Glasgow – Khotso Mokoena, formerly known as the only South African to win a medal at the 2008 Olympics, showed his big match temperament once again at a drenched Hampden Park in Glasgow on Saturday night when he won Commonwealth Games gold.

A leap of 17.20m in the triple jump on a miserable evening was enough to secure the victory, six years after he had brought home silver from the long jump at Beijing. His winning jump was in his second attempt and almost immediately more heavy rain fell, which suggested that it wasn’t going to be bettered.

And it wasn’t. Silver went to Nigeria’s Tosin Oke (16.84m) and bronze to India’a Arpinder Singh (16.63m). Mokoena’s golden leap was a season’s best for him and it again showed his love of the big stage.

It was also some 51cm better than his previous best for 2014 and only 0.05cm shy of his own national record.

And it showed his confidence, although some might interpret it differently. For he didn’t have a fifth or sixth attempt, electing to stay warm and dry as the rain pelted down, rightly believing that he couldn’t be caught.

It was South Africa’s 13th gold medal of the Games – beating the 12 of Delhi 2010 – and it also took the tally of medals to 39, beating the 33 of Delhi.

Johan Cronje’s dreams of winning a medal were dashed in the last stride when Nick Willis got his chest in front on the line in the men’s 1500m final. Cronje, who had cruised into the final impressively on Friday night, looked a medallist for 1499m of the race, before he was touched off by the charging New Zealander.

Perhaps there was no surprise in that the blue riband event was won by a Kenyan, James Magut edging out his 18-year-old compatriot Ronald Kwemoi in 3:39.31, with Willis third. Cronje had run a good race, sitting behind the Kenyans Elias Managoi and Magut and Uganda’s Ronald Musagala.

In fact, Cronje did everything right, running hard down the back straight on the final lap and then kicking for home around the bend. He got himself into a clear third but Willis seemed to find another gear in the final 50 metres and ran the South African out of it.

Conditions throughout the evening – no, make that the day – were atrocious as Glasgow showed a different side to that of earlier in the week when blue skies and temperatures in their 20s deg C had shown the face of summer.

This was typical British weather and of the kind that the athletes wouldn’t have enjoyed or been able to produce their best in. However, Mokoena would have been loving it after putting down his early marker.

In the men’s javelin final, Rocco van Rooyen had a best throw of 76.84m for sixth place overall.
Sport24

Johannesburg – Orlando Pirates booked their spot in the semi-finals of the MTN8 with a 2-1 win over SuperSport United at Orlando Stadium. on Saturday.

Daine Klate put the Buccaneers ahead in the 31st minute and Kermit Erasmus doubled the lead in the 39th minute.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has blamed defender Tebogo Langerman for his side’s 2-1 loss to Platinum Stars in an MTN8 quarter-final match at Loftus Stadium on Saturday, reports Soccer-Laduma website.

Goals from Vuyo Mere and Ndumiso Mabena handed Platinum Stars the win while Teko Modise scored a late consolation goal.

The first goal came from the penalty spot after Langerman brought Mduduzi Nyanda down inside the box, while a mistake by the same defender allowed Mabena through on goal to score the second.

“We made very crucial mistakes,” said Mosimane.

“With the penalty my fullback (Tebogo Langerman) was not clever there, he committed a very unprofessional foul inside the box.

“As a coach I cannot do anything about it, I just have to correct him.

“The second goal was also shift in the backs and from the same side, but it is ok, it is my job to correct it.”

Mosimane also bemoaned his side’s poor finishing in front of goal, but it is something they will work on.

“We could have scored some goals, but it is still early. We are not happy that we lost, but we accept it and congratulations to Platinum Stars,” added Mosimane.

“After they scored two goals, it was a totally different game – they didn’t want to come out and we played all the football in their half, but I don’t blame them for that.

“Talent we have, but when you make the mistakes we have it has nothing to do with the talent we have. If you don’t finish the chances you have it has nothing to do with the talent you have.

