FRIDAY, 10.30AM MINING house Gencor is to sell certain of its local and Ghanaian mining interests to Canadian company Eldorado Gold Corporation in a R193,6-million deal, the companies said on Friday. The assets include two mines, Fairview in Mpumalanga and Bogosu in Ghana, as well as nine exploration projects. “Eldorado’s participation in a South African […]
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – The following text was inadvertantly ommitted from last week’s edition of the Mail & Guardian – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – […]
Richard Williams discovers a spirit that fuels the passions of players and spectators alike at Roland Garros NO ONE who visits the Stade Roland Garros for the French Open feels quite the same about any other tennis tournament again. The warmth, the light, the smells, the sublime geometry of clay-court tennis, the proximity of central […]
Nigel Williamson in London LOUD, arrogant and high on Ecstasy, British clubbers are exploiting poor communities, wrecking the environment and terrifying locals. They’ve done Spain, India and Thailand – now they’re heading for Cape Town. Indian police have issued an uncompromising warning that young British music fans planning to join all-night parties on the beaches […]
THURSDAY, 11.00AM: THE Zambian soccer side didn’t arrive on their scheduled flight into South Africa on Wednesday night — instead the plane from Zambia was full of cabinet ministers, members of parliament and soccer fans. Officials from the South African Football Association (Safa) were unimpressed, as they had turned out at Johannesburg International Airport to […]
THURSDAY, 11.00AM: THE British Lions beat Mpumalanga 64-14 in Witbank on Wednesday, but the victory was marred by an ugly incident which left Scots lock Doddie Weir badly injured. Weir was raked by Mpumalanga lock Marius Bosman, and sustained heavy bruising and bad injuries to his knees. Lions coach Ian McGeechan wanted to cite Bosman […]
THURSDAY, 4.30PM THE Boerevolk Werkersunie announced on Thursday that it was launched last weekend to withstand what it called the destructive effects of affirmative action. In a statement issued in Pretoria, the union said it hopes to attract one million members, who will be served by 150 full-time officials in 120 offices being set up […]
THURSDAY, 11.30AM A BOLD new plan to deal with Transnet’s huge pension fund deficit without bleeding taxpayers has been handed to Finance Minister Trevor Manuel for consideration, Business Day reports. The report containing the proposals is the culmination of the work of a committee chaired by consultant Charles Stride which was appointed to propose solutions […]
THURSDAY, 11.30AM THE Ikageng share scheme to attract small black investors to Johnnic has received an “overwhelming response”, and at least 75% of the offer had been subscribed by last week, according to Ikageng Trust chairman Hazel Ralefeta. The scheme, launched in April by Johnnic’s new controlling shareholder the National Empowerment Consortium, involved a public […]
GIBBONS QUITS RADIO 702 news editor Chris Gibbons has quit after 17 years, following a management and format shake-up which gives greater emphasis to entertainment. Chief executive Stan Katz said research indicated that listeners no longer want “doom and gloom, particularly as regards crime”. Gibbons is one of the country’s best-known radio journalists.
THURSDAY, 10.00AM: HOLLAND trounced a young and fresh-faced South African side 2-1 in the Nelson Mandela Inauguration Cup match at FNB Stadium near Johannesburg on Wednesday night. Bafana Bafana trotted out several new recruits to the national side, including goalkeeper Brian Baloyi, and the team played defensively, but former European champions Holland were too skillful […]
THURSDAY, 5.30PM FORMER apartheid police minister Adriaan Vlok said on Thursday that he will testify at the special truth commission hearing on the State Security Council next week. Vlok said he is prepared to assist the commission “as far as possible” in its inquiry into SSC activities between 1985 and 1987. He added that he […]
THURSDAY, 8.30AM BUSINESS leaders have rejected the two week deadline imposed on them by Cosatu, saying they will not make decisions under duress to meet unilaterial deadlines. Cosatu leader Sam Shilowa delivered the ultimatum yesterday to the offices of Business South Africa. Adrian Du Plessis, chief negotiator for Business South Africa, accused Cosatu of reneging […]
THURSDAY, 11.30AM NEW car sales in May crashed 21% to 19 375 units against May 1996 sales as the effects of high interest rates and a slowdown in the economy began to show. Latest figures from the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA show new car sales for the five months to May fell […]
THURSDAY, 4.30PM POLICE and troops were deployed in Bushbuckridge on Thursday morning following more violence in the area on Wednesday, when residents petrol bombed two trucks, one of which was completely destroyed, and one of the drivers was admitted to hospital with burn wounds. Police suggested that the latest incidents may be the work of […]
WEDNESDAY, 3.30PM IT will not be possible for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to comply with the National Party’s demand for an unconditional apology by Wednesday noon, TRC deputy chairman Dr Alex Boraine said on Tuesday night. Boraine said a letter signed by commission legal adviser Hanif Vally would be sent to the Nats before […]
