Most bus operators transporting Gauteng’s pupils to public schools stayed away from work on Monday, protesting against the provincial education department’s non-payment of their claims. The bus operators are owed R14-million by the Gauteng education department, and education MEC Angie Motshekga has promised to partly pay it on Monday.
The boss of the online betting group BetonSports was detained at an airport early on Monday morning by the FBI after he touched down in the United States on his way from Britain to the company’s main operational base in Costa Rica. Investors feared that the move marked the start of a broader crackdown on internet gambling, which is judged to be illegal by the US justice department.
Former deputy president Jacob Zuma on Sunday accused the media of using his recent rape trial and upcoming corruption trial to boost their circulation. ”You are a business but you want to believe that you are watchdogs,” said Zuma, speaking in his home district of Nkandla at festivities to thank locals for their support.
Reigning Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns resumed their winning ways when they beat visiting Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers 2-0 in a preseason friendly played at the Wanderers Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Sundowns revelled in the traditional cricket venue with its smooth and well-manicured turf as they spread the ball around with great ease controlling much of the possession throughout the encounter.
It was a soothing stroll in King’s Park for what was little more than a Manchester United reserve team as Orlando Pirates suffered a humbling and humiliating 4-0 Vodacom Challenge defeat in Durban on Saturday afternoon. From as early as the third minute when Norwegian international striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ended a three-year, injury-plagued scoring drought, with the first of two first-half goals for The Red Devils
World leaders pledged on Sunday to keep Africa’s woes in mind and to track actively their progress on cutting poverty and supporting development, a move welcomed by campaigners. British Prime Minister Tony Blair put assistance for Africa at the top of the agenda at the Group of Eight summit he hosted in 2005 but this year’s host Russia initially ignored the topic.
National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi has denied links to alleged illegal activities including drug smuggling, according to the <i>Sunday Independent</i>. This comes after reports in the <i>Mail & Guardian</i> linking him to Glenn Agliotti, the subject of a drugs probe by the Scorpions as part of its investigation into mining magnate Brett Kebble.
The Sharks lost by a solitary point (22 – 23) to Griquas at Absa Park in Kimberley on Saturday in week four of the Absa Currie Cup to relinquish their unbeaten record in the competition. On a beautiful afternoon, with a cool breeze gently blowing through the stadium, the conditions were ideal for the Sharks to grasp the upper hand.
The Blue Bulls returned to some vital form as they demolished the Pumas 48-17 in Witbank on Saturday. Buoyed by a powerful forwards performance and some excellent running by their backs, the visitors turned what should have been a tricky encounter into an afternoon of tries and gave new coach Pote Human a morale-boosting victory.
Western Province left no doubt that they are back as a major force on the domestic rugby scene with a courageous 20-13 Currie Cup victory over the Cheetahs at Newlands on Saturday. As was the case the previous week against the Bulls, Luke Watson and company were given no chance of pulling off a victory, but again they defied the odds.