“The season is long and it is going to take some time.”

Sport24

Rustenburg – A man was shot dead and two others were arrested after a shootout with police in Waterval, Rustenburg, North West police said on Saturday.

Colonel Sabata Mokgwabone said police responded to a complaint of a burglary at a business on Friday night.

“On arrival at the scene, a search was conducted and the suspects [were] spotted. The suspects allegedly opened fire on police who returned fire.” Mokgwabone said.

“Three suspects managed to flee the scene whilst two [others] were arrested.”

A gun allegedly belonging to one of the men and the stolen goods were recovered.

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate were investigating the case, said Mokgwabone.

The men, both aged 27 would appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court soon to face charges of business robbery, attempted murder and the illegal possession of a firearm.

“Police are investigating the linkage of the gang to other similar crimes committed in the province using the same modus operandi,” he said.

SAPA

Johannesburg – Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Nouakchott, in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on Saturday to attend the inauguration ceremony of president-elect Mahomed Ould Abdel Aziz, his spokesperson said.

“The deputy president will represent President Jacob Zuma at the inauguration later today,” Ronnie Mamoepa said.

Ramaphosa was expected to be back in South Africa on Sunday morning.

President Jacob Zuma was in America leading a South African delegation to the inaugural United States-Africa Leaders’ Summit taking place from 4 August – 6 August in Washington DC.

Aziz was re-elected for a second term with 80% of the votes.

Mamoepa said South Africa has made a constructive contribution in Mauritania to support the implementation of the democratic roadmap undertaken by the military transitional government.

The presidency said earlier that Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa had been sworn-in as acting president, while Zuma and Ramaphosa were abroad.

SAPA

Pretoria – Platinum Stars got their defence of the MTN8 title off to a perfect start on Saturday afternoon, comfortably beating Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

Skipper Vuyo Mere netted from the penalty spot just seven minutes in, before Ndumiso Mabena added a second shortly after to leave Sundowns with a mountain to climb by half-time.

Teko Modise’s tame free-kick effort deep into the second half pulled one back for the home side but it was not enough as Stars walked away victorious and got their season off to a promising start.

Sundowns, defending Premiership champions, made a return to the top eight competition after missing out last season, while Stars progress into the semifinals and continue to prove their pedigree in the country’s premier knockout competition.

Stars’ hard work at the top end of the half paid off from the first whistle as Mduduzi Nyanda was brought down inside the area by Tebogo Langerman, who was too slow and committed a reckless foul on six minutes, which drew few complaints from the home side.

Mere stepped up and made no mistake from the spot, handing Stars the early lead over their big-spending counterparts, who had no fewer than four new signings in their matchday team of 18.

Things went from bad to worse for the hosts eight minutes later when Mabena doubled Dikwena’s lead, following a superb pass from midfield, which unlocked the Sundowns defence and allowed Mabena to slot home from a tight angle.

With little in the way of goal-mouth action heading Sundowns way, the match was brought to an extraordinary halt on the half-hour mark when a swarm of bees, which had gathered on a microphone behind Stars goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane, forced referee Thando Ndzandzeka to stop the game and order the bees to be removed.

Deep into additional time, Sundowns finally had their best chance of the half, but Anthony Laffor failed to direct his header on target and went just wide of the upright following a superb delivery from Teko Modise.

Trailing at the break, Sundowns boss Pitso Mosimane changed Katlego Mashego for Bonginkosi Ntuli, after a disappointing first period.

Ntuli was involved from the start and played his part but still Sundowns failed to inspire in front of goal and struggled to make their mark inside the box.

Modise gave some relief to the home crowd when he managed to reduce the deficit and bagged a goal from the set-piece, following a defensive lapse which cost Mpontshane a clean-sheet.

But that was as far as it would go for the league champions, who bow out of the top eight and will now focus their attention elsewhere.

