The 2010 Soccer World Cup finals will do wonders to promote harmony and bring white soccer fans back to the game. In an interview on Tuesday, Premier Soccer League (PSL) CEO Kjetil Siem said South Africa will reap enormous benefits, both on and off the field, during and after the 2010 world showpiece.
It afflicted Kaizer Chiefs and, for some time this season, it looked as though Mamelodi Sundowns were poised to be struck down as well by what has been called the curse of the top-eight competition. But currently out of the top eight, Sundowns have no intention to fall foul of the curse.
South Africa have every chance of getting back into the top five of world netball, outgoing captain of the South African netball team Bronwyn Bock-Jonathan said on Tuesday. South Africa are currently ranked second in Africa, after losing to Malawi at the world championships.
Springbok and Lions centre Jaque Fourie is set to make his comeback after a stomach injury when the Lions meet the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in a Vodacom Cup quarterfinal next weekend. The South African Rugby Union has given its blessing for Fourie to take part in the Vodacom play-offs.
The government should intervene in food pricing to prevent further increases, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said on Tuesday. ”Government [must] not leave the market to determine the prices, in particular on the basic needs. [They must] introduce regulations,” Cosatu said.
Freedom of expression, says cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro, better known as Zapiro, should only be limited when exercising it would cause physical harm or death. He was speaking at a discussion themed Cartoonists: Where Do We Draw the Line?, hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand journalism department on Tuesday.
Consumer complaints have declined for the first time in several years during 2007, breaking the trend of increasing volumes, the life-insurance ombudsman announced on Tuesday. Reporting back, Judge Brian Galgut said last year’s case load had dropped by 1 311 cases (15%) compared with 2006.
The Cape High Court on Tuesday dismissed an application for the acquittal of a 13-year-old youth who allegedly purchased petrol with which a woman was doused and set alight during an argument about a missing cellphone. The boy and three others are alleged to have set alight the woman at a drug den near Cape Town last year.
While anxiety due to the delay in the announcement of Zimbabwe’s presidential election results is shared, the process has not reached a dead end, the South African facilitation team said on Tuesday. ”The anxiety about the delay is certainly legitimate,” said Minister of Provincial and Local Government Sydney Mufamadi.
Conservation authorities began to drain the Silolweni Dam on Tuesday to prevent algal poisoning of the wildlife in the area, the Kruger National Park said. The decision was made after conservation officials and rangers found five zebra carcasses near a picnic site and suspected that blue-green algae was responsible for the deaths.
The Erasmus commission is facing three new urgent interdicts to put its activities in Cape Town on hold, prompting commission chairperson Judge Nathan Erasmus to adjourn proceedings on Tuesday afternoon. The interdicts are expected to be heard in the Cape High Court on Wednesday morning.
About R6,9-million has been spent on nine cases pertaining to Ekurhuleni metro police chief Robert McBride and senior officers, Ekurhuleni mayor Duma Nkosi said on Tuesday in reaction to photocopies of three invoices given to the media by Ekurhuleni councillor Izak Berg.
The South African Communist Party (SACP) on Tuesday expressed its deep concern at media reports signalling a ”looming battle” between the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board and management. ”We are deeply concerned,” SACP spokesperson Malesela Maleka said in a statement.
Three hard drives were stolen from the Jeppestown Magistrate’s Court, Johannesburg police said on Tuesday. Police spokesperson Inspector Richard Munyai said staff at the court discovered on Tuesday that there had been a break-in some time during the night.
South African broadcast journalist Mark Klusener, who was arrested for allegedly operating a pirate radio station, was released from house arrest in Jerusalem on Tuesday. Rafique Gangat, a spokesperson for radio station Ram FM where Klusener is the news director, said: ”The house arrest of the staff was lifted at 10.01am today [Tuesday]. But certain restrictions remain.”
The African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of a persistent hatred towards it following a meeting between the parties on the future of the Scorpions. ”The only thing the DA and the Scorpions have in common is their persistent hatred of the ANC,” ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said.
