Latest news with #VanNiekerk
The Citizen
19 hours ago
- The Citizen
Update: More details emerge on fatal shooting near White River Rugby Club
The White River community in Mpumalanga is reeling after a tragic shooting outside White River Rugby Club in the early hours this morning. Lowvelder reports that police are continuing their investigation into the shooting, which resulted in the death of Pieter Burger (21) and left two others, Arno van Niekerk and Marco Schalekamp, critically injured. According to multiple trusted sources, the incident reportedly stemmed from an altercation between Van Niekerk and Schalekamp, prompting Burger to intervene. The situation escalated near the main road (Danie Joubert), where gunfire erupted. While the exact circumstances remain unclear as there are various versions of what transpired, Lowvelder is in the process of gathering the facts. Emergency responders of ER24 and Emer-G-Med attended the scene. ER24 paramedic Kim Habib confirmed that Burger was declared dead on arrival, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. ER24 transported Van Niekerk to Rob Ferreira Hospital, stabilising him on scene and en route. He sustained gunshot wounds to the abdomen, chest, back, left shoulder and the left side of his head. Emer-G-Med's Martin Jeffrey confirmed that Schalekamp was also transported to Rob Ferreira Hospital in a critical condition. He suffered gunshot wounds to both cheeks, with the bullet entering one side and exiting the other, impacting his cheekbone, as well as injuries to his shoulders and neck. He was later transferred to Mediclinic Nelspruit for further treatment. The first responder, Willem Burger of ACS Spartan, described finding Van Niekerk injured near a utility vehicle. According to Jeffrey, Schalekamp was seated in his vehicle, bleeding heavily. ACS Spartan's John Meintjes reported that his young son and dog were inside the vehicle but were unharmed. A family friend later arrived to take the child and pet to safety. Meintjes also described an intense moment when Burger's father arrived at the scene, visibly distraught. Authorities have recovered firearms and several spent cartridges, which will form part of the investigation. Tributes for Burger are already pouring in, with the White River Rugby Club describing him as 'a true dynamite, a warrior through and through'. The club expressed deep sorrow over the loss of 'one of their own' and extended condolences to his family and loved ones. In honour of his memory, a gathering has been planned at the White River Rugby Club tonight at 17:30, where friends, family and members of the community will come together to celebrate Burger's life. Lowvelder attempted to reach out to Burger's family but was unable to make contact. Investigations remain ongoing, and the police urge anyone with information to come forward. 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 At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
TimesLIVE
6 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Zakithi Nene joins sub-44-second club with speedy victory in Nairobi
Zakithi Nene has become the second South African after Wayde van Niekerk to run the 400m under 44 seconds, clocking a 43.76sec world lead in Nairobi. He won the 400m there by more than a second, with Nigerian Chidi Okezie finishing in 44.98. Nene, who anchored the South African 4x400m team to gold at World Relays earlier in May, eclipsed American Jacory Patterson as the fastest one-lap competitor in the world so far this year. Patterson had been the only man to have been under 44.00 with the 43.98 he clocked in China in early May. Nene's effort on Saturday lifted him to 16th on the all-time list, which is topped by Van Niekerk with his 43.03 world record. Van Niekerk has been quicker than Nene on only four occasions.
