FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION ZOLANI TETE DIES IN SHOOTING

 

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 02: Zolani Tete celebrates with the IBF International and Commonwealth Super Bantamweight belt after knocking out Jason Cunningham in the IBF International and Commonwealth Super Bantamweight Title fight between Jason Cunningham and Zolani Tete at OVO Arena Wembley on July 02, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images) | Getty Images

South African authorities announced that former titlist Zolani Tete, 38, was fatally shot outside of his home in Mdantsane today.

Per the country's Ministry of Sport, Arts, and Culture, "[t]wo armed men in balaclavas" shot Tete and a female companion as Tete waited at his gate. The companion remains hospitalized, while Tete himself passed away.

Tete lost his first title bid to countryman Moruti Mthalane in 2010, kicking off a 3-3 skid, but came out the other side on an absolute tear. He felled Teiru Kinoshita in hostile territory to claim the IBF super flyweight title four years later, then knocked out Paul Butler in his first and only defense before moving up to 118. There, he won the later-upgraded interim WBO belt against Arthur Villanueva and made three successful defense, one of which earned him the fastest knockout in championship history when he sparked Siboniso Gonya with his very first punch. An upset loss to John Riel Casimero lost him the belt, but after two years on the sidelines and a 55-second get-well knockout in South Africa, he put himself right into super bantamweight contention by blowing the doors off of Jason Cunningham.

That would unfortunately mark his final time in the ring. A failed drug test for stanozolol wiped that win off his record and resulted in a four-year suspension, which only expired last month.

Tete will be remembered as a terrific, hugely accomplished fighter, highly entertaining and a true standout in the lower weight classes. Our thoughts are with his friends and family after this horrific tragedy.

- Patrick Stumberg

PATRICE MOTSEPE JOINS $4 BILLION CLUB AMID MINING RALLY AND GLOBAL EXPANSION

South African mining magnate Patrice Motsepe, who serves as president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and is an in-law of President Cyril Ramaphosa, has joined the $4 billion net-worth club, propelled by a rally in gold and copper assets and a strategic expansion into Australia.

Patrice Motsepe joins $4 billion club amid mining rally and global expansion

• Patrice Motsepe, South African mining magnate and CAF president, has reached a net worth of $4.2 billion.

• His wealth growth is attributed to his mining interests in African Rainbow Minerals and Harmony Gold Mining Co.

• Motsepe's ventures now include significant investments in Australian mining, highlighting a strategic copper shift.

• He diversifies into other sectors including financial services and renewable energy through African Rainbow Capital.

• This achievement positions him among a select group of African billionaires who surpass the $4 billion net worth milestone.

Motsepe’s fortune is now estimated at about $4.2 billion, placing him among the world’s top 1,000 richest individuals, according to Forbes data, and making him the fourth South African to ever reach the $4 billion milestone.

The achievement places Motsepe in a small group of African billionaires who have surpassed the $4 billion mark, including Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person; Johann Rupert, the luxury-goods billionaire behind Richemont; Nicky Oppenheimer, the former De Beers heir; Nassef Sawiris of Egypt; Mike Adenuga of Nigeria; and Abdulsamad Rabiu, the Nigerian industrialist whose fortune is anchored in cement and sugar.

Mining strength underpins wealth gains

Motsepe’s rise has been driven largely by his exposure to mining assets, particularly gold. He is the founder and largest shareholder of African Rainbow Minerals Ltd. (ARM), holding a 45.9% stake, and maintains an indirect interest in Harmony Gold Mining Co., South Africa’s largest gold producer.

ARM shares have risen more than 15% since the start of the year, lifting the company’s market capitalisation to roughly $3 billion and increasing the value of Motsepe’s stake to about $1.37 billion.

Harmony Gold shares have gained over 12%, taking the company’s valuation to approximately $14.4 billion and pushing the estimated value of Motsepe’s indirect holding to around $1.7 billion.

The gains have coincided with a surge in gold prices to record levels, as investors reassess monetary policy expectations and seek refuge in safe-haven assets.

