Sommaire pour 2021-08-03 de Cape Times

Absa PMI plunges to a 14-month low but is expected to rebound Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za INDUSTRIAL activity in the South African manufacturing sector is expected to rebound to a respectable level this month after plunging to a shocking 14-month low in July. The Absa Purchasing Manufacturers Index (PMI) fell sharply to 43.5 index points in July, from 57.4 points in June, weighed down by the lockdown restrictions and civil unrest. This PMI reading below 50 index points was down to the lowest level since May 2020. This was a setback to manufacturing output recovery at the start of the third quarter of 2021. It also signalled the steepest deterioration in business conditions since the beginning of the lockdown. Absa said that July was a particularly challenging month, with the broader…

Thobile Mazibuko Mandela Month ended on a high note. SABC1 aired the 27th annual South African Music Awards (SAMAs). Hosted by Bontle Modiselle Moloi and Lawrence Maleka, this year’s SAMAs were pre-recorded to adhere to the lockdown regulations. Modiselle looked ravishing in all her four outfits, as styled by Kgosi Lesego, and make-up by Zodwa. She wore her signature dreadlocks by kudatot_hair. For the first look, she wore a Willet Design Couture black sheath dress with leopard print on the corset and black pointed heels. For the second look, she donned a blue high slit tulle dress by Willet Design Couture and shoes by Europa Art. The third outfit was a black asymmetrical gown by Retha N and shoes by Preview Sandton. For the final look, she rocked a red…

Chevon Booysen chevon.booysen@inl.co.za MURDER-accused Teswill van der Rhede, 32, appeared in the Bredasdorp Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with the killing of grandmother Charlene October, 49, who was found murdered in her Elim home on July 12. The tuckshop on her premises was robbed. Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi confirmed that Van der Rhede was arrested on Friday on charges of murder and business robbery. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila, said Van der Rhede faces more charges. The case has been postponed. “He is charged with murder, housebreaking and theft. “He is also appearing on a non-related rape matter and family violence interdict. “All cases have been postponed until August 10 for a bail profile,” said Ntabazalila. October was murdered inside her home. Her 1-month-old granddaughter, who she had…

Jolene Marriah-Maharaj jolene.marriah@inl.co.za A North West mom who is unemployed has come forward to claim the R158 million PowerBall jackpot. She has won the biggest Powerball jackpot this year, making her the second-highest PowerBall jackpot winner in the history of the South African lottery. The winner played using the Absa banking app and spent R15 on the winning ticket, using the manual selection method to select the winning numbers of 5, 12, 15, 28, 29, and the PowerBall number 14. The unemployed mother told Ithuba: “No, I'm not lucky, I'm blessed. “I'm still in disbelief, overwhelmed yet very excited. “The money could not have come at a better time for my family as I lost my job last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.” On selecting the winning numbers, the…

Okuhle Hlati okhule.hlati@inl.co.za THE taxi industry has apologised to commuters for the devastation it has put them through since the start of the year, and appealed to the provincial transport department to use suspended funding to compensate grieving families whose loved ones were killed in the conflict. At least 86 people were killed since the start of the year due to taxi violence, with 26 killed in July alone. In the latest incident over the weekend two taxi drivers were shot dead in Ceres and Khayelitsha. The Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and the Congress of Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) signed a new peace deal yesterday in the presence of transport Minister Fikile Mbalula and MEC Daylin Mitchell. The agreement, with immediate effect, includes allowing all operating licence holders for…

Staff writer THE South African documentary I Am Here about the country’s oldest Holocaust survivor, Ella Blumenthal, has won the Best South African Documentary award at the 42nd Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) – automatically qualifying it for Oscar consideration. It is the second award for the film directed by Jordy Sank and produced by Gabriella Blumberg, after it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival earlier this year. The DIFF, organised by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, announced its winners on Saturday in a live Facebook award ceremony. The festival’s highest accolade of Best Feature Film went to Chinese director Shin Xin’s A Little Bird Reminds Me, from a selection of entries that the jury described as…

Staff writer FOURTH year psychology student Shayen Gomis says the kindness of strangers will now help her look after others in need, as her tuition has been taken care of. From Rondeberg, a small town on the West Coast, Gomis’s determination will not only help her complete her BA in Humanities (Psychology) but also allow her to graduate from Stellenbosch University later this year. Her journey hasn’t been smooth sailing, as a lack of funds placed her hopes and dreams in jeopardy. As a result, Gomis created a profile on Feenix, the online student crowfunding platform where students can fund-raise for their outstanding university fees. Her tuition money has since been awarded by Feenix and the V&A Waterfront. “My passion is to listen to and work with people, providing them…

