Minister Pandor's visit to Helsinki is at the invitation of her Finnish counterpart, Minister Pekka Haavisto.

The meeting is taking place from Monday, 13 June, to Wednesday, 15 June 2022. 

The last engagement between Nordic-Africa foreign ministers was held in Tanzania in 2019, after which these engagements were postponed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Africa-Nordic Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is an important annual forum for informal and open-minded discussions between African and Nordic countries. 

The meeting in Helsinki includes the foreign ministers of all the Nordic countries, as well as several African foreign ministers. 

The focus of the meeting this year is on promoting peace and security, sustainable societies, the rule of law, youth and women, as well as enhancing African-Nordic multilateral cooperation, all of which are important priorities for South Africa.

The visit to Finland will be followed by working visits to Sweden and Norway for bilateral engagements with the respective foreign ministers.

The call came at the ministers’ meeting held on Friday, 10 June 2022, in Lilongwe, Malawi, to review progress on the implementation of gender and development programmes in the region, as well as the revised SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.

The ministers expressed concern about the high prevalence of GBV in the region and urged member states to improve GBV data collection and implement the SADC Regional Strategy and Framework of Action for Addressing GBV. The framework is part of efforts to achieve gender equality and promote peace and security.

In her opening remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malawi and Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers, Nancy Tembo, commended member states for seizing the unique opportunity to discuss policy issues and for gracing a platform to share insights, experiences and lessons.

“Gender equality is a critical component and contributing factor to SADC member states and the region’s long-term development,” Minister Tembo said.

Minister Tembo advocated for equal recognition and creation of a favourable environment in which both men and women can continue to enjoy their full rights without any infringement or oppression, with equal employment opportunities, businesses, access to financial institutions and representation in leadership positions.

During the meeting, the ministers approved the SADC Gender and Development Monitor on Women in Politics and Decision-making for 2022, with emphasis on Articles 5, 12 and 13 of the Protocol on Representation, Participation, and Special Measures, which aim to achieve gender parity in political and decision-making roles.

The ministers also approved the extension of the SADC Strategy on Women, Peace and Security from 2022 to 2030 to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

The strategy addresses the impact of conflict on women and the importance of women's full and equal participation in conflict resolution, peacebuilding, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and post-conflict reconstruction.

In implementing the SADC Regional Multi-dimensional Women Economic Empowerment Programme 2020-2030, the ministers reviewed progress on the SADC Industrialisation and the Women's Economic Empowerment Project.

The project aims to increase women-owned businesses' and female entrepreneurs' participation in value addition for selected sectors and regional value chains.

Revised Gender Mainstreaming Resource Kit approved

The ministers also approved the Revised Gender Mainstreaming Resource Kit, which supports gender mainstreaming across several sectors.

The kit contains 10 sector-specific modules, which provide practical guidance on gender mainstreaming in regional integration priority sectors.

The ministers urged member states that have not yet signed and ratified the Revised SADC Protocol on Gender and Development to do so to facilitate implementation of the protocol.

The protocol aims to empower women, eliminate discrimination and achieve gender equality by encouraging and harmonising gender-responsive legislation, policies, programmes and projects.

Malawi Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Minister, Dr Patricia Kaliati, underscored the region's determination to fully cultivate a robust approach embedded in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020-2030), which will see a meaningful change of gender agenda interwoven in many SADC programmes and projects.

Minister Kaliati highlighted a number of barriers and situations preventing women and girls from achieving gender parity. She called for an accelerated implementation of regional protocols, strategies, policies and programmes to support women's efforts, by encouraging them to participate in growth and progress toward a better future.

She also called for the active promotion of effective GBV prevention initiatives and highlighted physical and social misfortunes that befall women and girls, including defilement, rape, HIV/AIDS and limited access to productive resources.

SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Corporate Affairs, Ambassador Joseph Nourrice, commended member states for their achievements and efforts in mainstreaming gender equality into key policy areas, and advocated for vigorous promotion of the gender machinery through active participation of all institutional players in the public, private and voluntary sectors.

The meeting was attended physically and virtually by ministers or their representatives from 13 member states, including Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, eSwatini, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

“Parliament will have a role in the ratification of the treaty once concluded, as international agreements become law after being approved by the resolution in both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.