Australian copper push signals strategic shift

Motsepe’s mining exposure is no longer confined to Africa. Through his influence at Harmony Gold, the billionaire has backed a significant expansion into Australia, marking a strategic push into copper, a metal critical to electrification and the global energy transition.

Harmony recently completed the $1 billion-plus acquisition of MAC Copper Ltd., owner of the high-grade CSA Copper Mine in New South Wales, one of Australia’s longest-running underground copper operations.

The company is also advancing the Eva Copper project in Queensland, with total development spending expected to reach up to $1.7 billion.

Nasser et Motsepe

From first Black billionaire to diversified capital allocator

Through African Rainbow Capital, Motsepe has stakes in financial services, technology, infrastructure, and renewable energy, including Tyme Group, a Singapore-based digital bank operating across Africa and Southeast Asia.

Despite this diversification, his wealth growth comes amid a $195 million Tanzanian mining lawsuit against his firm, highlighting the challenges of cross-border resource investments.

Nevertheless, crossing the $4 billion mark remains rare among African billionaires, underscoring how commodity exposure, strategic diversification, and influence in sport and politics can elevate industrialists to the global wealth elite.

- OLAMILEKAN OKEBIORUN

ALDRICH POTGIETER BIRDIES FIFTH PLAYOFF PLAYOFF HOLE FOR FIRST PGA TOUR WIN AT ROCKET CLASSIC

The energy of youth topped the experience of age.

Aldrich Potgieter, a 20-year-old South African, birdied the fifth playoff hole to defeat Max Greyserman and Chris Kirk to win the 2025 Rocket Classic on Sunday in Detroit.

Potgieter poured in an 18-foot birdie putt at the par-3 15th hole at Detroit Golf Club.

“I finally got one to the hole, saw it roll end over end, and knew it was going into the hole,” he said.

Potgieter shot 3-under 69 at Detroit Golf Club for a 72-hole total of 22-under 268.

Greyserman, 30, shot a bogey-free 6-under 66. The Duke grad, who ranked second in SG: Putting for the week, led the field with most putts of more than 10 feet but couldn’t convert from 12 feet to win in regulation and had multiple chances in the playoff but his putter went cold.

Aldrich Potgieter plays his shot from the fourth tee during the final round of the 2025 Rocket Classic at Detroit Golf Club.

Kirk, the grizzled vet at 40 and with six previous Tour titles, shot 5-under 67 on Sunday but missed from 16 feet at 18 in regulation and 9 feet on the first playoff hole for the win. He took three putts on the second playoff hole and made bogey and was eliminated from the playoff.

Potgieter turned professional in 2023 and became the youngest winner in Korn Ferry Tour history by winning the 2024 Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at age 19. At 20 years, 9 months, 16 days on Sunday, he became the seventh-youngest PGA Tour winner since the start of 1983, and the youngest player from South Africa ever to win on the PGA Tour.

- USA Today, Golfweek

ICONIC F1 DESIGNER REVEALS CANCER DIAGNOSIS

© XPBimages
 

Gordon Murray, one of the key architects of the iconic McLaren MP4/4 of 1988, has revealed a diagnosis of an aggressive form of cancer.

Murray, 79, was given his chance as an F1 technical director by Bernie Ecclestone at Brabham in the 1970s, designing the infamous BT46B - also known as the Fan Car - before it was promptly banned. 

Murray's cars won the 1981 and 1983 drivers' titles for Nelson Piquet, before Ron Dennis enticed him to McLaren for 1987.  

At the team, Murray was instrumental in designing the MP4/4, which won 15 out of 16 races and handed Ayrton Senna his first title, before Murray-designed cars swept the next three seasons of titles - two for Senna and one for Alain Prost. He stepped back from F1 involvement in the mid-1990s.

He was also the designer of the famous McLaren F1 road car, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, South African Murray revealed that in 2024, he had been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer which starts in the glands.

The Oesophageal cancer was caught early, with Murray undergoing chemotherapy and then a new type of surgery. 

His heart rate ballooned to 180bpm at times during the chemotherapy, with his heart being stopped to reset it, with the cancer being removed in "PlayStation" surgery in July 2024.