Staff writer THIRTEEN State-owned properties in Strand have been released to settle a land restitution claim of a Cape Town family. The value of the land is more than R2.9 million and will be transferred to the family by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD). Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Patricia de Lille at the weekend said that she had signed off on the release of various parcels of land in the Western Cape, the North West and Mpumalanga for three claimant communities. In the Western Cape, the release of State-owned properties measuring 0.6529 hectares in Strand was undertaken to settle the claim of the Muhammed Haron family. “The family lodged claims on various parcels of land in the City of Cape Town which they were…

OVER the past few weeks, I have been in KwaZulu-Natal several times. I have heard some say, “That’s because it’s her duty. She’s deployed there by the ANC.” That is true, I am the NEC member deployed there. But for me, it is about so much more. KwaZulu-Natal’s communities are in extreme distress. And where our people are in distress, the government needs to be present. If the government is not present, there is a vacuum, and such vacuums are always filled – sometimes with fake concern covering nefarious purposes, sometimes with the bombast of extremism, sometimes with violence, to “prove” something is being done about the situation. Or with the voices that confuse kragdadigheid and authority. The government needs to be present as the embodiment of a responsible,…

The cyberattack on Transnet is a wakeup call for all our financial and industrial institutions. Hackers acting alone or as part of hacker groups can leverage widely available hacking tools to conduct cyber operations. The threat from cyber operations will increase in the years ahead, even with extensive information security. Cyber warfare is a tangible and relevant national security threat. The grim truth is that various critical infrastructures of our country are being stealthily targeted by dangerous forces operating in the realms of cyberspace where digital footprints are difficult to neutralise. If this was armed combat, then we would be fighting World War III. The critical question that remains unanswered is, if a sophisticated cyberattack does not result in physical damage or injury, can it nevertheless amount to an armed…

The EU imposed sanctions yesterday on Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s wife Rosario Murillo, who is his vice-president, as well as one of his sons and six more officials. The measures expand a previous sanctions list to a total of 14 individuals held “responsible for serious human rights violations in Nicaragua and/or whose actions undermined democracy or the rule of law” over ongoing repression in the country. “The detention of a seventh potential presidential candidate last weekend sadly illustrates the magnitude of the repression in Nicaragua and projects a grim picture for the upcoming elections,” the European Council said. The sanctions prohibit travel and transit in the EU for those targeted, a freeze on any EU-based assets and a ban on EU businesses or citizens from doing business with them. Ortega,…

JAPANESE authorities have confirmed to the Czech Republic that Belarusian Olympic sprinter Kristina Timanovskaya has received Prague’s asylum offer, Czech Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhanek said yesterday, stressing that his country is willing to help. “Japanese authorities have just confirmed that Belarusian athlete Timanovskaya has received our offer to grant asylum. If she accepts it, we will provide maximum assistance. The Olympic Games should not be associated with politics; the actions of the regime [of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko] are simply shameful,” Kulhanek wrote on Twitter. The Austrian Foreign Ministry said yesterday that Timanovskaya, who refuses to fly back to her homeland, did not get in contact with the embassy in Tokyo to request asylum. “We are aware of the media reports, but this athlete did not get in touch with…

Rome: Italian police said yesterday that they had arrested nine people suspected of rigging public health contracts to benefit the ‘Ndrangheta mafia. Financial police in Reggio Calabria, southern Italy, said that the suspects also stole masks and other protective equipment from doctors and nurses during the pandemic, while jumping the queue for Covid-19 vaccinations. “Suspects, in the midst of the pandemic crisis, embezzled anti-Covid-19 personal protective equipment, even taking them away from health staff enlisted in the emergency,” police wrote in a statement.…

Berlin: German prosecutors are weighing whether to open an investigation into manslaughter arising from failed or delayed warnings about July’s deadly floods. Some 180 people died in severe floods in western Germany over two days in mid-July, raising questions about whether enough was done to warn residents ahead of time. Prosecutors were looking into “negligent homicide as a result of possibly failed or delayed warnings or evacuations of the population”. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer last week said cellphone text alerts will be issued in future to inform citizens of impending dangers. Sixty flood victims are still missing.…

