223 subjects with 229 messages.
The AfricaNews articles of Mernat
SA unveils gold coins for 2010 World Cup
South Africa has unveiled a set of new gold coins with the emblem of the 2010 World Cup. The coins are decorated with both the South African and German Coat-of-Arms a symbol of the hand-over from the 2006 German World Cup to South Africa. The coins can be bought at the Mint's coin world shop in Midrand, at R4 500 ($599) each. - Deputy General Manager Natanya Van Niekerk of SA Mint said the quarter ounce (oz) gold coins formed part of a special launch set for the FIFA World Cup coin series.
The miniature image of Soccer City that was recently renamed and reconstructed to become one of the most artistic football venues on the African continent has been placed in the reverse of the gold coin…SA gets "Miracle beds that cure HIV/AIDS"
SA has been warned against the use of thermal massage bed, said to cure Aids patients after a 40-minute session. National health spokesman Fidel Hadebe said the use of the beds is under investigation by the health ministry. "We will send inspectors to the establishment and we will take legal action if we find any fraud." - According to the Sowetan newspaper, people queue from as early as 2:00am in the mornings to the "Ceragem Clinic" where some 20 miracle beds are based to have their 40 minutes session on the beds that apparently heal any disease, including HIV/AIDS.
The clinic is owned by Morokane Choma.
Ceragem, a Korean massage bed, is not registered with the South African Bureau …SA: Special courts for World Cup crimes
South Africa is setting up at least 54 Special Courts to deal with crimes committed during the one month long 2010 FIFA World Cup. It is estimated to cost the host country about US$ 131,659 (R1-million) in all nine host cities and would run for 15 hours daily from May 28 to July 25. - AfricaNews reporter said the justice ministry is concerned that the influx of 450 000 tourists will bring with it a surge in crime.
Key personnel including judges, lawyers, prosecutors, interpreters and volunteers to help with administrative issues, will receive special training for the courts. The development is aimed at speeding up the judicial process, especially for cases involving foreigners.
A stat…South Africa: Floods to hit Johannesburg
The Johannesburg Emergency Services has warned that there is a strong possibility of floods following the rainy week. A hotline has therefor been set for cases that would require emergency attention. - Areas at risk were those around the Klipriver system in Soweto, areas between the West Rand's river system and the northern suburbs, including Dainfern, Diepsloot, Alexandra and Woodmead.
Johannesburg Emergency Services spokesman Percy Morokane encouraged city residents to pay close attention to weather updates.
He said low-lying areas have been a challenge in the past and it was expected that they may experience flooding during this rainy weather.
"We are calling for people who expe…SA: Mbeki faces prosecution pressure
South Africa former president Thabo Mbeki must be prosecuted for HIV/AIDS related deaths, stated Buti Manamela, the president of the Young Communist League (YCL). - Manamela said it sided with victims rather than critics of the proposed court action as the Mbeki policies were tantamount to have caused genocide.
However the ANC youth league has vehemently opposed the proposed prosecution of Mbeki. Its leader Julius Malema has pledged to defend him and former health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
Statistics released by the Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi last week showed that the death rate in SA had risen between 1997 and last year, from 300,000 to 756,000 a year.
Motsoaledi b…Corruption rife in Sub Saharan Africa
Corruption remains deep rooted in countries in Sub Saharan Africa, results of the corruption perception index for the year have shown. South Africa has been ranked 55th most corrupt country out of 180 countries surveyed by Transparency International with a scored of 4.7 out of ten on the index. - New Zealand with a score of 9.4 points out of 10 was adjudged to be the world’s least corrupt country with Denmark coming second with 9.3 points.
According to the perception index released on Tuesday corruption remained embedded in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Transparency said the overall picture remained one of serious corruption challenges across the region.
"The corruption perceptions inde…Japan call for Vuvuzela ban
Japan FA Boss, Motoaki Inukai, has called for the ban of the use of the famous vuvuzelas - long, plastic trumpets used by SA supporters. It is synonymous with SA soccer fans but the incessant noise from the air horns triggered complaints from players, coaches and broadcasters during the 2009 Confederations Cup. - Inukai said the trumpets make so much noise that people cannot hear each other even when they are only five metres apart.
The call follows the weekend international friendly match between the Blue Samurai and Bafana Bafana at the weekend that ended in a 0-0 draw.
"I've asked the South African Football Association to ban the noise. We can't even hear sounds from 5m away." Inuka…S. Africa: New dinosaur species discovered
Scientists with Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, South Africa have discovered a new species of dinosaur. A media briefing by Australian Dr Adam Yates said the discovery follows five years of investigating. The dinosaur is estimated to be between 183 and 195 years old. - The discovery was made by a Wits postgraduate palaeontology student, Marc Blackbeard, who began excavating two sites in the Northern Free State, five years ago, under the leadership of Yates.
"We knew that there was likely to be some fossils in these 'bone beds' discovered by James Kitching about 20 years ago, but we did not expect to find anything of this magnitude," said Yates. “This is one of the many jew…East Africa: 20 million need aid
At least 20 million people will need food aid in East Africa due to persistent drought and war, the Food and Agriculture Organization warned on Tuesday in its latest Crop Prospects and Food Situation Report. - In Eastern Africa, the situation is particularly serious as drought and conflict has put an estimated 20 million people in need of food aid.
