SA road deaths down – but not enough

The death toll on South African roads – which are some of the most dangerous in the world – is down during the current festive period. Nevertheless the country’s transport minister says the 677 road accident fatalities since December the first is unacceptably high if South Africa is to meet its target of halving the […]

SA features high on world tipplers’ list

South Africans sitting down to Christmas lunch are ranked eleventh among the booziest countries in the world. In terms of pure consumption, South Africa is 29th on the list compiled by the World Health Organisation. But it’s the weighted figure, omitting the number of abstainers in the population, that rockets the country up the ranks. […]

Al Shabab attack AU HQ in Mogadishu

Al Shabab militants have attacked the African Union’s military headquarters near Mogadishu airport, a security official said. The attack started this morning with a suicide car bombing. Confirmation of Al Shabab’s involvement comes from a radio station and website close to the terror group. They’re saying the jihadis stormed the green helmets’ base. It’s not […]

Stay-at-home Christmas for two African countries

People in two African countries are experiencing an enforced stay-at-home Christmas. Festivities have been banned in Sierra Leone to curb the spread of Ebola fever. Vehicular movement in north-eastern Nigeria’s banned to prevent attacks by Boko Haram. Ends intro Sierra Leoneans has known for some weeks that Christmas has effectively been cancelled as the country […]