Lutho Pasiya lutho.pasiya@inl.co.za Simba has announced that their traditional tomato sauce flavour has been voted out by South Africans, following their “Choose Me or Lose Me” campaign. The campaign invited fans of the delicious crisps to choose which of the three iconic flavour chip flavours – salt and vinegar, tomato sauce and cheese and onion – should survive, which one would be discontinued. Simba salt and vinegar and cheese and onion have survived the cut. Simba gave consumers three months to participate before making the final decision, and the decision about which flavour will be saved also took into account how many sales each flavour made. Senior Marketing Director for salty snacks at PepsiCo, and custodian of the Simba brand, Giulia Iorio-Ndlovu, said South Africans have a distinctive set of…

From page 1 we regularly meet with officials from these departments and they never raised this. “A few days earlier, I had received a call about people forcing their way inside the home,” said Yayi. He said as officials of the home, they went to the Children’s Court and it was confirmed there was no court order, but a temporary removal for the departments to seek a permanent removal. “We are not disputing that two children were sexually abused, but are saying the allegations came after they came back from their parents’ homes after holidays. “Also, no case has been lodged with police and the doctor’s check-up report was never shared with us when we requested it. “The departments are just undermining black people and are racist. The wild…

Zelda Venter zelda.venter@inl.co.za THE mother accused of abusing and neglecting her baby when the child was only a few months old threw her in the air and violently rocked the crying infant from side to side in a bid to hush her up. This is according to a family member of the 22-year-old mother, who, together with the child’s father, is facing a range of child abuse charges, including one of attempted murder. Both the mother and the 24-year-old father earlier pleaded not guilty in the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. While some doctors last week testified that they could detect at least 18 fractures across the body of Baby T when she landed in hospital at the age of 5 months, it later emerged that there were about 33…

Odwa Mkentane odwa.mkentane@inl.co.za AN EIGHTEEN-year-old Phillipi East suspect has been stoned to death in a mob justice attack after residents accused him of trying to kidnap a six-year-old boy. Residents said the child was with his mother at the weekend when the suspect allegedly attempted to snatch him. The suspect managed to flee initially, but was caught on Sunday night by residents as he hid in the Siyanyanzela informal settlement. Police spokesperson Andre Traut said they are investigating. “(Sunday) night at around 11pm an 18-year-old male was stoned to death in Philippi East by suspects who are yet to be arrested. “The circumstances are under investigation,” said Traut. Community Leader Nkululeko Mgolombane said CCTV cameras are not working in the area. “Kidnapping is unacceptable and it does not matter how…

Okuhle Hlati okhule.hlati@inl.co.za A HEATED legal battle is brewing between the Sive Nati Licensed Home for children with disabilities and the provincial Departments of Health and Social Department (DSD), after 28 children were removed, amid allegations of sexual abuse and negligence. The Cape Times has reliably learnt that the departments approached the Children’s Court, at the Blue Down Magistrate’s Court, and were granted an urgent interdict to remove children from the Blackheath home, following the accusations. However, the black-owned NGO, which provides 24-hour care to children who are profoundly challenged mentally and physically, claims the DSD has been targeting it for years and is racist. According to Health Department spokesperson Mark van der Heever, the departments received a report regarding a child protection matter at the facility and, when they…

Jehran Naidoo Jehran.Naidoo@africannewsagency.com AS rumours of a Cabinet reshuffle swirl, two social figures have voiced their aspirations to become ministers in the government. The latest figure to do so is Olympic gold medallist Roland Schoeman, who said on Twitter that he would like to be nominated as the minister of sport. “I’m committed to every single South African, no matter who is being given as much opportunity to represent our country. The word ‘transformation’ continues to divide our country and perpetuate the division. We’ve had over 20 years now. We need a transformed system,” Schoeman said. South Africans had mixed feelings about Schoeman’s stated ambitions, with some questioning how the former champion planned to achieve change. A user asked: “As a swimming champion, I’m sure you’d be passionate about enlarging…

Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za INCREASING reports of car-jamming incidents at the Silvermine hiking trail has prompted SANParks to caution visitors to exercise vigilance at all times. Community safety group Parkscape’s chairperson, Nicky Schmidt, said the situation also calls for an increased need for visible policing. “The latest incidents have focused around Silvermine Gate 2. Activity has also been reported from the Gate 1 parking at the dam and from the Tokai Forest area. “We were advised of a spate of incidents by one of the local crime watches, with incidents pertaining to Saturday. “There were also reports of car-jamming last weekend,” she said. Schmidt said a lack of visible policing by SANParks was among the factors leading to the incidences. “Gate 2 being opened late, leading to users parking on Ou…