“Simply, this means that international agreements become national law only upon ratification by Parliament,” he said.

ACDP leader, Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, had asked the Deputy President if he, as a leader of government business, intended to ask health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, to appear before Parliament to canvass the views of the house before signing the treaty.

Deputy President Mabuza said it went without saying that the Minister of Health was enjoined by the Constitution to submit the treaty to Parliament for consideration and approval.

“For South Africa, it is crucial that the treaty is anchored on human rights to ensure equitable access to available medical solutions in order to improve the health and well-being of all, regardless of socio-economic status or geographical location.”

This comes after the WHO agreed at a Special Session held from 29 November to 1 December 2021 to start a process of developing and negotiating a treaty on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. 

Deputy President Mabuza said to this end, an intergovernmental negotiating body was set up to lead the negotiations and drafting of the treaty, in consultation with various stakeholders, including member states and civil-society organisations.

“Drawing on the lessons that were learnt from responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the proposed Global Pandemic Treaty will complement the International Health Regulations.

“To this end, the agreement will seek to outline the objectives and fundamental principles necessary for effective collective action to fight against the pandemics, address gaps in the current legal framework and clarify roles and responsibilities of states and international organisations, among others.

“It is envisaged that this global treaty will, among others, enhance surveillance of pandemic risks and alerts; ensure uninterrupted health supplies and services and effective research and innovation for timely development of vaccines, treatments and diagnostics; ensure better response mechanisms and implementation; as well as restore trust in the international health system.”

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

To date, progress has been limited with members mainly repeating known positions. The divide remains largely between developed and developing members. In addition, there are huge differences between the United States of America (USA), China and India.

South Africa’s priority in the agricultural negotiations is to achieve a substantial and real reduction of trade distorting domestic support and to ensure sufficient policy space to carry out developmental policies that seek to address poverty, inequality and low economic growth.

For South Africa, the negotiations need to follow a certain sequence with domestic support as a priority. Market access negotiations can only start once substantial progress has been made with domestic support. This is to ensure historical imbalances are addressed and the playing field is levelled before engaging in further market openings.

Approximately 70% of South Africa’s agricultural exports are already duty-free, incorporating the SADC Trade Protocol, the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union, the African Growth and Opportunity Act with the USA and including the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (this agreement is not yet implemented). South Africa’s major challenges regarding market access are in the Sanitary and Phytosanitary field and those are not negotiated with the Agreement on Agriculture.

South Africa conducts the negotiations as part of various groups to enhance and strengthen its own positions. These groups of relevance are the Africa Group, the African Caribbean and Pacific Group and to a lesser extend as part of the Cairns Group.

The Minister was briefing media on Cabinet decisions on Thursday, 9 June 2022.

This after the Japanese Government, together with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), launched the Japan-South Africa Business Forum recently.

Minister Gungubele said Cabinet welcomed the deepening of ties between the two countries.

“Japan is one of our most important trade partners and a leading investor in a number of South African sectors, ranging from automobiles to advanced mining machinery, and from agribusiness to financial services.

“Cabinet welcomed the outcomes of the recent Japan-South Africa Business Forum, which agreed to an ambitious work programme that includes collaboration on green industrialisation, electric vehicle technologies and green hydrogen.

"The forum also agreed to a virtual ‘road-show’ to highlight South African opportunities to more Japanese businesses, skills development in the local auto industry, work streams on manufacturing opportunities and the exchange of technical experiences,” Minister Gungubele said.

Speaking at the launch of the forum recently, dtic Minister Ebrahim Patel called for renewed focus to enhance ties between the two countries.

“I am very encouraged by the positive spirit among Japanese investors and the commitment to strengthening ties and economic opportunities, including for small and medium businesses. This forum can invigorate the economic relationship and boost green industries.

“We have now agreed to nine workstreams of actions that both countries will work together to address, with the first reports due within three months,” Minister Patel said.

According to the dtic, Japan is one of South Africa’s biggest trade partners along with China, the United States of America and Germany.

“South African exports to Japan increased from R61 billion in 2011 to R150 billion in 2021. Last year, South African imported R34 billion worth of goods ... resulting in a R114-billion trade surplus in South Africa’s favour with Japan,” the department said.

