Central News Issue 010 | Download the latest weekly edition| Top Story : “Biased media coverage of Moti Group condemned ”

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FREE STATE | NORTH WEST | GAUTENG
FRIDAY
23 JUNE 2023 | WEEKLY
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NEWS
SANDF loses
a soldier near
Potchefstroom
The South African Air Force (SAAF) soldier has died in
a car accident on Wednesday, 21 June on the R54 road towards
Potchefstroom, in the North West province...
NEWS
PowerBall ticket
purchased in
Lindley wins R23m
One person in Lindley, Free State is R23 million
richer after bagging the Power Ball Plus jackpot on
Tuesday, 20 June 2023...
SPORTS
De Villiers amongst
seven to represent
SA u/20 team
Junior Springbok captain Paul de Villiers is amongst
a group of seven players that will represent the South
African Under-20 team for a second year running ...
STORY ON PAGE 2 STORY ON PAGE 5 STORY ON PAGE 8
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Biased
media
coverage of
Moti Group
condemned
The Moti Group is involved in a legal battle
with amaBhungane Centre for Investigative
Journalism over articles published about the
company.
STORY ON PAGE 2
Go beyond the headlines
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02 News | 23 JUNE 2023
Biased media coverage of Moti Group condemned
By Thys Khiba
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights
Union (Popcru) has condemned
media coverage of Moti Group
of companies amid the Gauteng High
Court order obtained by the Moti Group
requiring amaBhungane to return
thousands of company documents.
Popcru has confirmed its support for
the organisation and its CEO Dondo
Mogajane.
The Moti Group is involved in a legal
battle with amaBhungane Centre for
Investigative Journalism over articles
published about the company. The
articles are written based on internal
documents, which Zunaid Moti, founder
of the organisation indicated that were
stolen and leaked to amaBhungane.
The police union has alleged that media
companies like News24 and non-profit
investigative journalism units like
amaBhungane are undermining the rights
and dignity of black businesses, and its
leaders.
“Black businesses are under siege by
certain members of the media, as they are
often subjected to separate and unequal
standards and scrutiny from their white
counterparts by journalists
“Yet these same journalists participate in a
clear pattern of discrimination, harassment,
and abuse, refusing to allow black
business leaders the proper opportunity
to respond to their accusations, or failing
to represent their responses fairly and in
balanced manner,” said Popcru President
Zizamele Cebekhulu-Makhaza.
Cebekhulu-Makhaza claimed reporting on
the Moti Group does not pass nor satisfy
every process of news reporting. In line
with his criticism of how media report on
the company, he suggested ‘journalists
have been allowed to publish stories on
unreliable evidence and sources, without
having to present their information for
verification.’
“Freedom of expression and the role of
media are vital in our democracy. We
are gravely concerned, however, that the
rule of law is not being enforced, and that
black businesses are not being treated
fairly or impartially.
“We believe that all cases of theft must
be treated as theft. Criminals cannot
be allowed to manipulate the media
or the criminal justice system to avoid
accountability for their crimes. This
treatment is a gross violation of black
businesses’ rights and is impeding
the growth and transformation of our
economy,” Cebekhulu-Makhaza said.
Cebekhulu-Makhaza expressed worry
on the 2022 BBBEE Commission report
that shown the share of black-owned
businesses in the economy. The President
of the police union indicated that the
report shows the share has decreased to
29.5% in 2021 from 31% in 2020.
“Additionally, the share of black
management control had declined to
51.6% from 57% in 2020.
“This situation cannot continue, and action
must be taken. We cannot allow the hardwon
economic gains made since 1994 to
be further lost by allowing a culture of fear
and mistrust of black businesspeople to
reside in our society, or by continuing this
siege on black excellence,” Cebekhulu-
Makhaza said.
The Moti Group CEO and former Treasury
director-general Mogajane informed the
court that the documents that are in the
wrong hands will cause the company
reputational damage. He has accused
amaBhungane of having a “vendetta
against the Moti Group” and “publishing
a series [of] highly distorted inaccurate
and defamatory reports.”
“..in the wrong hands, [the documents]
will cause the Moti Group reputational
damage if a false narrative based on the
stolen documents is advanced, which is
currently the case,” said in an affidavit.
