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Sharks hold heads high despite defeat Canberra - Although the disappointment of his team tiring in the second half of the Super 12 final against the Brumbies was clearly visible on his face, coach Rudolf Straueli found comfort in the knowledge that his team had experienced a fairy-tale season. Simply reaching the final was a phenomenal showing for the team that was the joke of the Super 12 a year ago after finishing bottom of the standings. No team in this series could have achieved what the Sharks did this year and it is unlikely that it will be repeated in a hurry. To come from last on the log and progress to the final is an almost unknown turn-around and a feather in the cap of the Sharks management and players. "The Brumbies showed today (on Saturday) what a professional team they are. They deserve this trophy and I give them credit, especially their defence. When they scored that first try, they suddenly lifted the pace and we were unable to come back again," said Straeuli. "We defended well in the first half, but one can't win if one has to defend all the time. We did not have enough good possession from the first phases and our lineout work was not good. "The discipline was also lacking and we conceded far too many penalties. The Brumbies taught us a lesson as far as patience and discipline are concerned. They did not give us much of a chance to score. We simply made too many mistakes," admitted Straeuli. He did not think the difficult, wet conditions in the second half played a role in his team's defeat. "The Brumbies still controlled and handled the ball very well in those conditions." Satisfied Brumbies coach Eddie Jones, smiling at last, thought before the game that Straeuli could possibly, like Ian McIntosh often did, start with Gaffie du Toit at flyhalf. "I tried to prepare myself for any such scam. We expected they would take us on with a vengeance in the first half. Because of the long flight it was expected that they could possibly tire and that is why we did not panic. We simply wanted to get the first half behind us without too much damage. "In the second half we started playing to our pattern and got the ball back much easier. Suddenly there were gaps and more attacking options. George (Gregan) lead the team brilliantly during that period and his tactical awareness was excellent," said Jones. There is a lot of scepticism in South Africa over the direction in which Springbok coach Harry Viljoen is moving, but Australian Jones, who will take over as Wallaby coach later this year from Rod Macqueen, believes he is on the right path. After his team became the first Australian team to win the Super 12 trophy by beating the Sharks 36-6, Jones said Viljoen is a thinker. "The Springbok coach will give a new dimension to SA rugby. I believe the Springboks will be very difficult to beat in the Tri-Nations series. There is a renewal in their rugby and with Viljoen at the helm, the old ideas will no longer be part of Springbok rugby. "He doesn't hesitate to use experts and thinks innovatively about the game. He is well organised and will see to it that the Springboks’ skills improve. That, together with their strength and physical size, will make them a difficult team to beat," said Jones. Viljoen and Jones are birds of a feather with respect to their philosophy over the game. It is also no secret that Viljoen has based his approach to the game on that of Macqueen, who preceded Jones at the Brumbies. Jones also expressed his opinion about the Sharks flyhalf, Butch James, whom his describes as a player with the right approach. "He doesn't hesitate to confront the opposition and tactically is a good kicker. What I like about him is that he is determined and he has the right attitude to play on the highest level. He must just learn to develop his game in certain aspects. He is also a very good defender … when he uses his arms." Jones also praised the Sharks performance on Saturday and during the season. "Even since the match earlier this season against us, they have improved a lot and can build on these showings. They are an excellent unit and will always be one of the big danger teams in the series," said Jones. Thanks to IOL.co.za [ Top ]  Kytie Koekblik ColumnKytie Koekblik Washington D.C. - In die Kompanjies tuin in die Kaap, neem daar 'n nuwe bruidjie en haar gevolg troufotos. Die gevolg bestaan uit 'n horde kleiner "bruidjies", sommige in wit koepelrokke en ander in goudgeel, elke bruidjie met 'n bruidegom in 'n strikdas aan haar sy. Die heel kleinste bruidegommetjie staan vir geen foto stil nie,hy hardloop agter eekhorings en seemeeue en alke of duiwe of die een of ander voels aan, en ek kan al imagine hoe gaan daai klein strikdas en swart suitjie aan die ander kant uitkom. Die goudgeel bruidjies, dra parmantige skewe hoedjies en daai soort Emma Thompson rokke, kort lyfies met lang uitklok rompe. Op die bankie langs my sit 'n paartjie uit Wes-Afrika wat Frans praat met hulle dogtertjie. Die kind voer die seemeeue tjips. Die voels kloek om haar saam, die een meer gierig as die ander. Hulle duik op die dingetjie af en verskrik haar naderhand heeltemal. Die son loer oor die Berg, en ons almal het so 'n geel glans daar in die kompanjiestuin teen die wit Kaap-Hollandse museums. Dis mos die mooiste herfs op 'n sonskyndag in Kaapstad. Ek hoor aksente uit die Flats, uit Bo-Kaap, klapklanke, Frans en ek sit daar en dink in my moedertaal in my moederstad met ma en pa langs my op die bankie. 