 – Source: SAnews.gov.za

The symposium is organised by the UN, represented by the Department of Operational Support (DOS) and the UN Office of Information & Communications Technology (OICT) in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of South Africa (RSA). The RSA Defence Review 2014 militates for strategic shaping and influence through defence diplomacy

Attendees of the symposium will include participants invited by the UN. These will comprise member states, civil society and academia, UN officials, international consultants, participants invited as observers by the UN and the South African Government, including representatives from intergovernmental or non-government organisations or institutions. It will bring together experts from member states, civil society, the UN and its partners to explore innovative ways that can contribute to peacekeeping using technology as a catalyst. The symposium will also provide a forum to develop strategic partnerships aimed at delivering tangible and sustainable outcomes.

The main purpose of the symposium will be to align with key recommendations in the Strategy for Digital Transformation of UN Peacekeeping and to provide a communication platform that emphasises cooperation as a key enabler of the organisation. Emphasis is put on tangible outcomes, optimisation of operational procedures and “know-how”, transfer on the use of modern technologies that are not yet included in the typical peacekeeping mission portfolio and exploring creative and collaborative opportunities to enhance field technology in the areas of:

• protecting peacekeepers
• information-driven peace operations
• integrated training and capacity-building
• eco-responsibility
• telemedicine.

South Africa will be the first African country to host the Partnership for Technology in Peacekeeping Symposium. Previous symposia were hosted by European and Asian countries. This is an important milestone for the African continent.

By hosting this symposium, South Africa hopes to:

• promote locally developed technology products
• increase awareness of what South Africa has to offer to UN missions and member states technology-wise
• enhance the indigenous defence industry’s capabilities at a UN-led platform that has global reach.

Furthermore, this endeavour is also focussed on generating interest for collaboration efforts in technology development with strategic countries in line with the Presidential campaign of attracting foreign direct investment into the country.

“This is part of the effort to introduce innovative and effective methods of improving service delivery, as the new passport service will accelerate the processing of applications and delivery of completed products to clients in the UK,” Minister Motsoaledi said in a statement.

The service includes the renewal of passport application processing for adults and minors.

The South African Diaspora in the UK can lodge applications at three convenient locations run by VFS Global. The centre in London is located at 66 Wilson Street, London, EC2A 2BT; in Edingburgh at 1 Rennie’s Isle, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6QT; and in Manchester at 50 Devonshire Street North, Manchester, M12 6JH.

Key benefits for applicants:

• operating times in London, Edingburgh and Manchester (8:30am to 4pm)
• dedicated courier service for processed passports
• dedicated e-mail for applicant queries
• quicker turnaround time for passport renewal
• passport photo service also available in London, Edinburgh and Manchester
• application tracking facility with SMS service.

Minister Motsoaledi also noted that the new passport service would advance the department’s movement from manual, paper-based processes to digital systems, for smart, faster and reliable services.

“With this system in place, our citizens in the UK will no longer wait for extended periods when renewing their passports. This will also ease space constraints at South Africa’s Embassy in London,” Minister Motsoaledi said.

For further information and to book an appointment, applicants can visit: https://passport.vfsglobal.com/ppt/en/zaf/

Customer helpline: 09057650123 (open between 8:30am and 5:30pm, from Monday to Friday).

– Source: SAnews.gov.za

According to Reddy in an interview with Moneyweb, the 28th floor of the hotel will have two of largest presidential suites in the province, at 600 m² each, overlooking Durban’s Umhlanga Rocks.

The hotel also offers eight state-of-the-art meeting facilities, with the ballroom accommodating 600 guests in cinema style. Guests can host weddings at the venue, but you may have to book two years in advance.

Before the pandemic, the project was meant to include a snow park, but is has now since been re-planned and will be replaced by a big entertainment area.

Though not disclosed yet, Ocean Mall is expected to have a Diamond Walk with luxury stores and more.

– Source: www.businessinsider.co.za

News24 scored second place after competing against international media brands in the Best Use of Audio Category for My Only Story: Back to School, a podcast series that investigated allegations of improper conduct against former St Andrew's College water polo coach David Mackenzie.

