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/ 11 October 2007

Telkom continues talks with MTN, Vodafone

South African fixed-line telephone operator Telkom said in a cautionary announcement on Thursday that its discussions with Vodafone and MTN are still ongoing. Telkom said discussions were part of its mobile-strategy review, and that shareholders are advised to continue exercising caution when dealing in their shares until a further announcement is made.

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/ 11 October 2007

‘Urgent steps’ needed to improve mine safety

The South African government is speaking to the mining sector about setting up the industry safety audit called for by President Thabo Mbeki. ”The government calls on the industry to work with the Department of Minerals and Energy and other stakeholders to ensure that concrete steps are taken,” government spokesperson Themba Maseko said on Thursday.

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/ 11 October 2007

KZN cracks down on warring taxi organisations

Two warring taxi organisations in the Empangeni area have been barred from operating following violent clashes over routes, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provincial minister of transport Bheki Cele announced on Thursday. ”As from midnight on Friday, not even a single taxi from the rival associations will operate, failing which they will face the full might of the law,” Cele said.

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/ 11 October 2007

Govt eyes subsidies for taxi industry

The taxi industry will soon be part of the government’s public-transport subsidy system, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said on Thursday. Radebe said more than 60% of South Africa’s people used taxis. ”We need to support our taxi industry,” he said in Thaba Nchu in the Free State.

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/ 11 October 2007

Pikoli saga: Govt worried over SA image

Government spokesperson Themba Maseko admitted on Thursday that the authorities were worried about the damage being done to the country’s international image by the ongoing saga surrounding suspended National Prosecuting Authority head Vusi Pikoli and police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi.

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/ 11 October 2007

Mining in SA: ‘Deep, dark and dangerous’

South Africa’s gold companies, already mining at the world’s deepest depths, are looking to plumb even deeper veins in a new gold rush spurred by record prices.
The deeper miners go, the richer the ore being uncovered. The price in dangers, though, includes rockfalls, poisonous gas explosions, flooding and earthquakes.

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/ 11 October 2007

SA confident about attendance at EU-AU summit

South Africa is confident that a ”critical number” of European and African leaders would be in attendance at the planned European Union (EU)-African Union (AU) summit in Portugal in December to make it worthwhile. Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said: ”Summits depend on a number of people to be there, not just one person.”

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/ 10 October 2007

Mama Jackie to testify next month

Controversial Soweto principal Jackie Maarohanye is to testify in the Protea Magistrate’s Court when she returns to the dock on a kidnapping charge next month. Maarohanye (49), Ronnie Nyakale (34) and Mpho Makhate (21) are facing charges of assaulting and kidnapping a former Ithuteng Trust student, Siphiwe Ncugothu, on February 21 2006.

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/ 10 October 2007

Union concerned about exodus of police in N Cape

The exodus of police officers out of the Northern Cape must be addressed, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in the province said on Wednesday. Popcru provincial secretary Glisson Itebogeng said union members had expressed their dismay and concern over the ”massive transfer of members” who leave the province after being employed or promoted.

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/ 10 October 2007

Deputy president to give Boks moral support

The Springboks might be used to hordes of female supporters, but usually they are not of the stature of Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sue van der Merwe. In what could be described as a case of all the president’s women, the two politicians would lend ”moral support” to the national side ahead of Sunday’s semifinal.

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/ 10 October 2007

Sasol denies building offices in construction row

Sasol and a conservation group clashed on Wednesday, with the petrochemical giant denying building in an environmentally sensitive area without permission. Environment and Conservation Association chairperson Nicole Barlow accused Sasol of erecting luxury offices, without authorisation, along the Natalspruit River in Germiston on Gauteng’s East Rand.

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/ 10 October 2007

American Furyk to bid for Nedbank hat-trick

World number three Jim Furyk will bid for a third successive Nedbank Golf Challenge victory at Sun City from November 29 to December 2. The presence of American Furyk was confirmed when the field of 12 was named in Johannesburg on Wednesday. British Open champion Padraig Harrington will also be in action, as will South African favourites Ernie Els and Rory Sabbatini.

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/ 10 October 2007

Call for SABC board to be reconsidered

Several labour and civil-society organisations have asked President Thabo Mbeki to hold back on appointing the new South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board and return the list of names approved by the National Assembly last month. ”We have asked him not to appoint them,” the organisations said in a joint statement on Wednesday.

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/ 10 October 2007

DA got it wrong on Skweyiya, says govt

The Democratic Alliance (DA) got it wrong when criticising Minister of Social Development Zola Skweyiya for travelling abroad, his department said on Wednesday. The DA overcalculated the number of overseas visits he made, the number of days he was out of the country and the cost, it said in a statement in his defence.

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/ 10 October 2007

African Parliament concerned over SA crime

The Pan African Parliament (PAP) has expressed concern about the exposure of its members and staff to crime in South Africa. PAP president Gertrude Mongella said both delegates from other countries and staff had been victims of crime since the Parliament’s inception. ”There is so much insecurity — we had several incidents of robbery” she said on Wednesday.

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/ 10 October 2007

SA struggling to attract talent

Despite having reasonably flexible labour markets and decent foreign direct investment inflows, South Africa is struggling to attract talent, according to a survey released on Wednesday by executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles, in partnership with the Economist Intelligence Unit.

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/ 10 October 2007

DA says Eskom caught napping again

Eskom has been caught napping again and has caused massive disruption to the public and the economy, the Democratic Alliance said on Wednesday. ”Eskom has informed the public too late about load shedding and has caused massive disruptions,” said DA spokesperson on Minerals and Energy Affairs, Hendrik Schmidt.

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/ 10 October 2007

DA calls for Gigaba probe to continue

The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday expressed shock concerning the Public Protector’s decision to suspend its investigation into allegations of financial misconduct against Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba. ”The DA feels it is far more important that the Public Protector continues his investigation,” DA spokesperson for home affairs Mark Lowe said.

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/ 10 October 2007

Charges dropped against accused in KZN murders

Charges against a man accused of participating in the murder of ten KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) women were withdrawn in the Umzinto Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. The state has withdrawn its charges against Zandisile Bhadla Somanikiniki (28), who resides in the Majola, Port St Johns, area but no reasons were given for the withdrawal.