Law to ‘depoliticise’ municipalities

CABINET has approved the Municipal Systems Amendment Bill, which seeks to depoliticise municipalities and ensure that provincial and local governments appoint skilled people, it was announced yesterday. The Bill has been hailed by Co-operative Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka. . . .

Bad year for accommodation industry

INCOME for South Africa’s accommodation industry has fallen, Statistics SA said yesterday. According to the Pretoria-based agency, total annual income for the accommodation industry for 2009 decreased by 9.6% compared with 2008. The fourth quarter of 2009 reflected a. . . .

Resources stocks give bourse a lift

STOCKS ended in the black yesterday, buoyed by resources. The dollar firmed against the local currency late in the afternoon. By 5pm the JSE all- share index was 0.79% firmer, with resources up 1.01%. Gold mining shares slipped 0.19% later on, along with platinum miners which. . . .

Freight transport shows December growth

ANNUAL income from freight transportation for 2009 decreased by 4.2% compared with 2008, Statistics SA said yesterday. However, in its Land Transportation Survey, it said income from freight transportation for December 2009 increased by 7.7% compared with December 2008, the. . . .

Indicator points to gains in economy

SOUTH Africa’s economy has well and truly turned the corner, if the latest leading economic indicator is anything to go by. The country’s seasonally adjusted leading economic indicator continued to rise in December, increasing to a 120.9 index level from a revised. . . .

Algeria delegation considers Mthatha as World Cup base

BESIDES their visit to East London over the weekend, it has been revealed that Algeria also visited Mthatha – and reignited the OR Tambo region’s hopes of becoming a World Cup 2010 base camp. Officials at both King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality and Mthatha. . . .

Teenagers guilty of murdering ‘sweet little boy’

THREE teenagers were yesterday convicted of murdering five-year-old Rayno Ruiters, whose bruised, burnt, abused and broken little body was found in the bushes at Station Hill in Port Alfred in November 2008. One of the teens was also convicted of raping the little boy. None can. . . .

Life sentence sought for rape

THE State yesterday called for life imprisonment for three men who viciously gang-raped a pregnant woman in Port Alfred in February last year. State advocate Hanlie Obermeyer yesterday said the crimes for which the men had been convicted were “rampant”, not just in. . . .

King in battle over secession

ON THE DEFENSIVE: AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo at a meeting at his Bumbane Great Place near Mthatha on Sunday. Picture: LULAMILE FENI
KING Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo was publicly branded a “traitor” by opponents of secession plans during a public gathering of AbaThembu called to discuss the proposal. Dalindyebo was also accused of being a “sellout” for making a “mockery”. . . .

DJ exodus as radio station loses thousands of listeners

ANDILE NCUBE
THE contracts of at least six trufm DJs have not been renewed, including those of the seasoned Phiwe “Pastor” Nozewu and former TV personality Andile Ncube. The news comes as station manager Thobeka Buswana is scheduled to announce a new DJ line-up at the end of. . . .