It has been reported that the internal
documents were allegedly downloaded
by a former employee of the Moti Group,
Clinton van Niekerk before he resigned
from the company. Van Niekerk was
arrested in January at Durban’s King
Shaka International Airport for theft of
information.
He was transported to Johannesburg by
the Gauteng police, and released two
days later. The matter was struck from
the roll following a decision by the
KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban
that set aside the arrest warrant.
In response to the court order,
amaBhungane confirmed that they will
challenge the interim interdict obtained
by the Moti Group.
“This kind of ex-parte prior restraint
of publication and incursion into
media freedom is unprecedented in the
democratic era.
“Nowhere in his papers does Mr
Mogajane remotely demonstrate that
amaBhungane has acted outside of the
public interest or outside of the highest
journalistic standards. Despite his
protestations, it is a measure of what
the Moti Group is desperate to conceal
that it has taken this drastic step,” said
amaBhungane managing director, Sam
Sole.
SANDF loses a soldier
near Potchefstroom
By Thys Khiba
The South African Air Force (SAAF) soldier
has died in a car accident on Wednesday,
21 June on the R54 road towards
Potchefstroom, in the North West province.
The South African National Defence Force
(SANDF) confirmed that two members of
the SAAF were tasked to deliver equipment
to be used during the youth week celebration
closing parade fly-past on Friday, 23
June 2023 in Potchefstroom.
“The South African National Defence Force
(SANDF) can confirm that on Wednesday,
21 June 2023 at approximately 2:00pm,
two (2) members of the South African Air
Force (SAAF) were involved in a vehicle
accident with a civilian delivery truck on
the R54 road towards Potchefstroom,” said
SANDF spokesperson, Brigadier General
Andries Mokoena Mahapa.
Mokoena Mahapa confirmed that the second
soldier was rushed to the nearest hospital
and is receiving medical attention.
The accident has delayed the delivery of
the equipment. In response to the possible
delays of the event, Mokoena Mahapa
indicated that the youth week celebration
closing parade fly-past event will continue
as scheduled for Friday.
The Defence and Military Veterans Minister,
Thandi Modise, her deputy Thabang
Makwetla and Defence acting Secretary,
Thobekile Gamede and SANDF Chief,
General Rudzani Maphwanya expressed
their heartfelt condolences to the family
members, friends and colleagues of the deceased
soldier and wish the injured soldier
a medical recovery from his injuries.

23 JUNE 2023 |
News 03
Mabuyane stops SIU from investigating his FHU qualifications
Oscar Mabuyane, Premier of
the Eastern Cape, has been
successful in stopping the Special
Investigating Unit from investigating his
Fort Hare University Qualifications.
Mabuyane went to the Bhisho High
Court to stop the SIU from enforcing a
proclamation signed by President Cyril
Ramaphosa.
This proclamation gave the SIU the
authority to investigate allegations of
corruption and mismanagement of funds
in the awarding of Honours degrees, as
well as the sourcing of public servants for
UFH study.
Mabuyane has argued that he obtained his
qualification through legitimate means
since he was accused of being registered
for a Master’s degree without completing
his Honours degree.
On Tuesday, the verdict was handed down
by Judge Thandi Norman.
Part A is the interdict that Mabuyane was
granted, and Part B is the main part of his
application.
The purpose of Part B of the application is
to declare the entire proclamation invalid
and unlawful.
“In the circumstances I grant the following
order: The Special Investigating Unit is
interdicted from enforcing proclamation
84 of 2022 published in government
gazette on 5 August 2022 in so far the SIU
has taken steps or intends to take steps
that are directed at the applicant.” Said
Judge Norman.
Platinum mine worker and Bidvest
security guard in court for theft
By Thys Khiba
Bidvest Protea Coin Security and
Impala Platinum Mine employees
appeared in the Bafokeng Magistrate’s
Court in the North West on charges
of tampering with essential infrastructure,
theft, and gangsterism.
The two accused of stealing catalytic converters
at Impala Platinum Mine
on Thursday, 15 June, valued
at approximately
R1.7 million.
The matter against
Aubrey Loeto,
43 and Thys
Monchusi, 37
has been postponed
to Friday,
23 June
for a formal
bail application.
