THE number of Namibian refugees from the Caprivi region who have poured into Botswana seeking asylum now stands at 2501. Principal officer in the Office of the President in Botswana, Ross Sanoto, said that although the Refugee Advisory Council has determined the refugee status of more than 2000 Namibians, it has not yet forwarded its […]
GOLDEN Cats coach Andre Markgraaff is expected to make only one enforced change to the side for the Super 12 clash against the New South Wales Waratahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday. Left wing Chester Williams pulled a hamstring after a half-hour in last Friday’s 33-22 victory over ACT Brumbies at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. He […]
THE total number of liquidations continued to climb in the three months to January, rising a massive 59,1% compared with the corresponding period last year. Announcing the increase, Statistics South Africa said that the period shows an increase of 12,8% (from 988 to 1114) compared with the previous three months. The 12,8% increase in the […]
CABINET decided on Wednesday that the government should appeal against a Cape High Court judgment that a non-South African citizen who is the partner of a South African citizen of the same sex should be entitled to permanent residence. Government communications and information service head Joel Netshitenzhe said the government believes this amounts to discrimination […]
THE Skills Development Levy Bill — which proposes a compulsory levy on employers to fund programmes to boost workers’ skills — was tabled in Parliament on Wednesday. Introduction of the levy will be staggered, with employers paying 0,5% of their monthly payrolls to the fund from April 1, 2000. By April 2001 this will kick […]
RONNIE ELLIOTT and AFP, Cape Town | Wednesday 2.50pm. PRESIDENT Nelson Mandela announced on Wednesday that the second democratic elections will be held on June 2. Announcing the long-awaited date in Parliament, Mandela said that while he would have preferred a date in the second half of May, “consideration of the Independent Electoral Commission’s arguments, […]
THE Congolese Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Laurent Kabila and their allies have launched an offensive in the east around Kindu, a strategic rebel-held town, sources said in Kinshasa on Wednesday. Government forces are aiming in particular to take control of the airport, about 15km from the town, sources said. The […]
DARYLL CULLINAN said it was a dream come true to hit a marathon 275 not out in the first Test between South Africa and New Zealand on Tuesday, although it embarrassed him to eclipse a boyhood idol. The stylish right-hander, who turns 32 on Thursday, broke Graeme Pollock’s Test record for South Africa to complete […]
DUMISANE LUBISI, Nelspruit | Wednesday 12.10pm. MPUMALANGA’S provincial government conceded for the first time on Wednesday that its attempts to establish the province’s first international airport may have been fundamentally flawed. Provincial transport MEC, Jackson Mthembu, said a decision to allow developers to choose their own competing sites for the airport had effectively stalled the […]
PRESIDENT Nelson Mandela has yet to decide whether to appoint a commission of inquiry into the National Intelligence Agency’s alleged involvement in urban terrorism, the president’s office said on Tuesday. It was reacting to a statement by Democratic Party leader Tony Leon, expressing dismay at what he said was Mandela’s decision to have Deputy Intelligence […]
MOZAMBICAN health authorities said on Wednesday that 45 people have died of cholera and 2900 others were diagnosed with the water-borne disease over the past week. The latest fatalities bring to 1711 the number of Mozambicans killed by cholera since it struck in September last year. National deputy health director, Avertino Barreto, said the government […]
AUSTRALIA and South Africa are 3-1 joint favourites to win this year’s cricket World Cup, according to London bookmakers William Hill. England and Pakistan are quoted at 5-1 and defending champions Sri Lanka 6-1. Full odds: 3-1 Australia, South Africa; 5-1 England, Pakistan; 6-1 Sri Lanka; 8-1 India; 9-1 West Indies; 20-1 New Zealand; 66-1 […]
BANK Windhoek announced on Tuesday that it is to reduce its prime lending rate from 22,25% to 21,25% with effect from March 15. The bank will also drop its mortgage bond rate — from 21% to 20%. The bank’s announcement came after three of South Africa’s big four banks cut their bank rates. First National […]
TREVOR TUTU, the son of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for tax evasion between 1996 and 1997. Tutu (42) appeared in court on two charges of tax evasion after he allegedly failed to respond in time to local revenue office requests for summaries of his assets and liabilities. His […]
ANGOLA’S Unita rebels kept up their five-day bombardment of the key government-held city of Malanje on Tuesday, but regional analysts said the rebel movement was unlikely to try to capture the city. The rebels have had the city under siege since January but in the past five days have tightened their grip, increasing heavy shell […]
THE three union federations who set up the Job Creation Trust to combat unemployment said on Wednesday morning that they expected to have collected R10-million by the end of the day. The Congress of SA Trade Unions, the Federation of Unions of South Africa and the National Council of Trade Unions earlier this year asked […]
