SA: State intends to call 218 witnesses in Zuma case

1 January, 2008 in South Africa

source: SABC News

December 31, 2007, 16:15

The State has identified a list of 218 witnesses it intends calling to testify in its case against the African National Congress president Jacob Zuma.

Attached to the indictment, filed in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, the list of witnesses includes Independent Democrats party leader Patricia de Lille, former Judge Willem Heath and former ANC MP Andrew Feinstein.

The indictment was filed today, shortly after midday as Zuma was about to hand out presents to children in his home district of Nkandla. Zuma faces 16 charges in total, one count of racketeering, two counts of corruption, one count of money laundering and 12 counts of fraud.

The two South African subsidiaries of Thales International (formerly Thomson-CFS), Thint Holding (Southern Africa)Pty Ltd and Thint(Pty)Ltd each face a charge of [continue reading]

SA:Teaching quality `must improve`

31 December, 2007 in South Africa

source: SouthAfrica.info
Luyanda Makapela and Gabi Khumalo

31 December 2007

The South African government and its partners should find ways to put effective measures in place so that better results could be achieved at all school levels in future, says Education Minister Naledi Pandor.

Addressing the media in Pretoria after announcing the matric results on Friday, Pandor said it was clear from various studies, as well as this year’s results, that quality learning needed to be the department’s concrete objective for all grades.

The national pass rate for 2007 stands at 65.2% – 1.4% below the pass rate of 2006.

This year, a total of 564 775 candidates sat for the exams and 368 217 passed, some 85 454 candidates passed with endorsement. This was 376 less than in 2006.

Pandor raised concerns that teachers were not [continue reading]

SA: Zuma charged

29 December, 2007 in South Africa

source: IOL
December 28 2007 at 06:26PM

Papers have been served on ANC president Jacob Zuma by the National Prosecuting Authority, 702 Eyewitness News reported on Friday.

The radio station said it could confirm that papers were served on Zuma.

Several sources have told Eyewitness News that the papers outlined charges which Zuma will face. It was understood they include corruption, tax evasion and racketeering.

It was not clear at this stage whether Zuma had been given a court date on which to appear or if [continue reading]

South Africa: Could Water Meters Be Unconstitutional?

29 December, 2007 in South Africa

source: allAfrica
Inter Press Service (Johannesburg)

28 December 2007
Posted to the web 28 December 2007

Steven Lang
Johannesburg

More than 300 residents of Phiri, one of the poorest suburbs in Soweto, demonstrated outside the High Court in Johannesburg earlier this month to show support for a campaign to have pre-paid water meters declared unconstitutional. After a three-day hearing, the judge announced that he would make his findings known early in 2008.

Merely getting to court to have their case heard was already a victory for Lindiwe Mazibuko, Grace Munyai, Jennifer Makoatsane, Sophia Malekutu and Vusimuzi Paki, the five applicants who had been struggling for more than three years to have their day in court.

A David versus Goliath court drama has set the five unemployed applicants in a class action suit against [continue reading]

South Africa: Johannesburg Stock Exchange Faces a Tough Year

28 December, 2007 in South Africa

source: allAfrica
Business Day (Johannesburg)

EDITORIAL
28 December 2007
Posted to the web 28 December 2007

Johannesburg

WHICHEVER way you look at it, 2007 has been a good year for the JSE. It had its first anniversary as a listed company, and it became the world’s biggest single stock futures market. Turnover was up. And for most of the year the returns from the exchange were very pleasing, at least for those that were going long.

Despite market turmoil, it made better returns than most developed markets, although it was outshone by some emerging markets.

And as if its share price appreciation was not enough to keep shareholders really rather happy, the JSE also announced a special dividend with more ordinary dividends to follow.

The JSE was not gobbled up by any big exchanges. Indeed, there was a suggestion that the JSE might want to buy the Stock Exchange of Mauritius while working closely with other exchanges in Africa.

It makes sense — if the JSE wants to remain relevant and  [continue reading]

South Africa`s Trade Deficit Narrows From Record

28 December, 2007 in South Africa

source: Bloomberg
By Nasreen Seria

Dec. 27 (Bloomberg) — South Africa posted its smallest trade deficit in 11 months in November, as oil imports plunged, easing pressure on the current account gap.

