Author: Larson Thebe
Media outlets reported earlier in the week that a man in his early 20s was discovered with an illegal firearm over the weekend in Umlazi, south of Durban. According to other media reports, the gun was then subjected to ballistic testing and positively identified as the 9mm pistol that killed Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes on February 10, 2023. When contacted for comment, Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda pleaded with the media to refrain from placing undue pressure on investigations. All media reports stating that a firearm was recovered have since been dismissed. “Police are making another appeal to…
The commander of South Africa’s ground forces has visited Moscow for talks with Russian counterparts just days after Washington accused South Africa of secretly providing arms to Russia. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said on Monday that the meeting was “planned well in advance” as part of “a long-standing arrangement” and was a “goodwill visit” at the invitation of the Russian army. In a statement, SANDF said it “confirms that the Chief of the SA Army, Lieutenant-General Lawrence Mbatha, is in Moscow for a bilateral between the two military establishments”. “It must be noted that South Africa has Military…
A crucial showdown between DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns and relegation-threatened Maritzburg United will take place on Tuesday in Pretoria. Before the penultimate round of games in the Premier League on Saturday. Besides winning against Mamelodi Sundowns, they also rely on loses or draws for Marumo Gallants and Chippa United in order to avoid relegation. Coach Fadlu Davids stated they are going for maximum points since they have nothing to lose at a media meeting on Monday. “We must act quickly and deliberately. When handling the ball, we must be aggressive. Goals must be scored for us. Additionally, we are…
Reuben Brigety, the US ambassador to South Africa, has apologised to Pretoria after accusing the nation of providing arms to Russia. Naledi Pandor, the minister of international relations and cooperation, called Brigety to a meeting on Friday afternoon. According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Brigety acknowledged that he overstepped the mark by bypassing established diplomatic channels to express his nation’s concerns. Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela said the government expressed its “displeasure” at the ambassador’s statements. The US ambassador to South Africa’s actions, according to Dirco, “are perplexing and at odds with the friendly and mutually beneficial…
The US ambassador to South Africa has accused the country of supplying weapons to Russia despite its professed neutrality in the war in Ukraine. Reuben Brigety claimed that a Russian ship was loaded with ammunition and arms in Cape Town last December. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office said it was disappointed by the claims and said no evidence has been provided to support them. The country has maintained claims of neutrality in the invasion of Ukraine Brigety said at a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday that Washington had concerns about the country’s stated non-aligned stance on the conflict. He referred…
In what appears to be one of the biggest scandals since Brazil legalised sports betting in 2018, 16 persons, including seven professional soccer players, were accused by state prosecutors in Brazil on Wednesday with alleged match-fixing and unlawful betting. Brazil Justice Minister Flavio Dino ordered the federal police to launch an investigation into the scheme after the charging documents were published on Wednesday. Prosecutors of the Public Ministry of Goias said the alleged offenses took place in 13 matches in Series A and B of the Brazilian Championship, including eight played in 2022. According to the charging documents, a criminal…
In early trade on Thursday, the South African rand hit a fresh three-year low, under renewed selling pressure from the worst power outages on record, which analysts predict could worsen in the coming months. Eskom, the struggling state power utility, is currently imposing scheduled blackouts lasting more than 10 hours each day for many households and businesses, with lengthier disruptions expected later in the southern hemisphere winter. Investor sentiment toward the rand has deteriorated significantly this week, with the currency falling to its lowest level against the dollar since May 2020 on Wednesday and falling further on Thursday. The rand…
On Wednesday, Mthokozisi Thwala, the second witness who was in the house the night former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa was shot and killed, testified in the former keeper’s murder trial. According to Thwala, an intruder with a gun entered the house and demanded cell phones and money; Longwe Twala stood up and pushed the gunman as he fled the house; Meyiwa and Tumelo Madlala then rose as Meyiwa began pushing the shooter into the kitchen. That is what Thwala claims he witnessed, but despite witnessing the shoving, he claims he is unable to explain how it occurred. Thwala’s account contradicts what Madlala had told the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. According to Madlala, the accused burglar with the gun was pummeled on the kitchen floor by Zandi Khumalo and her mother, Gladness, who were using Madlala’s crutches.…
The South African Football Association (Safa) has appointed its first woman Chief Executive Officer, Lydia Monyepao who took over following the shocking resignation of Tebogo Motlanthe. Monyepao was appointed SAFA COO in May 2021 until Sunday 7 May 2023 and has made great strides in her position and that has led to her latest appointment. At the press conference on Monday, Motlanthe simply said he had resigned for “personal reasons” and reiterated that the resignation letter circulating on social media over the past weekend is not the one that he sent to Safa. “I have tendered my resignation; I’ve sent…
Momentum Proteas fast bowler Shabnim Ismail has announced her retirement from international cricket. The 34-year-old bows out after representing Mzansi in 241 international ODI, T20I and Test matches. In a statement, Ismail said she wants to focus on her family, however, she will continue playing T20 franchise cricket around the world. “After 16 years proudly representing my country, I have come to the difficult decision to retire from international cricket and move on to the next chapter of my life,” Ismail said. “As any athlete knows, training and competing at your best requires much sacrifice and dedication, and I now…