Bus driver evades bullets

A policeman and passenger were wounded when the occupants of a minibus taxi opened fire on a BRT bus in Soweto on Tuesday evening, Johannesburg police said.
Shots were fired from a Toyota Quantum minibus that had been following the bus as it was driving past the Nancefield Hostel at around 7pm, Inspector Kay Makhubela said.
A policeman was hit in the leg and an unidentified passenger also wounded. After the shooting, the driver pressed on and eventually stopped next to the Regina Mundi Church. Read further...

Paraguay raise the bar

Like any sportsmen worth their salt, the Paraguay youngsters are striving hard to be in peak condition and achieve new goals when they step out at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009 later this month. Under the guidance of Adrian Coria, Los Guaraníes surprised everyone when they took the runners-up spot in the South American qualifying competition back in February. In an exclusive chat with FIFA.com, the Argentinian coach outlined the reasons behind their unexpected success. Read further...

White South African granted refugee status

By DONNA CASEY, Sun Media

An Ottawa man has been granted refugee status after an immigration board panel ruled he would be likely be persecuted if he returned back to his native South Africa — because he is white.
A Canadian immigration and refugee board panel ruled Thursday that Brandon Huntley, 31, could stay in Canada because he presented “clear and convincing proof of the state’s inability or unwillingness to protect him.”
“I find that the claimant would stand out like a ‘sore thumb’ due to his colour in any part of the country,” tribunal panel chair William Davis said in his decision to grant Huntley refugee status.
It’s likely the first time a white South African has been granted refugee status in Canada claiming persecution from black South Africans, said Russell Kaplan, Huntley’s immigration lawyer.
“There’s a hatred of what we did to them and it’s all about the colour of your skin,” Huntley said of the violence wrought by black attackers on many white South Africans. Read further...

20 armed robbers hail bullets at police

Gauteng police on Saturday night walked in on some 20 heavily armed robbers in action sparking a shoot-out that left one wounded, their spokesperson said on Sunday.

Captain Julia Claassen said the robbers armed with AK-47's and 9mm pistols broke into the Mediterranean shipping company around 11.15pm in City Deep and tied up security guards.

She said police were alerted to the robbery in progress and on arrival a shoot-out broke out leaving one of the suspects wounded.

Five other suspects aged between 27 and 38 were arrested on scene and two 9mm pistols were recovered.

The rest of the other suspects managed to escape into the nearby bushes, Claassen said.

The suspects arrested were charged with business robbery and they are all expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court soon. - Sapa

Source: http://www.int.iol.co.za

Friedrich: We need to stay focused(FIFA.com) Monday 3 August 2009

When the topic of leading players in the Germany team arises, the likes of Michael Ballack, Miroslav Klose and Philipp Lahm often spring to mind. However, another vital piece in Joachim Low's jigsaw is Arne Friedrich.

A veteran of 66 caps, the pacy defender is one of the most experienced players in the Germany squad and has even worn the captain's armband on four occasions. Indeed, at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, the versatile player was in the starting line-up for six of the hosts' seven matches.
Read more...

SA selling arms to rogue states - DA

A crisis in South Africa's arms control body has resulted in weapon deals being authorised to repressive regimes such as Iran, Libya, Zimbabwe and North Korea, the main opposition party said Sunday.

Democratic Alliance shadow minister of defence David Maynier said "several dodgy deals appear to have slipped through the cracks" as the arms control body has failed to meet regularly and produce regular reports as required by law.

Read more...

Afrikaners targetted in pogrom, By Adriana Stuijt

Garber: Becks stays through November

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber will not allow David Beckham to leave the Los Angeles Galaxy until November at the earliest.

Beckham's future has been in doubt ever since he extended his loan deal with AC Milan rather than playing the first half of the MLS season, but Garber said any talks regarding a return to Milan will have to take place at the end of the current season. England midfielder Beckham is believed to be seeking a repeat of his loan spell with the Italian side from January to May this year when his stint with the Galaxy comes to an end as he bids to figure in Fabio Capello's England squad for next summer's 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.

Read further...

Couple attacked 2x in 4 days

Cobus Claassen
Pretoria - A couple from Waterkloof Ridge in Pretoria survived two attacks by the same gang of armed robbers in four days because a gun failed to fire on both occasions.

The first nightmare of Robert Scheepers, 53, and his wife, Dagmar, 57, occurred on December 22 when two armed robbers broke into their home despite an alarm system.

The robbers overpowered the couple in their bedroom

Read further...

Strike Season Hits SA

No trains and buses, minimal municipal services and understaffed pharmacies.

This is what South Africans face next week, if strike threats by no fewer than six trade unions materialise.

"There is not any possible indication that the strike on Monday can be averted," South African Municipal Workers' Union (Samwu) general secretary Mthandeki Nhlapho told Sapa.

At least 150,000 municipal workers are stopping work from Monday in an attempt to get better pay.

Read further...

Dos Santos: We showed our pride(FIFA.com) Monday 27 July 2009

Mexico's emphatic 5-0 win over USA in Sunday's CONCACAF Gold Cup final in New York might well prove to be pivotal in the career of Giovani Dos Santos. The lively Tottenham Hotspur forward, still just 20, was named man of the match for a role that included scoring the crucial second goal midway through the second half.

Read further...

‘It was like evil just exploded there’

Rowan Philp Published:Jul 25, 2009

‘Tears were running down a police captain’s face; another detective was in a state of shock; he told me it was the most horrifying murder scene he had ever seen’

Cobi Venter was sexually assaulted by a Nazi soldier at the age of three.

She came to South Africa determined to do good, dedicating herself to helping charities and anti-apartheid groups in Port Elizabeth.
But last month, Venter, 67, watched her husband George being tortured to death before being gang-raped and fatally beaten herself in a crime that reduced one police captain to tears.

Read further...