'n Man met 'n moviese sak spookasem stap verby. Candy flos, candy flos, roep hy. Hy stap verby ons drietjies op die bank, glimlag oopmond en vra, "Spoekasem? Spoekasem?" Iewers toring ou Rhodes uit bo die bome, en Smuts sit met 'n klomp duiwe op sy skouers en neus en hou wag oor die glansende reenboog-lot daar in die Kompanjiestuin. "Hier is darem maar geskiedenis" sug my ma. "Ons het destyds in daai hotelletjies gebly," se my pa. Twee boemelkinders stap verby die geel bruide in hulle lang rokke. "Daai rokke is mos vannie eeue," lag die een. "Daai rokke kom yttie ou eeu." Dis 'n nuwe eeu innie Kaap, dit kan 'n mens sien, sommerso met die eerste oogopslag. 'n Nuwe eeu in Suid-Afrika. Saterdag-aand ry ons met die N7 deur na die nuwe dobbelpaleis, die Grand West waar die Goodwood skougronde destyds was. Voor die ingange wag rye karre, tipiese rykmans karre geparkeer langs tipiese taxis. Ons kom almal saamdobbel. By die Grand West se blinknuwe ysskaatsbaan, die Kaap se Ice Station, is 'n mengelmoes mense van alle kleure en klasse. Dis net blink ligte en uithangborde en jy stap in daai casino in en jy weet, djy's in Suid-Afrika want jy hoor net Suid-Afrikaanse Engels en Afrikaans deurmekruis. Ons het 'n ver pad gekom. Ek was so trots daarop om myself Capetonian te noem. In ons "liberale" Washington bly ek in 'n spierwit neighbourhood. Selfs in die Malls en op die lughawe in Washington en JFK, is die meeste passengers 'n bleek kleur, want die wittes het nogsteeds die meeste geld en bly in die rykste suburbs. Cool, dink ek met my gewone dosis idealisme, ons is in die rainbow capital. Ek is die rainbownation. Maar dalk is dit in elk geval bo blink, onder stink? Ons loop almal in dieselfde malls rond en hang in die Grand West en in die Kompanjiestuin uit, maar ons praat nog nie met mekaar nie? Die Afrikaners kloek in elk geval nogsteeds saam. Elke liewe gesprek word gesout en peper met politiek en verwysings na "Mbeki en sy trawante." As die klompie tee drink, praat al die tannies van "ons blankes" en die "swart regering", en daar word altyd gepraat van "hulle" in die derde persoon. Die "hulle" is "geensins dom" nie, maar besef "hulle dan nou nie apartheid is verby nie." Ek wil net gil: Tannie, solank as wat jy so praat en so dink, kan apartheid nie verby wees nie. 'n Mens sou sweer hulle kry salarisse om te kla. Dit terwyl niks nog vir hulle verander het sedert ons smooth transition tot demokrasie nie. Hulle het steeds oggendtees, sommige is steeds huisvroue, hulle bly steeds in die mees affluent suburbs en hang Saterdag-oggende in die Malls rond, al verskil is nou dat die Malls multi-racial is. Dis steeds die lekkerste lewe in die Kaap, behalwe dat jy nou dalk die victim of crime kan word - dis nou die nuwe ding na die "klipgooiery en onluste" van die ou SA opgehou het. Maar ook nie meer vir lank nie - ons het mos nou karguards in die nuwe SA wat die crime 'n nekslag toedien sonder voortande... Voor die kompanjiestuin sit ons plankdun karguard sonder haar twee voortande en glimlag. "Menier, sien 'ie wiele is nog hie, die ryte issie gabriek nie en niks is afgesteelie," lag sy. Ten minste kan ons darem saam lag, al kla die tannies. EK weet nie of die tannies dink omdat ek dieselfde kleur as hulle is, sit ons om dieselfde politieke vuurtjie nie. Dit pis my regtig af as ek mense hoor praat oor "swartes" en "wittes." Of "hulle" en "ons." EK wil nie geassosieer word met "ons blankes" nie, ek wil veral nie geassosieer word met die tannies wat praat van omgekeerde rassisme terwyl hulleself so undercover rassisties is nie. "Moes hulle nou goed afbrand?" vra die tannie rooi in die gesig tydens 'n gesprek wat ons terugneem tot in die konsentrasiekampe. "Hulle het nog nie geleer dat 'n mens niks verniet kry nie. Nou soek hulle verniet huise. Ons moes daarvoor werk." "En wat van die plaasmoorde?" vra 'n ander. "Ons bly darem maar lekker hier, dis nou net jammer dis nie so veilig nie," se 'n ander. Daar is maar bitter min plekke in hierdie wereld waar'n mens altyd heeltemal veilig is, dink ek. Behalwe miskien in Kuba waar die polisie die Kubane met valk-oe dophou - in 'n policestate is jy veilig. Sonder jou freedom. Ons het 'n ver pad