ITUMELENG MAFISA THE BATTLE for the survival of Mango Airlines will take place at the South Gauteng High Court today as unions fight for the low-cost airline company to be placed under business rescue. The National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa), the SA Cabin Crew Association and the Mango Pilots Association had applied to the courts to have the state company placed under business rescue. The unions were expecting Mango to oppose the application. The unions say they would like Mango to join the business rescue application, which could see both labour and the employer overseeing the process. Chairperson of the Mango Pilots Association Jordan Butler accused Mango management of withholding the salaries of employees. He said this was part of a plan by management to force the…

The government needs to kick-start an effective communication strategy to encourage members of the public to get the Covid-19 jab, and counter the growing trend of vaccine hesitancy in society. There is enough evidence to suggest that the government has finally turned the corner after it acquired more vaccines. On Saturday, acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, Deputy Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla and Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in South Africa, Todd Haskell, went to OR Tambo International Airport to receive 2.8 million Pfizer vaccine doses donated by the US government. The next and final batch of 5.6 million vaccines is expected to arrive this week. This is good news for the country’s vaccine roll-out programme, which has been moving at a snail’s pace. President Cyril…

TEHRAN: Iran will respond promptly to any threat against its security, a foreign ministry spokesperson said yesterday, after the US, Israel and Britain blamed Tehran for an attack on an Israeli-managed tanker off the coast of Oman. Tehran has denied any involvement in the attack on Thursday in which two crew members – a Briton and a Romanian – were killed. The US and Britain said on Sunday they would work with their partners to respond to the attack on the Mercer Street, a Liberian-flagged, Japanese-owned petroleum product tanker managed by Israeli-owned Zodiac Maritime. Britain summoned the Iranian ambassador yesterday. “Iran has no hesitation in protecting its security and national interests and will respond promptly and strongly to any possible adventure,” Iranian state television quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh…

LOS ANGELES: The Duchess of Sussex has hired Oprah Winfrey’s party planner for her 40th birthday celebrations. The former actress – known as Meghan Markle before her marriage to Prince Harry – reaches the milestone age tomorrow and has enlisted the services of Colin Cowie to organise a bash at her home in Santa Barbara, California. A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “Megan wants a small gathering. About 65 people are invited, her closest friends and family. Colin was recommended to her by Oprah who always puts on fabulous parties.”…

For Beirut blast survivor Shady Rizk, time has stopped since August 4 last year when a stockpile of ammonium nitrate exploded in the Lebanese capital’s port opposite his office. “Every day is August 4, every day,” the 36-year-old said. “Every day, I remember the blast or remember what happened that dreadful day.” The gigantic explosion killed more than 200 people, injured thousands, and destroyed large parts of the city. Rizk was in the office where he works for an internet provider and was filming the smoke rising from an initial explosion at the port when the second blast hit. It left him with 350 stitches all over his body and face, and partially impaired his vision. Having survived the near-death experience, Rizk considers August 4 his rebirth and wants to…

KABUL: President Ashraf Ghani yesterday blamed Afghanistan’s fast-deteriorating security situation on a “sudden” decision by the US to withdraw its troops, but said his government had a plan to bring conditions under control within six months. Taliban insurgents have made rapid advances since Washington said it planned a complete withdrawal of troops by next month. “The situation is due to the withdrawal of the international troops,” Ghani told the Afghan parliament. The Taliban would not move towards peace unless the worsening security situation was curbed, he said.…

Wynona Louw wynona.louw@inl.co.za “It’s not about being boring, it’s about understanding what we want to achieve.” Those were the words of Springbok assistant coach Deon Davids when asked what he made about the notion that the Boks’ gameplan doesn’t stretch much further than a physicality-filled forward game. At the weekend, the Boks set up the third Test against the British & Irish Lions as the series-decider as they pummelled the tourists 27-9 at Cape Town Stadium. Things didn’t go too smoothly in the opening half but, after the break, the hosts took complete control. The Bomb Squad made a massive impact as the coaching staff’s substitutions worked a treat, the line-out functioned better, and they used their kicking game effectively and set up both their tries with nifty attacking kicks.…

