Under-pressure Brazil striker Ronaldo on Friday called on the media to stop harping on about his weight and called on reporters to show him more respect. ”The issue of my weight does not interest anyone; it’s just ridiculous,” the 2002 World Cup winner snapped.
Former African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni has filed papers with the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein in a final bit to challenge his four-year prison sentence passed in 2003 in relation to fraud. Yengeni is asking for leave to appeal directly to the Supreme Court of Appeal against his fraud sentence.
The United Association of South Africa has accused Transnet of intimidation after a witness in a disciplinary case against 14 of its members was arrested during the hearing in Johannesburg on Friday. The man, who had been called to testify in defence of 16 Transnet employees, was arrested by police during a recess in the hearings.
The Kruger National Park (KNP), veterinary surgeons and researchers are closely monitoring an outbreak of anthrax in the north of the park. ”We would like to assure the public that this is a minor outbreak … and, at this stage, there is no major cause for concern,” KNP executive director Bandile Mkhize said.
The traditional-medicines sector will soon be recognised in the department of health’s budget, Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Friday. Speaking at a traditional-medicine workshop in Benoni, Tshabalala-Msimang said her department will also speed up the process of establishing an interim traditional-health council.
Hospitalised former president FW de Klerk is recovering well, his family said on Friday. ”He’s very relaxed at the moment and everyone is very positive, and it seems as if we’re over the worst and now it’s just the road ahead,” De Klerk’s eldest son, Jan, told the South African Press Association.
World number one Roger Federer advanced to the final of the French Open for the first time on Friday when Argentina’s David Nalbandian retired injured while the Swiss player was leading 3-6, 6-4, 5-2 in their semifinal tie. Federer (24) will play either defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain or Croatia’s Ivan Ljubicic in Sunday’s final.
Sugar production and textile manufacturing in Swaziland are on their way out, taking tens of thousands of jobs with them. Just how far Swaziland’s employment figures have deteriorated is evidenced in research being carried out by the International Labour Organisation.
Put aside tactics, history and sentiment and just carve out a win. That seems to have been Springbok coach Jake White’s message to his team ahead of their season-opening Test against Scotland in Durban on Saturday. With much fanfare being made by the Scottish contingent about how they will take on the Bok forward challenge, White’s chief priority is victory.
Hours to go before the World Cup started on Friday, the streets of Munich were alive with exuberant fans singing, showing their colours and waiting for the whistle to blow as hosts Germany meet Costa Rica in the curtain-raiser. A giant screen set up by German public television station ZDF in Munich’s central Marienplatz counted down the seconds.