The North West,
National Prosecuting
Authority (NPA)
spokesperson Henry Mamothame
confirmed that the
state intends to oppose their bail application.
“Their court appearance emanates from
an incident that occurred on 15 June 2023,
wherein members of the Rustenburg Organised
Crime unit received information
from Bidvest Protea Coin Security about
one of their vehicle being spotted, heavily
loaded with catalytic converters leaving
the Impala Platinum Mine,” said Mamothame.
North West police tracked the vehicle’s
movement, and it led them to a house in
the Lemenong section in Phokeng.
Police were given the go-ahead to search
the house by the owner. They discovered
the suspected catalytic converters in a
shack said to be rented out a suspect
who is still at large.
“Monchusi was arrested
on scene, while
Loeto was traced
and found at
Boitekong and
subsequently
returned to
where the stolen
goods were
stored, where
he confirmed
that the goods
were stolen from
the Platinum mine.
The duo further confirmed
that a third person
who is their ally is linked
to the crime,” Mamothame said.
The two are expected to be in police custody
until their next court appearance.
The Director of Public Prosecutions in
the North West, Dr. Rachel Makhari and
provincial commissioner Lieutenant General
Sello Kwena welcomed the arrest and
court appearance of Monchusi and Loeto.

04 News | 23 JUNE 2023
Gauteng Education Department Extends Online
admissions applications to 21 July 2023
By GPCN Reporter
The Gauteng Department of Education
has extended the deadline for the online
admissions application period for Grade 1
and Grade 8 to 21 July 2023 for the year
2024.
The original deadline was set for 14 July
2023. The decision was made as the
department observed that some parents
prefer to submit their documents at
schools.
“As such, this extension will give them an
opportunity to submit documents after the
school recess, which is due to commence
from 23 June 2023 until 17 July 2023.
Parents now have until 21 July 2023 to
apply and will be allowed to upload or
submit documents until 28 July 2023,” the
department said.
In addition, the department announced
that the online admissions system has
successfully processed over 400 000
applications since Thursday, June 15,
2023, the beginning of the application
period.
The system had processed 408 714
applications as of Thursday, June 22,
2023. There were 176 975 applications
for Grade 1 and 231 739 applications for
Grade 8.
The department stated that parents
and guardians are still encouraged to
apply early by registering at www.
gdeadmissions.gov.za to proceed with
the application process in spite of the
extension.
According to Gauteng Education MEC
Matome Chiloane, applicants should
call the call center at 0800 000 789 or
WhatsApp at 060 891 0361 if they need
assistance with their application or have
any questions about it.
“We have seen it fit to give parents and
guardians more time to apply and upload
or submit documents at schools. We are
also proud of having processed over 400
000 applications within a week. This is a
testament to our system’s improvement
and the demand of the quality education
which Gauteng offers,” Chiloane said.
The repurposing of Komati Power
Station is progressing rapidly
By CNBusiness Reporter
The Komati Power Station is currently in
the process of transitioning from a coalfired
station to a repurposed, multifaceted
hub.
Eskom has issued a tender notice seeking
a service provider to implement the socioeconomic
development plan for the shift
from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
Komati ceased operation in October of last
year, after serving the community since
1961. No Eskom employees lost their jobs
as a result of the station’s closure.
“Part of the plan includes management and
implementation of mitigation measures for
the socio-economic impacts resulting from
the shutdown of the fossil-fired generating
units at Eskom’s Komati Power Station.
The last of the fossil-fired units at Komati
reached its end of operational life in
October 2022 and was shut down.
“The project is for a duration of
approximately 60 months. Interested
service providers are urged to review the
request for expression of interest (EOI)
document on the Eskom Tender Bulletin
and respond accordingly,” Eskom said.
The Komati site is expected to be powered
by:
• 150MW of solar power.
• 70MW of wind power.
• 150MW of battery storage power.
“The repowering and repurposing of the
power station will be funded through a
concessional loan facility from the World
Bank. The loan facility broadly covers
the decommissioning, repurposing and
repowering of the station and critical
elements of the Just Energy
Transition to provide a second life to the
power station.
“This includes the establishment of an
agrivoltaics test facility, a containerised
microgrid assembly and manufacturing
facility, a training centre for employees and
community members, and importantly, a
community upliftment programme that this
tender seeks to address,” Eskom said.