SAPA

Johannesburg – The SA Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) hearings into transformation at universities was biased and not transparent, AfriForum Youth said on Saturday.

“The roleplayers who were involved included one-sided and blatant racist organisations… the hearing involved no minority groups,” Henk Maree, AfriForum Youth chairperson said in a statement.

Maree said his organisation questioned the transparency and credibility of the two day long hearing.

“The examples used by the commission to make their conclusions were amongst others, the Reitz incident, a 2008 incident which has been dealt with long ago, the drowning of a first year student at the Potchefstroom campus of the North West University in 2012, in which the probe found no element of race or discrimination, as well as the example of the University of the Free State two students accused of assault,” he said.

The case of two UFS students, Cobus Muller and Charl Blom is expected to resume in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

Muller faces four charges which include reckless driving, crimen injuria, attempted murder and assault, while Blom faces a charge of assault.

The two allegedly tried to run over fellow-student Muzi Gwebu with their bakkie on the campus in February.

At the same university, four students were accused of duping cleaning staff at their Reitz residence to eat food which had been urinated on which was filmed as part of the residence’s initiation process.

The students, RC Malherbe, Johnny Roberts, Schalk van der Merwe and Danie Grobler pleaded guilty to a charge of crimen injuria in July 2010 and were each fined R20 000 or 12 months’ in jail.

On appeal, the fines for Van der Merwe and Malherbe were reduced to R10 000 each, while that of Roberts and Grobler were reduced to R15 000 each.

On Thursday and Friday, the SAHRC held hearings on transformation at universities.

The hearing was spurred by a complaint received in 2012 from the Higher Education Transformation Network about the death of a student, Thabang Mokhoang, at an orientation programme at the North West University. He drowned in a campus swimming pool. The commission was asked to determine what role discrimination had played in Mokhoang’s death.

The commission said there had been a spike in racism-related incidents in South Africa, particularly at universities, with over 500 cases being reported to the commission in the past year.

In the 2013/14 financial year, 45% of the commission’s complaints were race-related.

The commission’s spokesperson Isaac Mangena said AfriForum Youth had “jumped the gun”.

“We expected that those who are against transformation will talk down such a noble process,” Mangena said.

“The hearings were not about groups but about the institutions. In our next batch of hearings, other stakeholders such as student and youth organisations such as AfriForum Youth will be invited,” he said.

“We stand by our hearings. AfriForum Youth should be coming up with ways to ensure that the future is about co-existence between blacks and whites.”

SAPA

Amajimbos are through to the final qualifying round of the African Youth Championships (AYC) with a thumping 4-0 victory over visiting Tanzania in an exciting match played at Dobsonville Stadium on Saturday.

Goals from Edwin Sekhwama, a brace from substitute Khanyisa Mayo and a late goal from Thendo Mukumela ensured a great victory for the Molefi Ntseki-coached side.

It was a deserved win for the Under-17, who looked fired up from the word go and had they been more ruthless, especially in the first half, they could have registered a huge victory.

With the very first attack of the game, Edwin Sekhwama broke clear and tapped the ball into an empty net from a tight angle to give Amajimbos a dream start.

After the goal, Molefi Ntseki’s boys then literally camped in Tanzania’s half but at times lacked composure to kill off the match in the opening minutes.

In the 22nd minute, Sekhwama missed an open goal when it appeared easier to score than miss. Seconds later, Tanzania goalkeeper, Metach Mnata was forced to make a good save as Amajimbos swarmed the visitors’ goal area.

Tanzania came back into the second half trying desperately to come back into the game and forced a few anxious moments for the home team.

They hit the crossbar in the 10the min of the second half as if to warn Amajimbos that the match was far from being over.

Seif Seif then forced a brilliant save from Amajimbos keeper Mondli Mpoto as Tanzania chased the equaliser.