gekom, en ons het 'n lang pad om te loop. Dit help nie om jou te verbeel jy is 'n nuwe SA liberal wat gekant is teen menseregte violations nie. Dit help nie om nice te wees met jou bediende nie. Dis tyd om na jou attitudes te gaan kyk; om te kyk na djou Taalgebruik , om op te hou met "hulle" en "ons" - 'n mens kan nie al wat wit en swart is oor dieselfde kam skeer nie en ons moet ophou om in generalizations te dink. Dis tyd om op te hou kla en jouself te vra of jy al 'n bydrae gemaak het vir die nuwe SA, en of jy maar net soos altyd sit en wag vir 'n jop wat jy nie gaan kry nie omdat jou wit vel nie meer vir jou 'n jop gaan waarborg nie; dis ook dit tyd om vir jouself te vra of JY verander het, enigsins, soos wat jy verwag van al die onderdruktes om te verander en opppressors te vergewe. Wat solank as wat jy deep down dink jy is eintlik 'n member van die een of ander superieure ras aan die voet van Afrika, dan gaan jy swaarkry. En dan is jy en Hitler maar eintlik net twee kante van dieselfde coin. Kytie K. Kytie Koekblik would like you to respond to her tongue-in-cheek running commentary on suburban life in America in this editorial. Fresh off the boat, she is ready to explore and experiment with American bath plugs and to drive on the other side of the road. You can contact her here. © RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications [ Top ] City supports street name changes: Marais Unicity mayor Peter Marais has claimed that Capetonians who approved the renaming of Adderley and Wale streets outnumbered those against by two-and-a-half to one. However, he admitted that he had also received "a great number of objections" to his plan to rename the streets Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk streets respectively. He was speaking at the Cape Town Press Club on Thursday. If he could do it all again he would have conducted the procedure differently, he said. Among criticisms were that Marais announced the date for the renaming as June 16, Youth Day, before the public participation was complete. However, Marais warned that the rest of the world had taken cognisance that Cape Town had not honoured Mandela. In fact future sister agreements between overseas cities could depend on whether Cape Town could show a sign that they were on the path to reconciliation. "With regard to the comment received, a large number of people have come up with alternatives that include retaining the names of sections of Adderley and Wale streets," Marais said. One suggestion was that Adderley should retain its name from the fountain to Strand Street and Wale Street from Queen Victoria Street to Buitengracht. Marais said that in a sense Adderley and Wale streets had become Cape Town's very own Berlin Wall. "What this process has shown is that, to a large degree, we are still a divided city. These two streets illustrate the difference between two churches, the Anglican and the Dutch Reformed, the difference between one street representing government and Adderley representing those who oppose government," Marais said. "There were some letters which said: For goodness sake honour Mandela, but not so highly," Marais said. Marais's claim that most people supported the initiative comes after a Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry survey showed that formal business was against the idea. The majority of letters received by the Cape Times also indicate opposition to the initiative. The Cape Times has also for the past few weeks been trying to gain access to the public participation letters. However, the unicity administration said they are being catalogued and would be made available only after the extended public participation process ends in three weeks time. Marais said although, purely on numbers, the people of the city supported the idea of reconciliation, the honouring of the statesmen and the changing of the street names, also received a great number of objections. "Because we are interested in moving beyond the politics of division and to concentrate on common goals and common aspirations, I proposed to the executive committee that this public participation process be extended," the mayor said. He pointed out that the streets meet where parliament, the Cultural Museum, Slave Quarters and the statue of General Jan Smuts are situated. Marais said: "That these streets be named after the two recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize and two of South Africa's internationally acclaimed greatest leaders and statesmen is very apt. Adderley and Wale streets became famous for protest marches, adding to their historic significance. It was the vision and efforts of Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk which paved the way for peace and reconciliation." Thanks to IOL.co.za [ Top ] SA court sides with embassy bombing suspect The Constitutional