South Africa

I'm good enough says Teichmann
JOHANNESBURG -- Gary Teichmann last night expressed his disappointment at his axing from the Springbok rugby squad, adding he believed he was still capable of playing and captaining at Test level. "I am obviously disappointed that I have not been...

Religious peacemakers to help in dialogue says Kabila
PRETORIA -- Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Laurent Kabila said yesterday a group of Italian religious peacemakers will co-ordinate a national dialogue set out in a fragile ceasefire intended to end the country's civil war. In commen...

Advocates offer to clear court backlog
JOHANNESBURG -- Advocates have volunteered their services to help state prosecutors clear backlogs in the country's criminal courts, the General Council of the Bar (GCB) said yesterday. In a statement at the end of its 54th annual general meeting...

Marike to remarry soon
JOHANNESBURG -- Marike de Klerk, ex-wife of former state president FW de Klerk, on Sunday announced her engagement to a Johannesburg businessman and the couple plan to marry shortly. A report in Beeld yesterday said De Klerk and Johan Koekemoer w...

Max du Preez case dismissed
JOHANNESBURG -- Former Special Assignment presenter Max du Preez' case against the South African Broadcasting Corporation was yesterday dismissed by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, radio news reported. Du Preez claime...

Ministers condemn teachers' threat
PRETORIA -- The Council of Education Ministers yesterday condemned threats of a teacher strike for better pay, saying the state had done much to meet their salary demands. In a statement here it also called on union leaders to approach the next r...

R15000 fine or jail for prawn smuggler
MTUBATUBA -- A KwaZulu-Natal man was yesterday sentenced to a year in jail or a R15000 fine for buying 70 kilograms of prawns poached from Lake St Lucia. Abel Moodley was sentenced by the regional court here following his arrest by anti-poaching ...

Scouts convene in Durban
DURBAN -- Delegates from around the world arrived here yesterday for the 35th World Scout Conference at the International Convention Centre. More than 1 000 delegates representing 150 countries were expected to attend the five-day conference whic...

SFF fund witness denies 'threat'
CAPE TOWN -- Public Protector Selby Baqwa's inquiry into alleged irregularities in the Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) adjourned yesterday afternoon after hearing its final witness, former deputy auditor-general Bertie Loots. Legal teams have been give...

26 crew of sunken trawler still missing
CAPE TOWN -- Twenty-six crewmen of the fishing trawler which sank off the Eastern Cape coast on Saturday were still missing late yesterday following a lengthy search involving the SA Air Force, the National Sea Rescue Institute and sister ships of...

Soul diva expresses love for SA
JOHANNESBURG -- Soul icon Roberta Flack, who starts her first show in South Africa tonight, displayed an amiable, down-to-earth attitude when she spoke to the media yesterday. She promised endless entertainment for fans who will be attending her ...

Thieves break in, replace locks
MPUMALANGA -- A gang of thieves replaced all the locks on the doors of an Mpumalanga farming co-operative after stealing goods worth R1 million, African Eye News reported yesterday. Police are still puzzled why the gang took the trouble to replace...

5 appear for Thokoza deaths
JOHANNESBURG -- Five men arrested in connection with last week's massacre of seven people in Mandela Park on the East Rand appeared on murder charges in the Alberton Magistrate's Court yesterday. They were not asked to plead and the case was post...

N4 tollgate protesters disperse for discussion
JOHANNESBURG -- About 1 000 protesters who gathered at the Nkomazi tollroad in Mpumalanga dispersed yesterday after blockading the plaza overnight to protest against what they called high toll fees. Police spokesman Director Mandla Mahlangu said ...

De Kock: informer now in government
DURBAN -- A police informer who gave information to former security police, leading to the deaths of eight cadres in 1988, is a woman who now has a responsible position in the government, former Vlakplaas commander Eugene de Kock said yesterday. ...

OM shares, rate cuts may bring bumper Xmas
JOHANNESBURG -- Further interest rate cuts towards the end of the year and the spin-offs of Old Mutual's R10billion distribution of shares to policyholders could result in a bumper Christmas for retailers, according to economists. Tony Twine, of...