As Tanzania threw bodies upfront, they were caught on a counter attack with Khanyisa Mayo scoring a great goal, finishing off a cross from the right to make it 2-0.

Mayo then made it 3-0 with another break away attack and the visitors looked dead and buried.

Thando Mukumela then sealed a huge victory with a goal in the 90th min to make the final score 4-0.

The first leg had ended 0-0 in Tanzania two weeks ago.

Amajimbos will now meet the winner between Congo Brazzaville and Egypt for a place in the Championships finals scheduled for Niger next year in March/April.

Starting Line-Ups

South Africa: Mondli Mpoto (GK), Katlego Mohamme, Notha Ngcobo, Manoke Noge, Themba Nzimande, Thendo Mukumela, Keanu Cupido, Athenkosi Dlala, Nelson Maluleke,  Sibongakonke Mbatha, Edwin Sekhwama: Coach – Molefi Ntseki

Tanzania: Metacha Mnata (GK), Issa Majira, Martin Luseke, Adolf Bitegeko, Prospal Mushi, Seif Seif, Omary Wayne, Athanas Madamu (C), Abdulrasul Bitebo, Baraka Baraka, Omary Omary – Coach (Steward Hall).
-TDN
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Johannesburg – A Mozambican national has been arrested for possession of explosives in Boitekong, near Rustenburg, North West police said on Friday.

“On Thursday, members of the K9 Phokeng and Rustenburg explosives and bomb disposal unit followed up information about a certain house in Boitekong where explosives were apparently hidden,” police spokesperson Sabata Mokgwabone said in a statement.

Police found five blasters, 18 electric detonators, and 50 blasting current indicators in the house.

Mokgwabone said the 28-year-old’s arrest would help police crack syndicates involved in underground copper cable theft from mines.

The man was expected to appear in the Rustenburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday on a charge of possession of illegal explosives.

SAPA

Mahikeng- Jaws intervention unit has impounded more than19 private scholar transport taxis around Mahikeng for operating without licenses.

The taxis were impounded during the special taxi operation which lasted for two days.

North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Gaoage Molapisi said the department would not allow any taxi operating on the road without operating licenses.

“These taxis operate without permits and they ferry learners in and out of school on daily basis. The most worrying factor is that they overload these taxis and do not even have necessary documents.”

According to traffic authorities one taxi was found loading 32 learners and is certified to carry 15 passengers.

In a meeting with the Head of the Department Mr Bailey Mahlakoleng, operators whom their vehicles have been impounded claimed that they have since applied for operating licenses and they are still awaiting for their permits. Upon departmental investigation, it was established that only four had applied and three disqualified with one going to PRE in its next sitting for consideration.

While they raised concerns on lack of information on the application process, the department committed to assist and ease the process for them.

The operators have since further been advised to pay their traffic fines issued when their vehicles were impounded before they could collect them.

Traffic Authorities also revealed that most of the operators whom their vehicles are been impounded are also operating as routine taxi operators which means they have permits at their respective ranks with specific routes and therefore cannot qualify to operate as scholar transport.

In that regard, MEC Molapisi said; “The department only issues one operating license per vehicle, there is no way that one taxi can operate parallel, so those who operate as taxis should make a choice whether they continue as taxi operators or as taxi scholar transport which then we will withdraw your taxi operating permit.”

As part of an outreach programme and strengthening of partnership, the department will conduct information sharing session and campaigns within the industry in orders to minimize illegal operations.

The purpose of this exercise would be to encourage more illegal taxi operators to legalise their operations.

More than 63 traffic fines with a value of R70 800 were issued during the operation to motorists for different offences such as using cellphone while driving, seatbelt, overloading and driving without driving license.

A Zimbabwean citizen who is an accountant, was further arrested for driving a white ford bantam with a fraudulent vehicle license disc. The fraudulent disc was detected through the Number Plate Recognition System (NPRS), and two vehicles were discontinued for unroadworthiness.
-TDN
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