JOHANNESBURG, Feb 12 (Reuters) – When President Jacob Zuma
said last year South Africa would spend $95 billion on roads,
ports and railways before 2015, domestic construction firms such
as Sanyati should have been celebrating.

But the company’s bosses were too busy trying to stave off
bankruptcy because they said the government had failed to pay $6
million for an earlier contract to build and repair roads.

CHOKWE, Mozambique, Feb 8 (Reuters) – Electricity and water
were restored to the flood-hit town of Chokwe in southern
Mozambique and residents will be returned to their houses
shortly, authorities said on Friday.

But some low-lying areas will be closed off permanently to
avoid repeats of the fatal floods which have killed 105 people
and left more than 140,000 homeless since October.

RUSTENBURG, South Africa (Reuters) – Captain Didier Drogba said the chances of he and a golden generation of Ivory Coast players ever lifting the African Nations Cup had gone for good after a 2-1 quarter-final defeat by Nigeria on Sunday.

“It’s over,” the 34-year-old striker, who missed a penalty in normal time in last year’s final shootout loss to Zambia, quietly summarised.

RUSTENBURG, South Africa, Feb 3 (Reuters) – Captain Didier Drogba said the chances of he and a golden generation of Ivory Coast players ever lifting the African Nations Cup had gone for good after a 2-1 quarter-final defeat by Nigeria on Sunday.

“It’s over,” the 34-year-old striker, who missed a penalty in normal time in last year’s final shootout loss to Zambia, quietly summarised.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – - Fixing a dismal pitch in Nelspruit and boosting attendance numbers are top priorities for organisers of the African Nations Cup in South Africa as the tournament enters the knock-out stages, officials said on Friday.

Players and coaches have been outraged at the state of the sand-covered pitch at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, which looks more suited to beach volleyball than international football.

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – - Fixing a dismal pitch in Nelspruit and boosting attendance numbers are top priorities for organisers of the African Nations Cup in South Africa as the tournament enters the knock-out stages, officials said on Friday.

Players and coaches have been outraged at the state of the sand-covered pitch at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, which looks more suited to beach volleyball than international football.

JOHANNESBURG, Feb 1 (Reuters) – - Fixing a dismal pitch in Nelspruit and boosting attendance numbers are top priorities for organisers of the African Nations Cup in South Africa as the tournament enters the knock-out stages, officials said on Friday.

Players and coaches have been outraged at the state of the sand-covered pitch at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, which looks more suited to beach volleyball than international football.

RUSTENBURG, South Africa, Jan 31 (Reuters) – Ivory Coast are treating their African Nations Cup quarter-final against fellow heavyweights Nigeria like a title match as the tournament favourites bid to end a decade of disappointment.

The West African giants set up Sunday’s clash in Rustenburg after the Ivorians topped of Group D, while Nigeria finished second in Group C.

JOHANNESBURG/LONDON, Jan 30 (Reuters) – Ferrochrome
production cuts in South Africa are likely to persist into the
second quarter, boosting prices at a time of weak demand,
traders said.

South Africa is the world’s second-biggest producer of the
alloy used to make stainless steel, but several companies have
shut down operations in recent weeks to help power utility Eskom
to manage the country’s tight electricity supply.

RUSTENBURG, South Africa (Reuters) – Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba dismissed concerns he may not be in top form after starting Saturday’s African Nations Cup 3-0 win over Tunisia on the bench, the first time he was dropped in his international career.

Drogba was brought on for the final 25 minutes of the energy-charged Group D game but still failed to impress, and left it to his teammates Gervinho, Yaya Toure and Didier Ya Konan to ensure a second successive win for the Elephants at tournament.