There may be bigger and more famous stadiums in world rugby, but there are not likely to be more intimidating places than Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. Serving as the home ground to the Bulls since the 1920s, it is the venue for Saturday’s Super 14 semifinal against the Canterbury Crusaders.
South Africa’s long-jump record holder and champion, Godfrey Mokoena, got the ball rolling in the international athletics season with another win on the 2007 World Athletics tour circuit. Following his win in Dakar with a leap of 8,32m a week ago, Mokoena repeated the feat last Saturday in Osaka, Japan, in what is arguably a dress rehearsal for the World Championships later this year.
African gay activists this week protested against ”state-sponsored” homophobia, saying authorities condone their persecution across the continent. The International Gay and Lesbian Association’s first pan-African conference in Johannesburg drew activists who say they have seen the consequences of laws that breed homophobia.
Stocks on the JSE were firm at midday on Wednesday led by BHP Billiton following talks that it may bid for Rio Tinto while strong first half earnings boosted retailer New Clicks. At noon, the all-share index was up 0,73%, pushed higher by a 1,19% gain in resources.
Yellow Peril journalism is on the rise once more, both abroad and much closer to home, writes <b>Darryl Accone</b>.
Bob Marley’s wife ‘might have the name, but she doesn’t have his philosophy’, write Kwanele Sosibo and Percy Zvomuya.
An impulsive buy in the 1980s helped vibemaster Ngwako Manamela find his vocation, writes <b>Fikile-Ntsikelelo Moya</b>.
<b>MOVIE OF THE WEEK:</b> In the light of Clint Eastwood’s latest offerings it looks as though his career as a director has been a long tussle with the notion of heroism, writes <b>Shaun de Waal</b>
Name and shame them, says <i>Sunday Times</i> writer David Bullard of the more nefarious and less intelligent citizens of the ever-expanding blogosphere — "the sort of wackos who gun down their fellow students at university". Now an incensed blogging community is baying for his blood in what has been dubbed "Bullardgate".
<b>Gwen Ansell</b> disovers a rainbow reading experience in a crop of new fantasy novels.