Unions on Thursday rejected the minister of public service and administration’s announcement of a breakthrough in negotiations and that a 6,5% salary increase was on the table. Representatives of 16 unions that plan to strike on Friday told a press conference that there was no such offer.
South Africa could have at least ten more nuclear power stations within two decades if Eskom has its way, according to the utility’s chief executive, Jacob Maroga. He told journalists at a briefing in Cape Town on Thursday that in the face of global warming, nuclear power was the ”next big viable alternative” to coal.
The world’s richest nations need to show greater commitment towards Africa, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Thursday, amid concern that pledges on aid and development were falling short. Ahead of the forthcoming Group of Eight summit, Blair said it was still possible to effect ”real transformation change” in the years ahead.
The public’s right to know about possible security problems with the new electronic traffic information system outweighed confidentiality concerns over the information, the Pretoria High Court found on Tuesday. Judge Dion Basson dismissed an application by Transport Minister Jeff Radebe to interdict Beeld newspaper.
The South African Cabinet has backed President Thabo Mbeki in rejecting alleged suggestions by Congress of South African Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi of similarities between government propaganda and that used by Adolf Hitler’s regime in Nazi Germany.
The international community must fund the rebuilding of a ”shattered” Zimbabwe after decades of repression under veteran President Robert Mugabe, Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Thursday. In a keynote speech, Blair voiced Britain’s support for efforts by South African President Thabo Mbeki to mediate between the Mugabe government and the opposition.
Proceedings at the two main courts in Johannesburg were disrupted on Thursday as public servants downed tools for three hours. Chanting outside the Johannesburg High Court grew louder as the morning progressed with the number of protesting workers swelling to about one hundred.
One of the two units at the Koeberg nuclear power station near Cape Town was unexpectedly shut down on Thursday morning because of a technical problem, Eskom said. Eskom chief executive Jacob Maroga said there was no need for concern, as Eskom had enough reserve capacity to supply the Western Cape.
Angola and Nigeria could become the first two sides to book their berths at the African Nations Cup finals if they win their weekend qualifiers and their closest challengers are beaten. The two are among four sides with 100% records halfway through the qualifying competition,
Growth in demand for credit by South Africa’s private sector quickened to 25,08% year-on-year in April, central bank data showed on Thursday, making another interest rate increase next week more likely. Credit growth accelerated from a downwardly revised 24,09% in March while the broadly defined M3 measure of money supply grew by 22,27%.
The Department of Transport’s application to stop Beeld newspaper from running a report on the eNaTIS transport information system will be heard in the Pretoria High Court on Thursday. Editor Peet Kruger called on Transport Minister Jeff Radebe to spend his time rectifying problems presented by eNaTIS rather than trying to silence his newspaper.
South African fashion and homewares retailer Mr Price reported a 27% earnings rise on Thursday, boosted by its store expansion programme. Diluted headline earnings rose to 183,6 cents per share in the year ended March 31, while revenue from continuing operations increased 24%.
A man died and 11 others were seriously injured in an explosion at a scrapyard in the Bon Accord area of Pretoria on Wednesday, the Tshwane metro said. ”Preliminary indications show that there were explosives in the metals with which the men were working at the time of the explosion,” spokesperson William Baloyi said.
The Cabinet has dismissed suggestions the government is insensitive to the plight of its employees and called for ”responsible leadership” during protest actions. ”We reject any insinuation that government is insensitive to the plight of its employees,” government communications head Themba Maseko said.
Western Cape police are still searching for the gang which gunned strip-club owner Yuri Ulianitski and his young daughter in Milnerton on Tuesday night. Ulianitski’s wife Irina survived the attack and is in a stable condition in the Milnerton Medi-Clinic.
Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived on Thursday in Johannesburg on the final leg of his farewell tour of Africa ahead of his departure from office next month. Blair is expected to meet with South African President Thabo Mbeki and his predecessor as president, anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela.