Fairvest board proposes acquisition of New Star rather than renewing lease EDWARD WEST edward.west@inl.co.za FAIRVEST Property Holdings, which plans a share swop merger with Arrowhead Properties, has proposed the acquisition of its outsourced management company New Star Asset Management for R133 million, rather than renewing the term for five years. The 10-year agreement between Fairvest and New Star was approved in 2011 and expires on November 30, 2021, but it could be renewed for a further five years, subject to shareholder approval. Renewing the lease, however, would not be fair to shareholders, according to an appraisal by professional services firm Mazars Corporate Finance. If the asset management agreement was not renewed, Fairvest would become obliged to acquire the business conducted by the asset manager. Fairvest said in a statement yesterday…

Chevon Booysen chevon.booysen@inl.co.za AFTER weeks of cats being killed in Manenberg, the SAPS has officially opened a case of animal cruelty, while arrests are yet to be made. This comes after pressure from animal welfare organisation the Animal Welfare Society South Africa (AWS SA) which has since posted a generous reward for any information which would lead to the arrest of the perpetrator. Police spokesperson Joseph Swartbooi confirmed an animal cruelty case was opened at Manenberg SAPS. In a social media post, AWS SA wrote: “Following a concerted effort by AWS SA and mounting public pressure, the Manenberg Police Station commander finally conceded that ‘his front desk officials got it wrong’ and agreed to open a formal case of animal cruelty. “This triumph represents a huge step in the right…

Nicola Daniels nicola.daniels@inl.co.za BELHAR residents have called for the decommissioning of the South Point student residence, following another alleged incident of public nuisance, which saw security guards stoned and their booth gutted in a fire, after clashes with suspected students last week. The Belhar Ratepayers & Residents Association has since started a petition calling for the residence to be closed and relocated. Continued discussions – around issues of public drinking and disrespect towards the community – were getting residents nowhere, the association said. “We are sick and tired of South Point, who have no respect for our community, being in our area. “The students of South Point have, on more than one occasion, been the cause of lawlessness, arson and anarchy. “They disturb our peace, terrorise our residents, disrupt our…

Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za A DISGRUNTLED former employee of Stellenbosch University (SU) has accused the institution of “discrimination”, alleging that a white counterpart was allocated a housing benefit while she was denied the same privilege despite occupying a similar position. Gcobisa Yani said she had to pay R7 600 a month for rent while she was supposed to live for free during her tenure as a Listen, Live and Learn co-ordinator at the institution. But the university rejected the allegations yesterday, saying Yani did not receive any housing benefit because she was appointed on a temporary contract. Yani, who is also a former student of the university, said when she signed an employment contract, it was verbally communicated to her that she would move into university accommodation, as her white…

Staff writer A NEW consortium, including the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), are working to boost vaccine production in South Africa. The organisations have signed a letter of intent to address the global imbalance of manufacturing capacity for Covid-19 vaccines. This follows WHO’s announcement in June of the first Covid-19 mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub in South Africa, and the government announcement last month that the Cape Town-based Biovac has been appointed to manufacture the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for distribution within the AU. The letter of intent sets out the terms of the collaboration and responsibilities between the organisations. “Inequitable manufacturing and distribution of vaccines is…

Zintle Mahlati zintle.mahlati@inl.co.za THE Life Esidimeni inquest has been postponed for a month to allow further consultation among legal teams. Following a day of virtual arguments yesterday, North Gauteng High Court Judge Mmonoa Teffo agreed to a postponement, as the inquest aims to probe whether criminal proceedings should follow against anyone linked to the deaths of 144 patients, who died after being moved to various NGOs. The legal team representing former Gauteng head of mental health Makgabo Manamela had requested the inquest be halted for four weeks. Lawyer Shivhani Sibara, for Manamela, accused evidence leader advocate Pieter Luyt of admitting an arbitration report from the Esidimeni hearings without consulting her client. The arbitration report was written by retired Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke, and made significant findings against Manamela. Sibara…

Siyavuya Mzantsi siyavuya.mzantsi@inl.co.za WHILE one family’s quest for justice for their child is starting to make strides, another family’s case is nowhere near getting the suspected rapist behind bars. Eastern Cape police made a breakthrough in the rape and murder of a 5-year-old when they arrested a suspect, who was linked to the crime with DNA, two years after the incident in Gqeberha. But in Delft, officers have appealed for the public to help them find a suspected rapist. Police have urged the public to assist them in locating the man, who is said to have approached a 19-year-old and sexually assaulted her during an attempted robbery on June 29. “The suspect is in his 20s, with no front upper teeth, 1.67m tall and of medium build. He was wearing…

