23 JULY 4PM

POLICE APPREHEND SUSPECTS FOLLOWING ATTEMPTED ROBBERY IN PINETOWN AREA
A shooting ensued between security officers and robbers in the New Germany area, following the attempted robbery of a vehicle, belonging to a 57 year old male. The two suspects were apprehended along with the stolen car of a BMW model, after a chase by the security officers, where they were caught with two unlicensed firearms in their possession. The suspects will be charged with hijacking and attempted murder, in respect to the shooting. They are to remain in the Pinetown police cells.

POLITICAL ANALYSTS DESCRIBE ANC DECISION ON WESTERN CAPE PREMIER AS AN ATTEMPT AT POSITIONING ITSELF AHEAD OF NEXT YEAR’S ELECTIONS
Political analysts have described the ANC’s decision to show Western Cape premier the door as an attempt to position itself positively ahead of next year’s general elections. Earlier the ANC’s National chairperson Baleka Mbete said Rasool’s resignation was a political intervention, and also the beginning of a countrywide process to heal the rifts within the ruling party. Some analysts have suggested that the move could be seen as rewarding members supportive of ANC president Jacob Zuma, while pushing out those who backed former party president Thabo Mbeki, at the Polokwane conference. Professor Andre Duvinage from the University of the North West has described the move as a power struggle.

ANC CHAIRPERSON ADAMANT RASOOL'S RESIGNATION IS AIMED AT HEALING RIFTS WITHIN THE ANC
ANC chairperson Baleka Mbete is adamant that Western Cape premier Ibrahim Rasool’s resignation, is aimed at healing rifts within the ANC. She was speaking at a media conference in Cape Town. Mbete says Rasool’s resignation is a political intervention. Rasool will be replaced by current provincial Finance minister Lynn Brown.Rasool did however express both sadness and relief, but says he has no negative feelings.

UN DRUG OFFICE SAYS DRUG TRAFFICKERS HAVE ESTABLISHED NEW ROUTES
The United Nations office on drugs and crime says drug traffickers are establishing new routes through West Africa, to evade law enforcement effort along more traditional routes. The anti-Drug Loby Group says traffickers are shipping cocaine through West Africa, while Afgan heroine is being distributed by east Africa. These statistics have emerged during the release of the UN body’s 2008 World Drug Report in Pretoria.

COSATU MARCH HAS COME TO AN END
The march which was scheduled for today in Johannesburg has ended. Thousands of people, who marched in the Johannesburg CBD today, handed over two memorandums. The one was handed into Eskom and the other to the Gauteng local government offices. The march against rising food, fuel and electricity prices was spearheaded by trade union federation COSATU. It got underway late this morning. The first memorandum handed in at Eskom by COSATU in Braamfontein, focused on the soaring costs of electricity.

DA NOT IMPRESSED WITH ANC’S MOVE ON WESTERN CAPE PREMIER
Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille has reacted strongly against Western Cape premier Ibrahim Rasool’s decision to resign. The announcement of his resignation was made at a media conference, at the ANC provincial offices in Cape Town, earlier today. Zille said it is purely a decision of the ANC leadership.

FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE ENGAGED IN TALKS
Foreign Ministers of the 6 nations engaged in talks with North Korea, have begun an informal meeting in Singapore, on the communist country’s nuclear weapons programme. For the first time US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, is included in the debate.

OBAMA VISITS ISRAEL
US presidential hopeful Barack Obama is visiting Israel and the West bank today, for the first time since he entered the race fro the White House. Ahead of meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, he has vowed to work for a breakthrough in peace negotiations in the Middle East, if elected president.

FINANCES
GOLD is trading at 933 dollars and BRENT CRUDE OIL is at 132 dollars 10 cents.

CURRENCIES
The rand is trading at 7.50 to the DOLLAR, 11.80 to the EURO and at 15.00 to the POUND.

TOMORROWS WEATHER

DURBAN will be cool at 24 degrees

KZN TEMPS

LADYSMITH / NEWCASTLE 21
MARGATE 24
ULUNDI 25
PMB / RICHARDS BAY 26