It was going to take something special to win this tight Nedbank Cup semifinal between favourites Mamelodi Sundowns and AmaZulu at Potchefstroom’s Olen Park on Sunday. The piece of individual magic came from Downs Zimbabwean international midfielder whose stunning 66th minute goal earned the Brazilians their place in the final.
President Thabo Mbeki’s government has approved the disbanding of the elite Scorpions crime-fighting unit, bowing to pressure from supporters of rival Jacob Zuma who accused it of political abuse. Mbeki’s Cabinet adopted two Bills last week paving the way for the end of the Directorate of Special Operations.
The establishment of a media tribunal in South Africa should not be viewed as interfering with press freedom, the African National Congress (ANC) on Saturday. Spokesperson Jessie Duarte said the ANC was only making a proposal and that it was open to public debate.
The Ginwala commission set up to inquire into the suspension of National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Vusi Pikoli said on Saturday it was aware that Pikoli is allegedly being blackmailed by a hacker. Commission spokesperson Lawson Naidoo said the commission had been notified by Pikoli’s lawyers.
South African athletes continued to dominate the 16th African Athletics Championships on another windy day in Addis Ababa on Saturday. Three more gold medals by Chris Harmse, Hennie Kotze and Sunette Viljoen, in the hammer throw, 110m hurdles and javelin respectively, brought the team’s golden haul to nine.
With what constituted a classic Roy Of the Rovers underdog success, lower division MP Black Aces qualified for the lucrative Nedbank Cup final at Atteridgeville’s Super Stadium on Saturday afternoon after gaining a 1-0 victory over Free State Stars.
The Stormers climbed to fourth in the Super 14 with a 20-10 victory over the ACT Brumbies on Saturday. The South Africans scored all their points in a 15-minute purple patch in the first half before holding on as the Brumbies hit back with two tries in the second period
Champions Bulls beat the second-placed New South Wales Waratahs 16-13 in a Super 14 match on Saturday. The result helped the struggling Bulls to move up a slot into 10th place, while the Waratahs retained their position in the standings. They lie 10 points behind the Canterbury Crusaders courtesy of a losing bonus point.
Mining operations at Gold Fields’ South Deep mine will resume on Monday, the company said on Saturday, two days after nine workers were killed in an accident. Gold Fields said no mining would take place at South Deep until after a meeting Monday morning between management, unions and a provincial mining inspector.
South Africans cannot wait for the government to rescue them from crime, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said on Saturday. ”It is up to us to take our communities back. This is going to take the commitment and drive of every person … who values the ideal of a crime-free South Africa,” she said.
The Otago Highlanders recovered from 14-11 behind at halftime to beat South Africa’s Cheetahs for only their second win this season. It was another close defeat in a frustrating season for captain Juan Smith and his Bloemfontein men who themselves have won just once this season and are second-bottom of the table.
A hacker has allegedly gained access to suspended National Prosecuting Authority head Vusi Pikoli’s computer and is attempting to blackmail him, his attorney said on Friday. ”An individual is claiming to have hacked Mr Pikoli’s system. The hacker is threatening to release Mr Pikoli’s documents to the press, if he is not paid,” said his attorney Aslam Moosajee.
The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) voiced concern at the African National Congress’s proposed media tribunal, on the eve on World Press Freedom Day. It believed self-regulation was the best mechanism to ensure a free and open press, Sanef said. It supported the existing institutions charged with self-regulation of the media.
South African double amputee sprinter Oscar Pistorius will learn in two weeks whether a ban on him competing at the Beijing Olympics will be overturned, his manager said on Friday. Pistorius (21), who runs with carbon-fibre blades attached to both legs below the knees, took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport this week.
President Thabo Mbeki was to brief a group of African religious leaders on the situation in Zimbabwe on Friday, his spokesperson said. The briefing would focus on his mediation efforts, but it ”may touch on current issues”, said Mukoni Ratshitanga.
Disk jockey Heinrich Van Rooyen was found guilty of double murder in the Circuit High Court in Knysna in the Southern Cape, South African Broadcasting Corporation radio news reported on Friday. The 25-year-old van Rooyen murdered 19-year-old Jessica Wheeler and 20-year-old Victoria Stadler three years ago.