FAO Assistant Director General Hafez Ghanem said food prices in poor countries that are net importers of food still remain stubbornly high despite a good 2009 world cereal production.
The report was published ahead of the Rome World Summit on Food Security to be held on November 16-18. “For the world’s poorest people who spend up…New SA governor takes office today
Gill Marcus the new South African Reserve Bank Governor takes office on Monday. She becomes the ninth leader of the 88-year-old bank, taking over from Tito Mboweni. Under Mboweni, the bank reached a positive reserves position in 2004 and since then has built holdings to just under $40 billion. - AfricaNews reporter said Marcus will be hard pressed to guard the central bank's independence as vehemently, and successfully as Mboweni did.
Marcus' appointment has prompted media speculation about how she will deal with labour demands to loosen monetary policy further, as well as the central bank's independence, and the question of the country's general monetary policy regime.
Her appointmen…SA: Newspaper folds up due to recession
One of South Africa's weekend newspapers, The Weekender, has succumbed to the global recession pressure and printed its last edition over the weekend. The paper that had been in existence for three-and-a-half years was an extension of Business Day. - "It's finished. Ultimately it was advertising but the paper was in an economic hole, part of the downturn we're going through," said Business Day editor Peter Bruce.
Bruce said the paper had a lean staff and the group was doing all it could to save every single job. "Only a small number of staff was attached to Weekender. We'll try and keep most of them," Bruce said.
Asked if lifestyle magazine, Wanted, also carried in Business Day, await…SA terminate $5.4bn Airbus deal
The South Africa government has terminated the US$5.4 billion Airbus A400M military aircraft deal, cabinet announced on Thursday. The decision which was taken two weeks ago but was only made public Thursday would have seen the southern African country acquire eight Airbus A400 military aircrafts. - In terminating the contract, cabinet cited delays in the delivery of the order and the continued escalation of costs, which the government sees as a burden on the tax payer.
Initial costs of acquiring the eight military airlift planes was R17billion, (just over US$2 billion) but had since ballooned to around R40billion (Over US$5 billion).
In a statement to the media government spokesperson Th…SA suspends Athletics Board over Semenya
The president of the South Africa Athletics Board and his board have been suspended with immediate effect. Leonard Chuene and his team were fired for the way they handled the Caster Semenya gender issue. They are to face a disciplinary investigation, a statement from the Sports Confederation said. - The statement from the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) said: "The suspended individuals will appear before a disciplinary enquiry to answer charges of bringing ASA, the sport of athletics, SASCOC and sport in general into disrepute."
It added: “We are considering taking appropriate action against the International Association of Athletics Federations (IA…SA: Carlos Parreira arrives with zest
Bafana Bafana's newly appointed coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira returned to South Africa on Thursday morning. He immediately expressed his willingness to recall Benni McCarthy back into the squad after missing out on national team games during the reign of fellow Brazilian, Joel Santana. - Perreira’s arrival at the Johannesburg's OR Tambo airport was markedly devoid of the fanfare that surrounded his first coming as coach to the World Cup host nation in September 2006. He was reappointed in the last two weeks, following Joel Santana’s departure. SAFA CEO, Raymond Hack and other officials were at the airport to welcome the coach.
Benni has been excluded from the South Africa te…S. Africa: 1150 arrested at entry points
At least 1,150 suspects have been rounded up in South Africa over the last two weeks for various crimes during a patrol at various entry points, according to the Police Service on Wednesday. The police revealed that stolen goods and accessories worth millions of Rands were recovered during the period. - SA National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele said new measures are being put in place to reduce crime statistics in the country. "It is evident that measures put in place to tighten security of our country are improving tremendously. In September this year, the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Committee met at the Emperor's Palace to discuss among other matters, cross border crimes,̶…Benni McCarthy eyes Portsmouth
South Africa leading striker and English premiership player Benni McCarthy is eying a move to Portsmouth. Jerome McCarthy - brother of Benni - told the local media that come the January transfer window Benni would be making moves to depart from Ewood Park. - “Benni told me something is going to happen and chances are he will move to Portsmouth in January,” Jerome said on People.co.uk. He said his brother feels that it makes more sense that he leaves Blackburn were game time has been difficult to come by.
Most South Africans are hopeful that the return of Alberto Parreira would also mark the return of Benni to the national team after being snubbed by former coach Joel Santana.
…SA builds 10 Eco-towns
At least $51,663,459 (R400 million) has been set aside by the South African government for the creating of 10 eco-towns. The towns being "created" under a project dubbed Buyesila (Give Back) is a direct response to efforts to protect the ecosystem and limit the damage brought about by climate change. - Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said the funds would be used for cleaning and greening projects. "South Africa must act now to combat climate change. Investing in the ecological infrastructure of this country is as important as building schools, roads, hospitals and houses," she said.
“In the first phase of Project Buyesila, 10 eco-towns modelled on sustainab…
