South Africa’s latest crime statistics are “as alarming as the previous quarter’s figures”, Police Minister Bheki Cele has said when presenting the numbers.
According to the government’s Twitter account, he said that the data for the period between July and September this year shows that South Africa is “a very violent country”.
For example, he revealed that murders had increased by almost 21% when compared to the same period last year.
When it came to sexual violence, he said that 9,500 people were raped in the three months – amounting to four rapes an hour. That is a 7% rise from last year.
He described this as a “deeply disturbing disgrace”.
The authenticity of the photos posted online by a journalist working for CGTN, the international arm of government-controlled state broadcaster CCTV, is being questioned by experts.
The mystery surrounding Peng Shuai has taken a fresh twist after photos emerged purporting to show the missing Chinese tennis player.
Three photos posted on Twitter by journalist Shen Shiwei, working for CGTN, the international arm of government-controlled state broadcaster CCTV, show the 35-year-old smiling with a grey cat while surrounded by soft toys.
Mr Shen said the pictures were posted on the player’s WeChat messaging app alongside text saying: “Happy weekend.”
Image: The photos show the 35-year-old smiling with a grey cat while surrounded by soft toys
He added that “her friend shared the three photos and the screenshot of Peng’s WeChat moments”.
Experts have expressed scepticism and questioned the authenticity of the images.
Others also pointed to the presence in one of the photos of a framed picture featuring Winnie the Pooh – a character banned in China after people mockingly likened him to President Xi Jinping.
Peng, a former Wimbledon doubles champion, disappeared after writing a social media post on 2 November accusing a former top government official of forcing her to have sex after playing tennis at his home. Her original post on Weibo has been taken down.
Peng Shuai’s WeChat moments just posted three latest photos and said “Happy weekend”. Her friend shared the three photos and the screenshot of Peng’s WeChat moments. pic.twitter.com/tut8CEH6gu— Shen Shiwei沈诗伟 (@shen_shiwei) November 19, 2021
An email said to be from Peng was released on Wednesday by CGTN, but doubts have also been raised over its authenticity.
It says the sexual assault claim “is not true” and adds: “I’m not missing, nor am I unsafe. I’ve just been resting at home and everything is fine”.
It comes after Andy Murray and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) joined an online campaign to help find Peng.
The two-time Wimbledon champion tweeted that her “whereabouts (are) currently unknown after making sexual abuse allegations against (a) Chinese government official”.
The LTA said it was a “very concerning situation” and that the “immediate priority is to establish that Peng Shuai is safe and well”.
It is important that Peng is “able to speak freely and not subject to any form of censorship”, the association added.
Murray linked his tweet to a video of Czech player Barbora Krejcikova speaking about her country’s liberation from communism during the Velvet Revolution of 1989.
Female tennis player Peng Shuai whereabouts currently unknown after making Sexual abuse allegations against Chinese government official. This speech gives us a reminder and some hope that things can change in the future ???? #WhereIsPengShuaihttps://t.co/eKnLCHcPLj— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) November 19, 2021
Martina Navratilova, standing behind Krejcikova, is in tears. Navratilova defected from communist Czechoslovakia early in her career, becoming a US citizen in 1981. The revolution ended communist rule in the country and in 1993, the nation was dissolved, becoming the independent states of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Murray said of the footage: “This speech gives us a reminder and some hope that things can change in the future. #WhereIsPengShuai.”
Other tennis stars including Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic are among those concerned over her whereabouts .
In a statement, the LTA added that it had written to the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), offering its assistance in efforts to establish Peng’s “safety and wellbeing”.
The LTA added: “We are also keen to support any further measures that the tours can introduce to improve the safety of all players.”
China’s foreign ministry claimed on Friday that it was unaware of the controversy.
Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters it was “not a diplomatic question and I’m not aware of the situation”.
Steve Simon, the head of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), said it “only raises my concerns as to her safety and whereabouts”.
“I have a hard time believing that Peng Shuai actually wrote the email we received or believes what is being attributed to her,” he said in a statement.
“Peng Shuai displayed incredible courage in describing an allegation of sexual assault against a former top official in the Chinese government.
“The WTA and the rest of the world need independent and verifiable proof that she is safe. I have repeatedly tried to reach her via numerous forms of communication, to no avail.”
Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai has sent an email to Steve Simon, the WTA Chairman & CEO, CGTN has learned. The email reads: pic.twitter.com/uLi6Zd2jDI— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) November 17, 2021
Mr Simon said Peng’s sexual assault claim must be investigated with “full transparency” and she should be allowed to speak “without coercion or intimidation”.
