In another setback for South African President Jacob Zuma, who has been facing calls for his resignation, his appeal against a court ruling that corruption charges against him be reinstated was turned down.&nbsp; 
 
The High Court in Pretoria said Zuma and National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams, who had appealed the earlier ruling alongside the president, had no grounds to do so. 
 
In April, the same court had ordered a review of a 2009 decision by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to set aside hundreds of charges against Zuma.&nbsp; 
 
State prosecutors justified dropping the 783 charges in 2009, saying that tapped phone calls between officials in then-president Thabo Mbeki&#39;s administration showed undue interference in the case. 
 
The 2009 decision by the NPA allowed Zuma to run for president the same month. 
 
&quot;We seriously considered whether the appeal would have reasonable prospects of success and came to the conclusion that there are no merits in the arguments,&quot; Judge Aubrey Ledwaba told the High Court in Pretoria on Friday.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The applications for leave to appeal... are dismissed,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; 
 
It was not immediately clear if Zuma would appeal Friday&#39;s ruling, but legal analysts said both he and the NPA could lodge a petition to the Supreme Court of Appeal. 
 
The South African leader has been beset by scandal during his tenure, but has managed to hold on to his post with backing from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party.&nbsp;The hundreds of corruption charges relate to a major government arms deal arranged in the late 1990s. Zuma has also been facing criticism for the poor growth rate in South Africa.&nbsp; 
 
Local elections in August pose a major risk for Zuma&#39;s party, which is facing a strong challenge from opponents seeking to capitalise on what they see as the president&#39;s missteps. 
 
(Agencies)&nbsp;

The President can still petition the Supreme Court of Appeals, but this ruling strengthens calls for his resignation

In another setback for South African President Jacob Zuma, who has been facing calls for his resignation, his appeal against a court ruling that corruption charges against him be reinstated was turned down. The High Court in Pretoria said Zuma and National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams, who had appealed the earlier ruling alongside the president, had no grounds to do so. In April, the same court had ordered a review of a 2009 decision by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to set aside hundreds of charges against Zuma. State prosecutors justified dropping the 783 charges in 2009, saying that tapped phone calls between officials in then-president Thabo Mbeki's administration showed undue interference in the case. The 2009 decision by the NPA allowed Zuma to run for president the same month. "We seriously considered whether the appeal would have reasonable prospects of success and came to the conclusion that there are no merits in the arguments," Judge Aubrey Ledwaba told the High Court in Pretoria on Friday. "The applications for leave to appeal... are dismissed,” he said. It was not immediately clear if Zuma would appeal Friday's ruling, but legal analysts said both he and the NPA could lodge a petition to the Supreme Court of Appeal. The South African leader has been beset by scandal during his tenure, but has managed to hold on to his post with backing from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party. The hundreds of corruption charges relate to a major government arms deal arranged in the late 1990s. Zuma has also been facing criticism for the poor growth rate in South Africa. Local elections in August pose a major risk for Zuma's party, which is facing a strong challenge from opponents seeking to capitalise on what they see as the president's missteps. (Agencies)

South African court throws out Zuma's appeal to overturn 783 graft charges related to major arms deal

Australia qualified for the final of the triangular one-day international series (ODI) with a six-wicket win over West Indies in Barbados on Tuesday. 
 
West Indies were sent in to bat and compiled 282 for eight off their 50 overs, with Marlon Samuels scoring 125 off 134 balls for his maiden ODI century against Australia. 
 
Wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin chipped in with a brisk 91 in a 192-run fourth wicket stand as the hosts roared back after losing three early wickets. 
 
Australia made a wobbly start in reply, with openers Aaron Finch (16) and Usman Khawaja (17) going early. But, the visitors settled in as play wore on and chased down the target with eight balls to spare, Glenn Maxwell (46 not out) securing victory with a devastating late burst. 
 
The result means the winner of Friday&#39;s match between West Indies and South Africa will advance to Sunday&#39;s final against Australia at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. 
 
While captain Steve Smith (78) top-scored for Australia with his third successive ODI half-century, the batting form of team mates Mitchell Marsh (79 not out) and Maxwell pleased the skipper. Maxwell&#39;s innings included a magnificent switch-hit sweep for six over cover-point off spinner Sunil Narine in the 46th over. In the next over he bludgeoned 14 runs off three balls off Carlos Brathwaite to effectively seal victory. 
 
