He first experienced a city at the age of 19, learned to speak English at 22, and went abroad (and saw TV) for the first time at 23. Now, at the age of 55, Chris Brink is poised to vacate the vice-chancellorship of Stellenbosch University and take up the equivalent position at Newcastle University in north-east England.
The government has asked international authorities to ban all trade in South African abalone, in a desperate attempt to stop crime syndicates from completely stripping the coastline of the marine delicacy. The call comes as police raided Chinese syndicates in inland areas dealing in huge quantities of abalone in the past month
Liverpool beat Chelsea 2-1 in the FA Community Shield at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday, putting the champions on notice that they are serious about stealing their English Premiership title. In the English top flight season’s traditional curtain-raiser, which pits the champions against the FA Cup holders, England striker Peter Crouch headed an 80th-minute winner.
Money may be said to be the root of all evil but it only brings joy to the players, management and supporters of reigning Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns. Sundowns made their intentions of retaining the championship and winning some cup silverware along the way very clear when they beat Santos 4-1 in their SAA Supa8 encounter.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s Cabinet on Sunday approved a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities with Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, a political source said. However, both Israel and Hezbollah showed little inclination to stop fighting ahead of Monday’s proposed truce. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan had said the prime ministers of Israel and Lebanon agreed fighting would end on Monday.
The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) has chosen a new top structure at its provincial congress in Limpopo, a spokesperson said. Mudini Maizha said on Sunday that Japie Ligege was chosen as the new chairperson for the party in the province. Morwamotshi Ntwampe is his deputy, while Elvis Molapo is the new secretary.
A 23-year-old lifesaver lost his foot when he was bitten by a shark in False Bay on Sunday morning, said the National Sea Rescue Institute. He was flown to hospital in a rescue helicopter. The incident took place about 11am off Sunrise Beach in Muizenberg. The man, whose name was not released, is a surf lifeguard from Lifesaving SA’s False Bay Lifesaving Club.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) on Sunday welcomed the Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs’ decision to do away with the ”willing buyer/willing seller” policy in land reform. ”In particular we welcome her commitment to set deadlines to negotiations over the price of land under claim,” said the SACP in a statement.
The Cuban newspaper Juventud Rebelde on Sunday released the first pictures of Cuban leader Fidel Castro taken after his gastrointestinal surgery, with Castro quoted as saying, ”I feel very happy.” The Cuban leader, who turned 80 on Sunday, appeared alert and in good spirits and displayed no discernible weight loss.
British authorities have thwarted ”at least four major plots” since the deadly July 7 bombings last year, home secretary John Reid told BBC television on Sunday. Reid said that all four plots would have led to significant loss of life, and added that ”up to two dozen” terror investigations were currently being pursued.