The deficit narrowed to 608.7 million rand ($88 million) last month from 14.7 billion rand in October, the South African Revenue Service said on its Web site today. The deficit was expected to narrow to 10.5 billion rand, according to the median estimate of five economists surveyed by Bloomberg.

The improvement in the trade balance last month may help to narrow the current account gap, which reached 8.1 percent of gross domestic product in the third quarter, the highest in more than 25 years. South Africa relies mainly on foreign investment in stocks and bonds to fund the deficit, an inflow of money that can reverse if investors choose to [continue reading]

SA: Taking the Nelson Mandela Route

24 December, 2007 in South Africa, Tourism

source: SouthAfrica.info
Claire Fulton

Tourists fascinated by South Africa’s most beloved statesman, Nelson Mandela, can now “follow his footsteps” all the way from the Eastern Cape to Robben Island

The Nelson Mandela Route starts in the Eastern Cape, in King William’s Town, which began as a London-based Missionary Station in 1826 and provides a backdrop to early European influences in a struggle region of British, Boer and Xhosa conflicts.

The town’s Amathole Museum has a Xhosa Gallery, Missionary Museum and German Settlers display. The grave of Black Consciousness leader Steve Biko is also in the town.

Go to Eastern Cape Madiba ActionThe Mandela Route moves through Bhisho, home of the provincial government, and takes a scenic drive on the N2 to Mthatha, which hosts the [continue reading]

SA: Why is Eskom increasing the price of power?

24 December, 2007 in South Africa

source: IOL
December 23 2007 at 12:21PM

By Mary Corrigall

Consumer organisations have criticised the decision by the National Electricity Regulator (Nersa) to give Eskom the go-ahead to increase the price of power next year by 14,2 percent. They say the price hike exceeds the rate of inflation and goes against promises made by Jacob Zuma to uplift the poor.

“We find it hard to understand why Eskom has increased its tariffs above inflation. Especially in light of the government’s promise to keep price hikes between the 3-6 percent range,” said Thami Bolani, the chairperson of the National Consumer Forum. “An increase of 14,2 percent will push the price of everything up, pushing inflation even further.”

Last week Nersa announced Eskom could raise the cost of electricity by 14,2 percent instead of the [continue reading]

SA `geek` who scares hi-tech giants

23 December, 2007 in South Africa, Technology

source: IOL
Melanie Peters
December 22 2007 at 03:48PM

Internet billionaire Mark Shuttleworth has been named one of the top 15 technology “brains to watch” by the internationally respected online publication, TechWeb.

The website described Cape Town-born Shuttleworth as Microsoft’s worst nightmare come to life. “Kind of the Freddy Krueger to Microsoft’s unsuspecting teenager in a horror movie for the hi-tech set.”

TechWeb described Shuttleworth as a technologist, venture capitalist, social experimenter, philanthropist, and Russian-trained space traveller.

He also originated the world’s fastest-growing Linux distribution, Ubuntu.

Shuttleworth, who was head boy at Bishops and is now based in London, is said to be an innovator who will help shape the business technology world in the new year.

Shuttleworth founded Thawte Consulting, which developed digital certificates that made online [continue reading]

SA: ANC, Mbeki square up over SABC

23 December, 2007 in South Africa

source: News24
Caiphus Kgosana

Johannesburg – Just hours after President Thabo Mbeki and newly-elected ANC leader Jacob Zuma pledged to work together, a war of words has erupted over Mbeki’s appointment of a new SABC board.

Zuma allies the ANC Youth League and Cosatu are up in arms over Mbeki’s decision to go ahead with the appointment of a 12-member SABC board despite opposition from within and outside the ruling party.

The youth league’s spokesperson, Zizi Kodwa, has even warned that if Mbeki “undermines ANC decisions, we will have to recall him”.

But presidential spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga said the President had acted within the law.

Mbeki backers say the Zuma camp is just trying to flex its muscle.

