They go into the tournament with race representation plaguing them, but if South Africa come through the pool phase unscathed and purring, no team would relish taking them on in knockout rugby.

A South African judge yesterday ordered authorities to prevent Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is in South Africa for an African Union summit, from leaving the country because of an international order for his arrest, human rights activists said.

The $10m sent from FIFA to Jack Warner never appeared in the annual accounts of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and nor did FIFA track the money to ensure it had been invested correctly, it can be disclosed.

Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales should be on their guard against any threat to strip the home nations of their separate status, senior figures have warned.

Qatar World Cup organisers insist the crisis at FIFA will not affect their preparations for the tournament in 2022.

Honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani will be extradited to South Africa on April 7, the country’s government has said.

The interpreter at Nelson Mandela’s memorial, who said that he had suffered a schizophrenic episode during the service after being labelled a fraud, has been admitted to a psychiatric hospital, South African media reported.

Retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu will join scores of dignitaries from around the world tomorrow for the funeral of Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Mandela’s flag-draped coffin has been laid in state in the South African capital.

South Africa has released the list of speakers at the memorial service for Nelson Mandela tomorrow.

Some 60 heads of state or government will take part in the memorial service or state funeral of Nelson Mandela next week.

A consortium headed by Irish-founded energy firm Mainstream Renewable Power has been awarded three significant wind energy projects in South Africa, which will see a combined €660m invested in the country.

The South African government says former leader Nelson Mandela remains in critical but stable condition in hospital, though “medical interventions” are required because his health sometimes becomes unstable.

In what can best be described as an act of political cowardice, Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has performed an astonishing volte-face by withdrawing support for a peace-and-reconciliation centre at the former Maze prison, outside Belfast.

Honeymoon murder suspect Shrien Dewani's mental health has improved and he has talked about returning to South Africa to fight the case against him, a court heard today.

US President Barack Obama paid tribute to ailing former South African leader Nelson Mandela today as an inspiration to himself and to the world.

Nelson Mandela’s health improved overnight and although his condition remains critical it is now stable, the South African government says. One of the former president’s daughters said he is still opening his eyes and reacting to the touch of his family.

Nelson Mandela’s health has deteriorated and he is in critical condition, the South African government said.

An ambulance carrying Nelson Mandela to a hospital two weeks ago developed engine trouble, delaying the 94-year-from reaching hospital for 40 minutes, it emerged today.

Having converted a low cross from the right to give Nigeria the lead against Bulgaria, Yekini stood in the goal, arms through the net, hands alternately clenched around the strings and clasped to his face as tears rolled down his cheeks.

Nelson Mandela was discharged from a South African hospital after a minor diagnostic procedure showed nothing “seriously wrong” with the 93-year- old anti-apartheid icon.

Anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela has spent a second night in a Johannesburg hospital, but the South African government said there is no need to panic.

A wealthy businessman accused of paying for the murder of his wife on honeymoon committed an “unforgivable” crime if the allegation is true, his sister-in-law has said.

The under-belly of South African society is unlikely to be given the spotlight over the next month, says Fiachra O Cionnaith.

A REPORT by Government officials into the work of the Niall Mellon Township Trust (NMTT) raised concerns that the house-building charity may be depriving local contractors of work in South Africa.

Sixty-three batches of a powerful weight-loss drug traditionally used by African bushmen on hunting trips have been seized by Customs this year, authorities revealed today.

Airbus parent EADS today plunged to its first loss in two years amid lingering uncertainty over major aircraft programmes.

South African athletics chief Leonard Chuene insists he will not "jump ship" after admitting he knew Caster Semenya had undergone a gender test prior to the World Championships.

MAINSTREAM Renewable Energy — the Irish wind power company headed by former Airtricity boss, Eddie O’Connor — has signed its second multi-million euro energy development deal in as many weeks.

On paper – and it’s a paper he has yet to sign or even publicly admit exists - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe appears to be acknowledging at last that he cannot rule the African country alone.

A Chinese ship carrying weapons destined for Zimbabwe left the South African harbour where it was docked and was heading for Mozambique, a human rights group said.

A FIERCE wind drove coarse, dirty sand across the Freedom Park township in Cape Town throughout the weekend, caking a layer of grime over skin, clogging ears and turned the snot in your nose jet black.

Women activists in Zimbabwe have been beaten and forced to strip by police and detained with their babies, according to a report by one of the African country’s leading civil rights organisations.

AIDS experts have called for a mass circumcision programme in South Africa, condemning a “deafening silence” from policy makers since studies revealed it sharply cut infection rates.

US talk show queen Oprah Winfrey is today set to open an innovative, environmentally-friendly school she funded with the South African government.

PRESSURE will be applied on the South African police to step up security for diplomats after an armed gang attack on the Irish ambassador’s residence.

South Africa came under withering attacks at the closing of the week-long global Aids conference yesterday, with some of the world’s leading Aids experts accusing the government of ignoring the epidemic and promoting “lunatic” prevention methods.

Would-be South African president Jacob Zuma, riding high on a wave of support, arrived at the Pietermaritzburg High Court today for the start of a corruption trial that could spell the end of his ambitions for the top job.

A South African fruit picker today made a passionate plea to Tesco directors in a bid to improve pay and conditions for an army of farm workers.

Dismissed Deputy President Jacob Zuma, cheered on by hundreds of supporters and shielded by a massive security operation, appeared in court today on corruption charges involving his financial adviser and two French arms companies.

The South African government is considering whether to resume culling of elephants in the Kruger National Park to try to combat the spiralling population of the mighty mammals.

Mark Thatcher and his lawyers went to court today to wrap up their challenge to the legality of a South African subpoena to question him about a coup attempt in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea.