After an outbreak of African horse sickness in KwaZulu-Natal, horses may not be moved into or out of the province, the provincial agriculture department announced on Thursday. ”The outbreak is concentrated in the Midlands right up to northern KwaZulu-Natal,” said the department’s spokesperson Vusi Zuma.
Relegation candidates Manning Rangers and Wits University shared the spoils when they played to a goalless draw in a Castle Premiership encounter at Chatsworth Stadium on Wednesday night. The home side should have won this game in the first half, but were let down by their strikers.
After deliberations that delayed the intended media conference by three hours at the Absa Stadium in Durban on Friday, SA Rugby finally announced a reshuffle in provincial affiliations in the enlarged Super 14 franchises for the next three years, subject to an annual review and initial three-year trial period.
The link between HIV/Aids and hunger in rural communities has received a great deal of attention over the past few years — particularly in Southern Africa, where HIV/Aids has added a new dimension to the recent food crisis. But research emerging from an international conference last week showed that very little is known about the actual impact of the pandemic on rural communities.
South African rugby has something to shout about again. After weathering a storm of blistering running attacks by New Zealand in the second half with brave defending at Kings Park in Durban on Sunday, the Baby Springboks regained the IRB World Under 19 title they won in Paris two years ago.
Ten miners have abandoned their illegal underground strike at a mine in KwaZulu-Natal since Thursday to seek medical help, it emerged on Monday. Some had been feeling unwell — one of them had flu — and some were feeling claustrophobic, said Michael Campbell, spokesperson for Zululand Anthracite Colliery, outside Ulundi.
The safety of miners engaged in an underground strike since Friday is more important than labour grievances, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Monday. ”They [mine management] might be 120 times wrong but we must focus on the health and safety of the miners now to avert a crisis,” said Cosatu.
The ”Baby Boks” edged out France 15-9 in a game of penalties on Saturday in the International Rugby Board Under-19 World rugby championship being played at the Absa Stadium in Durban. The South Africans converted five penalties to the three of France to keep their unbeaten record.
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Durban High Court Judge Hillary Squires turned down a late application by the state to reopen its case on Thursday, thereby effectively ending the Schabir Shaik trial, which started in October. ”I’m glad it’s come to an end,” Shaik told journalists outside the court, adding that ”much of the burden of the stress of this case is over”.
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The defence in the Schabir Shaik trial on Thursday rested its case in the Durban High Court, but the State has applied to again lead evidence to prove the authenticity of a two-page document. Prosecutor Billy Downer said that the state was ”taken by surprise” when Shaik denied any knowledge of the document, known as BBB1 and 2.
Lance Klusener, the bowler, and Shaun Pollock, the batsman, could not prevent the Highveld Lions from sneaking home by one run in their Standard Bank Pro20 cricket match against the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins at the Sahara Stadium in Kingsmead on Wednesday.
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A forensic auditor has told the Schabir Shaik fraud and corruption trial that money paid on behalf of Deputy President Jacob Zuma did not affect the financial state of Shaik’s Nkobi group of companies. Gregory Johnson, who runs a private auditing and accounting firm, was giving evidence for the defence.
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KwaZulu-Natal finance MEC Zweli Mkhize told the Durban High Court on Monday how fraud and corruption accused Schabir Shaik financed a cash-strapped African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal from 1994. Mkhize was also questioned about a document dated May 1999 that was presented to the court by Shaik’s defence advocate Francois van Zyl.
Chiefs dropped two valuable points when they held Lamontville Golden Arrows to a 1-1 draw in an entertaining Castle Premiership encounter played at Kings Park Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The home side led 1-0 at the interval thanks to a goal by Bheka Phakathi in the 38th minute.
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The Schabir Shaik fraud and corruption trial resumes in the Durban High Court on Monday. Shaik’s instructing attorney, Reeves Parsee, said the defence will call a further two, or possibly three, witnesses but remained tight-lipped about who they will be. The state will also apply to call two more witnesses.
An African National Congress branch chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal was shot and wounded on Thursday night, the party said. ANC provincial spokesperson Mtholephi Mthimkhulu said Nqobizwe Magwaza, chairperson of one of the Ulundi branches, ”miraculously escaped death” when he was attacked by two gunmen.
