THe deputy defence minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo warned Wednesday that all violations by rebel groups of a ceasefire deal signed in July would be severely punished. “Under today’s conditions, fresh guerrilla activities will cost their perpetrators dearly,” said General Dieudonne Kayembe during a meeting with reporters and diplomats to discuss alleged violations […]

SOUTH African all-rounder Lance Klusener lost out on Friday to England’s Andy Caddick as the Wisden Monthly’s player of the season in a readers’ poll conducted by the England-based magazine, which is a sister publication of Wisden -the universal cricket annual. A Wisden spokesman said it is a “major surprise” for an Englishman to clinch […]

A bomb early Friday destroyed a small complex of government offices in Swaziland’s Mahlanya constituency, about 25 kilometres east of the capital Mbabane, police said. The blast at the constituency offices used by MPs happened at about and was caused by a time bomb, police spokeswoman Leckina Magagula said. Nobody was injured, she said. A […]

BOTH Orlando Pirates and Sundowns are keeping their midweek fixtures, despite their Rothmans Cup semifinal showdown at Soccer City on Saturday. Tomorrow night the Bucs kick off against SuperSport United at Soccer City. Tomorrow afternoon the Brazilians face Bloemfontein Celtic at the Free State Rugby Stadium. “Sundowns players are full-time professionals who should be able […]

ANDREW MUCHINERIPI, Johannesburg | Friday 7.00am. THE Rothmans Cup knockout soccer competition has been described, with considerable justification, as the premier event of the lengthy South African season. As the first Rothmans Cup kicked off, the South African soccer public were treated to two incredible finals between Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns with both going to […]

SPRINGBOKS Andre Venter and Os du Randt were named in a team of the tournament published by French sports daily L’Equipe on Tuesday, while Mark nadrews and Cobus Visagie were named as replacements. France supplied five of the players and the team also included six members of Australia’s World Cup-winning side, a New Zealander and […]

GOLDEN Lions coach Laurie Mains – who is set to coach the Cats in next year’s Super 12 – won’t be looking to fill the shoes of his All Black counterpart John Hart, who isn’t seeking re-election to the post. Mains said he is prepared to help New Zealand rugby in a support role only. […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Harare | Saturday 2.30pm. JACQUES Kallis was dismissed for 115 as South Africa built a first innings lead of 192 on the third morning of the test against South Africa on Saturday. South Africa, who had resumed on 207 for four, were 294 for seven at lunch in reply to Zimbabwe’s 102. Kallis […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Thursday 6.00pm. SOUTH Africa is to host the second leg of the new International Rugby Board (IRB) World Sevens Series, which features 10 tournaments in as many countries between December 1999 and May 2000. The IRB announced details on the inaugural series, which kicks off in Dubai on December 2 […]

Bill Gates’s embattled Microsoft was highly praised on Thursday by none other than former president Nelson Mandela.