Latest news with #Oosthuizen
The Citizen
16 hours ago
- The Citizen
Royal pardon brings hope for George's Ashley Oosthuizen
There is cautious relief for Ashley Oosthuizen (26), a young woman from George who has spent over five years behind bars in Thailand. George Herald reports that, earlier today, her mother Lynn Blignaut confirmed in a YouTube livestream that Oosthuizen has been included in this year's Thai royal pardon, reducing her sentence further. Sentence reduction and time served Originally sentenced to death in 2021, later commuted to life, then reduced to 33.4 years, Oosthuizen's charges were downgraded in April to possession, cutting the term to 13 years and four months. Under the royal pardon mechanism, granting one year off for every seven years remaining, Oosthuizen received an additional one year remission, bringing her theoretical remaining sentence to roughly 12 years and four months. Crucially, factoring in the five-plus years sentence already served, her current remaining time is estimated at seven years and five months. She could eventually go into house arrest as well. 'Nothing is a given in Thailand with its system. It's a waiting game,' as she spoke live shortly after her visit that day. What royal pardon means A royal pardon in Thailand doesn't equate to release. It only applies to prisoners who meet strict criteria, good behaviour, rehabilitation efforts and formal documentation before the June deadline. Oosthuizen's inclusion is a significant milestone, but release remains contingent on further processing. Additional clemency or sentence reductions may only be considered after 2026, when she could apply for extradition to serve time in South Africa. Life behind bars Oosthuizen remains incarcerated at Nakhon Si Thammarat Central Prison, where she continues her role as an English teacher and has enthusiastically taken up learning Mandarin, a skill that her mother says is progressing well. Family and public advocacy Oosthuizen was arrested in October 2020 after unknowingly signing for a package containing MDMA at her workplace, a parcel not addressed to her. She has maintained her innocence from the start. Her ex-boyfriend, Tristan Nettles, later admitted to being part of a drug trafficking ring and confirmed that Oosthuizen did not know about his activities Blignaut, who moved to Thailand in 2022 to be closer to Oosthuizen, remains committed to securing her daughter's release. She continues to appeal to the South African government to pursue extradition, and her family and supporters in George watch and wait, hoping the young woman will soon return home. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
The Citizen
16-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
SA golfers' tee times for 153rd Open at Royal Portrush revealed
Of the 11 South Africans in the field at this week's 153rd Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, former champion Louis Oosthuizen will be first off the tee at 07:46 tomorrow. According to The Citizen, the Open champion at St Andrews in 2010, who now plays his golf on the LIV Tour, will play alongside Guido Migliozzi and KJ Choi for the first two rounds. Oosthuizen has enjoyed playing the Open over the years and also boasts a tied second (2015) and tied third (2021) in 17 appearances. He will hope for another good week on the links course. Following Oosthuizen off the tee will be Daniel van Tonder at 08:19, alongside Phil Mickelson and Ryan Peake, and then Justin Walters at 10:14 in a group with Takumi Kanaya and fellow South African amateur, 18-year-old Bryan Newman. Newman will be chasing the silver medal, awarded to the best amateur in the tournament, after qualifying to play this week by winning the Africa Amateur Championship at Leopard Creek in February as a 17-year-old. SA Open champion Naidoo At 10:47, new hotshot and recent first-time winner on the PGA Tour, Aldrich Potgieter, will tee off with American powerhouses Sam Burns and Brooks Koepka, who has won five Majors but is seeking a first Claret Jug. At 11:53, SA Open champion Dylan Naidoo, who won in a playoff in Durban in early March, will make his Open debut alongside veteran South African Darren Fichardt, with John Axelsen the other member of their group. Another South African playing LIV Golf, Dean Burmester, will play alongside Davis Thompson of the US and Rikuya Hoshino of Japan from 13:42, while Shaun Norris will be in a group featuring Matt McCarty of the US and Spain's Angel Hidalgo at 14:15. Christiaan Bezuidenhout, now a regular on the PGA Tour in the US, will play alongside Rasmus Hojgaard and Romain Langasque, while Thriston Lawrence, who led the Open at one stage last year and eventually finished fourth, will tee off at 15:04 alongside former champion Justin Leonard and Antoine Rozner. The defending champion this week is American Xander Schauffele. The last time the Open was held at Royal Portrush, in 2019, Ireland's Shane Lowry won the Claret Jug. The last South African winner was Ernie Els in 2012 at Royal Lytham and St Annes, but he is not playing this year. For all the tee times click here. All the tee times in this story are SA times.
