That Sharon has been elected and presides over a parliamentary system is quite irrelevant. So, too, was Hendrik Verwoerd, one of history’s most dangerous racial ideologues. It is in Sharon’s treatment of the Palestinians, and mindless response to Palestinian terrorism, that his true character emerges.
Police in Perth suspect that expat South Africans may be behind a new type of mugging. The modus operandi has been consistent — tourists are gently knocked down and held to the ground while pieces of paper are stuck in their pockets. After the muggers’ rapid disappearance, the pieces of paper are found to be tickets for the Springbok World Cup games.
It’s hard to believe today, but when South Africa last played Uruguay they were the reigning World Champions and would remain so for a further fortnight. It was hard to believe then, too, for against ”Los Teros” the Boks were simply terrible.
Australia embark on their quest to become the first team ever to successfully defend the World Cup when they kick off rugby’s six-week extravaganza against Argentina on Friday. The Wallabies, winners of the tournament in 1991 and 1999, will be desperate for a convincing victory over the Pool A underdogs.
Springbok captain Corne Krige will miss the opening World Cup match against Uruguay as a precaution after suffering an injury in training. Coach Rudi Straeuli said Krige would return to the side for South Africa’s crunch pool C match against England next week.
Australian Aborigines and refugee groups have announced plans to protest outside Rugby World Cup grounds, comparing themselves with anti-apartheid demonstrators who dogged tours by South Africa’s Springboks in the 1970s. They plan to line the streets to protest the government’s policy of locking up asylum seekers.
Bafana Bafana scored an easy 3-0 win over Lesotho in a friendly international played at the Sethoto stadium in Maseru on Wednesday. Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba was all smiles after his charges outclassed Lesotho, who were using the match to prepare for their World Cup eliminator against Botswana in Gaborone.
Hosts Nigeria shot to second place on the overall All-Africa Games medals table after some superlative performances on the wrestling mat and powerlifting event on Wednesday. South Africa have consolidated their dominance at the games by so far winning 19 gold, 13 silver and 12 bronze medals.
South African captain Graeme Smith said his side is confident about squaring the one-day series against Pakistan in Friday’s fourth game in the five-match series. The tourists go into Friday’s match at Rawalpindi down 1-2, with the final match in the series on Sunday also to be played in the city.
The South African Department of Public Works is to spend millions of rands this year to upgrade various museums around the country, including the renovation of the Kruger House museum in central Pretoria. More than R20-million is also to be spent on the harbour at the Robben Island museum complex.