Manning Rangers’ woes continued when they were beaten 1-0 by a 10-man Supersport United in their Castle Premiership encounter played at Chatsworth Stadium on Wednesday night. Supersport finished the game a man down following a red card given to Edward Williams after his second bookable offence in the 50th minute.
The board of directors of Natal Sharks and the South African Rugby Union have asked Kevin Putt to step down as head coach of the Sharks Super 12 regional team with immediate effect. Past home-grown Sharks and Springbok great Dick Muir has been asked to step into the breach and take over the reins as head coach.
No one among the stunned crowd of 26 000 spectators at the Absa Stadium in Durban on Saturday night could have expected such a bad start for the beleaguered Sharks in their Super 12 rugby match against the Highlanders from New Zealand as they reeled back from three hammer blows within the first 11 minutes.
Former Olympic prospect, Natalie du Toit, continued to make waves on the third day of the Nedbank National Championships for the physically disabled at the King’s Park Aquatic Centre in Durban on Tuesday, clipping almost one minute off her own world record for the women’s 400m freestyle set at last year’s Olympics in Athens.
South African stars Natalie du Toit, Handri de Beer and Charles Bouwer showed just why they were part of the national team to the Paralympics in Athens last year, as the SA records kept crashing at the Nedbank Championships for the Physically Disabled in Durban on Monday.
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Deputy President Jacob Zuma’s legal adviser Linda Makathini saw only a copy of a loan agreement between Zuma and Schabir Shaik, the Durban High Court heard on Monday. Since the start of Shaik’s trial, the state has been trying to locate the original loan document.
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The prosecution in the Schabir Shaik fraud and corruption trial has asked the state to change Shaik’s bail conditions after he launched a verbal attack on advocate Anton Steynberg before the start of proceedings in courtroom A on Friday. ”I’m not scared of you, I’ll sort you out after the trial,” Shaik shouted at the prosecutor.
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A French arms-company executive told the Durban High Court on Friday it is usual to have high-level political contacts when trying to sell arms abroad. The executive is the first representative of the company to testify in the Schabir Shaik fraud and corruption trial.
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Deputy President Jacob Zuma’s legal adviser Julie Mahomed went into the witness box at the Schabir Shaik fraud and corruption trial in the Durban High Court on Thursday. She has testified about a loan agreement that she drew up between Zuma and Shaik in May 1999.
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The second witness for the defence in the Schabir Shaik fraud and corruption trial, Zandile Mdhladhla, told the Durban High Court on Thursday that the Jacob Zuma Education Trust Fund did not qualify for funding from the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. However, ”we received money from Mr Mandela as a person”, said Mdhladhla.
Moroka Swallows booted Manning Rangers out of the Absa Cup tournament by winning 4-2 on penalties after finishing 1-1 after extra time in a tense last-16 encounter at Chatsworth Stadium on Wednesday night. There was no score at the end of normal time.
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Prosecutor Billy Downer completed his cross-examination of fraud and corruption accused Schabir Shaik in the Durban High Court shortly before lunch on Wednesday. Shaik, who has been charged with one count of fraud and two of corruption, has been under cross-examination since Monday last week.
Police have identified suspects who may be responsible for the murder of Zulu prince and African National Congress branch chairperson Thulani Zulu. ”There are definite suspects who have been positively identified,” KwaZulu-Natal transport MEC Bheki Cele said on Monday. Zulu was killed in a drive-by shooting last Wednesday.
Bafana Bafana defender Mbulelo Mabizela joined Norwegian side Valerenga on Monday after being without a club for almost six months. The big Mabizela has been without a club after English Premiership side Tottenham Hotspur terminated his contract last October. He tried his luck at various clubs in Europe and Scandinavia without any joy.
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Incessant questioning by relentless prosecutor Billy Downer appears to be taking its toll on fraud and corruption accused Schabir Shaik in the Durban High Court. ”It’s been a long trial. I have been under a lot of stress and my words are spinning out of context,” Shaik said at one stage.
Lamontville Golden Arrows shoved Bush Bucks closer to relegation when they trounced them 3-1 in a Castle Premiership encounter played at King Zwelithini Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. The home side led 1-0 at interval thanks to a strike by Papi Zothwane, who converted a pinpoint cross ball from Mabhuti Khanyeza in the third minute.