Court said on Monday that South African authorities acted unlawfully in extraditing a Tanzanian man who could face the death penalty in the United States for his alleged role in the 1998 US embassy bombings. The court said South Africa violated Khalfan Khamis Mohamed's right to life under the country's constitution by failing to secure assurances from US authorities that he would not be executed if convicted. Capital punishment was abolished in South Africa after the country's first democratic elections in 1994. "The handing over of Mohamed to the United States government agents for removal by them to the United States was unlawful," the court said in its judgement. "The immigration authorities failed to give any value to Mohamed's right to life, his right to have his human dignity respected and protected and his right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment," it said. The court also criticised the state for failing to provide legal counsel to Mohamed, who was unaware of his right under South African law to appeal against deportation. Mohamed was arrested by South African authorities in Cape Town in 1999 and handed over to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Mohamed, 27, is one of four defendants on trial in a New York federal court for participating in a conspiracy led by Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden to kill US citizens. The US government alleged that the plot included the August 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Mohamed is charged with helping to carry out the Tanzania bombing. Bin Laden, who is believed to be living in Afghanistan, allegedly masterminded the twin embassy blasts that killed 224 people, including 12 US citizens, and injured thousands. The South African court said that it could not remedy the wrong committed against Mohamed by South African authorities. But it ordered that its decision be urgently sent to the US court where Mohamed's trial is being held. Jury deliberations in the case were expected to resume on Tuesday after the Memorial Day holiday in the United States. If the jury finds Mohamed guilty, a second hearing would be held to determine if he is to be put to death. Mohamed has sued South African President Thabo Mbeki and several other government ministers for wrongful extradition. The lawsuit also seeks to force Pretoria to ask Washington not to impose the death penalty on Mohamed if he were convicted. Thanks to IOL.co.za [ Top ]  Ragel Nel ColumnRagel Nel Ragel Nel Washington D.C. - You know how there are various profile descriptions to fit different types of criminals, right? Well, here's another one that should be added to the list. It's called "a celebrity's worst nightmare: an overeager fan." The person (if it can be defined as such) is one obsession short of - and not quite as dramatic as - a stalker. But it's close. As I tell this story, please keep in mind that recognizing and acknowledging that one has a problem is the first step to being cured. A few weeks ago, I attended a cocktail party to meet a Really Big Name in South African literature. While fellow partygoers sipped from sparkling wineglasses and murmured at each other over delicate hors d'oeuvres, a good friend restrained me in a secluded corner of the room. Yes, alas, I confess. I have a fixation with writers. Or anyone really who can create something out of nothing. Even the bad published writers. (But then again, they can't be all that bad if they find someone willing enough to pitch, sell and distribute their books, can they? Thank goodness that taste is relative.) I truly do not discriminate. It just so happens though that this particular Big Name is a multiple time award winner, a professor of English, and has been writing and publishing books for almost longer than I have been alive. And most importantly, he is exceptionally good at his craft. That evening he delivered a magnificent speech to us, the humble, adoring crowd. An even bigger highlight was receiving a copy of his latest novel, and then lining up for him to autograph it. Still mercifully unaware of my "problem", I fell in at the back of the line, fantasizing about how he will take one look at me, recognize a female version of his younger self and fall over his feet to become my mentor. As the line inched forward, I imagined a lifetime of intellectually stimulating conversations over bottles of ancient South African and French red wines, and on how he will be there every time to proudly congratulate me, his sole protègèe, as I reap all the accolades once awarded to him. Finally, it was my turn. With quivering hands I gave him the book to be signed. And then I blubbered. Okay, not really. Not at all, actually. In retrospect, I wish I had. It would have been better than all the things that left my mouth (which became possessed by a mysterious