February 2005
Up one levelFebruary 2005 news items are stored here.
No arrests yet as MPs seek a deal
2005-02-01. There are signs that Travelgate could be turned into a "managed scandal", as marathon, closed-door meetings took place yesterday between prosecutors and the lawyers for 40 MPs implicated in the parliamentary travel scam.
DC hearing on Lennit Max resumes tomorrow
2005-02-08. The disciplinary hearing of Lennit Max, the Independent Democrats' (ID) former Western Cape leader, will resume tomorrow morning. The hearing was due to take place today, but has been postponed so that Max can be represented by a lawyer.
Lennit Max's DC hearing starts
2005-02-08. CAPE TOWN - The disciplinary hearing of Lennit Max, the former Western Cape leader of the Independent Democrats (ID), has started in Cape Town. Max has been accused of bringing the party into disrepute by saying party leader Patricia de Lille pocketed money meant for the ID's coffers.
Idasa sues for information on party finances
2005-02-08. CAPE TOWN - Ground-breaking litigation to compel four political parties to disclose their private donors will begin in the Cape High Court on Thursday, despite a last-minute hitch with an expert witness.
Opposition welcomes Mbeki's speech
2005-02-11. Cape Town - Official opposition leader Tony Leon reacted warmly to Friday's State of the Nation speech by President Thabo Mbeki, saying it was "more inclusive than some of the recent utterances from the president".
Ministers, MPs tee off in Presidential Golf Challenge
2005-02-12. Ministers and MPs today pitted their golf skills against their private sector counterparts in the annual Presidential Address Golf Challenge. Money raised will go the Thabo Mbeki Crossroads Education Fund that awards bursaries to deserving students.
Mbeki's address gets a lukewarm reception
2005-02-12. CAPE TOWN - Political parties and labour unions reacted lukewarmly to aspects of President Thabo Mbeki's state of the nation address to parliament on Friday.
Government should support informal sector
2005-02-16. The parliament should "as a matter of urgency" amend and remove all existing laws that were preventing growth in the informal sector while government should support this sector "in the form of credit and skills transfer", says Independent Democrats (ID) leader Patricia de Lille.
Aids tops criticism of Mbeki speech
2005-02-16. CAPE TOWN - Government came in for much criticism, particularly on HIV, Aids and job creation, on Tuesday during debate in the National Assembly on President Thabo Mbeki's state-of-the-nation address.
ANC suspends official after TV expose on sex workers
2005-02-17. Central Karoo Municipal District manager and former Beaufort West mayor Truman Prince's ANC membership is to be suspended today after he featured in a TV programme on child prostitution.
Parliament moves to plug the travel scam gaps
2005-02-21. As uncertainty still reigns about the total tally of MPs who could be prosecuted for travel fraud, Parliament starts a process today to stop the gaps that made abuse of travel privileges possible.
Max's disciplinary hearing gets under way
2005-02-21. Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille contacted Safety and Security minister Charles Nqukula when reports surfaced that she was under investigation for allegedly receiving money from an alleged crime boss.
ID leader refuses to identify Scorpions source
2005-02-22. CAPE TOWN - Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille on Monday refused to identify her confidential Scorpions source, at the disciplinary hearing of the party's ousted Western Cape leader, Lennit Max.
De Lille mum on Max 'source'
2005-02-22. Cape Town - Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille on Monday refused to identify her confidential Scorpions source, at a disciplinary hearing of the party's ousted Western Cape leader, Lennit Max.
More for all, says Manuel
2005-02-24. CAPE TOWN: Finance Minister Trevor Manuel has unveiled an upbeat "more for all" Budget for the next financial year - and most, but not all, will agree.
Manuel gets his sums right
2005-02-24. CAPE TOWN - Finance Minister Trevor Manuel's 2005/6 Budget tabled in Parliament yesterday has been generally well received by political parties, economists, and others - barring a few dissenting voices.