Another News24 podcast series, The Inge Lotz Story: A Miscarriage of Justice, which delves into the unsolved murder case from March 2005, was recognised in the same category.

For the Best Use of Video, an honourable mention was given to News24’s Cape of Flames documentary on the 2021 Table Mountain fires, while the 2021 Elections Forecaster tool received credit in the category for Best New Digital Product.

News24’s data journalism project Out of Order was also given props in the category Best Public Relations or Community Service Campaign.
In addition, News24’s parent company, Media24 Group, won the Best in Africa Award.

The ceremony was broadcast across INMA.org, LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook Live, with a total of 60 first place winners announced across 20 categories.

The competition assesses news media companies across three segments: national brands, regional brands and media groups.

In March, the 333 finalists were announced in the 2022 INMA Global Media Awards following 854 entries from 252 news brands in 46 countries.

The annual awards showcase innovation and best practices in news brands to promote the optimal use of media platforms, subscriptions, advertising, data and insights, product and newsrooms.

 – Source: www.news24.com

The signing of two important agreements at the residence of French Ambassador, Aurélien Lechevallier, in Pretoria on 7 June, has opened the door to critical regional and inter-continental cooperation in the field of biodiversity.

This will impact spatial and development planning as well as policy-making and open the door to critical peer-to-peer learning, said Ghislain Rieb, head of the Infrastructure and Environmental team at Agence Française de Développement (AFD). These agreements recognise that South Africa has world-class knowledge and has a lot to teach Europe with regard to biodiversity – and vice versa.

The first agreement is for a five-year project that aims to develop and enhance national spatial biodiversity assessments, planning and prioritisation (SBAPP) processes and products across four southern African countries (South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Malawi).

“It is difficult to preserve something that you don’t know enough about. Through mapping and prioritising, public- and private-sector conservation efforts can be optimised. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) has some important tools that enable decision-makers to take the necessary measures to mitigate the impact of development. This is world-class and enables them to make informed decisions at municipal, provincial and national levels. This project will allow all four countries to take this vital work forward,” said Rieb.

SANBI, a pioneer in SBAPP in the region, is the lead implementing agency of the project. AFD and Fonds Français pour l’Environnement Mondial will collectively inject €4 million in funding into the project.

The second agreement is a four-party partnership agreement for the implementation of peer-to-peer exchanges between South Africa and France. SANBI and South African National Parks (SANParks) both share aspects of the mandate of the Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB).

OFB and SANBI, for example, have similar mandates that include reporting on the conservation status of biodiversity and making biodiversity information available to regulators, policy-makers and managers. SANParks and the OFB, on the other hand, share a mandate of the undertaking and supporting protected natural area management.

“Endowed with a wide range of duties at national level, OFB will develop its international cooperation throughout the project by exploring and sharing technical solutions on structuring knowledge and expertise, mobilisation of civil society and management of marine protected areas (MPAs),” said Cyrille Barnerias, European and International Relations Director at OFB.

The exchanges between SANBI and OFB will focus on the SBAPP processes, the concrete experience and tools developed in South Africa and France and how they can enrich each other. They will also link in relevant experts from Namibia, Mozambique and Malawi, ensuring many clear avenues for collaboration and skills and experience sharing across all five countries.

Dr Luthando Dziba, Managing Executive: Conservation Services Division at SANParks, said: “The biodiversity and ecological integrity of many marine ecosystems are threatened. The potential benefits for humans from our oceans are consequently also at risk. Therefore, some marine habitats, species and ecosystem functions are protected from human pressures in marine protected areas. Exchanges between SANParks and OFB will focus on MPAs, a recently expanded conservation commitment for SANParks, which also requires building up of resources. It will focus on the development of management plans, socio-ecological baseline assessments, MPA effectiveness assessments and the role of governance in the marine space.”

Drawing on its experience creating the Arcachon Basin Marine Nature Park management plan, OFB will support SANParks in developing management plans for its three new MPAs – Addo Elephant (Eastern Cape), Robben Island (Western Cape) and Namaqua (Northern Cape). Capacity development will also include support of additional science capacity in SANParks.

