MINE SAFETY <MNES> SELLS SOUTH AFRICA UNIT Mine Safety Appliances Co said it will sell through its German subsidiary, Auergesellschaft, its controlling interest in MSA (Africa), (PTY) Ltd, of Johannesburg, South Africa to Boart International, a wholly- owned subsidiary of Anglo American Corp of South Africa Ltd <ANGL>. The company said the terms of the sale were not disclosed. The company will operate as Boart-MSA (PTY) Ltd, it said. L.N. Short Jr, president of the company, said it sold the unit because of slumping profits due to South Africa's economic decline.