life of its own, altogether separate from my brain.), the worst of which possibly was "I am a writer too!" Thank the heavens that he didn't ask me what I've written… It was right around then that I realized that I might have a problem. Four days later, my suspicions were confirmed when I saw a television interview with a guy who participated in the "Survivor II" series on CBS, thus becoming an instant celebrity in the US. He talked about the usual price of fame, being flagged down and flocked upon by strangers telling him their life stories. Apparently it became known that he was a singer, and he said many people told him that they could sing too, often - and much to his dismay - delivering impromptu "auditions". "As if I was supposed to do something about it," the man declared indignantly, making me cringe at the memory of telling Big Name that I also wrote. But the statement that REALLY hit home was when he said: "And at product signings, beware… the weirdoes always stand at the end of the line. They are the worst, because they are the ones who actually want to TALK to you." Naming the column. Speaking of fans... I am beginning to feel a bit like Ann Landers, due to the flood of responses (three in all. And two of those were from immediate family.) I have received suggesting names for this column. Readers, you are a fiercely original bunch, and I thank you for your clever and often hilarious ideas. It's making it really difficult to pick a winner. In the mean time, it's still an open forum, so keep 'em coming! © RSA-Overseas [ Top ] SA Arms deal hearings postponed South Africa on Monday postponed public hearings, being held in Pretoria, into a multi-billion dollar arms deal involving five West European countries that has been dogged by claims of bribery and corruption. South Africa's Public Protector Selby Baqwa, who is presiding over a process expected to last two months, agreed to a Defence force request and adjourned the hearings to June 11. Defence officials sought the delay to give their lawyers time to study documents and talk to witnesses summoned from the department. The R43-billion arms deal signed in December 1999 involves firms in Germany, Italy, Sweden, Britain, France and South Africa, including Sweden's Saab , Britain's BAE Systems and France's Thomson-CSF . It was supposed to generate investments worth R104-billion and create 65 000 jobs. But allegations of bribery and corruption have surrounded the deal, and a preliminary study by the auditor-general last year called for an in-depth review after finding serious flaws in procedure. "It is in the interest of all South Africans that all allegations made be properly investigated," Baqwa earlier told a packed hearing at the Pretoria High Court. The office of the public protector was set up to defend standards in public office. Baqwa said the public hearings were intended to keep the public informed on the arms deal and would not interfere with separate criminal inquiries into allegations of wrongdoing. Government officials, defence experts, lawyers and opposition members are expected to join the queue of those submitting evidence. The hearings are aimed at restoring public faith after a series of public relations disasters. Opposition politicians have labelled the public hearings a whitewash, but some political analysts disagree. "If they (the government) had wanted a whitewash they could have appointed a parliamentary committee that would have conducted its work in camera," said Herman Hannekom, an analyst with a South African think-tank. The Sunday Independent newspaper said the hearing "marks the next critical phase in a process that cuts to the heart of South Africa's parliamentary democracy". In January, President Thabo Mbeki's ruling African National Congress demoted and silenced Andrew Feinstein, one of its own leading members who had been championing the investigation. Mbeki also barred his top anti-graft unit from taking part in the inquiry into the deal and accused the unit's investigators of trying to undermine his government. The deal is being investigated by parliament's public accounts committee and state security agencies. Opposition and government critics have accused Mbeki's government of a cover-up, a charge denied by the government. The opposition Pan Africanist Congress has repeatedly said it has a document that suggests kickbacks were involved in the drawn-out negotiations over the deal. South Africa's move to acquire the arms and re-equip its armed forces, the most powerful in sub-Saharan Africa, has triggered a volley of criticism across the political spectrum. These range from complaints the country does not need and cannot afford the weapons to observations that the money would be better spent on welfare. Thanks to IOL.co.za [ Top ] |
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