu’s Central Executive Committee after Madisha voluntarily stepped down.
Statements attributed to the chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) in Limpopo, Sello Moloto, were on Friday described as reckless, immature and childish by the ANC Youth League (ANCYL). The ANCYL said Moloto was incorrigible and had become an embarrassment and a political liability.
Acting National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Mokotedi Mpshe has taken steps to cancel both an arrest and search warrant for police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi. The National Prosecuting Authority said in a statement it would like ”to clarify the status of the arrest and search warrants”.
Finance Minister Trevor Manuel says he has been assured by Absa there will be no individual enrichment in its sponsorship deal with the Premier Soccer League (PSL). ”We have the assurance that Absa would do everything in its power to [ensure] that the money is used as intended, for the advancement of soccer in this country,” he said on Friday.
President Thabo Mbeki ordered a safety review on Friday of all South Africa’s mines after a successful operation to rescue thousands of workers who were trapped underground. A statement from his office said Mbeki had called on Minister of Minerals and Energy Buyelwa Sonjica to conduct an across-the-board audit following the accident.
The case of Glenn Agliotti, accused of the murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble, was postponed to January 22 in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Both prosecutor and defence lawyers requested that the matter be postponed for Scorpions prosecutor Gerrie Nel and his team of investigators to further investigate the criminal charges against Agliotti.
The South African Reserve Bank is expected to forge ahead with its monetary tightening at Thursday’s policy meeting, say global analysts Moody’s Economy.com. The analysts highlight that August credit and sales figures have helped to underpin opinion that the Reserve Bank will raise interest rates by another 50 basis points.
The JSE was slightly negative by midday on Friday, as profit-taking among platinum stocks led the bourse to give up some of its earlier gains. By noon on the JSE, the all-share index had given up 0,06%, as platinum stocks dipped 3,23%. Resources were 0,24% lower, but the gold-mining index advanced 1,67%.
Visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel was expected to urge South African President Thabo Mbeki in talks in Pretoria on Friday to increase pressure for a resolution to the crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe. German sources said Merkel was determined to press Mbeki to do more to ensure an end to alleged human rights abuses in the country.
The last miner among about 3Â 200 trapped two kilometres underground for over 30 hours at Harmony Gold’s Elandsrand mine near Carletonville was rescued on Thursday night. He was welcomed by Harmony chairperson Patrice Motsepe and by Minerals and Energy Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica.
Congress of South African Trade Unions president Willie Madisha has offered to step aside for a month while an independent commission of inquiry probes the R500 000 donation controversy. The commission of inquiry would consist of independent labour experts and was expected to report back in November.
Boeremag accused Mike du Toit on Thursday told the Pretoria High Court he did not trust the state or police because he believed they were controlled by former terrorists. Du Toit, a Herstigte Nasionale Party supporter, said not only did he and many others distrust the police, he also believed the African National Congress government was behind farm attacks and murders.
The outcome of a Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) central executive committee meeting held to discuss the fate of its beleaguered president, Willie Madisha, will be announced on Friday. Cosatu spokesperson Patrick Craven said a statement would be issued but he would not be drawn out on the meeting held at Cosatu House on Thursday.
Whether it costs the Makana municipality two cents or R100-million to change the name of Grahamstown and the names of other places and landmarks, the names will change, said Grahamstown mayor Phumelelo Kate on Thursday. ”You cannot equate the transformation of our country to costs. Change must happen and nothing is going to stop it,” Kate was reported as saying.
A former boyfriend of murdered teenager Samantha Uys on Thursday told the Pretoria High Court that one of her alleged killers had confessed his role in the gruesome murder to him. Joshua Bebington testified in the trial of his two friends, Kabelo ”KB” Mokwena and Ricky ”Slash” Godfrey.
The Competition Commission has recommended the prohibition of a merger between Arcelor Mittal and Duferco Steel Processing. The merger would ”substantially prevent or lessen competition”, the commission said in a statement on Thursday.
No impeachment proceedings will be instituted against Cape Judge President John Hlophe, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) said on Thursday. Chief Justice Pius Langa said although the JSC members were divided on whether there was sufficient evidence to justify proceedings that could lead to impeachment, it was generally agreed the proceedings should not be pursued.
The government has ten days to submit its reports to an official inquiry on why National Prosecuting Authority head Vusi Pikoli is not fit to hold office, former speaker of the National Assembly Frene Ginwala said on Thursday. These reports would be examined at an official hearing into Pikoli’s fitness to hold office.
Mining is and always will be a dangerous business. But every time there is a seismic event, a rockfall, or, as happened this week, a broken lift, a new round of muttering begins.
Talks between protesting students at the University of the Witwatersrand and management will continue, vice-chancellor and principle Loyiso Nongxa said at a media briefing on Thursday. ”Negotiations between students and management will continue on Friday until a compromise is reached,” he said.
Convicted paedophile Gordon Joubert was given a collective jail sentence of 192 years in the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday, the Star newspaper reported. After his conviction earlier, Joubert suggested to the court the appropriate sentence for him was to be castrated, but the judge ruled otherwise.
Telephone bills and furniture were prioritised over hospital equipment at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the national and provincial health departments said on Thursday. In a joint statement, the departments cited ”deficiencies on the management side” as the reason the hospital did not have required equipment.
Former National Lottery operator Uthingo has no intention of contesting the awarding of the lottery licence to Gidani, company chairperson Barney Pityana said on Thursday. ”We do not agree, but we do not intend to subject the licensing process to further scrutiny by the courts,” Pityana told reporters at Midrand.