The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has requested that the closing date for nominations for the next board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) be extended. The FXI criticised Parliament’s portfolio committee on communications in its handling of the process, urging it to heed the letter and spirit of the Broadcasting Act.
Entertainer Taliep Petersen died only after two previous murder bids planned by his wife, Najwa, went awry, Cape Town’s Wynberg Regional Court heard on Tuesday. The claim emerged during a bail application by Najwa and Abdoer Emjedi, one of her three co-accused, in a courtroom packed with about 150 family and members of the public.
A man who allegedly held Pretoria News staff hostage earlier this year was denied bail in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. Lionel George (32) was denied bail after the court heard that he had been acquitted on a murder charge, 702 reported.
The latest crime statistics released on Tuesday prove crime is out of control despite government assurances to the contrary, opposition parties said. ”We are alarmed at the increase in murder [2,4%], the 118% increase in bank robberies … and the sharp increase in robberies at residential premises,” Inkatha Freedom Party spokesperson Velaphi Ndlovu said.
The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) has posted a record profit of R4,345-billion for the financial year that ended on March 31. Operating income was up to R2,645-billion from R378-million last year, the group said in a statement on Tuesday. Capital gains of R1,796-billion contributed to the group’s profit.
The African National Congress (ANC) is to contest the legality of the decision to reinstate Truman Prince as municipal manager of the Central Karoo district municipality. Western Cape ANC secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha described the move as ”improper and wrong”.
Child Welfare South Africa on Tuesday welcomed the implementation of some sections of the Children’s Act from last Sunday, but also expressed concern about giving young children access to contraceptives. This section stipulates that no person may refuse to sell or distribute free condoms to a child over the age of 12 years.
South Africa’s population at mid-year is estimated at 47,9-million, of which approximately 24,3-million are female, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said on Tuesday. Spokesperson Trevor Oosterwyk said Stats SA estimated that fertility had declined from an average of 2,89 children per woman in 2001 to 2,69 children by 2007.
Najwa Petersen stabbed her husband, Taliep, in the neck the day after she was discharged from psychiatric treatment, the Wynberg Regional Court heard on Tuesday. Najwa, who is appearing with Abdoer Emjedi, Waheed Hassen and Jefferson Snyders in connection with Taliep’s murder in December last year, is seeking bail.
The Gauteng government’s attempt to negotiate with violent taxi organisations sent out the wrong message about crime, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Tuesday. The DA’s Gauteng transport spokesperson, James Swart, said bus drivers in Alexandra in Johannesburg had been attacked recently.
South Africa’s high murder rate rose further in the past year while rape figures dropped, according to police statistics on Tuesday. With around 50 murders, 148 rapes and nearly 700 serious assaults committed each day, violent crime is a particular concern.
South African new vehicle sales declined by 12,1% year-on-year in June, data showed on Tuesday, as the effects of higher interest rates pinched household budgets. The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers said 50Â 056 new units were sold in June compared with 56Â 927 in the same month last year.
A decline in the number of dairy farmers has added to unemployment, the Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO) said on Tuesday. The MPO said the number of milk producers has fallen from 7 200 in 1998 to the current 3 800. The managing director of the MPO, Etienne Terre’blanche, said an estimated 66 000 people worked on dairy farms.
Mamelodi Sundowns officials gave the uncomfortable impression on Monday that they were skirting between the devil and the deep blue sea when the issue of Peter Ndlovu staying at the club was raised. And it’s not surprising either considering that the signing of Ndlovu also constituted one of the biggest transfer gaffes committed by a Premier Soccer League club.
The arrival of England international striker Darren Bent at Tottenham Hotspur makes him a firm favourite to be a part of the club’s trip to South Africa when they take on Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in Vodacom Challenge matches this month.
A new train — the Soweto Business Express — is set to entice car commuters to use public transport, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said, launching the service in Soweto on Tuesday. According to the South African Rail Commuter Corporation, the train’s allure lies in its comfort, speed and extra facilities.
The Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court on Monday dismissed an application by former National Intelligence Agency boss Billy Masetlha for a warrant of arrest for Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils for failing to appear in court, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported.
Twice as many children were abandoned in the past year compared to the year before, the Johannesburg Child Welfare centre said. Thousands of children a year are being abandoned, with the number reaching at least 1 200 in three provinces alone, media reports said on Tuesday.
Between 510 000 and 740 000 new jobs a year are needed to meet the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (Asgisa) target of halving unemployment by 2014, according to Merrill Lynch. The economy has grown by more than 4% a year over the past three years and figures show this has added only about 500 000 jobs each year.
A total of 65 arrests have been made since the start of the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown police said on Monday. This was ”far less than expected”, especially as the end of the month coincided with the start of the festival, Grocott’s Mail reported.
Both Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana and his deputy, Mamiki Shai, have vowed to continue their legal tussle until one or the other apologises. In a statement issued by his office on Monday, Mushwana said he had been approached by Kader Asmal ”with a view to encourage a settlement of the court action”.
Less than 3% of Vodacom employees downed tools on Monday after wage negotiations with the Communication Workers’ Union broke down last week. ”Our business and our services were not disrupted in any way,” said spokesperson Dot Field.
Education Minister Naledi Pandor and leaders of teachers’ unions will meet on Tuesday to discuss an education recovery plan designed to help pupils catch up on the 10 days of schooling missed during the recent public-sector strike. Also expected to be discussed is a review of the results of the interrupted June examinations.
The Gauteng department of health believes that the chances of recovering at least 40% of R426-million in outstanding patient fees is ”doubtful”, the department said on Monday. Steps taken to recover the money include having a credit bureau verify patient details because some patients avoid providing the correct details to evade payment.
A Paarl local councillor was stabbed in the cheek with a screwdriver on Monday after cornering an alleged cellphone thief, the Independent Democrats said. Conrad Poole, newly elected ID councillor for Amstelhof, chased the man through the streets of his ward, the party said in a statement.
A meeting between the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and the Premier Soccer League has been postponed to Tuesday. ”It was postponed because people who are dealing with the matter are busy with other issues,” SABC spokesperson Kaiser Kganyago said on Monday. He said the postponement was a joint agreement between the two parties.
Six more youths have lost their penises as a result of bungled circumcisions in the Eastern Cape, the provincial health department said on Monday. Spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said 18 would-be initiates were admitted to hospital in Port St Johns last week, of whom four had to have their septic penises amputated.
A meeting to resolve a continuing pay dispute and prevent a possible action at Eskom will take place this week, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Monday. Three unions together representing over 20 000 Eskom employees have threatened industrial action should the parastatal fail to meet their 12% wage demand.
Climate change in South Africa could drive thousands of species to extinction in the next 50 to 80 years, Science and Technology Minister Mosibudi Mangena said in Port Elizabeth on Monday. Mangena was opening the annual conference of the Society for Conservation Biology, an organisation that advances the science and practice of conserving biological diversity.
Cuba has sent about 60 doctors to Angola to reinforce the African nation’s crumbling health system and strengthen ties between the two Cold War allies, Angola’s state-run news agency said on Monday. The surgeons, paediatricians and other specialists who make up the Cuban group began arriving in Luanda on Saturday, Angop reported.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) awaits the release of crime statistics with bated breath, the party said on Monday. Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula is expected to release the crime statistics on Tuesday. The DA spokesperson on safety and security said the party hoped the crime statistics would restore the public’s faith in the police’s ability to fight crime.
South Africa’s Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) slipped for the third consecutive month to 56 in June, on a seasonally adjusted basis, after falling to 57,2 in May. The measure of the country’s manufacturing activity was weighed down partly by a drop in inventories while growth in new sales orders also moderated.