An unofficial state of emergency has been imposed on Zimbabwe by President Robert Mugabe, with police beating people who venture on to the streets after dark and breaking up gatherings as small as four people, residents report. Government gunmen on Saturday seized the body of an opposition activist to prevent his burial from becoming a focal point for the opposition.
The Cheetahs snapped their poor recent form to garner an incredible 38-20 victory over the fancied Brumbies in Bloemfontein on Saturday. The hosts led 14-0 at the break and never looked like losing the game. The Cheetahs were spectacular and ran the ball at every opportunity.
Silver Stars went into the quarterfinals of the Absa Cup when they narrowly beat Ajax Cape Town by a 1-0 score in the fifth minute. Supersport United beat Lamontville Golden Arrows 1-0 to qualify for the quarterfinals too, and Benoni Premier United qualified as well when they beat Mvela League Bay United 2-1.
Sprinter Sherwin Vries pulled off an amazing sprint double at the South African Senior Track and Field Championships at King’s Park Athletics Stadium in Durban on Saturday, showing he is on track to go to the World Championships in Japan later this year. It was a fifth national title for Vries.
Luke Watson scored a try and Peter Grant kicked three penalties and a conversion as South Africa’s Stormers beat New South Wales 16-10 in a Super 14 rugby match on Saturday. ”It’s going to be a good test of character from here on in,” Waratahs captain Adam Freier said.
Ian Thorpe glanced at the pool and felt a bit of an urge to dive in — but no chance. The swimming community bid farewell to one of its greatest performers on Saturday night, honoring the ”Thorpedo” at the opening ceremony for the world championships in his home country.
Former MP Tony Yengeni’s son Mandla was hijacked in Nyanga, outside Cape Town, on Friday night. A silver Mercedes Benz with four or five occupants stopped in front of Yengeni and his friends and approached the victims, pointing firearms at them. At gunpoint, they stole a black Volkswagen Golf and sped off.
Formula One (F1) supremo Bernie Ecclestone has hinted Australia should consider staging their grands prix at night to boost their chances of extending their current F1 licence, reports said on Saturday. Ecclestone wants to include a number of night races on the F1 schedule as early as next season.
George Bush will be remembered as the worst US President ever, real-estate mogul Donald Trump said on Friday, adding that US Senator Hillary Clinton could be Bush’s White House successor. ”Bush is probably the worst president in the history of the United States,” Trump told CNN.
Eustace Lycett, who spent more than 40 years bringing fantasy and magic to Disney films through special effects and won two Academy Awards, died on November 16. He was 91. Lycett died at a Fullerton nursing home, the Walt Disney Company said in an announcement after learning of his death.