&quot;An innings like that, I was speechless at the other end,&quot; said Marsh in an on-field interview. &quot;Maxie has a lot of doubters but an innings like today shows why he&#39;s such a pivotal part of the team.&quot; 
 
Smith, who downplayed a question about apparent on-field sledging, had plenty of praise to share around. 
 
&quot;I thought Mitchell Marsh played a very mature innings and Glenn Maxwell finished off nicely with a few of his trademark reverse slog sweeps, or whatever they&#39;re called,&quot; he said. 
 
West Indies captain Jason Holder limped off with a strained left hamstring after bowling just two overs and is doubtful for Friday&#39;s showdown against South Africa. 
 
(Reuters)

West Indies were sent in to bat and notched up 282 for eight, with Marlon Samuels scoring his maiden ODI century against Australia

Australia qualified for the final of the triangular one-day international series (ODI) with a six-wicket win over West Indies in Barbados on Tuesday. West Indies were sent in to bat and compiled 282 for eight off their 50 overs, with Marlon Samuels scoring 125 off 134 balls for his maiden ODI century against Australia. Wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin chipped in with a brisk 91 in a 192-run fourth wicket stand as the hosts roared back after losing three early wickets. Australia made a wobbly start in reply, with openers Aaron Finch (16) and Usman Khawaja (17) going early. But, the visitors settled in as play wore on and chased down the target with eight balls to spare, Glenn Maxwell (46 not out) securing victory with a devastating late burst. The result means the winner of Friday's match between West Indies and South Africa will advance to Sunday's final against Australia at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. While captain Steve Smith (78) top-scored for Australia with his third successive ODI half-century, the batting form of team mates Mitchell Marsh (79 not out) and Maxwell pleased the skipper. Maxwell's innings included a magnificent switch-hit sweep for six over cover-point off spinner Sunil Narine in the 46th over. In the next over he bludgeoned 14 runs off three balls off Carlos Brathwaite to effectively seal victory. "An innings like that, I was speechless at the other end," said Marsh in an on-field interview. "Maxie has a lot of doubters but an innings like today shows why he's such a pivotal part of the team." Smith, who downplayed a question about apparent on-field sledging, had plenty of praise to share around. "I thought Mitchell Marsh played a very mature innings and Glenn Maxwell finished off nicely with a few of his trademark reverse slog sweeps, or whatever they're called," he said. West Indies captain Jason Holder limped off with a strained left hamstring after bowling just two overs and is doubtful for Friday's showdown against South Africa. (Reuters)

Australia beat Windies to reach ODI tri-series final

Twenty-two years after the end of apartheid, classical dance, confined to South Africa&#39;s white minority for decades, is finally finding its feet in the country&#39;s black townships.&nbsp; 
 
In a Soweto dance studio with yellowing mirrors, enthusiastic ballet students practise their first positions and plies in socks at the barre 
 
&quot;We have beautiful contemporary dancers but not classical dancers,&quot; shares, Dirk Badenhorst, head of the South African International Ballet Competition, seeking out rising stars across the continent. He is also trying to shake things up with this new project to train township dance teachers in classical ballet. 
 
Elucidating how teachers and students are sharing their love for ballet in this Soweto studio, he shares how the dearth of black talent can be attributed to the history of the region.&nbsp;&quot;Ballet was only for white people .. and the ballet was only taught in the traditional white areas,&quot; underlines Badenhorst.&nbsp; 
 
 
&#39;Up, up, up. Stomach!&#39;&nbsp; 
Lessons take place in the heart of Soweto, a hop and a skip from the Hector Pieterson Museum dedicated to a key moment in the fight against apartheid, the uprising led by high school students in 1976. 
 
&quot;Up, up, up. Stomach, more, back,&quot; says classical teacher Maria de Torguet, pointing at a less-than-perfectly-poised back or a lazily-held head among her eight students, all black adults. 
 
&quot;When I grew up .. there was no ballet in townships. We had to go out in the town and pay for the lessons,&quot; says one of them, Mmule Mokgele, taking a break between exercises at the barre. 
 
&quot;I am happy for my kids because ballet is coming to the township,&quot; she adds. 
 
