Daily Archives: January 4, 2014

SAFA, Chiefs agree on release of players to Bafana Bafana squad


SAFA is happy to report that it has reached an agreement with Kaizer Chiefs FC on the release of players to participate in the 2014 African Nations Championship tournament (2014 CHAN).

 

SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan, said there will be no sanction against any team as no rule has been violated by anyone.

 

The Association on Friday held very constructive discussions with Kaizer Chiefs FC regarding the release of players. The two parties agreed that Kaizer Chiefs FC will release the players as discussed between the coaches of the national team and Kaizer Chiefs FC. Players will join the National Team over the next 24 hours to ensure that Bafana Bafana has a full strength squad by Sunday, 5 January 2013.

 

“We are extremely grateful to Kaizer Chiefs for their continued patriotism in support of the National Team,” says SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan.

 

“Our gratitude goes out to Mr Kaizer Motaung and Kaizer Chiefs for their long-standing and unstinting support of the National Team. They have always supported the National Team and we are very grateful for this patriotic gesture,” added Dr Jordaan.

 

Mr Motaung is a founding member of SAFA, a long-standing Member of the SAFA National Executive Committee, a stalwart in the development of our sport and an ardent supporter of Bafana Bafana who regularly attends the matches of the national team.

 

“We have no doubt that with the inclusion of Kaizer Chiefs players in the national squad, the team will be significantly strengthened for the CHAN tournament,” says the SAFA President.-TDN
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A man shot, burnt to death


Durban – A 33-year-old man was shot before being burnt to death in his house in Durban’s Umlazi area, police said on Saturday.

Captain Thulani Zwane said that the man was allegedly attacked by two men on Friday evening at his home in Umlazi’s Q section.

“The motive for the killing is unknown at this stage. Umlazi police are investigating a case of murder and no arrests have been made at this stage,” he said.

An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: “We heard him crying. The house was on fire. We couldn’t do anything.”

She said she had heard the gunshots but did not see the attackers and that the man had been killed in an outbuilding of a house.

“The guy was trying to escape. His body was near the door.”

She said local residents had doused most of the flames by the time the fire brigade arrived.

KwaZulu-Natal emergency management services spokesperson Robert McKenzie confirmed that the service had been alerted to a fatality at a house fire in Umlazi.

He could not immediately provide further details.

SAPA

Family holds vigil for Shumi


Grenoble – Michael Schumacher’s friends and family took turns by his hospital bed Friday, as fans rallied outside the hospital to support the critically injured Formula One great on his 45th birthday.

Schumacher has been in a medically induced coma since Sunday, when he fell while skiing and struck his head on a rock. His manager, Sabine Kehm, said Friday that his condition remains stable but critical.

The German driver and his family typically celebrate Christmas, New Year and his birthday at their ski house in the French resort of Meribel, where the accident happened.

Instead, they have been keeping watch over the retired champion at his bedside in a Grenoble hospital.

“They take turns to watch him: Michael’s wife, children, his brother,” said former Formula One driver, Philippe Streiff, who is one of several members of the F1 community to visit the hospital. “They are very traumatized. It’s very upsetting to see that for the family.”

About 100 fans also converged on the hospital Friday, arriving by bus from Italy or by car from northern France and other places, saying they felt compelled to honor a man who had given them so many reasons to celebrate in the past.

At nightfall, some fans used a projector to screen the words “STAY STRONG!” and “KEEP FIGHTING!” on the hospital’s wall.

“With all the joy he has given us, it was important for us to return the favor and be here for Michael,” said Gulio Carissomi, who drove four hours from Italy to reach Grenoble.

One group of fans quietly assembled in view of the hospital’s windows, unfurling a large banner for Ferrari, the racing team that Schumacher had anchored.

A fan as far away as India carved a likeness of Schumacher in sand on a beach in Puri and wrote “Get Well Soon” below it.

The family, which has been periodically posting messages on Schumacher’s website, wrote Friday night that they were “overwhelmed” by the show of support.

“The incredible sympathies shown today by the Ferrari Fans outside the hospital has utterly overwhelmed us and moved us all to tears,” it said.

The seven-time F1 champion has undergone two brain operations since the accident. Doctors are keeping him sedated and his body at an artificially low temperature to help with the healing. The physicians have refused to give a prognosis for Schumacher, saying they are focused on his immediate care.

Schumacher, known affectionately as Schumi by fans, is the most successful F1 driver in history, racking up a record 91 race wins. He retired in 2012.

Ferrari on Friday sent special birthday greetings to Schumacher, recalling the 72 victories he won from 1996-2006.

“Today is Michel Schumacher’s birthday. In these hours he’s on the most important race of his life and we want to dedicate a special honor to him,” the statement said. “Forza (Come on) Michael!”

___

Associated Press writers Nicole Winfield in Rome and Lori Hinnant in Paris contributed to this report.