Murder accused Najwa Petersen is going to testify in her own defence, her advocate, Klaus von Lieres und Wilkau, said on Tuesday. The revelation came during his cross-examination of Fahiem Hendricks, who says he arranged hit men at Najwa’s request to kill her entertainer husband, Taliep.
South Africa’s third-largest cellphone operator, Cell C, which has been operating for five years, reported on Tuesday its first annual profit. Cell C, which seeks to dominate the lower end of the local cellular market, said in a statement that operating profit surged R321-million in 2007 from an operating loss of R349-million in 2006.
The African National Congress (ANC) is establishing transition teams to ensure a smooth transfer of power following next year’s election, ANC treasurer Mathews Phosa said on Tuesday. ”We have a transition team to make sure there is a seamless, stable transition between this national executive committee and the government,” Phosa said.
Wits coach Roger de Sa is hoping to put the cherry on top of a successful season when the Students host improved Platinum Stars at Milpark on Wednesday night (8pm). De Sa has done a fantastic job in rebuilding the side since the start of the Absa Premiership season for little cost.
Resource counters were buoyed by higher commodity prices on Tuesday, which continued to keep the JSE firm by midday trade. By 11.56am, the JSE’s broader all-share index had lifted 0,64%. The platinum-mining index advanced 2,41%, resources collected 1,26% and the gold-mining index was up 0,55%.
South Africa would be wise to increase household savings in the current economic climate, helping to ease pressure on financing of the current-account deficit, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said on Tuesday. Manuel said that the country’s savings rate was not adequate at just under 14% of gross domestic product.
Africa’s biggest media group Naspers said on Tuesday it had entered into a conditional agreement to sell its Greek and Cypriot pay-TV unit NetMed to Greek telecoms company Forthnet. South Africa-based Naspers said the agreement put an enterprise value on NetMed of -million.
While obviously disappointed with his own performance in this year’s Masters golf tournament at Augusta, Ernie Els says it was a great week for Trevor Immelman and for South African golf. Congratulating Immelman on his first Major victory, Els said he has known the new champion since he was a boy and watched him develop as a player.
Zimbabwe is in a state of crisis, the African National Congress (ANC) national working committee said on Monday. ”The ANC regards [the ruling] Zanu-PF as an ally. However, it is concerned with the state of crisis that Zimbabwe is in and perceives this as negative for the entire Southern African Development Community region,” said spokesperson Jesse Duarte.
Two 19th-century rhino horns stolen from a South African museum could be deadly if sold as a popular aphrodisiac because they are drenched in poison, a museum official said on Monday. The ”priceless” horns were snatched from a display at the historic mammal gallery in Cape Town on Saturday evening, said Jatti Bredekamp, chief executive of Iziko Museums.
Erasmus commission chairperson Judge Nathan Erasmus on Monday dismissed an application by the City of Cape Town for the commission’s suspension. The commission was set up by Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool last year to probe the city’s own investigation of renegade councillor Badih Chaaban.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) warned on Monday of riots as it launched a protest campaign against soaring food prices. Rice prices on world markets have climbed about 75% in just two months, and the cost of wheat has rocketed by 120% in the past year. The price of maize has more than doubled since the beginning of 2006.
Murder accused Najwa Petersen not only hired hit men to kill her husband, Taliep, she even arranged to let them into the family home to do the deed, the Cape High Court heard on Monday. Fahiem Hendricks, who is in witness protection, was testifying in the trial of Najwa and three men charged with Taliep’s execution-style shooting.
The fate of the Scorpions will be discussed at a meeting between African National Congress (ANC) general secretary Gwede Mantashe and Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille, the DA said on Monday. The opposition leader called for a meeting with the ANC after a decision was taken to ”dissolve” the Scorpions and incorporate them into the police.
The deadline for applicants to apply for presidential pardons for politically motivated offences has been extended until May 31, pardon committee chairperson Tertius Delport said on Monday. ”Some time ago we knew that we were going to run out of time for people to put in applications.”
Worldwide urban populations are expected to double within 10 to 15 years, presenting threats and opportunities, city planners said at the Planning Africa conference on Monday. Urban planners from 26 commonwealth countries met in Sandton to debate three global challenges facing all cities — urbanisation, poverty and climate change.