Aged 34, Mmule teaches contemporary dance and Afro-fusion in Soweto in a run-down school, whose yard has been turned into a car wash. But she decided to get trained to teach classical. 
 
&quot;Once you get to learn ballet, it disciplines you mentally, physically, it is easier for you to learn other dances,&quot; points out Mmule, short-cropped hair dyed red, with a baggy T-shirt and muscled legs beneath her black leggings. 
 
Every Tuesday morning, she endlessly repeats the first position, plies and works on holding her arms under Maria&#39;s attentive but relentless gaze. In the afternoon, she teaches her 10-year-old students what she learned in the morning. 
 
&#39;Without love nothing succeeds&#39;&nbsp; 
&lsquo;It is often said that if you are a brilliant scientist you are not necessarily a brilliant science teacher . It is the same with ballet,&rsquo; opines Badenhorst.&nbsp; 
 
He adds saying that undertaking the ballet training as a student and later training others makes a teacher more empathetic towards the children. &nbsp;&ldquo;They have a better understanding as how to explain and encourage the kids in what to do and how to do it,&quot; he explains.&nbsp; 
 
With his project, which aims to train a thousand teachers over the next three years, teachers and students are taking the same path together, shares Badenhorst.&nbsp; 
 
Maria, brought in from Cuba, a country with close ties to South Africa in areas including politics and dance, is a patient instructor. With a firm voice, she asks one student to take off a scarf, another to remove a hood. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s very difficult to teach them classical. In Cuba, teachers have studied classical dance for at least eight years,&quot; adds the petite 58-year-old brunette. 
 
&quot;Not here. I teach them to hold their bodies well. Concentration is also important, as much as passion. Without love nothing succeeds.&quot; 
 
Ballet for men? 
Under this project, many male ballerinas are also honing their dancing skills to grace the stage as they learn the techniques.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;My friends are, like, why are you doing ballet? Why don&#39;t you find something that would suit you as a man? But I love dancing,&quot; shares fellow student Ncepa Sitokwe, whose body is already toned by years of African dancing. 
 
&quot;Our traditional dancers did not expose us, with our African dances, we only do gigs to be seen when there is something celebrated. With this methodology, you are going to be seen outside South Africa,&quot; he added. 
 
Amid the dancers perfecting their turns, Badenhorst nurtures a dream. &quot;When Benjamin Millepied was the director of the Paris Opera, he was talking about the lack of transformation in the Paris Opera,&quot; he confides, referring to the dearth of non-white dancers. 
 
&quot;So I would love in 8 years or 10 years the young kids from this project to land up in the Paris Opera, he sums up.&nbsp; 
(AFP)

Lessons take place in heart of Soweto, close to the Hector Pieterson Museum dedicated to the fight against apartheid

