MINERAL and Energy Affairs Minister Penuell Maduna said on Wednesday that he expects state oil firm Mossgas to generate a cash surplus of R730-million in the current financial year. Maduna said that Mossgas saves the country “in excess of a billion rand per year in foreign exchange” despite flagging oil prices. He added that the […]
THE National Assembly on Wednesday unanimously approved the constitutional amendment that will enable President Nelson Mandela to immediately formally proclaim June 2 as the date for this year’s election. The amendment was necessary as currently Mandela may not proclaim the election date until after the end of the sitting of Parliament at which the proposed […]
CAPE Town firefighters were stretched to the limit on Thursday after a fire broke out on Devil’s Peak on Wednesday, threatening houses in Cape Town’s city bowl. The air force has said it will send a helicopter to help fight the fire if necessary. The blaze is the third veld fire to hit the southern […]
THE first step in South Africa’s preparations for the 1999 Sanzar/UAR Under-21 Rugby Championship kicks off this weekend with trials featuring sides selected from the four Super 12 regions. Sarfu spokesperson Anthony Mackaiser says the trial matches will be played at the Tech Gardens club on Sunday and Monday, and a core group of about […]
FIVE Namibian asylum seekers were voluntarily repatriated to their country on Tuesday ahead of Namibian President Sam Nujoma’s two-day state visit to Botswana which begins Wednesday, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The five people, airlifted to the Namibian capital Windhoek, were the first people to declare their intention to go back home since the visit of […]
CORRECTIONAL Services have reversed an earlier decision to allow convicted assassin Janusz Walus to marry gospel singer Berril Roy in Pretoria Maximum Security Prison. Walus is serving time for the murder of Communist Party leader Chris Hani in 1993, plotted with fellow prisoner and former Conservative Party MP Clive Derby-Lewis. Prison authorities say that the […]
AFRICAN trade with the United States last year counted for less than 1% of US merchandise exports worldwide — an increase of less than 0,1% from 1997. Only 1,4% of US imports — including crude oil — came from the continent, down from 1,9% in 1997. , However, the US sourced 26% of its crude […]
THE Sharks have made four changes for their Super 12 showdown against the Cats at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday. Former Free State wing Stephen Brink replaces the injured Henry Pedro on the left wing, Shaun Payne comes in for Deon Kayser at centre, Hentie Martens gets an opportunity at scrumhalf at the expense […]
SOUTH Africa and Pakistan agreed on Tuesday to share science and technology information by exchanging scientists, researchers and scholars. Roger Jardine, the director general in the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, signed the agreement with Pakistani foreign affairs secretary Shamshad Ahmad in Pretoria. Jardine said on Tuesday that the two nations will jointly […]
THE South African Revenue Services said on Tuesday that it is exploring ways to speed up the prosecution of tax dodgers. Deputy commissioner of the revenue services, Pravin Gordhan, told the National Assembly’s finance committee that it is thinking of setting up special courts to prosecute people for tax offences — or establishing special facilities […]
THE South African Police Union threatened on Tuesday to create its own pension fund after government said it is to slash its contribution to the government employees’ pension fund from 17% to 15%. Sapu national negotiator, Andy Miller, demanded that the government pay out Sapu contributions to the government pension fund so that the union […]
SOUTH African Druggists Ltd (SAD) said on Wednesday that it has received a proposal from Fedsure Holdings and Aspen Healthcare who are to co-operate to make an offer for SAD’s ordinary shares. SAD also said that a separate, conditional offer from Aspen and a third company, Macmed Healthcare Ltd, has lapsed. The Fedsure/Aspen bid comes […]
THE National Sports Council said on Wednesday it will support the United Cricket Board’s “Pledge to the Nation” document to help make the national team more representative. In a statement in Johannesburg, the NSC said it had discussed the document at a weekend meeting. “The UCB’s programmes have succeeded in creating a critical mass of […]
MPUMALANGA’S roads department is considering privatising some of the province’s roads, said provincial roads MEC Jackson Mthembu on Tuesday. In his budget speech, Mthembu said discussions have been held with national and international companies interested in private public partnerships. He said one PPP option is for a private company to construct and maintain roads, at […]
ABOUT 100 people were killed when two rival Kenyan tribes fought during a cattle rustling raid in the north-western Turkana district last week, a local newspaper reported on Tuesday. The Daily Nation newspaper quoted Bishop Stephen Kewasis as saying that he counted the bullet-riddled bodies of 100 people at the scene of the fighting, which […]
THE Zambian government flew journalists on Tuesday to the western town of Zambezi on the border with Angola to show that Zambia is not involved in arms deals with Unita rebels. Journalists inspected an airstrip in the area. The move follows repeated Angolan government accusations that the airstrip was being used by some top Zambian […]