TimesLIVE
25-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Akani Simbine maintains his 100m dominance at Rabat Diamond League
Akani Simbine stretched his unbeaten 100m record to five international meets as he won his third Diamond League contest of the season in Rabat on Sunday night. His pace over the final 30 or so metres was too much for the field as he streaked to an easy win, clocking 9.95sec ahead of Kenyan Ferdinand Omanyala (10.05) and Olympic bronze medallist Fred Kerley of the US (10.07). Kerley had edged fourth-placed Simbine by one-hundredth of a second at the Paris Olympics last year, but on Sunday nobody had the gas to halt high-flying Simbine, who has registered a perfect start to the year with victories in Botswana, two in China and one in the US. This was also the 12th Diamond League meet victory of the 31-year-old's career, which drew him level with high-jump legend Hestrie Cloete and pushed him one ahead of Wayde van Niekerk, who ended fifth in the 200m later in the meet. Caster Semenya has the most Diamond League event wins of any South African with 21. 'I feel great, I feel confident,' Simbine was quoted as saying on the meet website. 'I am happy that I could take the win today and that I can finish this month strong and healthy. 'Another sub-10 in the bag, so slowly we go down in time which is really great. I am looking forward to the rest of the season and go back to training in Italy to get ready for the next Diamond League,' added Simbine, the 60m bronze medallist at the world indoor championships in China in March. The main goal is the world championships in Tokyo in September where Simbine is aiming to land the first global 100m medal of his career, having finished fourth and fifth on no fewer than six occasions since 2016. His countryman and 4x100m Olympic silver teammate in France, Shaun Maswanganyi, ended sixth in a season's best 10.19. World indoor champion Prudence Sekgodiso had to settle for second in the women's 800m, but her 1min 57.52sec effort was still the second-fastest time of her career and lifted her to second on the world list. Sekgodiso went into the home straight on Tsige Duguma's shoulder, but she just couldn't close the gap, measured at one-tenth of a second. Zakithi Nene ran a superb 400m race, going into the home straight with a clear lead before he tired over the final 10 metres to finish second behind American Jacory Patterson, the only man to have gone under 44 seconds so far this year. Patterson hit the line first in 44.37 with the South African following in 44.46, the second-best time of his career. Van Niekerk clocked 20.26 in a 200m missing Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo of Botswana who withdrew after showing discomfort in the 100m. American Courtney Lindsey won in 20.04. Van Niekerk was just 0.03 off his fastest post-injury time, set last year. Compatriot Benjamin Richardson, who beat Van Niekerk at the national championships last year, ended seventh in 20.49. Olympic silver medallist Jo-Ane du Plessis was fifth in the women's javelin after a best effort of 59.25m. Zeney Geldenhuys was fifth in the women's 400m hurdles, clocking 55.37 to finish fifth in a race won by Dutch star Femke Bol in 52.46. Rogail Joseph was last in 57.91.
TimesLIVE
17-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Akani Simbine wins over 100m again while Wayde van Niekerk ends third
Akani Simbine continued his unbeaten run over 100m in Atlanta on Saturday afternoon while Wayde van Niekerk settled for third place in the 200m in his season-opener. A strong tail wind nullified strong runs in both their races, with Simbine storming to victory in 9.86sec, well ahead of Udodi Onwuzurike of Nigeria in 10.05. The wind was measured at 2.3 metres per second. Simbine, fresh from winning gold in the 4x100m at World Relays in Guangzhou last weekend, also won the first three 100m races of his season, one in Botswana and two in the Diamond League meets in China. Van Niekerk, who hadn't competed since finishing seventh in the 200m at the Paris Olympics in August last year, started off his 2025 campaign with a seemingly respectable 20.03 over the straight 200m at the adidas Atlanta City Games. The wind was measured at 2.2mps, with Briton Zharnel Hughes taking full advantage as he won in 19.55. Jereem Richards of Trinidad and Tobago was second in 19.63. Van Niekerk, with a 19.84 personal best from eight years ago, slowed markedly over the final stages of the race. He had beaten Richards in their only previous encounter over this distance, in the final at the 2017 world championships in London. The 32-year-old Van Niekerk, the world 400m record-holder, is unlikely to find glory in the 200m and will surely have to return to the one-lap contest if he plans on challenging for global silverware down the line.
The Herald
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Kings Beach's Minderon breaks SA record as pool champs wrap up in Gqeberha
Competing alongside younger athletes, Van Niekerk's time placed him among the top finishers in the Open division — a testament to his enduring speed and skill. The final team standings saw Clifton Lifesaving Club rise to the top of the leaderboard with 572 points, followed by Big Bay Lifesaving Club (360) and Kings Beach (317) in a strong showing from host and surf-based clubs. 'It's been an incredible few days in the pool. Bryce's performance, along with others like Barjo's, shows the incredible depth of talent developing in South African lifesaving,' said Craig van Rooyen, Director of Sport for Lifesaving South Africa. 'Records are falling, clubs are stepping up, and the future of this sport is in great hands.' Athletes competed across a full programme including obstacle swims, rescue medleys, manikin tows, and relays — testing both technical skill and physical endurance. Significantly, coastal clubs like Clifton, Big Bay, and Kings Beach continued to make their presence felt in pool competition, a space historically dominated by Gauteng-based teams. This shift highlights a new chapter in South African lifesaving, with clubs pushing for excellence in both surf and pool disciplines. With pool events concluded, focus now shifts fully to Kings Beach, where the Junior and Senior Surf Championships will bring the championships to an exciting close. — Lifesaving SA