WEDNESDAY, 11.30AM The retrenchment of up to 4 000 workers at Johannesburg Consolidated Investments’s Randfontein Estates gold mine has been suspended pending the outcome of new negotiations between JCI and the National Union of Mineworkers, mine GM Gordon Miller said yesterday. Miller added, however, that 500 skilled and managerial staff had already left the mine […]
WEDNESDAY, 3.30PM THE Organisation of African Unity has given the West African multinational peacekeeping force Ecomog a mandate to use force to drive out the military regime that seized power in Sierra Leone on May 15. Twenty-nine OAU heads of state ended the OAU summit in Harare on Tuesday with a closed session to discuss […]
WEDNESDAY, 1.00PM: The brewing wage dispute between Bafana Bafana players and the South African Football Association has been settled, following negotiations and talks on Monday night. Team manager Glyn Binkin said both parties are satisifed with the outcome. He said: “There will be negotiations before the World Cup but there will not be any more […]
WEDNESDAY, 11.30AM FINANCIAL markets were bullish on Tuesday, boosted by news of record gold and forex reserves, government’s successful Samurai bond launch and lower money market rates. The Reserve Bank’s strong reserves in April pushed long bond rates through key resistance levels and boosted share prices on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The buoyant mood in […]
WEDNESDAY, 11.00AM: THE Nelson Mandela Inauguration Challenge Cup against Holland kicks off at 7.30pm at FNB Stadium tonight, and newly recalled Bafana Bafana striker Mark Williams will go all out to play his best. “I’m not going to allow myself to be put under pressure. On the contrary, I’m going to enjoy and savour the […]
WEDNESDAY, 12.00 NOON: SOUTH AFRICAN club Orlando Pirates will lead Group A in the inaugural African Champions League, while four-time winners of the league, Zamalek of Egypt, will lead group B. Pirates, who have won CAF cup once before, and have been grouped with Primeiro de Agosto of Angola, USM Alger of Algeria, and Raja […]
WEDNESDAY, 12.00NOON: SOUTH AFRICA lost their women’s netball match against world champions Australia 65-48 in Brisbane on Tuesday night. But Australian captain Vicki Wilson said: “Beating South Africa was harder than it looked.” She said South Africa has “improved a lot. They play with patience and they didn’t panic.” South Africa kept the lead down […]
WEDNESDAY, 11.00AM: AMANDA COETZER made short work of Steffi Graf in their French Open quarterfinal match at Roland Garros, Paris, on Tuesday. The South African won the game in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4, taking her to her second Grand Slam semi-final. Coetzer was cool and disciplined against an error-prone Graf, who only began playing well […]
WEDNESDAY, 9.00AM The government has agreed to a one-year reprieve for its plans to end non-taxable housing perks, following a meeting with the parliamentary finance committee which expressed strong objections to the bill last week. The Income Tax Bill to be presented to parliament tomorrow attempts to close up some of the more blatant tax […]
WEDNESDAY, 4.00PM NEW Democratic Republic of Congo President Laurent Kabila has agreed to an investigation into reported massacres of Hutu refugees in the east of the country, United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan said at the final day of the Organisation of African Unity summit in Harare on Wednesday. Annan said Kabila had agreed to “co-operate […]
WEDNESDAY, 10.30AM THE Industrial Development Corporation has sold a portion of its stake in oil-from-coal parastatal Sasol to finance its $125-million commitment to a Maputo aluminium smelter project, and will sell off the rest of its 10% Sasol stake over the next few years. Speaking at an interview at the Europe in SA conference in […]
WEDNESDAY, 4.30PM FIRED Housing Director General Billy Cobbett officially vacated his post on Friday, a department representative said on Wednesday. He is being temporarily replaced by his deputy Neville Karsen until a new incumbent is appointed. No details of Cobbett’s severance package are available and Cobbett refused to comment, apart from to confirm he had […]
ONLY $3,5m OF MOBUTU’S LOOT FOUND SWISS banks have found only $3,5-million in assets held by ousted Zairean dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who siphoned off billions during his 30-year rule. The assets so far found include foreign shares, bonds, securities and a safe deposit box yet to be opened. The discoveries were made after a […]
WEDNESDAY, 4.30PM THE Mpumalanga government is to wind up the procince’s Development Corporation and Finance Corporation for failing to perform within the provincial government’s policy framework, acting premier Jacques Modipane said on Wednesday. Modipane added that allegations of corruption in the two bodies necessitated their closure. The MDC ran afoul of the provincial government when […]
MONDAY, 4.30PM THE Motheo construction company at the centre of the Mpumalanga housing scandal is not about to close its doors, and the Mpumalanga rural housing project is going ahead, Motheo director Thandi Ndlovu said on Tuesday. Ndlovu was responding to rumours which surfaced in a parliamentary housing committee hearing into the project, when Motheo […]
TUESDAY, 9.00AM: IF eleventh-seed Amanda Coetzer beats second-seed Steffi Graf in their French Open quarterfinal match on Wednesday, Graf could slip one position in the rankings. The five-time winner of the French Open was beaten hollow by South African Coetzer at the German Open in Berlin last month, losing 0-6, 1-6. Graf said on Tuesday […]