Tzaneen

Four people accused of killing a suspected thief on a farm in South Africa, who died after being tied to a tree and beaten, walked free from court on Wednesday after murder charges were dropped. After a magistrate ordered that charges of murder be downgraded, the four all pleaded guilty to assault and were each fined R10 000 .

Individuals with ”criminally selfish motives” should be prevented from being elected municipal councillors, President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday. The president spoke on the last day of a sitting of the National Council of Provinces in Nkowankowa outside Tzaneen in Limpopo.

The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) has been a strong force for change in the ANC since its formation, party deputy president Jacob Zuma said at the league’s 61st anniversary celebrations on Saturday. ”The ANCYL has intervened in the ANC at crucial moments in our history,” Zuma said.

Thousands of African National Congress Youth League members gathered at the Nkowankowa Stadium near Tzaneen in Limpopo on Saturday to celebrate the league’s 61st anniversary, which will be attended by former deputy president Jacob Zuma, who is currently on a tour of the country marking the league’s anniversary.

<img src="http://www.mg.co.za/ContentImages/41909/10-X-Logo.gif" align=left>President Thabo Mbeki announced at two rallies in Limpopo on Saturday that he is going to deploy Limpopo Premier Ngoako Ramatlhodi to parliament next month, to represent the people of the province. Ramatlhodi’s replacement will come from within the African National Congress, Mbeki said.
<li><a class=’standardtextsmall’ href="http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3_fl2.asp?o=40922">Special Report: Elections 2004</a>

Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi lashed out at African National Congress criticism of his statement that many South Africans in rural areas were much better off 10 years ago than they are now. He was speaking at the launch of the party’s election campaign in Limpopo.