"The surgeon sits on the other side of the room with a PlayStation, basically, and you are lying there and everything is done with robots," Murray told Telegraph Sport.

Murray left the ICU within six days of surgery, but has been getting used to being fed via a tube. 

- Jake Nichol

FIA APPROVES GRADE 1 PLANS FOR HISTORIC SOUTH AFRICAN CIRCUIT

 [Press Release]

FIA Approves Grade 1 Plans for Historic South African Circuit.

Constructed in 1961, the original Kyalami circuit established itself as the premier motorsport facility in Southern Africa. The pleasant summer climate made Kyalami a favourite destination for European competitors unable to compete on their home soil owing to the winter off-season.

By the mid-1970s Kyalami had gained recognition as one of the best Grand Prix circuits in the world, hosting a total of 21 F1 Grand Prix races. The Kyalami 9-Hour became a favourite race in the sports car world championship. Moto GP also visited Kyalami from 1983 to 1985. These events gained world-wide coverage, not only for the circuit but for South Africa as a country.

The current 4.522km layout, upgraded in 2016, already holds FIA Grade 2 certification and the Kyalami precinct has proven itself as a successful, self-sustaining venue with year-round commercial activity. The facility’s multi-use functionality—conferences, shows, exhibitions, activations, lifestyle events—remains central to its commercial model. 

Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit is now poised to take the next step in the evolution of the track, having received confirmation that the Federation International de l'Automobile (FIA) has accepted final design proposals to upgrade the circuit to Grade 1 status—the highest international standard required to host Formula 1.

The FIA’s written acceptance of the amended design marks a significant achievement. Once the capital works are completed and a final inspection conducted, Kyalami will become Africa’s only FIA Grade 1 circuit, capable of hosting Formula 1 on the African continent.

At a press conference held at Kyalami, Circuit Owner Toby Venter and Clive Bowen, Founder and Director of UK-based Apex Circuit Design, detailed a plan which has been ongoing for five years, culminating in FIA approval of the venue’s upgrade design. Apex, an internationally recognised circuit design house also steered the design of, amongst others, the Miami Formula 1 street circuit.     

“This is a defining moment for South African motorsport,” said Venter. “When we acquired Kyalami in 2014, we made a commitment to restore it not just as a world-class venue, but as a beacon for motorsport across the African continent. The FIA’s acceptance of our Grade 1 design is a major step forward in that journey.”

The proposed FIA Grade 1 upgrade—which notably requires no change to the circuit layout—focuses on enhancing run-off areas, barrier systems, debris fencing, kerbs, and drainage. “This is a light-touch upgrade in engineering terms, but one that enhances the already excellent circuit standards to meet modern Grade 1 requirements,” said Bowen.

The FIA plan approval grants Kyalami a three-year period to complete the intended Grade 1 upgrades. Initially, works will commence during periods when current business partners face no disruption to their event. Selected works will be actioned pending the successful outcome of South Africa’s place on the Formula 1 calendar and Kyalami being selected as the preferred hosting venue. 

The Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit & International Convention Centre stands proud as Africa’s most iconic motorsport venue, and the preferred destination for a variety of events in the expanding metropolis between Johannesburg and Pretoria. 

“Today, we turn the page to a bold new chapter for Kyalami. We are ready for the return of Formula 1 to African soil,” concluded Venter.

End.

EDINBURGH FALLS SHORT IN SOUTH AFRICA AS BULLS PROGRESS TO URC SEMI-FINAL

The Bulls stepped it up early in the second half

Canan Moodie of the Vodacom Bulls. Pic: Steve Haag Sports/Christiaan Kotze/Inpho

The Bulls claimed a 42-33 victory over Edinburgh in an exhilarating United Rugby Championship quarter-final at Loftus Versfeld.

Wes Goosen opened the scoring after five minutes before Ross Thompson's double came either side of Cameron Hanekom's try for the South Africans.

Tries from David Kriel in the 32nd minute and Harold Vorster four minutes later ensured the Bulls went into the break only 21-18 behind.

The Bulls stepped it up early in the second half as Canan Moodie showed a great turn of pace to crash over as Edinburgh's defence had lost control.