Community united
against drugs
The community of Rust-Ter-Vaal is
united in the fight against drug addiction.
This became evident on June 16,Youth
Day when an organisation dubbed ‘The
Truth Shall Set You Free’ held the third
annual drug awareness campaign. The
event was held at the Rust-Ter-Vaal
community hall parking lot.
The event was attended by scores of
people from the community in support
of those who a re plagued by drug
addiction. Present at the event was
also various government departments
including law enforcement and
emergency services.
Speaking about the event, Ranleigh
Pitt says: “Our movement was founded
in 2021. We are a group of recovering
addicts from all over Gauteng who were
saved by grace. We go around various
communities sharing news about
recovery and life after drugs.”
Pitt states that the movement works
together with various stakeholders
because of the belief that addiction does
not just affect the addict, but the entire
community.
On the day, recovering addicts from
various communities and organizations
were able to share their stories on how
they were able to overcome addiction
and turn their lives around for the better.
Others testified that in order for one to
defeat the disease, the support of family
and the community at large is vital.
Addressing the community, Pitt said that
those who do not suffer from addiction
also have a role to play.
He urged members of the community
not to judge but to instead find solutions
for those suffering from addiction.
“I would like to thank all the stakeholders
and the community at large for rallying
behind us and making the event a
success.”
Pitt said that two people were taken to
rehab following the event.
Members of the community suffering
from drug addiction and needing
assistance can contact Pitt on:
0839539260.

23 JUNE 2023 |
The Standerton Regional Court has
imposed a fine of R70 million on Lekwa
Municipality for contravention of
environmental legislation.
This is after the municipality was found
guilty on 7 counts relating to: failure to
comply with conditions stipulated in the
waste management license, prohibition
of unauthorised disposal of waste, failure
to comply with a compliance notice,
unlawful water use, causing significant
pollution to the environment, unlawful,
negligent disposition and distribution of
raw untreated sewer and failure to comply
with directives issued.
This occurred from 2017 to 2022 when the
Municipality distributed and disposed of
contaminated water in Standerton which
resulted in failure to comply with their
license, the Municipality also negligently
disposed of contaminated waste which
caused pollution to the environment.
The Municipality also impeded the flow
of contaminated water within the public
water channels and roads, they disposed of
and distributed affluent raw and untreated
sewer into the following municipal substations:
Stein pump station, Rooikoppen
pump station, Johan street pump station,
Muller pump station, and Talijaard pump
station. Further to that the Municipality
also failed to comply with Directives
and compliance notices which had been
issued to it.
The state and municipality entered into
a plea agreement. Advocate Thobeka
Phungula addressed the court that the
offences were serious and affected the
rights of citizens as enshrined in Section
24 of the constitution, the right to an
environment that is not harmful to their
health or well-being and to have the
environment protected. That the offence
had a detrimental effect on the ecological
systems and the use of natural resources.
The state also argued that the Municipality
must ensure service to their community
and by committing these offences, the
Municipality had failed its community and
failed to comply with legislation relating
to the protection of the environment
such as the National Environmental
Management Act 107 of 1998 and the
National Environmental Management
Waste Act 59 of 2008. Advocate Phungula
further argued that the failure to comply
with notices caused the situation to
deteriorate and led to essential equipment
being damaged and the damage being
extended into the Vaal Dam.
In mitigation, the defence argued that the
accused takes responsibility for his actions
and is remorseful. That the accused has
started to put in place measures to remedy
the situation. That the accused will ensure
compliance with the law and all Directives
and notices issued in the future. That
the Municipality will ensure that urgent
repairs are done to faulty equipment and
pump stations.
The court took into consideration all
factors and sentenced Lekwa Local
Municipality to a fine of R70 million. The
court ordered that the fine is to be used
to effect urgent and necessary repairs of
all affected equipment, It further ordered
that proof of expenditure and repairs
must be submitted to the Department of
Agriculture, Rural Development Land
and Environmental Affairs. In addition,
News 05
Lekwa Local Municipality fined for contravention of environmental legislation
By Thys Khiba
One person in Lindley, Free State is R23
million richer after bagging the Power Ball
Plus jackpot on Tuesday, 20 June 2023.