Speaking to NBC News, he also raised the prospect of rethinking WTA events in China if things are not resolved satisfactorily.
Human rights organisation Amnesty International said Chinese authorities must prove Peng is safe and fully investigate the sexual assault allegations.
The country has a “track record of forcing statements out of individuals under duress, or else simply fabricating them”, said its China researcher Doriane Lau.
Serena Williams has spoken out about the well-being of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, whose whereabouts became unknown two weeks after the athlete had accused a former high-ranking Chinese government official of sexual assault.
Williams took to social media Thursday to express her concern
Serena Williams has spoken out about the well-being of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, whose whereabouts became unknown two weeks after the athlete had accused a former high-ranking Chinese government official of sexual assault.
Williams took to social media Thursday to express her concern
Williams’ tweet was accompanied by the trending hashtag “#whereispengshuai” and a photo of the 35-year-old world champion tennis player.
Serena Williams has spoken out about the well-being of Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai, whose whereabouts became unknown two weeks after the athlete had accused a former high-ranking Chinese government official of sexual assault.
Williams took to social media Thursday to express her concern
Williams’ tweet was accompanied by the trending hashtag “#whereispengshuai” and a photo of the 35-year-old world champion tennis player.
“I am devastated and shocked to hear about the news of my peer, Peng Shuai. I hope she is safe and found as soon as possible. This must be investigated and we must not stay silent. Sending love to her and her family during this incredibly difficult time. #whereispengshuaipic.twitter.com/GZG3zLTSC6
In a now-deleted post, Shuai detailed her encounters with Vice Premiere Zhang Gaoli and accused Gaoli of coercing her into sex at his home three years ago. The social media account on Weibo – China’s Twitter-like platform, on which the post was made – has since been disabled.
After the release of a statement made by the World Tennis Association demanding that China respond to Shuai’s accusations, a number of prominent athletes have shown their support for finding her.
“Censorship is never OK at any cost, I hope Peng Shuai and her family are safe and OK,” tennis star Naomi Osaka wrote on Twitter Tuesday. “I’m in shock of the current situation and I’m sending love and light her way.”
Thirty-nine time Grand Slam winner Billie Jean King also took to Twitter with her concerns: “Hoping that Peng Shuai is found safe and that her accusations are fully investigated.”
Shuai is one of China’s most successful tennis stars, having won two major doubles titles – at Wimbledon in 2013 and the French Open in 2014. Shuai has also reached the US Open semifinals in singles and has earned 25 titles on tour.
Harry Maguire was among the Man Utd players called into a meeting with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has held ‘crisis talks’ with six senior players ahead of this weekend’s Premier League clash with Watford.
United go into the game at Vicarage Road with one win from their last six league fixtures, including embarrassing home defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City.
Solskjaer is under huge pressure to get a win against a Watford side that sits just two points above the relegation zone and has the fourth-worst defensive record in the Premier League so far.
It has been rumoured in recent weeks that key players have grown frustrated this season. Earlier this month, Bruno Fernandes was said to be among those concerned by the lack of clear game plans by Solskjaer and his staff.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo, although not expecting to find the exact same club he left in 2009, is said to be ‘shocked’ by how far standards have fallen.
Solskjaer spoke with Fernandes, Ronaldo, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Victor Lindelof and Nemanja Matic at a 10am meeting at the club’s Carrington training ground on Thursday morning.
The main point of discussion was how they would turn things around, as well as a tactical plan following a recent shift to a back three system.
With the majority of the United squad called up by their respective countries for World Cup qualifiers, Solskjaer used the first few days of this month’s international break to get away from it all by taking a short holiday with his family back in his native Norway.
Immediately after Watford, United face Villarreal in the Champions League, where anything other than a win would leave their progression to the knockout stages in doubt. Then come tough back-to-back Premier League fixtures against Chelsea and Arsenal .
Ahead of the draw for the final play off for the Qatar World Cup, Nigeria’s Super Eagles maintain their number five position and are therefore still in contention for seeding.
In the November 2021 ranking released on Friday, November 19, 2021, the Super Eagles are still number 36 in the world. The only changes within Africa top 10 is Cameroon overtaking Ghana as both exchanged the seventh and eight position.
Globally, Belgium still hold on tenaciously to the number one position that they have been since 2018. In the month of November that is under consideration, a total of 145 games were played.