Twenty-two years after the end of apartheid, classical dance, confined to South Africa's white minority for decades, is finally finding its feet in the country's black townships. In a Soweto dance studio with yellowing mirrors, enthusiastic ballet students practise their first positions and plies in socks at the barre "We have beautiful contemporary dancers but not classical dancers," shares, Dirk Badenhorst, head of the South African International Ballet Competition, seeking out rising stars across the continent. He is also trying to shake things up with this new project to train township dance teachers in classical ballet. Elucidating how teachers and students are sharing their love for ballet in this Soweto studio, he shares how the dearth of black talent can be attributed to the history of the region. "Ballet was only for white people .. and the ballet was only taught in the traditional white areas," underlines Badenhorst. 'Up, up, up. Stomach!' Lessons take place in the heart of Soweto, a hop and a skip from the Hector Pieterson Museum dedicated to a key moment in the fight against apartheid, the uprising led by high school students in 1976. "Up, up, up. Stomach, more, back," says classical teacher Maria de Torguet, pointing at a less-than-perfectly-poised back or a lazily-held head among her eight students, all black adults. "When I grew up .. there was no ballet in townships. We had to go out in the town and pay for the lessons," says one of them, Mmule Mokgele, taking a break between exercises at the barre. "I am happy for my kids because ballet is coming to the township," she adds. Aged 34, Mmule teaches contemporary dance and Afro-fusion in Soweto in a run-down school, whose yard has been turned into a car wash. But she decided to get trained to teach classical. "Once you get to learn ballet, it disciplines you mentally, physically, it is easier for you to learn other dances," points out Mmule, short-cropped hair dyed red, with a baggy T-shirt and muscled legs beneath her black leggings. Every Tuesday morning, she endlessly repeats the first position, plies and works on holding her arms under Maria's attentive but relentless gaze. In the afternoon, she teaches her 10-year-old students what she learned in the morning. 'Without love nothing succeeds' ‘It is often said that if you are a brilliant scientist you are not necessarily a brilliant science teacher . It is the same with ballet,’ opines Badenhorst. He adds saying that undertaking the ballet training as a student and later training others makes a teacher more empathetic towards the children. “They have a better understanding as how to explain and encourage the kids in what to do and how to do it," he explains. With his project, which aims to train a thousand teachers over the next three years, teachers and students are taking the same path together, shares Badenhorst. Maria, brought in from Cuba, a country with close ties to South Africa in areas including politics and dance, is a patient instructor. With a firm voice, she asks one student to take off a scarf, another to remove a hood. "It's very difficult to teach them classical. In Cuba, teachers have studied classical dance for at least eight years," adds the petite 58-year-old brunette. "Not here. I teach them to hold their bodies well. Concentration is also important, as much as passion. Without love nothing succeeds." Ballet for men? Under this project, many male ballerinas are also honing their dancing skills to grace the stage as they learn the techniques. "My friends are, like, why are you doing ballet? Why don't you find something that would suit you as a man? But I love dancing," shares fellow student Ncepa Sitokwe, whose body is already toned by years of African dancing. "Our traditional dancers did not expose us, with our African dances, we only do gigs to be seen when there is something celebrated. With this methodology, you are going to be seen outside South Africa," he added. Amid the dancers perfecting their turns, Badenhorst nurtures a dream. "When Benjamin Millepied was the director of the Paris Opera, he was talking about the lack of transformation in the Paris Opera," he confides, referring to the dearth of non-white dancers. "So I would love in 8 years or 10 years the young kids from this project to land up in the Paris Opera, he sums up. (AFP)

Classical dance finding feet in South Africa's black townships

Leg-spinner Imran Tahir became the first South African to claim seven wickets in a One-Day International as the Proteas demolished West Indies in St Kitts on Wednesday. 
 
Tahir served up a rich variety of deliveries to claim 7-45 from nine overs as the South Africa won by 139 runs, dismissing the bewildered West Indies for 204 in 38 overs at Warner Park. 
 
Earlier, Hashim Amla scored 110 off 99 balls to notch his 23rd career ODI century, sharing an opening partnership of 182 with Quinton de Kock (71) to set the visitors on their way to a formidable 343-4. 
 
West Indies made a bright start in reply with openers Johnson Charles and Andrew Fletcher compiling a quickfire 69 before the latter holed out at deep mid-wicket for 21 from the last ball of the ninth over to give Tahir his first wicket. 
 
The result was never in doubt once Charles, who scored 49, was sent packing in the 13th over. 
 
Tahir&#39;s haul included the scalp of World Twenty20 hero Carlos Brathwaite, who was clean bowled by a wicked googly for a golden duck. 
 
In his 58th match, Tahir became the fastest South African bowler to reach 100 ODI wickets, and the fourth quickest overall. 
 
Tahir said he had not realised he needed only two wickets to crack the century until a pre-match phone call came from his wife. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m grateful she reminded me,&quot; the 37-year-old said. &quot;I&#39;m really pleased.&quot; 
 
West Indies captain Jason Holder offered no excuses. 
 
&quot;We weren&#39;t good enough today and were totally outplayed. We didn&#39;t bowl well, especially the first 10 overs,&quot; he said. 
 
South Africa&#39;s victory leaves the triangular series evenly poised, with the Proteas, West Indies and Australia all on two wins from four matches. 
 
South Africa, thanks to two bonus points, lead the standings with 10 points, followed by Australia on nine and West Indies on eight. 
 
The series shifts to Barbados for three more matches from Sunday and the hosts face the biggest challenge if they are to make the June 25 final. 
 