Keaqgan Johannes and Ruan Nortje went over to make it 39-21 and although Edinburgh responded with efforts from Ewan Ashman and Goosen, the game was up.

- PA

SOUTH AFRICA'S SPRINTING STAR BAYANDA WALAZA BREAKS THROUGH SUB-10 BARRIER, CLOCKING THE FIFTH-FASTEST JUNIOR 100M

The Olympic 4x100m relay silver medallist set a South African under-20 record of 9.99 seconds over the 100m sprint event in Pretoria on Saturday (16 March).

(2024 Getty Images)

South Africa’s sprinting prodigy Bayanda Walaza continued his meteoric rise, setting a national Under-20 record and becoming the joint fifth fastest junior athlete ever in the world over 100 metres on Saturday (16 March).

The Olympic 4x100m relay silver medallist became only the ninth South African to dip below 10 seconds, clocking a 9.99 seconds to win the Gauteng North Provincial championships. The 19-year-old Walaza chopped 0.04 seconds off the previous record of 10.03, held by Bradley Nkoana.

Known for his unorthodox running style, Walaza appears to have come of age on the track following a breakthrough in 2024, which included winning Olympic silver and the 100-200m double at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Lima.

Walaza beat Australian phenom Gout Gout to claim the 200m title at the age-group championships. The duo has since been embroiled in a battle for the title of the most exciting sprinting prospect.

Gout clocked a blistering 200m time to take the Under-20 200m title at the Queensland Athletics Championships 2025 in Brisbane on Sunday. The 17-year-old clocked 20.05 seconds, just 0.01 seconds shy of his national senior record over the half-lap sprint.

Between Gout and Walaza, they hold the fastest times over the 200m and 100m this season, although it is still very early in the year, with the rest of the world focussed on indoors athletics.

Walaza opened his campaign with a statement run in February posting the 11th fastest time by a junior athlete over 60m, crossing the line in 6.58 seconds at a meeting in Pretoria, South Africa.

The South African first burst onto the scene in 2024 when he blitzed a 10.13 seconds at the South African junior championships, before finishing second behind Akani Simbine at the senior nationals.

With his sub-10-second run, Walaza demonstrated that he is no longer just a promising youngster but a serious threat at a senior level.

- Ockert de Villiers

MOTSEPE RE-ELECTED AS LEADER OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL

 

Reuters 

South African mining magnate Patrice Motsepe was re-elected unopposed as Confederation of African Football president at the organisation’s congress in Cairo on Wednesday while four-time African Footballer of the Year Samuel Eto’o won a place on the executive committee.

The 63-year-old Motsepe, whose family trust owns one of the continent’s biggest clubs Mamelodi Sundowns, will serve a second four-year term after being first elected in 2021 when his candidature was also unopposed and heavily backed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Eto'o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation, was elected unopposed as a representative for the central African region on the executive committee less than a week after winning an appeal to stand for the post.

He was excluded by CAF's governance committee in January but appealed his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, who ruled in his favour.

Former World Cup footballer Eto'o had been twice banned last year.

Reuters 

In September, FIFA banned him from attending the national team's matches for six months for violating disciplinary regulations, after allegedly verbally abusing match officials at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.

Earlier in the year, CAF banned Eto'o after an inquiry into purported breaches of its ethical and integrity standards when he took up a role as ambassador for a betting company. The ban and a $200,000 fine were later lifted on appeal.

There were five others elected unopposed with Mustapha Ishola Raji of Liberia retaining his seat for another four years, while Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (female representative from the Democratic Republic of Congo), Wallace Karia (Tanzania), Kurt Simeon-Okraku (Ghana) and Sadi Walid (Algeria) are new to the committee.

Elvis Chetty of the Seychelles lost his place when Feizal Sidat (Mozambique) and Samir Sobha of Mauritius were voted in to represent southern Africa on the CAF executive committee.

There was also a vote to decide the six African representatives on the FIFA Council with Hany Abo Rida of Egypt, a member since 2009, and Fouzi Lekjaa of Morocco retaining their places.

