Pretoria

The government’s proposed Sport Transformation Act was a political move that would do little for developing sport, the opposition Democratic Alliance said on Tuesday. ”This proposed Act is purely a political move and will not help people on the ground. Government needs to take sport to the people instead of worrying about who plays for the Springboks,” said DA spokesperson Donald Lee.

A prison official is in a critical condition after being shot in a failed escape bid from Zonderwater prison on Sunday. Five prisoners took five officials hostage at the prison’s hospital wing on Sunday. The men were serving a variety of lengthy sentences for murder, armed robbery and possession of arms and ammunition.

The management of the University of Pretoria has ordered the reconstitution of the recently elected student representative council (SRC) for not having enough black members. ”The representation does not comply with the requirements of the SRC constitution,” the university said on Monday.

Four people were killed and 11 injured in Pretoria early on Saturday when an oncoming train hit them in the chaos of a chase to apprehend suspects, police said on Saturday. ”The incident happened before six this morning,” Inspector Anton Breedt said at 10am from the scene at Wonderboom station north of the Pretoria CBD.

Nothing will stop Jacob Zuma becoming the next president of the ruling African National Congress, and possibly the country, if he is acquitted of corruption, political analysts said on Thursday. Independent analyst Aubrey Matshiqi said: ”If Zuma is acquitted, not even a bullet will stop him.”

The ministry of justice is studying the United Nations report on the corruption-riddled Iraqi oil-for-food programme and will advise the government on the best course of action, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs — but the Democratic Alliance says the government has adopted a ”head-in-the-sand approach” to the report.

The Tshwane metro council has abandoned plans to make the race of a tenderer count for half the points awarded in considering tenders for the sale of municipal properties, the Freedom Front Plus said on Monday. A policy document approved in June had recommended the adjustment of the system by which points are awarded.

Comment was withheld from official quarters on Monday relating to an accident allegedly involving the state vehicle of Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula. ”I am not making any comment on that story,” said ministerial spokesperson Trevor Bloem.

Deaths at the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp could have been prevented had there been enough medical capacity, Minister of Home Affairs Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said on Friday. On Friday, a report was released after an investigation into deaths at the centre by an independent committee.

Legislation and procedures governing intelligence services will be reviewed in a bid to avoid ”future abuses”, Minister of Intelligence Ronnie Kasrils said on Wednesday. This is aimed at determining ”whether there are any gaps or ambiguities that need tightening up”, the minister said in a statement.

Mamelodi Sundowns humiliated Bush Bucks 5-1 in a one-sided Castle Premier Soccer League match played at Loftus on Tuesday night. The home team certainly lived up to their motto ”the sky’s the limit”, even without the support of their coach, Angelo Kappa, who is still under suspension.

Infighting in the ruling African National Congress alliance is threatening the proper functioning of South Africa’s security apparatus and critical constitutional freedoms, the Democratic Alliance said on Monday. Reports of hoax e-mails aimed at discrediting people such as ANC secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe are cause for grave concern, it said.

The Freedom Front Plus has won the University of Pretoria’s annual student representative council elections for the ninth time in a row, party leader Pieter Mulder said on Monday. ”The result is of special importance seen in the light of the language debate which is currently taking place at historically Afrikaans universities,” Mulder said.

Hospital managers will ensure in future that their facilities are clean and tidy at all times, Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang said on Friday. This was one of the outcomes of a two-day workshop in Pretoria between managers and government officials to find ways of improving service delivery.

The sex-crimes trial of advocates Dirk Prinsloo and Cezanne Visser will be closed to the public for some weeks, it appeared on Wednesday. Pretoria High Court Judge Essop Patel ordered last week that the evidence of one of the alleged victims — a woman who had worked for Prinsloo and Visser — be heard in camera.

Northern Ireland unionists who fear change will learn, like white South Africans did, that they stand to gain rather than lose, President Thabo Mbeki said on Wednesday. Mbeki was speaking to reporters after meeting Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams in Pretoria. Adams said people in his country want what South Africans have.

Supersport United beat Golden Arrows 1-0 in a Premier Soccer League (PSL) match played at Super Stadium in Pretoria on Sunday afternoon. In other matches, Silver Stars beat a 10-man Black Leopards, and Sundowns hammered Tembisa Classic 3-0 in a pulsating PSL encounter played at the Harry Gwala Stadium.

The Pretoria High Court has refused an application by Pretoria advocate Dirk Prinsloo to separate his sex-crimes trial from that of his former girlfriend and co-accused Cezanne Visser. Prinsloo had failed to prove that the continuation of a joint trial would cause him to suffer real prejudice, Judge Essop Patel ruled on Friday.

The Pretoria High Court is to hand down judgement on Friday in an application by one of two city advocates for a separation of their sex-crimes trial. On Thursday, Dirk Prinsloo accused his former girlfriend Cezanne Visser of having ulterior motives in seeking to implicate him in indecent acts with two children.