A public-service strike will go ahead this week despite government claims of progress in last-ditch efforts to resolve a wage impasse, union leaders said on Wednesday. ”The general strike is going ahead,” said Congress of South African Trade Unions president Willie Madisha.
Organisers of the annual Comrades Marathon have expressed concern over the possible effect the strike by public-sector workers may have on the event, the Daily News reported on Wednesday. It quoted Comrades Marathon Association chairperson Dave Dixon as saying: ”We’ve been keeping a close watch on the intended strike action by the civil servants.”
A number of foreigners moved out of Schweizer-Reneke on Wednesday after two days of violent attacks on shop owners by residents, police said. Captain Emmanuel Reetsang said the foreigners, Asian shop owners in the town and its neighbouring locations, feared they might also be attacked by angry residents.
The Cape Town Regional Court on Wednesday granted a fashion photographer leave to appeal his conviction and four-year jail sentence for sexual offences against a five-year-old girl. Neil Herman (48) appeared before Judge Wilma van der Merwe, who extended his R1 000 bail pending the outcome of the appeal.
Most state hospitals suffer from critical staff shortages, researchers told the South African Human Rights Commission on Wednesday. ”Staff shortages are a critical problem in most public hospitals and are generated by underfunding and a national shortage of professional skills,” said Karl von Holdt of the National Labour and Development Institute.
South African lawmakers have given their thumbs up to a proposed law banning parents or guardians from spanking their charges. The law is an attempt to widen a ban on corporal punishment in schools, which was passed several years ago, to the home.
A man died and 11 others were seriously injured in an explosion at a scrap yard in the Bon Accord area of Pretoria on Wednesday, the Tshwane metro said. ”Preliminary indications show that there were explosives in the metals with which the men were working at the time of the explosion,” spokesperson William Baloyi said.
South Africa is the 99th most peaceful country of 121 throughout the world, according to a global peace index compiled by the intelligence unit of the Economist, it was announced in a statement from London on Wednesday. South Africa was ranked the 14th most peaceful of 21 African states.
Four women who played major roles in the anti-apartheid struggle shared their memories with former president Nelson Mandela and an audience of about 50 people at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg on Wednesday. ”These ladies played a key … role in the struggle. Some of us can’t measure up to the sacrifices they made,” Mandela was quoted as saying.
A working document tabled at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council on Wednesday offers progress in public-service pay talks, Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi said. ”This is a major breakthrough,” she told the National Assembly on Wednesday afternoon.
Thursday, the last day of the month, will be a very long day in the revenue offices — it will end at 1pm on Saturday. South African Revenue Services (Sars) spokesperson Logan Wort said Sars is being ”inundated” with people wanting to take advantage of the small business tax amnesty — which ends on May 31 — and, to help them, will accept applications until 1pm on Saturday.
The Department of Transport’s attempt on Tuesday evening to prevent Beeld newspaper from publishing a story about the controversial new electronic traffic information system was unconstitutional, the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) said on Wednesday.
Despite the health risks associated with smoking, some South Africans still believe the habit is acceptable, a research survey released on Wednesday has found. A quarter of the 3 500 South African adults who participated in the survey felt that smoking was acceptable despite the medical evidence against it.
The Department of Minerals and Energy is working on regulations to govern "the norms and standards" of energy appliances so as to reduce the use of energy, Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said on Wednesday. Speaking ahead of her budget vote, the minister acknowledged that people would be obligated "to be energy efficient".
Members of the Communication Workers’ Union at Vodacom have vowed to continue with planned industrial action, the union said on Wednesday. ”Following the Labour Court’s lifting of the strike interdict against workers, the union has resolved to continue with the industrial action,” it said in a statement.
South African Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa says he expects to make an announcement on the National Lottery on Thursday. At a media briefing at Parliament on Wednesday, he said he was awaiting a report from the National Lotteries Board on the matter.