IOL News
16-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Bezuidenhout to spearhead South Africa's hope for Claret Jug glory at The Open Championship
South African professional golfer Christiaan Bezuidenhout will lead the local charge from Thursday at The Open Championship in Northern Ireland. Picture: AFP Image: AFP AS the 153rd Open Championship begins at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland on Thursday, a quartet of South African golfers will be leading a strong contingent looking to stake a claim for the famed Claret Jug. Top-ranked South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout (68th in the world), who is fresh off some strong performances on the PGA Tour, will spearhead the SA onslaught. He tees off at 2.37 pm (SA time). Former champion Louis Oosthuizen (7.46 am), alongside Stinger GC teammate Dean Burmester, and youngster Aldrich Potgieter (10.47am) will also carry the country's hopes of another major victory. Another dark horse in the race will be Thriston Lawrence (3.04 pm), who finished tied for fourth at last year's competition at Royal Troon. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading SA Open champion Dylan Naidoo (11.53am), Darryn Fichardt (11.53am), Bryan Newman (10.14am), Shaun Norris, Daniel van Tonder (8.19am), and Justin Walters (10.14am) are the other locals teeing off on Thursday. Bezuidenhout this past weekend finished tied 13th at the Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, shooting 13-under-par. That will give him plenty of confidence as he heads into the British Open. The 31-year-old had a good run at the US Open last month and will look to build on these performances over the next couple of days. All eyes will be on him from a local perspective. #BREAKING 🚨 TEE TIMES FOR THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 🏆 R1: 1:37 PM local / 2:37 PM 🇩🇰 R2: 8:36 AM local / 9:36 AM 🇩🇰 With Christiaan Bezuidenhout & Romain Langasque HAVE A WEEK (please)#TheOpen — Rasmus Højgaard Tracker (@Rasmus_tracker) July 15, 2025 Oosthuizen and Burmester had a recent dip in form on the LIV circuit, but they are known for producing quality rounds. The last time Oosthuizen made the cut at a Major was in 2023 at Royal Liverpool where he eventually finished tied in 24th place. He missed two of the last three cuts. Burmester finished in the Top 20 in two of his most recent starts at The Open in 2022 and 2024. He will be keen to improve on the 11th place he secured at St Andrews three years ago. Despite experiencing a slump in form, Burmester has only missed the cut at the PGA Championship, the first Major of the season, so his form in the big tournaments should see him make the cut for the second year in a row. At just 20, Potgieter is the fresh face of the SA challenge. Recently completing a dramatic maiden PGA Tour win at the Rocket Classic — secured via an 18‑foot birdie on the fifth playoff hole — he surged to the victory and a place at The Open.
IOL News
14-05-2025
- IOL News
Ashley Oosthuizen's battle for freedom: Reduced sentence and hope for a King's Pardon
Ashley Oosthuizen, left, with her mother, Lynn Blignaut. Image: Supplied A King's Pardon may be the gift that Ashley Oosthuizen and her mother, Lynn Blignaut, have been praying for her after her prison sentence in Thailand was reduced by 20 years, from 33.4 years to 13.4 years. And if granted, she may only need to spend another two years inside the Thai prison. Oosthuizen was found guilty of drug related charges after her arrest in 2020, when she allegedly accepted a package containing MDMA while working at a restaurant. Blignaut had completed a legal petition together with an appeal to the Supreme Court in Thailand, which was submitted in 2022 and 2023. The verdict handed down on March 27, stated that Oosthuizen's sentence was reduced by 20 years following an initial charge of 'international drug smuggler' that was changed to "possession." She has already served 4.7 years. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Oosthuizen is now awaiting her final documents to confirm her new sentence, which can take up to 7 months. She is also hoping to be part of the King's Pardon. Speaking to the Cape Argus, Blignaut explained the procedure: 'If the documents arrive by June, she will be part of the King's Pardon. If not, she has to wait for the next one, either on Mother's Day, August 12, or July 2026. The Royal Pardon does not mean that she will be set free immediately, it means that there will be a sentence reduction. That being said, nothing is impossible. No one knows who will be included, no one knows how many years will be given off to reduce sentences at the given time, it will be released in the media. There are 6 levels and one needs to be at a certain level. If her documents arrive by June, she'll be able to see on which level she is." Blignaut said Oosthuizen also received a fine of ฿666 666.66 (around R367 000). 'This means in this case, if she misbehaves, when she comes to the end of her sentence, she can pay this money to receive the last year off, if she doesn't have the money, she has to stay. 'It seems at this point, Ashley thinks that the fine will be taken away and she'll receive 1.8 years off, should she qualify for the RP (Royal Pardon) in July. 'We will only know when the time comes. 'It might be that in the end, she will only stay another 1-2 years with the RP each year. 'But in the end, this might be the final verdict from the judges, but we know that the living God has the final say in everything. We keep on trusting Him for yet another miracle in His divine timing." In January, Blignaut told the Cape Argus of how she managed to hug her daughter for the first time since 2019. Blignaut bravely sold her business linked to caregiving placement and medical disability aid supplies and moved to Thailand. At the time of Oosthuizen's arrest, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation's said the SA Embassy as well as the Consular had provided assistance to the family. Cape Argus
IOL News
30-04-2025
- IOL News
WATCH: Unexpected lioness hops onto bakkie during self-drive safari adventure
In a stunning encounter that exemplifies the wild spontaneity of South African game reserves, adventurer JC Oosthuizen (@jco_fishing) recently shared a remarkable video on TikTok showing a lioness hopping onto the back of his bakkie during a self-drive safari. This unexpected visit offered both a thrill and a glimpse into the majestic beauty of the African wilderness. 'Kattie will bakkie-ry ... Welcome to South Africa 🇿🇦,' wrote Oosthuizen in the video's caption, setting the tone for a humorous and captivating adventure. The footage begins with the lioness cautiously surveying Oosthuizen's Ford bakkie before confidently climbing onto the back. It's important to note that all windows and doors of the vehicle were securely closed, ensuring the safety of both the passenger and the feline guest. For an astonishing ten minutes, the lioness rested at the back of the vehicle, a moment that Oosthuizen could likely never have anticipated when he embarked on his safari. This incident serves as a testament to South Africa's reputation as one of the premier wildlife destinations in the world, where intimate encounters with majestic creatures can happen unexpectedly. Lions are primarily found in fenced areas and national parks in the country.
