SAfrican anti-apartheid activist Masango, accused in apartheid treason trial, dies at 51

October 5th, 2009 SAfrica's ex-top cop denies corruption chargeJOHANNESBURG — South Africa's former police chief has pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption and accepting a bribe from a convicted drug smuggler. Jackie Selebi told the court Monday he was a victim of a conspiracy at the start of his long-awaited trial.

September 21st, 2009 South African anti-apartheid guerrilla dies at 51JOHANNESBURG — Frans "Ting-Ting" Masango, a former guerrilla activist once sentenced to death for treason against the apartheid government, has died, South Africa's ruling African National Congress party said Monday. He was 51. Masango died in Pretoria on Friday after battling diabetes, the party said in a statement.

August 19th, 2009 South African taxis to strike over bus systemJOHANNESBURG — The entrepreneurs who move commuters around Johannesburg are threatening to strike next month to protest a new public bus system. The South African National Taxi Drivers Council said Wednesday its indefinite strike will start Sept.

August 1st, 2009 South Africa policeman shoots self at Mandela homeJOHANNESBURG — Police say an officer guarding former President Nelson Mandela's home shot and killed himself outside the anti-apartheid leader's Johannesburg house Saturday. Police spokesman Sally De Beer says Mandela was home at the time of the apparent suicide.

August 1st, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - A police guard committed suicide Saturday at the Johannesburg residence of former South African president Nelson Mandela, police said. The sergeant shot himself in front of his colleagues at the guard house at the entrance to Mandela's home in the Johannesburg suburb of Houghton.

July 17th, 2009 Tutu: 2010 World Cup chance for unityBERLIN — Archbishop Desmond Tutu believes the 2010 World Cup is a good chance to demonstrate the gains South Africa has made since the end of apartheid. Tutu has long championed increased rights for minorities and the importance of friendship across ethnic boundaries.

June 14th, 2009 Carter visits West Bank settlers to 'listen'NEVE DANIEL, West Bank — Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, a vocal critic of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, ventured into one such settlement on Sunday and told its hardline residents that their community is among those which should be able to remain in place under a final peace deal with the Palestinians.

June 11th, 2009 Trial delayed for anti-Castro Cuban militantEL PASO, Texas — Anti-Castro Cuban militant Luis Posada Carriles won't stand trial on immigration fraud and perjury charges until next year. A federal judge in El Paso agreed Thursday to delay the trial until Feb.

June 11th, 2009 Desmond Tutu: Obama's 'complexion' helps in AfricaLONDON — Retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu says that President Barack Obama's background and race will help him influence African leaders. The anti-apartheid icon says Obama would be freer to make demands on African politicians because he can tell them: "Look here you guys, I am one of you, don't let me down." "They can't accuse him of being a neocolonialist," Tutu said during a visit to London Thursday.

June 3rd, 2009 SAfrica's Zuma vows to help the poor, create jobsCAPE TOWN, South Africa — President Jacob Zuma invoked the legacy of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela on Wednesday as he urged South Africans to pull together in a time of national and global uncertainty. Mandela, South Africa's first black president, smiled and waved from the parliamentary gallery as Zuma outlined his government's priorities: fighting poverty, safeguarding jobs and creating new ones, improving education and health, and fighting crime and corruption.

May 13th, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - The Davis Cup draw of India against South Africa in the tennis tournament has recalled memories of a controversial final in 1974 between the two countries which South Africa won by default. India refused to play against South Africa because of the country's firm resolve to continue the protest it had launched against apartheid in 1947 at the United Nations.

May 9th, 2009 ON BOARD/ JOHANNESBURG - Vice-President Hamid Ansari who arrived on a three-day visit to South Africa, will attend the inauguration ceremony of new South African President Jacob Zuma today. Zuma will be sworn in as independent South Africa's third president today, whose African National Congress (ANC) swept the general elections in the country held on April 22.

April 22nd, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - South Africans began voting Wednesday in the country's fourth general elections since the end of apartheid. A little over 23 million people are registered to vote in elections to the 400-seat National Assembly and nine provincial legislatures, 2.4 million more than in the 2004 elections.

April 18th, 2009 QUNU - Through the cracked window of his mud hut Malibongwe Ntshakaza can just about see the roof of Nelson Mandela's retirement villa 100 metres away - but he's never seen South Africa's most famous son in the flesh. In fact, the father of four has only ever seen Mandela on TV.

January 20th, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - Former South African president Nelson Mandela congratulated Barack Obama on his inauguration as the first black president of the US and said the historic event reminded him of the excitement that surrounded his own election as his country's first democratically-elected president. In a letter handed to Obama shortly before his inauguration Tuesday, the 90-year-old iconic leader of Africa said: 'There is a special excitement on our continent today, Mister President, in the knowledge that you have such strong personal ties with Africa, we share in that excitement and pride.' 'You will always be in our affection as a young man who dared to dream and to pursue that dream,' the anti-apartheid hero said.