Kwanele Sosibo laments that the South African Music Awards lack innovation.
Victor Matfield, Bulls captain when they won the Super 14 last year, will be back for the Blue Bulls when the Currie Cup season starts, and will therefore be eligible for the Springboks. The Blue Bulls on Thursday night announced that Matfield had signed a contract with them to return ”home”. The contract becomes effective on July 1 and ends on October 31 2011.
Franschhoek’s Literary Festival brings together some of South Africa’s brightest new talent, writes Judy Bryant.
Gold Fields will shut down all operations at its South Deep, Kloof, and Driefontein mines in order to conduct an inspection of the ropes on mine hoists. This follows the deaths of nine workers, who plunged 58m down a shaft when a rope on their conveyance snapped at the Gold Fields South Deep mine near Randfontein on Thursday morning.
After two dismal seasons on and off the field, the appearance of Amazulu among the last four clubs remaining in the Nedbank Cup represents a fragile chance to reclaim a tarnished legacy. Last season the lads from the coastal kingdom finished second last on the log, but escaped relegation from the Premiership by winning play-offs against rivals from the lower first division.
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African National Congress president Jacob Zuma addressed thousands of workers at a May Day celebration in the North West on Thursday, saying that rural development was key to fighting poverty. He said access to land for subsistence farming was critical as people should be able to produce food to combat the impact of increased food prices.
The current electricity crisis and the proposed huge jump in tariffs is a manifestation of a disaster-in-waiting, African National Congress (ANC) secretary general and South African Communist Party chairperson Gwede Mantashe said on Thursday. He was speaking at the May Day celebration at Curries Fountain Stadium in Durban.
Nine miners have died after an accident at the Gold Fields South Deep mine near Randfontein in Gauteng, the chief inspector of mines said on Thursday. Thabo Gazi said he received a report about the accident at about 12pm. It is believed that a conveyance in an inclined shaft fell down the shaft after the rope snapped.
Former minister of population development Jac Rabie has died at the age of 69, Beeld reported on Thursday. According to Rabie’s family, his death was the result of ”protracted pain and suffering”, which he endured after he saw his wife, Sandra (47), murdered two years ago.
Ajax Cape Town’s hopes of winning the Absa Premiership were dealt a massive blow at Atteridgeville’s Super Stadium on Wednesday night when defending champions Sundowns crushed the Urban Warriors 2-0. Sundowns led the match 2-0 at half-time.
The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) request to attend closed sessions of the Ginwala inquiry into suspended National Director of Public Prosecutions Vusi Pikoli was rejected on Wednesday. The party requested permission from President Thabo Mbeki in March to attend the closed session into Pikoli’s fitness to hold office.
A plan to reduce the impact of rising food prices on the poor was tabled during an ordinary meeting of the Cabinet in Pretoria on Wednesday. The proposed short-, medium- and long-term interventions were also aimed at ensuring household and national food security, the Government Communication and Information System said in a statement.
Eskom is to suspend scheduled load-shedding from May 5, the utility’s CEO, Jacob Maroga, said on Wednesday. ”We are seeing evidence of increased energy savings from municipalities and Eskom is optimistic that further reductions to reach our 10% savings target are possible,” said Maroga.
In an apparent revolt against a weakened president senior Cabinet ministers and government officials worked to prevent the Chinese arms ship from offloading its cargo, even as Thabo Mbeki insisted that the mortar bombs, rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles be allowed to reach Robert Mugabe’s military.
Bottom-of-the-log Black Leopards beat fellow strugglers Thando Royal Zulu (TRZ) 3-2 in an Absa Premiership match played at Thohoyandou Stadium on Wednesday. Leopards led 2-1 a half-time. The home team, Leopards, began the game on the offensive and were rewarded when striker Robert Ngambi scored the opener early on.
Bloemfontein Celtic eased their relegation troubles when they hammered struggling Jomo Cosmos 3-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium on Wednesday. This was Celtic’s second win in a row following their 3-0 victory over relegation-haunted Thanda Royal Zulu last weekend.