This will play an important role in policy-making as South African authorities work towards developing the Blue Economy at a time when economic recovery and job creation are priorities.

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com

“This is the equivalent of obtaining three stars in the Michelin Guide! It’s an extraordinary result for us in Cape Town, and we are enormously proud of him.”

Emiliano will receive his prize from the French Minister of Education on 7 July at La Sorbonne University in Paris, and he will find out then where in the top three he was graded.

But this is not the only good news story from the Cape Town French School – which admits children from age two to 18, including non-French speaking children up to Grade 10. The school has achieved many other accolades in the past few months.

Joshua Engelsmann, a Grade 12 student, was selected for the Bourse Excellence Major, a five-year scholarship granted to the best non-French Grade 12 students in the international French School system (AEFE). Joshua is one of only two students selected in South Africa and among only 182 globally.

Students Tom Vanrenterghem and Riyad Yahyaoui have been selected to represent South Africa and 14 other neighbouring countries for the finals in France of the Ambassadeurs en Herbe, the French Model United Nations.

And lastly, Grade 7 pupil Emilie Duchenne has just published her first novel, an extremely engaging book for young readers called Azimagina: La Princesse Secrète.

The Cape Town French School has about 350 pupils from over 30 nationalities across its two campuses. It was founded in 1987 and offers a first-class French education in a dual-medium environment. The syllabus is run under the auspices of AEFE, the world’s largest network of schools with a single curriculum in 543 schools across 139 countries.

It offers the French baccalauréat and the Cambridge International examination at its two campuses.

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com

The previous largest sock sentence consisted of 2 295 socks and was accomplished by a sock company in Osaka, Japan, on 9 November 2020. Cipla beat the current record thanks to over 5 600 socks donated by its staff and Curro Brackenfell, who donated over 3 000 socks alone.

This new record nearly doubles the previous one.

The record-breaking sentence was the mental health hashtag, #ItsOkNotToBeOk, along with details of the free Cipla-South African Depression and Anxiety Group mental health helpline, 0800 456 789, as a reminder to people that they are not alone and that there’s always help available, and that there is always hope. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental effect on mental health in South Africa.

According to the World Health Organisation, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds. It is estimated that one in six South Africans suffers from anxiety, depression, or a substance use disorder, 40% of South Africans living with HIV have a comorbid mental disorder, 41% of pregnant women are depressed, and about 60% of South Africans could be suffering from post-traumatic stress, according to the South African Colleague of Applied Psychology.

After breaking the record, all the socks collected will be washed and sorted by colour. The textile recycling process will provide much-needed employment for unemployed seamstresses and carpenters, who skilled artisans will train to recycle the socks into occasional chairs that will be placed at locations where people can go to have a “mental health moment” and just breathe.

“As part of Cipla’s ethos of caring for life and the environment, it was very important for us to collaborate with like-minded partners to help make a difference by reducing the number of textiles ending up in landfills. We want people to live a long and healthy life, and we’re also focused on the health of our planet,” CEO of Cipla South Africa, Paul Miller explained.

– Source: www.goodthingsguy.com

On the final day of action, 400-m hurdler Zeney van der Walt earned gold in the women's final, clocking 56.00. Her compatriot, Taylon Bieldt, secured the silver medal in 56.67.

Van der Walt and Bieldt went on to join flat 400-m champion Miranda Coetzee and 200-m sprinter Banele Shabangu, to secure gold in the women's 4x400m relay final in 3:29.34.

“It's my first senior African Championships and I'm very happy to take home two gold medals,” said Van der Walt, a former World Youth champion.

“This gives me a lot of confidence because it's a stepping stone going forward and I'm really excited.”

Former world junior champion Sokwakhana “Soks” Zazini also displayed fine form in the men's 400-m hurdles final, flying to a convincing victory in 49.42. Algerian athlete Abdelmalik Lahoulou took second place in 50.10.

“Coming here, the main goal was to win, so I'm happy to take the title home for my country,” Zazini said.

Another former world junior champion, Kyle Blignaut, took the runner-up spot in the men's shot put with a season's best of 20.60m. Chukwuebeka Enekweshi of Nigeria launched a massive 21.20m throw to win gold.