“They are trying to say that before he does anything, he must call [continue reading]

Zuma unlikely to change SA policy towards Zimbabwe

23 December, 2007 in South Africa, Zimbabwe

source: SW Radio Africa

By Lance Guma
21 December 2007

The election of Jacob Zuma to head the African National Congress and possibly South Africa is not likely to affect that country’s foreign policy towards Zimbabwe. Those hoping for a change of strategy have already been disappointed with his comments at a press conference where he said he will stick to Thabo Mbeki’s quiet diplomacy approach. Zuma believes Mbeki’s approach is working: ‘It’s not going to be useful to us to stand on the rooftops and criticise Zimbabwe.’

Zuma then immediately launched into a speech praising several African political parties, including Zanu PF. He criticised what he called western sanctions against Zimbabwe arguing; ‘I don’t think sanctions have produced anything. What has worked in Zimbabwe outside our engagement? Nothing.’ Observers however point out that the [continue reading]

South Africa: Zuma Gets Madiba Thumbs-Up

22 December, 2007 in South Africa

source: allAfrica
Cape Argus (Cape Town)

22 December 2007
Posted to the web 22 December 2007

Angela Quintal
Cape Town

ANC president Jacob Zuma has received the official seal of approval from Nelson Mandela, who has praised him as a unifier, reconciler and a man committed to collective leadership.

He has also urged the divided ANC to rally behind Zuma.

Mandela, who chose to step down as party leader after one term in favour of Thabo Mbeki in 1997, said it was inevitable the results of the Polokwane elections would be interpreted by some “as an overwhelming victory for one camp or faction over another”.

In a message of congratulation to the ruling party’s new guard, he said: “Our experience of Comrade Zuma is of a person and leader who is inclusive in his approach, a unifier and one who values reconciliation and collective leadership.

“We have no doubt that [continue reading]

Africa: EPAs Signed `Under Duress`, Says South Africa

22 December, 2007 in Africa, South Africa

source: allAfrica
Inter Press Service (Johannesburg)

21 December 2007
Posted to the web 21 December 2007

David Cronin
Brussels

African governments have signed economic partnership agreements with the European Union “under duress”, according to Dr Rob Davies, South Africa’s deputy trade and industry minister.

Some 35 of almost 80 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries involved in negotiations aimed at reaching economic partnership agreements (EPAs) had accepted deals with the European Commission by December 19.

Davies alleged that many of these trade accords were reached because the Commission had threatened to impose onerous tariffs on goods from ACP countries destined for the Union’s markets should EPAs not be concluded this year. “This lead to a situation where a country that was unwilling to sign on did so under huge duress and with little enthusiasm,” he told IPS.

Although its neighbours — Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia and Lesotho — have entered into agreements, South Africa has decided not to. This is despite the fact that [continue reading]

Mbeki: Presume Zuma innocent

22 December, 2007 in South Africa

source: News24
21/12/2007 19:08 – (SA)

Pretoria – President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday new ANC leader Jacob Zuma, facing corruption accusations, should be presumed innocent and the law should be allowed to take its course.

Mbeki, deposed by Zuma as leader of the governing party, said he had no inside information on whether prosecutors would charge Zuma, but that it was important the principle of presumption of innocence be maintained.

“I don’t know what the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) intend to do.

“They haven’t said anything to me, but if they proceed as is reported we would all of us say that we would allow the road to take its course,” Mbeki told a news conference in Pretoria.

“The message we would like to communicate to the rest of world is the fact that [continue reading]

SA: ANC want floor-crossing to end

22 December, 2007 in South Africa

source: IOL
December 21 2007 at 07:50PM

By Donwald Pressly

Floor-crossing by politicians at all levels should be scrapped, ANC conference delegates have agreed.

The recommendation, made by the commission on legislation and government and adopted as a resolution, was a key topic of discussion at the party’s national conference.

Institute for a Democratic South Africa researcher Jonathan Faull said he believed that the resolution would be fed into the parliamentary process.

Members of Parliament, the provincial legislatures and town and city councillors may cross the floor during two weeks in September in the second and fourth years of their five-year terms.

The last floor-crossing was at all three levels of government.

Earlier this year, President Thabo Mbeki said that the [continue reading]