South African National Lottery congratulated
the lucky winner who won R23 044 341. 00
from the June 20 draw.
The winner is expected to be offered financial
advice and trauma counselling by a financial
advisor and a psychologist.
This Friday, the Power Ball jackpot is
estimated R52 million.
Meanwhile, in May, Ithuba indicated that a
Western Cape mother of two won R66 175
535.10. The winner purchased her ticket on
the Nedbank banking app using quick pick
option to select the winning numbers.
She then received an SMS from Nedbank
informing her that she won a big prize and to
proceed to the Ithuba head office in order to
validate and claim her winnings.
A devoted mother indicated that her plans
were to travel overseas and secure a
comfortable future for her family.
“As the operator of National Lottery games,
ITHUBA takes pride in creating lifechanging
moments for individuals like our
latest winner.
“The LOTTO jackpot has been transforming
R500 000 must be paid to the Department
of water services and the Department of
Agriculture, Rural Development Land
and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA)
for liabilities incurred during the
investigation process.
PowerBall ticket purchased
in Lindley wins R23m
lives for years, and this incredible win is a
testament to the dreams that can become a
reality through our games,” said Ithuba CEO,
Charmaine Mabuza.
In May, Standard Banking client won
almost R21 million after using banking app
to play Lotto Plus 1 jackpot. Meanwhile in
February, a Limpopo woman, who had been
unemployed for seven years, won the R22
million Lotto jackpot.
It has been reported that she was the first
person to win a Lotto jackpot by using the
Capitec banking app.
In April, an Alberton man bagged more than
R33 million in the Powerball jackpot. The
man, who was in his fifties, had said he didn’t
plan to quit his job in finance.
The winning ticket was purchased at Spar in
Alberton.

06 Classifieds | 23 JUNE 2023
cnclassifieds

23 JUNE 2023 |
Opinion 07
opinion
Thought Leadership article by Masibongwe Sihlahla,
by Chairperson: CYPFSA, YRC and fellow at Youth Business Chain
Racist propaganda must not be allowed to undermine South Africa’s democracy
The legal matter between amaBhungane
and the Moti Group
triggers a serious question – in
whose interest is South African
media acting?
Black people were treated as third-class
citizens in the land of their birth for over
300 years, and yet, 29 years after the
dawn of our democracy, many members
of the media are still allowed to continue
their campaign to spread racist propaganda
against black excellence and progress.
As the representatives of over 220,000
members and supporters nationwide, the
Concerned Young People’s Forum of
South Africa (CYPFSA) will therefore
be uniting behind the Moti Group and its
CEO Dondo Mogajane as it stands up to
media injustice. As the youth of South
Africa, we cannot stand by and watch as
black business leaders are undermined
while the media attempt to lower their
status in the eyes of the youth and public
when positive black role models are now
needed more than ever.
For example, in a blatant demonstration
of disrespect, certain radio presenters on
stations such as RSG often call President
Ramaphosa, the First Citizen of
our country, by his first name, “Cyril”.
Additionally, President Ramaphosa and
other government ministers are routinely
mocked in newspapers and on-air, and
made to appear inept, with the sly insinuation
that black people are stupid.
One of the easiest ways for racists to
continue the legacy of apartheid is by
Hospital looking for
deceased family
Escourt Hospital in KZN has informed
the Free State Department of
Health of Mariti Tsietsi Isaac whose
dead body is being kept at Escourt
Hospital. It is suspected that this individual
may be from the Free State but
passed away at the hospital in KZN.
The department asks for the public’s
help in informing the family of the deceased.
The body will be buried as
a pauper if no positive identification is
made within 30 days.
undermining the character and actions of
black leaders.
By persistently mocking and undermining
black businesspeople and other
prominent black figures, the message
sent to youth is that blacks are incompetent
and corrupt, and that only whites are
people of character.
This mentality is all too prevalent
amongst those who grew up during
apartheid and enjoyed its benefits. This
is especially true of those journalists who
are now spreading their propaganda in a
manner that only seems legitimate, falsely
claiming to be fighting corruption and
defending constitutional rights to make
themselves look honourable.