The biggest drop in ranking was by Central African Republic which although shocked Nigeria with a 1-0 defeat in Lagos last month but followed up with three successive losses to Nigeria in Douala, Cape Verde away and Liberia in Morocco.
Central African Republic dropped 15 steps down the ladder.
The Super Eagles, who were ranked 34th in the world in the ranking released in September, dropped 14 points to 36th.
The Eagles’ drop in the rankings was largely due to their 1-0 home defeat to Central African Republic in their 2022 World Cup qualifier earlier this month.
Gernot Rohr’s men would go on to beat CAR 2-0 in the reverse fixture of their doubleheader, but it was not enough to prevent them from dropping in the rankings.
However, the three-time African champions are still the fifth-ranked team in Africa, with Senegal also retaining their number one spot on the continent and 20th in the world. They are followed by second-place Tunisia, who also dropped one place in the world to 27th.
Morocco moved above African champions Algeria into third place, while Nigeria complete the top five places in Africa.
Meanwhile, Belgium remain the number one ranked side despite losing two matches in the UEFA Nations League.
The Cycling Federation of Nigeria seeks support to stage a successful continental competition in 2022.
The President of the Track Commission of the Confederation of African Cycling (CAC), William Newman, on Tuesday in Abuja said the group was taking steps to “ensure that the sport attains international standards in Nigeria.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Newman made this known at the Abuja velodrome.
He pledged that adequate support would be given to the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN) to stage a successful continental competition in 2022.
According to him, the CFN has many activities lined up for next year, to enhance the development of the sport in the country and on the continent.
“We are starting with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Nations Cup next year. They (CFN) are also hosting the African Continental Track Cycling Championship around June next year at the Abuja velodrome.
He said the CFN was working hard to participate in the next Olympics in Paris.
“For them to be qualified to be at the Olympic games, they must do a lot of work. They have participated and qualified for the World Championships this year.
“They (CFN) are already planning on how to improve their standards … they also want to be among the middle contenders.
“It’s a long journey. Nothing happens overnight, but Nigeria has taken the steps to meet international standards.
“I’m here to assist as much as possible, to guide them on how to achieve this goal,“ Mr Newman said.
He advised the Nigerian government to continue to support the cycling federation to excel.
“They (cyclists) should continue the good work and support will come in terms of resources. We have lots of potential in the female category and the males are coming up,“ he said.
Also speaking, CFN President, Giandomenico Massari, has promised to do all in his power to ensure that Nigeria stages a befitting championship.
He said that the CAC president was in Nigeria to discuss the modalities for the proposed continental championship.
The NFF president assures a decision that will please the generality of Nigerians will be the way forward
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has finally made an official clarification following widespread reports on the purported sacking of Gernot Rohr as coach of the country’s national team-the Super Eagles.
A statement issued by Ademola Olajire, the NFF Spokesperson, emphatically declared there is no truth to reports that the NFF has sacked Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Rohr.
Though their have been widespread calls for the sacking of the 68-year old Franco-German, the NFF president Amaju Pinnick explained there are procedures to be followed and such would be adhered to if the Federation decides to end it’s relationship with Rohr.
Pinnick said :“The Board of the NFF is studying the report of the Technical Committee, which it submitted after the match against Cape Verde in Lagos on Tuesday.
“There are a number of possibilities but we have not taken a decision to sack Gernot Rohr. I want to assure that whatever decision is eventually taken will be one that will please the generality of Nigerians.
“Mr Rohr has a contract with the NFF and there is a procedure for disengagement. If we get to that bridge, both parties will look at the contract and see what has to be done both ways.
“The Super Eagles’ squad is a national asset and we are just fortunate to be in that space to take decisions. Any decision we take must be what will be acceptable to Nigerians from far and near,” the NFF boss added.
Now in his fifth year in charge, Rohr, a former Germany international defender, has led the Super Eagles in 54 international matches, which makes him the country’s longest serving coach.
In the 54 games handled, Rohr recorded victory in 28 of those matches, a tally some feel is below par going by the abundance of talents at his disposal.
Time is ticking for the Sports Ministry and the NFF to reveal their plans for the Super Eagles coach.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, says the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will decide the fate of Super Eagles Head Coach, Gernot Rohr, next week.
Mr Dare stated this on Thursday at the weekly ministerial briefing organised by the Presidential Communications team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to the minister, Rohr’s future with the Super Eagles will depend on a report to be submitted by the NFF in the coming days.
He said “Once we have national matches like these, there is an operating procedure.
