South Africa

We could have won says Mallett
JOHANNESBURG ­ South Africa's deposed world rugby champions jetted in to a heroes' welcome at Johannesburg International Airport yesterday with Springbok coach Nick Mallett sounding the knell for the running game. The World Cup had shown tha...

Review of AZT not necessary ­ manufacturer
CAPE TOWN -- The review ordered by President Thabo Mbeki of the anti-Aids drug AZT was neither necessary nor justified, manufacturer Glaxo Wellcome said after a meeting with Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang yesterday. Glaxo's medical dire...

Decision on AZT depends on minister's response
JOHANNESBURG -- The South African Human Rights Commission (HRC) said yesterday it would decide on what steps to take only once Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang had responded to allegations that denying the anti-retroviral drug AZT to pregn...

Mbeki calls for solutions to poverty
JOHANNESBURG -- South African President Thabo Mbeki urged Commonwealth government and business leaders meeting here yesterday to find real answers to the "heartrending cries for help" from the world's poorest nations. Mbeki said the 600 delegates...

Civil servants' saved leave worth R11,6bn
CAPE TOWN -- Civil servants, most of whom are allowed to accumulate holiday leave without any restrictions, had stored up days off worth a staggering R11,6 billion by September last year, according to a report released yesterday. The report, by t...

Merton House not embassy ­ contractor
PRETORIA-- Building contractor Daniel Kirstein yesterday told the High Court here he believed that Merton House, a development in which Dr Wouter Basson was allegedly involved, was meant to be a guest house. Kirstein said he had met Basson in 19...

Baiocchi woman, son killed ­ man held
DURBAN -- A man has been arrested and another is expected to be taken in for questioning in connection with the recent murder of a South Coast mother and son who are related to former Durban golfer Hugh Baiocchi. A 75-year-old woman, Mrs Rose Bai...

Record amount for SA painting
JOHANNESBURG -- A private collector paid a record R1,1million for a painting by South African artist Irma Stern at an auction here on Monday. Auctioneers Stephan Welz & Co said the painting was the first work of art to sell at a South African...

Depts keeping closer to budgets says Manuel
CAPE TOWN -- Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said yesterday government departments were keeping closer to their budgets and were more cost effective than before. Speaking during debate on the Adjustments Appropriation Bill, Manuel said restructuri...

Firearms bill could be with Cabinet by year end
CAPE TOWN -- Speculation about the draft firearms control bill again came to the fore yesterday when it was reported that the measure could go to Cabinet for approval on December 1. The draft legislation has been the focus of much public debate a...

Five on shortlist for auditor-general post
CAPE TOWN -- The special parliamentary committee dealing with the appointment of a new auditor-general will interview five shortlisted candidates on Monday. Committee chairman Pallo Jordan yesterday said the interviews for the post -- which falls...

Rules for smokers out soon
CAPE TOWN -- A draft of the regulations that will tell smokers exactly where they are allowed to indulge in their habit could be published as early as next week, according to the Department of Health. Spokeswoman Lulu Sebake said yesterday the re...

D-Gs to have power to inform say MPs
CAPE TOWN -- Authority to release information in terms of the Open Democracy Bill should be vested in directors-general (D-Gs) of government departments rather than lower-ranked officials, a special joint parliamentary committee said yesterday. T...

Queen Elizabeth, Duke arrive in SA
PRETORIA -- Britain's Queen Elizabeth and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, arrived in South Africa yesterday evening at the Waterkloof Air Force Base ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled for Friday. The queen was met...

SA, Czechs sign defence treaty
PRETORIA -- South Africa and the Czech Republic yesterday agreed to work together in defence-related fields such as preparing for United Nations peace missions. Re-integrating members of the armed forces into society would be another area of co-o...

Selebi: police have resources to beat crime
CAPE TOWN -- The police had the resources they needed to beat crime, the national commissioner-designate of the South African Police Services, Jackie Selebi, said yesterday. "All we need is a bit of organisation and a little less duplication," he...