Their motto seems to be that if you throw
enough mud at black businessmen, some
of it will eventually stick. Yet in their onslaught
against the Moti Group, amaBhungane,
Daily Maverick, and News24
have failed to make their case stick. It is
little wonder that the courts have already
supported the Moti Group and CEO
Dondo Mogajane, who has proven his
integrity over and over again, much to
the chagrin of his enemies. As the matter
of media abuse continues to be heard
by the courts, Mogajane and the Moti
Group can rely on the active support of
the 200,000+ members of the Concerned
Young People Forums of SA, Youth
Rising Campaign and Youth Business
Chain, an umbrella body of youth owned
businesses and small enterprises.
If anyone is corrupt, they should certainly
be taken to task. But sadly, in many
cases, it seems that black businessmen
are attacked and undermined because
they are black – and even worse, successful.
It reeks of desperation that a
media house like amaBhungane, under
the leadership of white editor, Sam Sole,
and Media24 under its white Group
editor Adriaan Basson, have published
stories based on unreliable documents
obtained in an illegal manner as part of a
coordinated assault on black excellence.
Worse, it has been allowed to spin more
propaganda, painting its actions as part
of a war on media freedom, when the
real battle is being fought to revive South
Africa’s economy by supporting emerging
entrepreneurs. Sole and Basson are
the same bigots who have demonstrated
a clear vendetta against esteemed leaders
Julius Malema, Robert Gumede, the Minister
of Police, Black First Land First,
and all black leaders and organisations.
Too many members of the media are
being used as a weapon against black
owners, companies, and individuals, who
play a crucial role in the empowerment
and transformation of our country. These
reactionary forces are a danger to our
democracy – forces who have overseas
passports and no loyalty to South Africa,
caring only about their profits.
An injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere,
and this is no truer than what
is happening in South Africa. The actions
of a small group of irresponsible journalists
must not be allowed to undermine
the good work that the government and
black leaders are doing to bring about
social cohesion. We are all citizens in this
country, and only by working together
can we make South Africa a better place
for all people, whether black or white.
Given the Group’s role in the developmental
field of Africa as a whole, and the
important role it is playing in supporting
the South African economy and job
creation, I therefore call upon all progressive
formations to rally behind Moti
Group in defence of black progress.

08 Sports | 23 JUNE 2023
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Tumi Dlamini to lead the SA 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Bid Committee
The South African Football Association
(SAFA) has announced Tumi
Dlamini as the chairperson of the
country’s 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup
Bid Committee.
The appointment of seasoned administrator
Russell Paul as the Bid Lead of
the Committee was also confirmed by the
Association’s CEO Lydia Monyepao at a
meeting of the SAFA NEC that took place
in Nasrec on Saturday, June 17, 2023.
Isha Johansen, a member of the FIFA
Council, CAF Vice President Kanizat
Ibrahim, and SAFA Vice President Anastasia
Tsichlas were announced as members
of the Bid Committee.
Former SAFA President Dr Molefi Oliphant
has also been announced as a member
of the Committee. SAFA is also in the
process of finalising the addition of more
members to the Committee. Dlamini is a
member of the SAFA Governance Committee
and has served in several football
committees, including the CAF Governance
Committee and 2010 FIFA World
Cup Organising Committee. She also
served on the Board of the 2013 Africa Cup
of Nations Organising Committee (AF-
CON). A lawyer by profession, Dlamini
is an admitted Attorney of the High Court
of South Africa with a multi-disciplinary
background in Corporate Law, African
Development, public policy, facilitating
strategic African and global partnerships
and corporate governance. She was the
first black woman to be appointed a partner
by an international law firm in South
Africa. She is currently an Advisor to the
African Peer Review Mechanism, an organ
of the African Union (AU) where she
leads and promotes corporate governance
policies and initiatives on the African
continent, and is also the Head of Global
Relations and Partnerships.
She has engaged with the private sector
and governments at the highest level
in several countries, including, Nigeria,
Ghana, Senegal, Egypt, Liberia, Uganda,
South Africa, Namibia, Morocco, Kenya,
Ethiopia and several others. She is a strategic
thinker who has amassed knowledge
of the political, economic and regulatory
dynamics across key markets in Africa
and globally. She currently serves on several
boards, including JSE-listed companies.
