SOUTH Africa’s 1995 World Cup winning skipper, Francois Pienaar has reportedly turned down an opportunity to coach the Natal Sharks. After having left South Africa, Pienaar was rewarded with a career as player, coach and executive at Saracens one of the most ambitious clubs in England. The blonde flanker has rejected the Sharks’ offer to […]

SUE PLEMING, Washington | Wednesday 10.30am. PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki has made an impassioned plea to rich countries such as the United States to help poorer nations like South Africa that are struggling in an “ocean of entrenched poverty.” Delivering an inaugural address at Georgetown University in the United States, Mbeki referred to comments by US […]

TWO armed robbers have stolen two petrol tankers worth R500000 in White River in Mpumalanga. Security guard Absalom Nkosi, 28, was at his post at Shell Depot in White River when two armed men seized him. Police spokeswoman Sergeant Thabisile Gama said the men made Nkosi lie on the ground and then tied his hands […]

SABC chief executive Reverend Hawu Mbatha has been sacked by the broadcaster. Although the board said it has reached “an amicable arrangement” and Mbatha will be “released” from contractual obligations, it follows a damning report which levelled the blame for the SABC’s poor operations squarely at Mbatha’s leadership. He is replaced by Cecliai Khuzwayo, the […]

INTERNATIONAL paper group Sappi sold its Sappi Novobord operation to the Portuguese Sonae Industria conglomerate for an undisclosed sum on Wednesday. The sale, which is still subject to approval by the Reserve Bank and Competition Commission, forms part of Sappi’s drive to raise R2-billion by disposing of non-core assets. Sappi strategic developments director Robert Hope […]

SWAZILAND’S government has retained the death penalty by hanging for capital crimes in the face of condemnation from human rights groups and neighbouring countries that have abolished the ultimate penalty. This year, the number of death row prisoners has doubled, from six to 12. But, or condemned men and women, all that stands in the […]

GARY Teichmann, former Springbok and Natal skipper, will return to South Africa next week to lead his Welsh side Newport against the Sharks as part of his benefit year celebrations. The celebrations kick off on Saturday when Newoport will play a warm-up match against Teichman’s old club College Rovers. Apart from Teichmann, the side also […]

THE United Cricket Board of South Africa announced on Tuesday that it will back Bangladesh’s bid for Test status. The International Cricket Council will consider the application at their meeting in London next month. Acting UCBSA president Percy Sonn said in a statement: “We decided Bangladesh’s application is consistent with the ICC’s global (cricket development) […]

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Wednesday 1.50pm. THE National Union of Mineworkers faces financial ruin if Eskom is successful in suing it for some R6,1-million for damage to property caused by its members during strike action. In a similar case Telkom is claiming R285000 from the Communication Workers’ Union, The Star reports. According to the paper […]

ANGOLAN rebel group Unita said on Tuesday that it has freed five Russian pilots captured in Angola. In a statement released in Lisbon, Unita said the pilots were freed on February 5 in response to appeals from family members and diplomats. Unita said the pilots had been handed over on May 22 to authorities in […]