DCSA praises staff work ethic EAST LONDON -- Workers at DaimlerChrysler's West Bank carmaking plant are by far the most conscientious in South Africa's motoring industry, with 50 percent maintaining a near-perfect attendance record last year, says DCSA's Hansgeorg Niefer. Of ... EC rape victims get Aids drug lifeline By Mphumzi Zuzile EAST LONDON -- Hundreds of rape victims, many of them small children, will from next week receive crucial drugs that may prevent them from contracting HIV-Aids. The anti-retroviral drugs for rape survivors are to be distributed... Eastern Cape cholera outbreak on the wane EAST LONDON -- The cholera outbreak which has claimed eight lives in the Eastern Cape since the weekend seems to be abating. "It seems that it is all over," provincial Health Department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said. No new cases have been reporte... W Cape police seize imported weapons CAPE TOWN -- Western Cape police have confiscated a huge shipment of semi-automatic assault rifles and shotguns imported into the country without proper police permits. Meanwhile, a lawyer acting on behalf of the importers of the weapons, told Ca... Fifth person arrested in pension scam By Mphumzi Zuzile EAST LONDON -- A fifth person was arrested in an early morning swoop in connection with the loss of at least R5,8million in government funds paid to "ghost" pensioners. Police said former Social Development Department official ... Artists respond to Mandela's call for help JOHANNESBURG -- Where the sounds of pounding hammers once reverberated will come the eclectic sounds of international musicians as they take part in the "Mandela SOS" human rights concert on Robben Island in February. The Eurythmics' Dave Stewart... Nine W Cape train victims identified CAPE TOWN -- The names of nine of the 10 victims who were killed when a passenger train ploughed into a stationary Spoornet goods train in the Western Cape earlier this week, were released yesterday. Almost 100 passengers were also injured when a... Inquiry desk for new credit-card licences PRETORIA -- The Department of Transport announced yesterday it had set up an inquiry desk in an attempt to speed up the process of issuing new credit-car-style drivers' licences. The department's spokesman Ndivhuwo Mabaya said the desk had dedica... Cox out of Dakar with hurt shoulder JOHANNESBURG -- The Paris-Dakar rally claimed its latest victim when South African Alfie Cox retired after falling and severely injuring his shoulder. Lying fifth overall after eight days of the punishing 19-day trek, Cox made a navigational erro...

GROWLING FOR ACTION: The Border Bears cricket team that will do battle with the visiting Western Province team in a Standard Bank Cup semi-final at Buffalo Park today. Police look at cricket link to Zim murder HARARE -- Police confirmed yesterday they were investigating whether the recent murder of an Australian tourist was carried out by individuals trying to make Zimbabwe look bad ahead of upcoming World Cup cricket matches here. The possible link wa... 384-year sentence for driver BLANTYRE -- A Malawi lorry driver has been sentenced to a total of 384 years in prison for causing an accident that killed 24 people in the north of the country last year, police said yesterday. Kashi Mwamadi, who was convicted of manslaughter, w... World economic recovery slower ­ UN GENEVA -- The world economic recovery is on hold until the second half of 2003 and remains threatened by volatile stock prices and the fallout from a possible war in Iraq, the United Nations said yesterday. "The recovery is proceeding but it is s... Radebe expected to play major role against Downs JOHANNESBURG -- David Radebe was a rather low key signing for Kaizer Chiefs earlier this season, but over the last few months he has established himself as one of the mainstays in the team. The former Free State Stars striker will play a major ro... Super 12 draft players confirmed CAPE TOWN -- SA Rugby Pty Ltd managing director Rian Oberholzer yesterday confirmed the names of players drafted to another region for this season's Vodacom Super 12. More draft players may be added before the January 15 finalisation of the four ... McLean appointed new sports editor EAST LONDON -- Daily Dispatch rugby writer Brian McLean, 55, has been appointed this newspaper's new sports editor. McLean succeeds David Denison who retired late last year. Schooled at Vincent Primary and the East London Technical College, McLe... Lara fit for World Cup PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad -- Practising for his first competitive match after four months of illness, double world record holder Brian Lara said he was fit and ready for the upcoming World Cup. Lara held two batting sessions Tuesday, one against a ... Where's my training fee, asks disappointed trainer By Mesuli Zifo EAST LONDON-- A bitter row is brewing within the camp of newly crowned IBO junior bantamweight champion Lunga "Mad Dog'' Ntontela after one of his trainers, Dudu Bungu was not paid his fee for training Ntontela in his title winning... Straeuli announces squads for Bok fitness tests CAPE TOWN -- Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli yesterday confirmed the names of an initial squad of players who will undergo fitness tests in preparation for the 2003 international season. He will present the SA Rugby Pty Ltd board of directors with...

It's now or never, Bears
By Peter Martin EAST LONDON -- Five years ago South African and Border top order batsman Peter Kirsten hung up his boots and retired from the game he graced for close to 20 years at the top. He returned to Cape Town, coached Northerns for a seas...