She holds a Masters in Public Administration
and Public Policy from the
Harvard Kennedy School of Government,
Harvard University, a B Social Sciences
Degree and a postgraduate degree in LLB
from the University of Cape Town. Paul
has a long history in football administration
and was once a SAFA NEC member
from the Western Cape. At SAFA, he
worked as a manager for events before he
was promoted to the position of general
manager football business. He took over
as SAFA Acting CEO in 2018 before resigning
to take up the COO position at the
Qatar FIFA World Cup last year. Upon returning
home, SAFA identified him as the
right person to spearhead the bid for the
2027 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
De Villiers amongst seven players to represent SA u/20 team
Junior Springbok captain Paul de
Villiers is amongst a group of seven
players that will represent the South
African Under-20 team for a second year
running after being named in the starting
team to face Georgia in their World Rugby
U20 Championship opener in Stellenbosch
on Saturday.
De Villiers made his Junior Bok debut
in the U20 Six Nations Summer Series
in Italy last year, along with the team’s
vice-captain Katlego Letebele, Gcinokuhle
Mdletshe, Juann Else, Cornѐ Lavagna,
Imad Khan and Neil le Roux. All seven
were included in the match day squad for
the host union’s match at the Danie Craven
Stadium in Stellenbosch.
Junior Springbok head coach Bafana
Nhleko included five uncapped players in
his starting backline and six in the pack,
with Lavagna, Mdletshe and Le Roux
playing off the bench.
Nhleko said aside from their experience,
the capped players had to show the necessary
form to make the starting team.
“We need their experience of playing test
rugby,” said Nhleko. “We do not have a
lot of players with that experience because
as a side, we don’t play many
matches against international teams, and
we are going to need them to guide us on
Saturday.
“It is important to note that they had to
select themselves in terms of their abilities
and be the best in their position as
well as having the experience.” Nhleko
hopes to give as many players as possible
an opportunity to experience international
rugby over the first two matches, but also
had Georgia in mind in naming his match
day squad: “We have seen them play and
there are a couple of things we hope to do
against them, but as important for us will
be to have the whole squad on the same
page throughout the tournament.”
With heavy rain having fallen in the region
in recent weeks, Nhleko said he is
not too concerned about the conditions,
but rather about Georgia as an opponent.
“We have been lucky to train in these really
wet conditions over the last two weeks
or so, but they don’t call these test matches
for nothing – we will be challenged by
Georgia and how we respond will be crucial,”
he said.
“We have to be able to adapt to the situation
at that moment, whether it is the
weather or what Georgia throw at us, and
I think we have a group that will be able
to react to that.”
The fact that they are hosting the tournament
is not a hindrance to the Junior
Boks, according to Nhleko, who added
that his team will be ready on Saturday:
“Playing at home is motivation and not a
burden. The guys want to play in front of
family and friends and have locals to support
them.
“Most importantly though, they will be
playing for each other as a group. If we do
the right things, the momentum and support
will grow as we go along.
“Coaches will always tell you they need
more time, but I think we are ready to
play. There is only so much that you can
do as coaches and management after all.
There will be some nerves, but I think
come Saturday this team will be ready to
go.”
The Junior Springbok team to face
Georgia in Stellenbosch:
15. Hakeem Kunene – uncapped
14. Jurenzo Julius – uncapped
13. Katlego Letebele (vice-captain) – 2
caps, 0 points
12. Ethan Hooker – uncapped
11. Masande Mtshali – uncapped
10. Jean Smith – uncapped
9. Imad Khan – 4 caps, 5 points (1 try)
8. Abulele Ndabambi – uncapped
7. Ghudian van Reenen – uncapped
6. Paul de Villiers (captain) – 4 caps, 0
points
5. JF van Heerden – uncapped
4. Coetzee Le Roux – uncapped
3. Mawande Mdanda – uncapped
2. Juann Else – 3 caps, 0 points
1. Phatu Ganyane – uncapped
Replacements:
16. SJ Kotze – uncapped
17. Corne Lavagna – 2 caps, 0 points
18. Zachary Porthen – uncapped
19. Jannes Potgieter – uncapped
20. Gcinokuhle Mdletshe – 4 caps, 0
points
21. Neil Le Roux – 3 caps, 0 points
22. Damian Markus – uncapped
23. Michael Annies – uncapped