Kanizat Ibrahim (Comoros), Hamidou Djibrilla Hima (Niger), Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania) and Souleymane Waberi (Djibouti) were elected for the first time.

Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Christian Radnedge

- Reuters 

PROTEAS COACH UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT 'EASY' ROUTE TO TEST FINAL

Marco Jansen celebrates hitting the four that gave South Africa

Proteas coach Shukri Conrad brushed off criticism about the format of the World Test Championship after his team qualified for the final.

South African coach Shukri Conrad predictably brushed off criticism about the uneven scheduling of the World Test Championship after his team qualified for the final.

South Africa beat Pakistan in a dramatic two-wicket win in Centurion on Sunday to earn their sixth successive Test win.

On the average points system used for the championship, the South Africans are guaranteed a place in the final next June, even if they lose their last match, the second Test against Pakistan starting in Cape Town on Friday.

‘EASY DRAW’

“People abroad will be shouting that we had an easy draw. Well, I’m not going to apologise for that. We’re just thrilled that we can be at Lord’s next year,” Conrad said after the victory against Pakistan.

Australia’s win against India in Melbourne on Monday put them in pole position to join South Africa at Lord’s, although they still have to play a fifth Test against India and two matches away against Sri Lanka.

South Africa’s path to the final illustrated the imbalance in the quantity and quality of the fixtures for the nine teams contesting the World Test Championship (WTC), a fact highlighted by former England captain Michael Vaughan, who called for a revamp of the format.

“At the moment every team plays a wildly different number of games and that just does not create a balanced outcome or totally fair league table,” Vaughan wrote in a column for British daily The Telegraph.

South Africa’s programme consisted of just 12 matches, the joint lowest number together with Bangladesh.

England played 22 Tests and Australia and India, the other members of cricket’s ‘big three’, had 19 fixtures each.

South Africa had six series, all of only two matches. They shared a series against India 1-1 but did not play against Australia or England.

Australia, India and England, by contrast, played each other in a five-match ‘marquee’ series.

With no team dominating, they all shed points, affecting their average points standings.

After sharing the honours against India, South Africa effectively forfeited a series in New Zealand because their governing body prioritised a Twenty20 tournament.

Conrad could not select any players contracted by the T20 franchises, which ruled out most of his first-choice players.

Since then, though, South Africa have won away series in the West Indies and Bangladesh and beaten Sri Lanka at home before scraping home against Pakistan.

Conrad admitted that his team were far from their best at Centurion, needing an unbeaten ninth wicket stand of 51 between Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada to secure the win.

“The WTC weighs on you, you really want to get to the final, but we need to be a lot more resilient and clinical. We saw what pressure did to some of our players but they will grow enormously from the experience.

“We are so much better than we showed in this match but we want this team to never know when they are beaten and we want the opposition to know that too,” said Conrad.

- Garrin Lambley

'BLADE RUNNER' PISTORIUS RELEASED ON PAROLE

Reuters 

South African former Paralympic star Oscar Pistorius was released on parole on Friday, nearly 11 years after murdering his girlfriend in a crime that shocked a nation long inured to violence against women.

Pistorius - dubbed "Blade Runner" for his carbon-fibre prosthetic legs - shot 29-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp dead through a locked bathroom door on Valentine's Day in 2013.

He has repeatedly said he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder when he fired four shots into the bathroom at his Pretoria home, and he launched multiple appeals against his conviction on that basis.

"The Department of Correctional Services (is) able to confirm that Oscar Pistorius is a parolee, effectively from 5 January 2024. He was admitted into the system of Community Corrections and is now at home," the country's prisons department said in a statement.

Pistorius, now 37, has spent about eight and a half years in jail as well as seven months under home arrest before he was sentenced for murder. A parole board in November decided he could be freed after completing more than half his sentence.

In a statement shared by the Steenkamp family lawyer on Friday, Reeva's mother June said: "There can never be justice if your loved one is never coming back, and no amount of time served will bring Reeva back."

"We, who remain behind, are the ones serving a life sentence," June Steenkamp said, adding her only desire was to be allowed to live in peace after Pistorius' release on parole.