A Vanderbijlpark man arrested under laws governing weapons of mass destruction unexpectedly withdrew his application for bail in the Vanderbijlpark Regional Court on Wednesday. Johan Meyer was arrested last week under the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act and the Nuclear Energy Act.

Medical aid schemes have reached a settlement with the Competition Commission over price fixing, under which they will pay a R500 000 ”administrative penalty”. The Board of Healthcare Funders — an association of medical aid schemes — said on Wednesday it would cease publishing a recommended scale of benefits or other forms of pricing guideline.

Heads of state from about two dozen African states were to gather on Wednesday to craft a jobs creation plan that would lift hundreds of millions out of poverty and advance development on the world’s poorest continent. Chaired by Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo, president of the African Union, the two-day summit aims to find ”remedies” for the epidemic of unemployment.

South African superstar Ernie Els aims to get over a season of near misses when he tees off on Thursday in the 000 Kolon Korean Open at Woo Jung Hills Country Club. The man know as the Big Easy has won three tournaments this year, but he suffered heartbreak in the Majors when he came close to victory three times.

Elena Dementieva continued her mastery over Amelie Mauresmo in the US Open, spoiling an opportunity for the French star to seize the number-one ranking and beating her for the second time this year in a Grand Slam. Andy Roddick won his fourth consecutive straight-set match, cruising past Spain’s Tommy Robredo.

India’s Rahul Dravid has been named the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) player of the year. The right-handed batsman and wicketkeeper was selected by a panel of 50 current and former international cricketers and umpires. He received the inaugural Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy at a ceremony in London on Tuesday.

Canada sacked their swim coach, Dave Johnson, after they failed to win an Olympic medal in the pool for the first time in 50 years, the country’s swimming federation announced. The federation president, Rob Colburn, said the axing of Johnson is the first part of the federation’s plan to put in place a winning programme.

Innocent Mahlambi and substitute Tumi Ledingwane struck in each half as Dynamos deservedly beat home boys Silver Stars 2-0 in a Limpopo Castle Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane on Tuesday night. In an exciting match, Dynamos broke the deadlock through Mahlambi.

The South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) has lauded the Western Province Rugby Football Union’s recent efforts aimed at eradicating violence in club rugby in the province. ”In recent weeks, there has been clear evidence that the province takes the violence matter seriously,” said Sarfu CEO Mveleli Ncula.