THE Confederation of African Football will hear an appeal by Zimbabwe to be reinstated as hosts of next January’s African Nations Cup finals, officials said on Tuesday. CAF president Issa Hayatou and members of his executive committee will meet a Zimbabwean delegation expected to include high-level government ministers in Accra, Ghana, on Saturday. CAF said […]
THE Carter Center and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs has approved the outcome of Sunday’s presidential vote in Nigeria, but also urged that all “credible and documented” allegations of electoral violations be investigated. The two organizations sent a 66-member delegation headed by former United States president Jimmy Carter to Nigeria to monitor the […]
A DELEGATION of legislators from the European Union have begun a one-week visit to South Africa. The team will seek ways to overcome obstacles to cementing the free trade agreement between the EU and South Africa. Frene Ginwala, Speaker of the National Assembly, invited the team to the country. Italy’s Roberto Mezzaroma, leader of the […]
STEWART BRUCE PRESTON, a plant and transport supervisor accused of defaming Zambian President Frederick Chiluba, has been deported as his case awaits judgment in a Lusaka Magistrate’s Court. Preston’s lawyer Edgar Lungu disclosed that his client was picked up by police last Thursday and detained at Lusaka Central prison pending deportation to Britain. Preston was […]
LIBYAN leader Moammar Gadaffi is due to arrive in Egypt on Friday for a two-day visit, sources said on Tuesday. This as President Nelson Mandela hit back Tuesday at South African political leaders who criticised his links with Gadaffi, saying these ties had borne fruit in the Lockerbie case. Gaddafi is expected to discuss with […]
EGYPTIAN authorities have barred the leader of Australia’s Moslems from leaving Egypt as they investigate him for allegedly trying to smuggle antiquities, Egyptian and Australian officials said on Monday.”He is free on bail pending a further hearing in May and … is not allowed to leave the country in the interim,” said Australia’s Cairo consul.Sheikh […]
OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Tuesday 7.20pm. A SWISS economist named three German banks, Deutsche, Dresdner and Commerzbank, and three Swiss banks, Credit Suisse, Union Bank of Switzerland and Swiss Bank Corporation, on Tuesday as “apartheid’s major creditor banks”. The claims come in a report issued by economist Mascha Madoerin and co-author, Gottfried Wellmer, for […]
DOZENS of South African tourists were stranded in Mozambique’s coastal town of Vilankulo on Monday, waiting for an air lift after floods destroyed roads. Vilankulo district authorities said some tourists had to sell their vehicles or boats to pay for rides on chartered planes out of the town, which is opposite the popular Bazaruto archipelago. […]
MINING group Rio Tinto Zimbabwe’s net profit nearly quadrupled from $57,8-million in 1997 to $208,2-million last year, largely because of the devaluation of the Zimbabwe dollar. The firm said, however, that short term outlook for the gold price remains poor with international prices likely to continue around current levels and the local price likely to […]
SOUTH Africa attracted significantly more foreign investment in 1998 after big multinational companies snapped up stakes in local firms, said a report released on Wednesday. Business Map estimated R17,22-billion was invested in South Africa during 1998, a 9% rise on the R15,82-billion of the previous year. Business Map said the growth had been “surprising” in […]
DEBT-forgiveness lobbyists Jubilee 2000 will reveal the names on Tuesday of the major Swiss banks deemed to have collaborated with South Africa’s apartheid regime in 1986, allowing it to reschedule its debt and effectively extend its rule. Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane will launch the document at his Bishopscourt residence with Mascha Madoerin, co-author of the Swiss […]
SOUTH African flyhalf Joel Stransky has ruled out playing for England in this year’s World Cup because he does not have an English-born grandparent. Stransky, who lives in England and plays for English club Leicester, had hoped to play for his adopted country because he believed he had an English-born grandfather which would have made […]
SOUTH Africa’s Southern African Customs Union partners will receive a payout of some R7,2-billion this year, a 28% jump on last year’s payout from the union’s revenue pool. The payout, however, is likely to be the last one of such magnitude as pressure to restructure the revenue-sharing formula grows, Business Day reported on Thursday. The […]
COTE d’Ivoire Finance Minister Niamien N’Goran on Monday questioned the critical findings of an investigation carried out last month by the International Monetary Fund. The IMF said after the February 9-18 mission that “all the conditions are not present for starting negotiations” on a lending program for 1999, citing difficulties managing public finances and calling […]
SYNTHETIC fuel producer Sasol and Malaysian oil firm Petronas are in talks on a possible alliance covering the South African market, Sasol managing director Pieter Cox said on Tuesday. Analysts said that talks are due to start between Sasol and chemicals firm AECI which owns a 40% stake in Polifin, paving the way for a […]
SOUTH Africa’s veteran offspinner Pat Symcox has in hot water for allegedly misbehaving on a flight home from Australia last week, according to press reports on Monday. South African Airways and the United Cricket Board of South Africa are conducting separate inquiries into allegations that Symcox (38) was rude and aggressive to flight staff, The […]