AP

Krejcir suitable for bail, court told


Johannesburg – Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir was a suitable candidate for bail, his legal team told the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg during an urgent application, The Saturday Star reported.
The application was launched in a bid to overturn the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court’s decision to deny Krejcir bail on 13 December.

Krejcir was not present when the new application was brought before court on Friday.

Krejcir’s lawyer Francois Roets said he believed the charges Krejcir and his co-accused faced, of kidnapping, assault and attempted murder, should not be a schedule five offence.

Roets also argued that Palm Ridge magistrate Reginald Dama, who denied Krejcir bail, should have allowed his team to cross-examine a SA Revenue Service investigator who had submitted an affidavit.

“This was a gross irregularity,” he said.

Roets told the judge that Krejcir was “a suitable character for bail”.

The judge raised the issue that Krejcir previously escaped the Czech Republic by cycling to Poland.

Roets said that Krejcir feared for his life.

“His father was killed. He was put in a tank of acid.”

He said Krejcir stood to lose R60m if he skipped bail.

Judgment was postponed until Thursday.

SAPA

Matric results ready- dept


Johannesburg – The 2013 matric examination results were ready to be released, the basic education department said on Saturday.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga would release the matric exam results on Monday morning, departmental spokespersonElijah Mhlanga said in a statement.

The results of 576 490 full time and 130 646 part time registered matriculants would be carried in newspapers, across various online media, via sms, and through the department’s website.

Pupils could also visit their schools or examination centres to collect their results, Mhlanga said.

Pupils who failed two or more subjects were eligible to register for supplementary examinations, which would take place in February, Mhlanga said.

SAPA

MEC works as a volunteer doctor

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Durban – KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, has kicked off the new year as a volunteer doctor, and will do so monthly in the outpatient departments of health facilities around the province.

 

He has challenged other health professionals to do the same as part of continuing Nelson Mandela’s legacy.

For .iol..co.za

A boy,5, nearly drowns trying to save girls

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A five-year-old boy nearly drowned in a brave attempt to save two young girls from the murky, swift-flowing Msunduzi River near Edendale yesterday.

 

The three children, survivor Bandile Latha, 5, and cousins Noluthando Dzanibe, 5, and Zama Thando Mbatha, 3, were playing in the shallows at about 2.30pm when tragedy struck and the two girls were caught in the current.

For more http://www.iol.co.za

New outrage over e-toll billing


JOHANNESBURG – South Africans are ringing in the New Year with fresh outrage over e–tolling, this time over erroneous and exorbitant bills from the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral). Frustrated motorists have taken to social media after receiving inaccurate bills, with many in other provinces claiming to have never even passed through a gantry. After a year and a half of legal battles and protests, the controversial multi–billion rand system went live in Gauteng last month. Many say they’ve received threatening SMS’s and e–mails warning that the Violations Processing Centre will step in to settle overdue accounts.  The Saturday Star newspaper is reporting the Opposition To Urban Tolling Alliance (Outa) is now compiling a dossier to hand to the Public Protector.
For more http://www.ewn.co.za

Agreement Reached with Bidvest Wits FC on Release of Players　


SAFA is happy to report that it has reached agreement with Bidvest Wits FC on the release of players to participate in the 2014 African Nations Championship Final Tournament (2014 CHAN).

 

Following a very fruitful discussion with the club, SAFA has asked the Premier Soccer League to adjust the fixtures of 3 / 4 February 2014 for those teams whose players are included in the Bafana Bafana squad.

 

“We are extremely grateful to the club for their patriotism and continued support of the national team” says SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan. “Our gratitude goes out to Mr Brian Joffe and Mr Jose Ferreira of

 

Bidvest Wits FC for their long-standing unstinting support of the national team. They have always made their players available for the national team, even during times when their program was quite congested,” he continued.

 

“Bidvest Wits’ support for the national team has never been in doubt and we salute them for the support they have provided to the team for this CHAN tournament,” says the SAFA President.

 

The Association further extends its heartfelt appreciation to the National Soccer League, Mamelodi Sundowns FC, Moroka Swallows FC, Platinum Stars FC, Bloemfontein Celtic FC and University of Pretoria FC (Tuks) for making us proud by strengthening the team for this most prestigious tournament.

 

The Association will release a further statement on the very fruitful discussions it held with Kaizer Chiefs FC after the conclusion of these discussions with them on Saturday, 4 January 2014.-TDN
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A 63-year-old missing woman found


Johannesburg – A 63-year-old woman who went missing on New Year’s eve was found in a ravine near her home in Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, paramedics said.

“[She] was severely dehydrated and malnourished,” ER24 spokesperson Werner Vermaak said.

“She also suffered multiple cuts and abrasions, believed to have come from her falling into the ravine.”

The woman was taken to hospital for further treatment on Friday morning.

It was unclear how she had ended up in the ravine which was near her home in Byrne Valley.

“She was very confused and could not provide clarity on the incident,” Vermaak said.

The woman’s friends alerted police when they realised she was not home on Tuesday.

“They indicated that it was very unlike her to leave the home without informing someone,” he said.

SAPA