The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) says it is to take up the issue of racial transformation in cricket following the Proteas’ loss to India last week. ”The white wonder boys are not as invincible as they would have us believe,” the federation said in a statement issued from its Western Cape office.
Armed robbers broke into the Johannesburg High Court on Sunday night and took documents relating to what is allegedly the biggest bank cash heist in the country, director of public prosecutions Charin de Beer said on Monday. The robbers escaped after being involved in a shoot-out with Johannesburg metro police.
Armed robbers raided the Johannesburg High Court and carted away documents, including those dealing with high-profile organised crimes, an official said on Monday. ”The armed robbers broke into the high court at about 10pm on Sunday, overpowered the security guards and tied them up,” Johannesburg director of public prosecutions Charin de Beer said.
Two South African technicians arrested two weeks ago under Zimbabwe’s laws relating to the media and defeating the course of justice were acquitted and freed on Monday, a colleague said. ”We heard a few minutes ago — they were acquitted on all charges,” said Abdulhak Gardee, financial director of their employer, GlobeCast Africa.
The coaches of South Africa’s only two sides that still have a chance of making the Super 14 semifinals were upbeat for totally contrasting reasons after their teams’ wins over the weekend. While Sharks coach Dick Muir thought his charges were at last starting to put things together at the back, Rassie Erasmus was impressed with his Stormers forwards.
Skielik murder accused Johan Nel was declared mentally fit to stand trial in the Swartruggens Magistrate’s Court on Monday. The case was postponed to July 14. Nel (18), who was charged with four counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder, was referred for psychiatric observation during his last appearance in February.
A witness on Monday told the Cape High court that murder accused Najwa Petersen asked him to find someone to carry out a ”hit”. Fahiem Hendricks, who is in witness protection, was testifying in the trial of Petersen and three alleged hit men who are charged with the murder of her entertainer husband, Taliep.
Olympic swimmer Roland Schoeman lost more than R40 000 in a travel-agency scam, Jacaranda radio said on Monday. Jacarandafm.com’s Buzz said Roland’s mother, Geraldine Schoeman, had lost the money after she booked airline tickets through an agency that turned out to be fraudulent.
World markets were dampened by negative earnings reports from the United States on Monday, causing the JSE to pull back sharply. By midday, the JSE’s broader all-share index had fallen 1,48%. The banking index pulled back 2,51% and financials retreated 1,41%.
Gospel singer Solly Moholo performed outside the Swartruggens Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning as the public started to gather for the trial of murder accused Johan Nel. Moholo sang Umshini Wami, which is popularly known as African National Congress president Jacob Zuma’s trademark song.
The bodies of two teenagers were found on top of a grave in the Azalea Cemetery in Imbali, Pietermaritzburg police said on Sunday. Inspector Joey Jeevan said the girls — believed to be aged 16 and 17 — were found at about 10am on Saturday. They had been shot and stabbed several times in the head and body, she said.
Five men robbed the Scottsville KFC fast-food outlet in KwaZulu-Natal just after the power was scheduled to be turned off, Midlands police said on Sunday. It is alleged the men entered the premises on Friday at about 7.30pm under the pretence of being customers, said Inspector Joey Jeevan.
Parliamentarians cannot remain silent about Zimbabwe, a case of ”democracy gone wrong”, National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete said in Cape Town on Sunday at the opening of the 118th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting. In his speech, President Thabo Mbeki congratulated the IPU for its stance on gender equality in government.
The informal motor mechanic industry is big in most townships and it comprises specialists in different mechanical areas. These include panelbeaters, electricians, welders, gearbox fitters, engineers, wheel alignment and diff adjusters. Most of these specialists operate on street corners and in backyards and employ several helpers each.
In the Southern African Development Community about 45% of the population lives in extreme poverty. For many poor people in the region informal trade is the only way to sustain themselves and their families. Governments in the region, however, ignore this parallel economy, hampering their citizens’ attempts to survive, say experts.
Engineers in South Africa are an endangered species. Latest labour department figures show that the skills shortage in the industry had surpassed the 10 000 mark by the end of last year. South African Women in Engineering aims to turn things around and has set their sights on attracting and keeping women in the profession.