&quot;Probably one (victory) out of two games will be enough for us to go to the final,&quot; said South African captain AB de Villiers. 
(Reuters)

In his 58th match, Imran Tahir became the fastest South African bowler to reach 100 ODI wickets, and the fourth quickest overall

Leg-spinner Imran Tahir became the first South African to claim seven wickets in a One-Day International as the Proteas demolished West Indies in St Kitts on Wednesday. Tahir served up a rich variety of deliveries to claim 7-45 from nine overs as the South Africa won by 139 runs, dismissing the bewildered West Indies for 204 in 38 overs at Warner Park. Earlier, Hashim Amla scored 110 off 99 balls to notch his 23rd career ODI century, sharing an opening partnership of 182 with Quinton de Kock (71) to set the visitors on their way to a formidable 343-4. West Indies made a bright start in reply with openers Johnson Charles and Andrew Fletcher compiling a quickfire 69 before the latter holed out at deep mid-wicket for 21 from the last ball of the ninth over to give Tahir his first wicket. The result was never in doubt once Charles, who scored 49, was sent packing in the 13th over. Tahir's haul included the scalp of World Twenty20 hero Carlos Brathwaite, who was clean bowled by a wicked googly for a golden duck. In his 58th match, Tahir became the fastest South African bowler to reach 100 ODI wickets, and the fourth quickest overall. Tahir said he had not realised he needed only two wickets to crack the century until a pre-match phone call came from his wife. "I'm grateful she reminded me," the 37-year-old said. "I'm really pleased." West Indies captain Jason Holder offered no excuses. "We weren't good enough today and were totally outplayed. We didn't bowl well, especially the first 10 overs," he said. South Africa's victory leaves the triangular series evenly poised, with the Proteas, West Indies and Australia all on two wins from four matches. South Africa, thanks to two bonus points, lead the standings with 10 points, followed by Australia on nine and West Indies on eight. The series shifts to Barbados for three more matches from Sunday and the hosts face the biggest challenge if they are to make the June 25 final. "Probably one (victory) out of two games will be enough for us to go to the final," said South African captain AB de Villiers. (Reuters)

Tahir spins South Africa to victory over West Indies

Dean Elgar has been called up by South Africa to replace injured batsman Rilee Rossouw for the rest of the Tri-Nation One-Day International series in West Indies, Cricket South Africa said yesterday. 
 
Rossouw dislocated his shoulder in Tuesday&rsquo;s 47-run victory over Australia at Providence. 
 
&ldquo;Rilee fell awkwardly on his shoulder while fielding the ball on the boundary. He was immediately taken to the local hospital for X-rays which confirmed he had dislocated the AC joint of his right shoulder,&quot; manager Mohammed Moosajee said in a statement. 
 
&quot;He will be unable to take further part in this series and will return back to South Africa as soon as possible. The extent of the injury and the recovery period will only be known once he has been assessed and managed by one of Cricket South Africa&rsquo;s panel of shoulder specialists.&rdquo; 
 
Elgar, 28, last played an ODI for South Africa against India in Mumbai in October. He has played six ODIs previously for South Africa. 
 
South Africa and Australia meet again on Saturday in Basseterre in St Kitts &amp; Nevis in the fourth match of the 10-game series.

Dean Elgar will replace batsman Rilee Rossouw who has a dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint of his right shoulder

Dean Elgar has been called up by South Africa to replace injured batsman Rilee Rossouw for the rest of the Tri-Nation One-Day International series in West Indies, Cricket South Africa said yesterday. Rossouw dislocated his shoulder in Tuesday’s 47-run victory over Australia at Providence. “Rilee fell awkwardly on his shoulder while fielding the ball on the boundary. He was immediately taken to the local hospital for X-rays which confirmed he had dislocated the AC joint of his right shoulder," manager Mohammed Moosajee said in a statement. "He will be unable to take further part in this series and will return back to South Africa as soon as possible. The extent of the injury and the recovery period will only be known once he has been assessed and managed by one of Cricket South Africa’s panel of shoulder specialists.” Elgar, 28, last played an ODI for South Africa against India in Mumbai in October. He has played six ODIs previously for South Africa. South Africa and Australia meet again on Saturday in Basseterre in St Kitts & Nevis in the fourth match of the 10-game series.

South Africa call up Elgar to replace injured Rossouw in ODI series

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South African court throws out Zuma's appeal to overturn 783 graft charges related to major arms deal

Australia beat Windies to reach ODI tri-series final

Classical dance finding feet in South Africa's black townships

Tahir spins South Africa to victory over West Indies

South Africa call up Elgar to replace injured Rossouw in ODI series