Two Egyptian army choppers took part in the salvage operation, lifting the vast balloon and putting it on trucks heading to Alexandria, ready for a sea journey back to Europe. Swiss balloonist Bertrand Piccard and his British co-pilot Brian Jones officially completed their circumnavigation of the globe on Saturday in 19 days, one hour and 49 minutes, and landed in Egypt the following day. The fate of the balloon is unknown but some organisers would like to see it in a museum. The CNE should have begun work on March 5 but Parliament has not yet appointed its 15 members to the elections commission, while the government has also still to appoint its two representatives on the commission. The government has, however, complied with its obligations of providing funds for the elections and preparation of tenders for the supply of electoral process materials, the minister said.
Opposition parties are against a postponement.
THE Inkatha Freedom Party has called for severe disciplinary action to be taken against the editor of Durban daily Ilanga following publication of a racist editorial on Wednesday. Ilanga editor, Amos Maphumulo, in his leader article on Wednesday, wished that South Africa might one day be blessed with the birth of a new Idi Amin. The leader also accused the Natal Indian community of oppressing blacks and fuelling violence among blacks by selling them guns. The IFP owns Mandla Matla Publishing, which owns Ilanga. We are concerned that whoever was responsible for the writing of this editorial is playing with fire and is fanning the flames of anti-Indian feelings among Africans.