“First, the NFF will receive a technical report that analyses the game. And based on that, we will review, scrutinise and benchmark the report. Thereafter, it will make a decision either about the players or about the coaching staff.
“The ministry is waiting for that report from the NFF. What it will contain or recommend, I cannot say for now. Before the end of the week, we’ll have that report and it will touch on many areas.”
“We know what the concerns are. We’ll do whatever is necessary and we’ll be timely about it to make sure Nigeria’s football is of the highest quality and that we’ll play in Qatar,” he added.
Speaking on athletes’ welfare, the minister revealed that his ministry had tripled its remunerations to athletes representing the country in various global tournaments including the Olympics.
He, however, disclosed that the ministry still owes 54 athletes a total of N44.37m in bonuses and remunerations.
For the first time in a long time, we have decided to triple the bonuses for the out athletes. We tripled their bonuses too.
“We also moved away from just giving them Naira to giving them Dollars because when you check other countries and what they pay their athletes, they pay in dollars.
“The Paralympians who won 10 medals, less than eight weeks after they returned, we paid them a bonus of 15,000 dollars for gold, 10,000 dollars for silver, and 7,500 dollars for bronze.
“We still have a few outstanding; we have a balance of 2,000 dollars to pay to about 54 athletes. And that’s because I increased their allowances from 3,500 dollars to 6,000 dollars at the Olympics.
“So, we had to rework our budgets and we are almost there. As we speak $4,000 has been paid to all of them. The 2,000 dollars will be available soon,” he said.
The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare says efforts have reached an advanced stage for the return of the National Sports Commission(NSC)because it will make the sports federations run more efficiently and accountably.
Dare told State House correspondents in Abuja on Thursday at the weekly Ministerial briefing, organized by the Presidential Communications Team, that the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development will also be able to focus more on policies and overall supervision with the Commission in place.
According to him, the National Sports Commission(NSC)will be headed by a sports technocrat who will ensure that the federations have financial autonomy thereby being able to source their own funds and run all their developmental programs independently and effectively while the Ministry will be responsible for the preparation and participation of Team Nigeria athletes for the major international competitions.
“The Ministry is pushing for the return of the National Sports Commission(NSC)because that is the way to get our sports federations working effectively,” the Minister opened up, “the federations will be directly under the NSC and will be able to source their funds. The Ministry only steps in when there is a major international competition like the Olympics, African Games, and Commonwealth Games.”
Speaking further, the Minister said, “the Sierra Leone National Sports Authority has a model. We can learn something from Sierra Leone’s sports system by making all sports federations autonomous and incorporated.
“Expected to have annual registration from the National Sports Commission which will certify and introduce them to their NOC as the recognized federation. We are looking at this and other options.
“Federations must be more accountable to their Boards. The era of taking government money and turning around to fight and attack government under the tool of interference will soon be over. We will ensure a new regime of responsibility and accountability.” Dare added.
Experts believe that Nigeria’s best years in sports were when the National Sports Commission was allowed to run independently without interference.
Nine –time African champions, Nigeria will set up a training camp in the Federal Capital, Abuja as from Monday, as part of preparations for the final round of qualification series for the 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations holding in Morocco in the summer of next year.
Head Coach Randy Waldrum has selected an equal blend of home –based and overseas –based professionals for the camping taking place between 22nd – 30th November, and which is aimed at further improving the bond, affinity and familiarity among the group as well as the curation of tactical and technical methods that would work best for the squad in match situations. There are 15 home girls and 15 foreign –based stars.
Leading the home girls are forwards Gift Monday and Vivian Ikechukwu, who scored two goals each during the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament in Lagos in September, and there are also goalkeeper Onyinyechukwu Okeke, defender Akudo Ogbonna, midfielder Goodness Onyebuchi and forward Mary-Ann Ezenagu.
Defender Onome Ebi leads the overseas –based crew, alongside midfieder Rasheedat Ajibade, defenders Patricia George and Ashley Plumptre and forward Desire Oparanozie.
The home camping comes few months after a similar camping programme in the Austrian capital, Vienna and towards the end of what has been a busy year for the Falcons, in which they also participated in the Turkish Women’s Cup Tournament, the USWNT Summer Series in the United States of America and the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament in Lagos.
The team has reached the final round of the 12th Women AFCON qualifiers after a 2-1 aggregate defeat of arch rivals Ghana, and will confront another strong West African side, Cote d’Ivoire for a place in Morocco. The final round of qualifiers will hold in February next year, with the first leg taking place in Lagos.
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