Nkosikhulule Nyembezi TWO decades ago, the emergence of mass social grant recipients in South Africa could be described as shocking in a democratic country committed to the implementation of a Reconstruction and Development Programme. The image of individuals queueing at their local paypoint for a social grant has not only since been normalised, it has spread. This reality hit home again when President Cyril Ramaphosa made the welcome announcement on July 25 that the R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD), introduced in May last year, would be reinstated until March next year. Processing payments to nearly 6.5 million monthly SRD recipients since May last year has exposed the boasts by the elite in our society about the resilience of South Africa’s economy for the thinly veiled lie that…

Fox News has captured heartbreaking footage shot by an aerial drone showing hundreds of migrants in a makeshift holding pen set up by US Customs and Border Patrol under a large bridge in the city of Mission, Texas. The footage shows hundreds of people encamped at the facility, which appears to lack even basic amenities, with vehicles seen driving on a bridge above amid daytime temperatures of close to 37°C. Fox estimates that the facility may be holding up to 1 000 people. The bridge in the video is the Anzalduas International Bridge, which has customs points set up on either side. It is known as a hot spot for the cross-border illegal drug trade. The drone footage has racked up over 400 000 views in just over 12…

WASHINGTON: Former president Barack Obama, who turns 60 tomorrow, is reportedly planning to host a birthday party for himself on his nearly 12-hectare property in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama purchased the mansion in 2019 purportedly for $11.75 million (about R170m). “It’s going to be big,” a source was cited by The Hill as saying, as reports suggest dozens of friends will be invited, with celebrities like talk show host Oprah Winfrey and actor George Clooney tipped to be among the guests. Coming on the heels of recently updated federal mask guidance amid precautions prompted by the more-transmissible Delta variant of Covid-19, guests will reportedly be asked to take a coronavirus test and be vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated on July…

ABUJA: At least seven people were killed and several others wounded following weekend attacks across six communities in Nigeria’s north-central state of Plateau, local authorities said yesterday. Up to 250 houses were also razed in the attack in communities in the Miango chiefdom of Bassa local government area of Plateau on Saturday night. Police were in search of a fleeing gunmen. A community association said that farmlands were destroyed and livestock taken away by the attackers, who arrived on motorbikes and were armed with guns and machetes. There have been a series of gunmen attacks in Nigeria recently.…

ANTANANARIVO: Madagascar authorities have arrested 21 suspects over an assassination attempt on President Andry Rajoelina, local media reported yesterday. Berthine Razafiarivony, general attorney of the court of appeal of Antananarivo, said that based on material evidence in the hands of investigators, the main instigators of the plot have been identified, L’Express de Madagascar reported. The suspects intended to eliminate five Malagasy political figures, including president Rajoelina, she said. “Several people were involved in this affair,” including five generals from the army and the gendarmerie, Razafiarivony said.…

Mike Greenaway mike.greenaway@inl.co.za ENGLAND and British & Irish Lions legend Lawrence Dallaglio had an amusing summary of why the Springboks turned the tables on the Lions in the second Test on Saturday, comfortably won by the Boks 27-9 after they had lost comprehensively in the first Test. “My old teammate Martin Johnson said before the kick-off that the Springboks play with a Plan A and if that doesn’t work then they revert to Plan A but just try and do it better,” Dallaglio told Independent Media in an exclusive interview. “And that is what they did from the first Test to the second. “They were a whole lot better with their Plan A and substantially better than the Lions who in the first Test stood up to the physical…

FORTY-SEVEN years ago almost to the day, the British & Irish Lions defeated the Springboks 28-9 at Loftus Versfeld in what was the heaviest defeat in the history of the green and gold. Over 70 000 South Africans were crammed into a previously impregnable Bok citadel and in silent disbelief they witnessed the tourists score five tries to nil thanks to the wizardry of Phil Bennett, Gareth Edwards and JPR Williams, to mention a few of that team of invincibles. That Lions team razzled and dazzled across South Africa, winning 21 of 22 matches including three consecutive Test matches before the Boks scrambled a draw the fourth. I was reminded of that Loftus match, the second Test of that 1974 series, because I have been reading the most brilliant book…