The All Blacks eased a public crisis of confidence on the weekend when they beat Australia 26-12 to win rugby’s Tri-Nations title. Until Saturday’s match at Eden Park, New Zealand had appeared to struggle under the weight of favouritism for this year’s Rugby World Cup in France, compiling a series of lacklustre performances.
A shoot-to-kill call by a top South African law enforcement officer has fuelled a debate on how far police can go to defend themselves in one of the world’s most crime-ridden societies. Bheki Cele, minister for community safety in eastern KwaZulu-Natal province, struck a chord by saying: ”Once criminals pull their guns, police should aim for the head.”
President Thabo Mbeki has urged unemployed South Africans to create their own job opportunities through the setting up of small businesses. Addressing Lwandle community members near Cape Town at a presidential imbizo on Saturday, Mbeki told the unemployed to utilise the several business support programmes which the government had set up for their benefit.
With apologies to all weekend hackers, there are no mulligans in golf. Too bad, Ernie Els. He should have been right in the thick of things at the British Open after making six birdies on Saturday. Instead, he could only grumble about what might have been, knowing he’ll go to the final round needing to overcome a disheartening six-shot deficit to Sergio Garcia.
Louis Van Zyl led a medals sweep for South Africa in the men’s 400m hurdles at the All Africa Games on Saturday. Meanwhile, Algeria and Egypt tied for golds at the top of the medals table with just two days to go. The 22-year-old Van Zyl won in 48,74 seconds.
Angola, Namibia and South Africa launched a joint commission on Friday designed to lay the groundwork for a sustainable and environmental approach of their shared fishing grounds in the Atlantic Ocean. ”The Benguela Current Commission is the first of its kind in the world,” said Namibia’s Fisheries Minister Abraham Iyambo.
Former African National Congress chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe could face jail for failing to appear in court for a maintenance hearing, media reports said on Sunday. Justice Ministry spokesperson Lazarus Mothupi said neither Goniwe nor his lawyer had informed the court of his absence. A warrant of arrest was issued.
More than 100 people have died in floods and landslides in China where dykes protecting a swollen river in the east, which has already prompted tens of thousands to flee their homes, are in danger of being breached. Severe flooding has hit about half of China since the start of the summer, killing hundreds in what has become the deadliest rainy season in years.
A miner was found dead underground at AngloGold Ashanti’s Moab Khotsong mine, near Orkney, at 2am on Sunday morning. The body of a second miner had been located underground at 9am and rescue workers were in the process of recovering it, said AngloGold Ashanti spokesperson Steve Lenahan.
All Blacks selectors sprung two surprises in the World Cup squad announced on Sunday with the recall of Andy Ellis and Sione Lauaki at the expense of Piri Weepu and Troy Flavell. Richie McCaw will captain the squad in which selectors have gone for a 16 forwards, 14 backs split, but only named a 29-man squad.