Termination of pregnancy amendment bill approved, and other brief reports

* The Pietermaritzburg High Court jailed Sbonelo Zuke (20) for life for the rape of a 15-year-old girl. Judge president Vuka Tshabalala said only six months had elapsed between this crime and another alleged rape committed in November 2002, for which Zuke was awaiting trial. This showed Zuke\'s \'propensity for committing sexual offences\' which was an aggravating factor. – The Witness * The Hlanganani Regional Court in Limpopo handed down a 30-year jail sentence to serial burglar Abel Ringani (31), who is already serving another 10-year sentence for a previous burglary. – News24 * Democratic Alliance Western Cape chairman Kent Morkel has responded to claims that he took a bribe as \'utter nonsense\'. Micro-loan provider Gilt Edged Management Services on Wednesday agreed to pay R65m in fines and compensation on two counts of corruption, one of which involved an alleged R10 000 bribe to Morkel. – News24 * A Nigerian court has declared a planned strike over fuel prices illegal. The strike was planned for November 16 and the ruling is expected to increase tensions in the country as labour leaders said they would ignore the interdict. – Mail & Guardian Online * A C-Max prison warder, Mlungusi Ismael Msibi, appeared briefly in the Pretoria District Court yesterday in connection with an escape attempt by a prisoner. The prisoner shot and killed the head of the prison, a warder and another prisoner before turning the gun on himself, on Sunday. – SABC News * The National Treasury confirmed this week that it had agreed to rescind the JSE Securities Exchange\'s tax exempt status. From next year the JSE, which has been tax-exempt since its inception in 1887, will begin paying tax. – Business Report * Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula is digging in his heels amid complaints that the Firearms Control Act is causing massive financial difficulties in the hunting, film and private security industries. The minister said the law would not be changed if it was found to be adversely affecting certain businesses. – Business Day