POSTS, Telecommunications and Broadcasting Minister Jay Naidoo announced on Monday the four foreign groups shortlisted for a management partnership with the state-owned post office. Naidoo told Parliament South Africa has asked Canada Post, Deutsche Post, France’s La Poste and a joint venture between New Zealand Post and Britain’s Royal Mail to submit further proposals. Final […]
AUSTRALIA continued to reclaim their form in the five-test hockey series against South Africa on Tuesday in Potchefstroom. The Wallabies left SA behind 3-1 in the third test, after leading 1-0 at halftime, and take a 2-1 lead in the best of five series. James Elmer, Michael Brennan, and Scott Webster all scored for Australia, […]
FIREFIGHTERS in the Boland in the Western Cape are battling to control a bush fire on the outskirts of Franschhoek. Winelands District Council fire chief Danie Wilds said the flames are being fanned out of control by a south-easter wind and warned farmers near Franschhoek to prepare to evacuate their homes should the flames reach […]
ERNIE ELS is ranked third in the world according to Official World Golf Rankings based on players’ performance throughout the world through March 8. The ranking is computed on a two-year rolling basis weighted toward the current year. Players earn points based on finish and strength of field: 1. Tiger Woods, United States, 12,70 points. […]
AFTER starting with more than 35000 staff five years ago, the Mpumalanga education department has managed to trim its staff by more than 2600. Tabling his departmental budget speech for the 1999/2000 financial year, education MEC David Mabuza on Tuesday said the 35474 posts he started with in the department have since dropped to 32804. […]
BOWLS South Africa, which governs the sport, has announced an investigation into an on-pitch remark that sparked a walkout of Jewish bowlers from a Central Gauteng Bowling Association (CGBA) meeting on Monday night. The CGBA reduced a two-year suspension of Neil Carroll to a six-month ban suspended for a slur against a team mate. The […]
THE United Cricket Board of South Africa cleared recently retired off-spinner Pat Symcox late on Tuesday of misbehaving on an aeroplane flight last month. A board disciplinary committee heard from Symcox and South African Airways staff but was “unable to establish exactly what transpired, and accordingly, Pat Symcox is exonerated”, it said. Cabin crew had […]
THE Zambian government’s suspension of Aero Zambia’s operating permit has been stayed by the Lusaka High Court and the airline’s operations are expected to resume soon, the Zambian newspaper The Post reports. According to an Aero Zambia press release on Monday evening, the airline regrets “the unfortunate action by the ministry of communication and transport” […]
AFRICAN soccer chiefs will reconsider their decision to take the 2000 Nations Cup away from Zimbabwe at a meeting in Guinea on March 15. A five-member Zimbabwean delegation met Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Issa Hayatou in Ghana at the weekend before the African youth championship final. Hayatou said the CAF executive committee will […]
CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE’S National Petroleum Company, set up to market the country’s crude oil, was launched at the weekend. Endowed with a capital of 900 million CFA francs, the company has signed an assistance agreement with its sister branch, SNPC UK, to sell Congo’s crude oil, provide services and develop its relations with banks and other financial […]
WHILE government assistance to 80000 disabled people in the Eastern Cape has recently been cut on the grounds that it encourages dependency, disabled people entering Parliament need not fear that they will be elected. African National Congress national executive member Essop Pahad said on Tuesday that the costs of accommodating five blind, deaf or crippled […]
INFLATION in Botswana has risen sharply over the last four months to 7,2% in February, from 5,9% last October. Measured from a November 1996 base of 100, the cost of living index is now at 117, following increases in the food, fuel and power, and household operations components of the index. Increased electricity tariffs announced […]
CAF Cup holders Club Sportif Sfaxien of Tunisia have received a bye into the second round following the withdrawal of Energy of Benin. The clubs were due to meet this weekend when 46 first-round matches are scheduled in the annual Champions League, Cup Winners Cup and CAF Cup competitions. Coffee of Ethiopia have pulled out […]
THE government has announced that it will be sending an air force rescue mission to extract tourists and locals trapped by floods in Mozambique. The mission will comprise two Oryx helicopters and five planes, including two massive C130 Hercules. Light planes will perform reconnaisance in the affected southern Inhambane province before other aircraft are mobilised […]
EQUATORIAL Guinea’s ruling Democratic Party looks set to retain its comfortable majority in the People’s Chamber after initial election results on Monday, says the head of the national election committee. As expected, the Democratic Party was leading Sunday’s legislative poll, with ballots representing 67% of the 196000 eligible voters counted, said Clemente Engonga Nguema, who […]
IN a joint cross-border crime prevention operation last week, South African police and army seized suspected stolen livestock including some 300 sheep and 20 cows, as well as 14 sacks of dagga. Police said on Monday that the operation, carried out by about 20 police and 40 SA National Defence Force troops using horses and […]