Cassius Baloyi won his sixth world title on Saturday when he out-pointed Mzonke Fana to regain the IBF world junior lightweight crown at the University Sports Complex in Mafikeng. However, Baloyi (33) won the contest by a puzzling ”majority” decision that few in the audience could possibly understand.
The Eagles saved their best for last when they trounced the Pumas 50-12 in a Vodacom Cup rugby match at George on Saturday. The match was only of academic value and neither side qualified for the cup play-offs. The Eagles scored eight tries to the two of the Pumas.
The unpredictable Moroka Swallows were flying high after delivering a crushing blow to Ajax Cape Town’s Premier Soccer League title aspirations with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory on Sunday. In other matches, Sundowns beat Chiefs 1-0; Celtic and Leopards drew 2-2; and AmaZulu and Platinum Stars drew 0-0.
Two men from the United States and one from Norway died when the shark-diving boat they were in capsized near Kleinbaai on Sunday, the National Sea Rescue Institute said. A spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the boat capsized offshore of Kleinbaai near Gansbaai with an estimated 19 people on board.
Money might be able to acquire a great deal, but, more often than not, it fails to buy success in soccer. This was the lesson a razor-sharp Golden Arrows handed Thanda Royal Zulu while coasting to a comfortable 3-1 Premier Soccer League victory at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban on Saturday afternoon.
An early four-try scoring blitz fashioned a 50-22 Super 14 triumph for Wellington Hurricanes over title holders Northern Bulls on Saturday. ”We were shocking,” was the blunt assessment of scrumhalf and captain Fourie du Preez as the Bulls returned to their home ground after a dismal four-match Australasia tour.
Overcoming an early shock in front of an enthusiastic, capacity crowd at the Tali Tennis Centre, the well-tuned doubles combination of Wesley Moodie and Jeff Coetzee gave South Africa what could prove a decisive 2-1 lead in the Euro-Africa Group 2 Davis Cup tie in Helsinki on Saturday afternoon.
SuperSport United remained on top of the Premier Soccer League table after a hard-fought 1-0 win against Orlando Pirates at the Johannesburg Stadium on Saturday night. Elias Pelembe scored in the second minute to keep United in the hunt for a first league title. They now have 47 points from 25 games.
Police have exhumed the body of a man alleged murdered by the executive mayor of Bushbuckridge. The body of Jeffrey Sedibe was exhumed on Friday, a day after the arrests of mayor Milton Morema (41) and a senior municipal official, Lakios Mosoma (42), said Captain Leonard Hlathi.
More than 36Â 000 jobs have been created through the establishment of the Job Creation Trust, said its chairperson, Willie Madisha, on Saturday at the trust’s annual awards evening. Earlier, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) had said Madisha would be defying the union if he addressed the awards ceremony.
The Stormers ran out comfortable 34-22 winners over the Cheetahs in a Super 14 fixture at Newlands on Saturday. A great kick-off by Stormers flyhalf Peter Grant set up the platform for the team’s opening try in the second minute. Grant’s kick went into touch 5m from the Cheetahs’ try line.
Western Province (WP) retained their unbeaten record by the skin of their teeth when they were held to a 23-23 draw by Griquas in a Vodacom Cup match at Newlands on Saturday. Griquas unsettled WP with their speedy playing patterns at the outset and it came as no surprise when they scored a try in the seventh minute.
African National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma celebrated his 66th birthday on Saturday. Unlike Zuma’s birthday last year, when 1Â 000 people attended a lavish affair at Durban’s International Convention Centre, no major events have been planned for his 66th birthday.
Despite a valiant 70 not out by Roelof van der Merwe, a record haul of five for 13 by Elton Chigumbura gave Zimbabwe a thrilling, 12-run victory over the Titans in their Standard Bank Pro20 match at Supersport Park on Friday night. It was the Titans’ third successive loss.
Jomo Cosmos denied Santos maximum points as they held them to a 1-1 draw at the Athlone Stadium on Friday night. Cosmos looked bright early on, in particular down their right wing, where Bongi Macala and Siza Dlamini had a couple of chances. Then another move down the right saw Bamuza Sono release Macala with a long ball.
A Metrorail passenger train derailed early on Saturday morning at Durban’s Merebank railway station, injuring 135 people — 21 of them seriously. The Umlazi-bound train derailed at 6.30am. While none of the carriages overturned, a steel support of the overhead electric power cables buckled on to the second of the train’s six coaches.