South Africa

Thandora, the elephant re-introduced into the wild in late April, has finally ditched her human helpers, and joined up with a group of elephants at the Gondwana Game Reserve.

Scientists have discovered a 10-metre-high rock of granite deep in the Atlantic, more than 8,000 feet beneath the sea in a region known as the Rio Grande Elevation (Google auto-translation; original Portuguese webpage). It is believed that this formation could be part of a lost continent, something formed when South Africa split from Africa, around 100 million years ago. The formation was found by an Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC; mentioned previously) expedition, dubbed QUELLE2013. "Quelle" means "roots" or "origin" in German, and stands for "Quest for the Limit of Life." The project is a yearlong mission involves exploring hydrothermal vent fields, submarine seepage sites, deep-sea trenches and other extreme environments to explore the habitable limits of life and its unique survival strategies. According to a JAMSTEC official, the finding was "not totally a coincidence." They had been aware that Brazilian scientists had collected what appeared to be granite in the area, but it remained a mystery whether the granite was intrinsic or whether it had been dropped by ships passing through, the official said. Scientists plan to drill for more samples later this year, as further conformation is needed. Geology Service of Brazil (CPRM) geology director Roberto Ventura Santos said If it is the case that we find a continent in the middle of the ocean, it will be a very big discovery that could have various implications in relation to the extension of the continental shelf. As is the case with any mysterious, submerged "lost continent," (previously) talk of Atlantis gets bandied about. "We speak of Atlantis more in terms of symbolism," Santos noted. "Obviously, we don't expect to find a lost city in the middle of the Atlantic."

Springbok captain Jean de Villiers is set to eclipse Corné Krige as the most capped Stormers captain in Super Rugby.

Two Northern Cape opposition parties have stayed away from a provincial budget sitting in Kimberley because it was being attended by two MECs accused of fraud.

The deaths of young initiates after circumcision ceremonies cannot be tolerated, President Jacob Zuma says, following the deaths of 30 boys at initiation schools in Mpumalanga.

The families of mineworkers killed during the Marikana unrest have walked out of the Farlam Commission of Inquiry during the continued cross-examination of national police commissioner Riah Phiyega.

Internet mogul Kim Dotcom says he is considering taking legal action against tech giants for infringing copyright on a security measure he invented.

A banned Swazi political party has accused South Africa's diplomatic mission, of handing the names of activists over to the absolute monarchy's security services.

LONDON -- In its final results for the year to March 31, SABMiller , the global beverage-brewer and bottler with more than 200 beer brands and Coca-Cola bottling operations, saw group revenue increase by 10% to $34.5 billion and EBITA rise 14% to $6.4 billion, while pre-tax profit fell 16% to $4.7 billion. The fall in profit before tax was attributed to the previous year being bolstered by exceptional gains. Constant-currency group revenue was up 7%, with revenue per hectoliter up 3% and lager volume up 3%. Growth was seen in all divisions except North America. Constant-currency EBITA growth was 9%, and the profit margin rose to 18.6%. The strong revenue growth was spearheaded by its developing-market operations in Africa, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and South Africa. The beverage volume growth of 4% was driven by new product innovations and benefited from investments in new capacity, particularly in Africa. The integration of the Foster's acquisition in Australia is progressing ahead of schedule. Basic earnings per share fell by 23% to $2.06, although adjusted EPS rose 11% to $2.39. The dividend was increased by 11% to $1.01 per share. Free cash flow rose by 6% to $3.2 billion, and net debt decreased by $2.1 billion to $15.7 billion. John Manser, acting chairman, commented: I am delighted to report another year of significant progress and strong results for the group. Through a combination of innovation, effective brand development and good commercial execution we continued to develop the beer category and widen the appeal of our products. Strong growth in our developing markets was supported by investments in additional capacity, commercial capability and distribution reach. Group revenue grew by 10% and the focus on operating efficiencies helped us achieve growth in profit margins. Looking forward, SABMiller is looking to continue developing beer and soft-drink brand portfolios and tinker with price increases to maximize profit. The group is also looking to focus on cost-saving initiatives including further synergies in Australia. The share price has fallen 2.3% as of 10:30 a.m. EDT, though this is against a backdrop of a 2% fall for the wider market, indicating a fairly neutral response from investors. The long-term prospects of SABMiller remain promising and point to strong growth prospects. Indeed, SABMiller has been a growth success story with a 45% gain in the last 12 months. If you are interested in tapping into similar opportunities, then take a look at this free report, which could help you on your way. The report explains how taking a contrarian view and backing unloved companies can be vital steps on the path to the magic £1 million milestone. Maybe one day a resurgent SABMiller could be the share that transforms your wealth. Just click here to download the report today, but hurry -- all Fool reports are free for a limited time only.

Violent protest action in the mining sector must come to an end because it can spread to other sectors, says ANC treasurer general Zweli Mkhize.