Monthly Archives: January 2014

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
Follow us on Twitter@Taung_DailyNews or @IceT_

 

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

Escaped murder accused caught


Pietermaritzburg – A man charged with murder and robbery is back behind bars after he previously escaped from a Pietermaritzburg court building, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Friday.

“[Sthembiso Vincent] Shabalala made a court appearance in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrate’s Court… [on Friday] on a charge of escaping from lawful custody,” said spokesperson Thulani Zwane.

Shabalala had been on the run since escaping from the court building after an appearance on 2 December 2013 linked to a murder and vehicle theft case, as well as another of assault.

The 34-year-old was nabbed late on Thursday night in a house in Morning Rise, after police were tipped off with information as to his whereabouts.

Shabalala was accused of shooting and killing a 39-year-old farmer and stealing his bakkie at his farm in Richmond in August 2012.

He was arrested shortly afterwards. However, on January 7 last year, while detained at the New Prison in Napierville, he assaulted a prison warder with a chair, apparently after being asked a question about a light.

“The warder sustained fractures to his right arm,” Zwane said.

Thereafter, Shabalala was charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He was also accused of other armed robberies in the Bulwer and Umzinto areas.

Shabalala remained in custody and would appear in court again on 22 January.

SAPA

Brakpan ‘serial rapist’ moved to safe place


Johannesburg – A man accused of raping and killing a four-year-old girl in Brakpan, Gauteng, has been moved to a place of safety after death threats were made against him, Eyewitness News reported on Friday.

The girl’s family said they had received requests from prisoners asking if they could “take care” of the man, the radio news station reported.

The grandfather of the girl said he was not ready to speak to or forgive the man, but could not allow the man to be killed.

“They have a way of getting messages out and are sending messages asking if we want them to take him out,” the grandfather said.

The 23-year-old man appeared in the Brakpan Magistrate’s Court on Monday, and the case was postponed to Tuesday.

Eyewitness News also reported on Friday that hundreds of people had gathered at a Brakpan church for a memorial service for the girl.

Many bikers dressed in pink, ANC Women’s League members, and police, including national commissioner Riah Phiyega, attended the memorial service.

Captain Tsekiso Mofokeng said on Monday a missing person’s report for the girl was issued on Saturday morning.

“The police and the community started looking [for the girl]. We had to do our own investigation,” Mofokeng said.

Checked stories

Police then interviewed the family.

“We identified that one of the family members did not give a confident story… He gave many versions.”

He said the man was charged with kidnapping.

Later “he gave in and confessed” and helped the police find the body underneath a bed in her father’s flat.

“We will hear from the post mortem what caused the death and whether there was sexual assault,” he said.

Police on Friday directed queries related to the man being moved to the correctional services department.

The department had not yet responded.

SAPA