S.Africa paper jokes pop star Jacko buys parliament                           LOL :0)

CAPE TOWN, April 1 (Reuters) - U.S. singer Michael Jackson has bought South Africa's parliament for five billion rand ($809 million) and plans to turn the complex into a casino, or so a newspaper would have people believe on April Fool's Day.

The Cape Times daily said on Thursday the singer had sealed the deal during a recent visit in a bid to reclaim his African heritage and said Jackson would move into President Nelson Mandela's luxurious offices on the grounds of parliament.

The paper said the main debating chamber would be converted into a replica of an Elizabethan playhouse and said the singer also wanted to take over the neighbouring city gardens to create his own personal menagerie.

Parliament reacted in kind saying in a statement that it would sue Mandela, adding it believed the president had acted on the advice of cost-cutting Finance Minister Trevor Manuel.

In another gag, a local radio station encouraged listeners to try out the latest in home tanning, by tapping into Internet site www.sunscreen.co.za and downloading a programme that makes your computer screen transmit imitation sun rays.