Life's not fair!

South African Francois Botha (Red trunks) and American Michael Grant during their WBF World Heavyweight Title fight at Montecasino, South Africa. Botha was controlling the fight until the last round when Grant managed to get a big hit on Botha knocking him out and winning the fight and the title.

Francois Botha was dominating the entire fight, that was until 37 seconds to go in the 12th and final round. If he had lasted these 37 seconds, he would have no doubt won the fight easily on points, but, it was not to be and with 37 seconds to go Michael Clark got his first decent punches in and knocked Francois out.

There were so few decent punches from Clark that this picture below is the only picture I got of him actually connecting with Francois during the entire fight, but this was not the knock out blow.

I sat in the corner, trying to keep my place all night, getting covered in blood, sweat and a bit of spit and when the time came I couldn't have been in a better position.

So, in keeping with the theme of this post, I've posted the picture above, a picture that I would never usually post because, well... it's not very good. I kinda cut off Clarks head in the haste to get the pic. But I decided to post it anyway. Just to show that even Pros slip up occasionally (I'm very sure Francois Botha would agree with me about that!)

The Lion Park

One of a few White Lion Cubs at Cub World in the Lion Park in Honeydew, South Africa. Visitors can enter the enclosures and interact with the cubs.

White Lions relax during the midday heat in the Predator area.

A Cheetah rests under a tree in the Predator area of the park.

A young Meerkat peers out from his den in the Lion Park.

Lest We Forget

A Remembrance Day ceremony held at the Ditsong National Museum of Military History in Saxonwold, Johannesburg. The last post was played  and wreaths were laid on the 11th hour of the 11th day of November comemorating the Armistice that came into force to end World War 1. This ceremony is not about celebrating any victories, nor about boasting about any achievements, its simply to show respect to those that were willing to serve their country and  make the ultimate sacrifice to allow us to live the peaceful life we live now.

South African Deputy Minister of Defence, Tabang Makwetla lays a wreath as M.O.T.H  and War-Veteran Arthur Owens sits on.

The last post is played as the flag is lowered and a two minute silence is held thereafter, the first minute is to give thanks for those that survived and the second to remember the fallen.

March to the Premier

A group of about 500 members of the Ekurhuleni Concerned Resident Business and Enterprise Forum marched to the Gauteng Premiers office in the Johannesburg CBD to drop of a memorandum demanding that they investigate foreign business owners in various townships around Ekurhuleni. They have various gripes with foreigners (most specifically, Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals) that own businesses in the townships and accuse some of them of criminal acts.

Could this be the start of more Xenophobic violence in the townships?

Mayfair shoot-out

Police at a crime scene in Mayfair, Johannesburg. A bakkie crashed into a traffic light after a shoot-out between its occupants and police, One suspect was shot dead and a policeman was critically injured after being shot by another suspect during the incident.

The police seen a bakkie that they felt looked suspicious and attempted to stop it, the occupants then fired at the police and a chase took place and the suspects crashed. The shootout claimed the life of a suspect, hitting another and one policeman was also shot.

"Well Done!" to the cops for stopping these guys from doing what they where planning. Another even bigger "WELL DONE!" to the one that shot and killed the suspect. He would just get out on bail and commit another crime anyway. Four handguns and an assault rifle was taken from the suspects.

"Not so well done" to the policeman that accosted me at the scene, angrily forcing me to delete my pictures for no given or legal reason. I acted like I was distrought, as I deleted the empty memory card. I had quickly replaced the one in the camera, with an empty one, as I seen him come running up to me. Then I casually walked away with all the pics I had taken safely sitting on the card in my pocket. "No problem Officer, what ever you say..."

Police watch a Paramedic treat the shot suspect in the back of a police-van.