“I'm satisfied with my medal, but the conditions were tough with the wind and rain,” Blignaut said. “I can't complain or make excuses because everyone was competing in the same conditions.”

Middle-distance runner Ryan Mphahlele was involved in a close contest in the men's 1 500-m final, finishing second in 3:36.74, with Kenyan athlete Abel Kipsang holding off a brave challenge from the rising South African star to win the race in 3:36.57.

“I have mixed emotions and I wish some things could have gone differently, but it's my first major championship as a senior athlete, so I'll take a silver medal any day of the week,” Mphahlele said.

Earlier in the day, Wayne Snyman narrowly missed out on the African title in the men's 20-km walk.

In a tight finish, Snyman crossed the line in 1:22:05, grabbing the silver medal just one second behind Kenyan athlete Samuel Gathimba (1:22:04).

Other medallists on the final day of competition included 200-m sprinter Clarence Munyai (20.69), 800-m runner Prudence Sekgodiso (2:03.46), high jumper Mpho Links (2.15m) and javelin thrower Phil-Mar Janse van Rensburg (74.10m) who all earned bronze medals.

Though the Kenyan team finished top of the final medals table with 10 golds, they secured only 23 medals in total, far fewer than the 36 earned by the SA team.

“We had some very close results and though we didn't finish top of the medals table, we are proud of our team for bringing home so many medals,” said Athletics South Africa president James Moloi. “We also had a lot of junior athletes in the squad and it bodes well for the future.”

– Source: https://www.ofm.co.za/

The event kicked off on 12 June 2022 and runs until 18 June. More than 500 athletes from 59 countries are competing at the World Para Swimming Championships in what is the largest international Para sport event to take place in Portugal.

Kat Swanepoel came within 0.10 of a second of dipping under the one minute barrier when she twice broke the South African and African record in the women’s SB3 50-m breaststroke.

The 34-year-old Tokyo Paralympian finished fourth in the evening final in 1min 00.10sec, only 0.45sec off winning the bronze medal. Earlier she had shattered the South African and African record, finishing third in her heat in 1:00.98. That was nearly seven seconds faster than her qualifying entry time of 1:07.25, which was a remarkable improvement. She went even quicker a few hours later to lower the national and African mark again.

Swanepoel – who was diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis in 2008 – has since represented South Africa in swimming as well as wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby.

Alani Ferreira was also in record-breaking form. She was the first Team SA swimmer in the water at the championships and produced a personal best at her first attempt.

Taking part in the women’s S13 100-m butterfly, the 23-year-old, twice a Team SA Paralympian clocked an African record in 1min 18.56sec. That saw her touching the wall in sixth position in her heat won by Brazil’s Santiago Gomes in 1:07.00. For Ferreira, her time was nearly half a second quicker (0.45) than her qualifying entry.

“I’m very happy with my race,” Ferreira said. “I didn’t have the build-up coming into Worlds that I wanted, and this isn’t my main event, but I can’t be anything other than happy with the result, to get a PB and a record in my first swim.”

In Tokyo last year, Ferreira had swum the 100-m butterfly in 1:20.25, which itself was four seconds faster than at than Rio 2016, where she competed while still in matric.

In the evening final, Ferreir – who is visually impaired and was diagnosed with Stargardt macular dystrophy when she was 12 – again lowered the African record, finishing seventh in 1:18.17.

Christian Sadie went straight into the men’s final in the 200-m Individual Medley SM7 and carved 1.62 seconds off his entry time when also finishing one spot out of the medals, timing a South African and African record of 2:34.08. Sadie – who has radial club hands – was almost 10 seconds clear of the fifth-placed swimmer, Rudy Garcia-Tolson of the United States of America.

The other Team SA member competing at these World Para Swimming Championships is Cornelle Leach. Ferreira, Swanepoel and Sadie represented the country at last year’s Paralympics in Tokyo.

– Source: www.sapeople.com

“Honestly, I'm relieved," said the 2011 Masters champion, who led by five shots with seven holes to play before a double bogey on the 12th set up a nervy finish.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I think we could play for so much money in golf. It's been an amazing experience."

LIV Golf CEO, Greg Norman, who attempted to set up a world tour in 1994, said: "The evolution of the game of golf is alive and LIV is alive.

"For 27 years, there's been a lot of obstacles put in our path, a lot of dreams have tried to be squashed, but they couldn't squash us and golf was always going to be the force for good out of all this."

– Source: www.sport24.com

Weather can be unpredictable when the world’s best mountain bikers journey to Alpine venues. The Austrian Alps have been good to South African riders, and this weekend was no different.

Despite placing 17th in the XC short course event on Saturday, 11 June 2022, KZN’s Alan Hatherly showed great skill on Leogang’s muddy track, during Sunday’s main event.

Measuring 3.7-km a lap, with 221m of climbing, the Leogang XC track featured an abundance of muddy roots, testing technical bike handling skills. Known as an excellent rider on steep and technical descents, Hatherly was confident of a strong result in Austria.

During Sunday’s race, Hatherly remained with the lead men’s group throughout all six laps. Switzerland’s Mathias Flückiger took the win, followed in second by fellow Swiss, Nino Schurter.

Third place went to Hatherly. A terrific achievement for the young South African, who is having a dream season.

Although Hatherly might have missed the Cape Epic, his performances during this season’s UCI World Cup events have been inspired. It is shaping as a breakthrough season for the Cannondale rider.

The next round of UCI World Cup mountain bike events is scheduled for 8 to 10 July, in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. This is another venue where Greg Minnaar has been successful, winning the Lenzerheide UCI downhill World Cup in 2017.

Hatherly has been edging closer to that inevitable first XC World Cup win, all season, and in Lenzerheide, he will be a strong contender for overall honours.

 – Source: www.news24.com

Stormers coach John Dobson had come out into the press box to watch that kick and he, too, could not contain his emotions as he jumped up and down, waving his arms into the air.

The score was 15-10 to Ulster at half-time, and it stayed that way all the way up until Gelant finished off down the left as the Stormers, somehow, stayed alive.

Cape Town Stadium will now host the dream all-South African final next weekend when the Stormers host the Bulls for the URC title.

South African rugby, in its first season of URC, now has two teams in the final, and next weekend's derby is set to be a mammoth affair.

The Bulls edged Leinster 27-26 to reach the URC final on Friday, 10 June 2022, as the Irish province ended trophyless for the first time in five years.

– Source: www.sport24.com

Second-ranked France has not lost a match since a 33-30 defeat by Australia in Brisbane in July 2021.

Les Bleus have won eight Tests in a row and could equal an 85-year-old record if they win both matches in Japan.

The Springboks, meanwhile, will also face Ireland in Dublin (5 November) on their year-end tour. Although yet to be confirmed, the Boks are also likely to face Italy and England.

– Source: www.sport24.com

This is JP’s fourth season with the Seattle Seawolves. Since moving to the US and joining the club in 2019, JP’s kicking and leadership skills have made him a “staple” for the side, according to MLR website.

“Smith has played an integral part with the Seattle Seawolves since joining in 2019, tallying a total 12 career tries to date,” MLR said on Facebook, noting that with his 50 caps he has now cemented his spot in MLR history.

MLR is only in its fifth season, having been founded in 2018 with seven inaugural teams. The professional sports league represents the highest level of rugby competition in North America.

Seattle Seawolves posted congratulations to JP, calling him a “Seawolf through-and-through”. The club said “JP Smith becomes the third Seawolf to reach 50 appearances for our Club, and the fifteenth player to reach the career milestone in Major League Rugby history. Thank you JP for your hard work and dedication. We are lucky to have you! 🌊 #TogetherWeHunt”

Born and raised in South Africa, JP attended Queen’s College in the Eastern Cape and was mad about rugby from a young age. He played for the Border Bulldogs and was featured in Craven Week. He went on to play for the Blue Bulls for a few years, and was selected for the South African U20 team that competed in the IRB Junior World Championship.

JP also played for Free State Cheetahs for two seasons before taking to Pro14 competition with the Southern Kings in 2018.

Before joining the Seawolves, he played for Eastern Province in the Guinness Pro 14 and the Elephants in the Currie Cup in 2018.

MLR says it is honouring “the first 50 players to reach 50 caps, and their role in building the legacy of MLR”.

– Source: www.sapeople.com