South Africa's under-fire president Jacob Zuma got a little support from an unlikely quarter Tuesday when FW De Klerk laid into the "prophets of doom" doing down the country. De Klerk, who negotiated an end to white rule in 1994 as South Africa's last apartheid president, said "afro-pessimists" did not give the country or the continent enough credit for strides made. De Klerk acknowledged his native South Africa faces "serious international perception problems" but said the country had seen 18 years of almost uninterrupted economic growth.

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius, who is charged with murdering his girlfriend, will not compete in any events this year, local media reported on Monday. The sprinter's agent had previously said August's world championships in Moscow were "on the radar" after Pistorius' bail conditions were relaxed on March 28 and the 26-year-old was granted permission to travel abroad. But the double amputee, nicknamed ‘Blade Runner', will not return to the track in 2013 according to his coach, Ampie Louw.

Result of a Super 15 rugby match between the Melbourne Rebels and Western Stormers on Friday: Melbourne Rebels (AUS) 30 Western Stormers (RSA) 21 Ht: 13-14 Scorers Rebels Tries - Scott Higginbotham, Hugh Pyle, penalty try; Conversions - Jason Woodward (3); Penalties - Woodward (3) Stormers Tries - Louis Schreuder, Bryan Habana, Andries Bekker; Conversions - Joe Pietersen (3) Referee: Mike Fraser (NZL) afp

Unheralded Daisuke Kataoka of Japan signed for a six-under-par 66 on Saturday to take a one shot lead over Ernie Els and Bernd Wiesberger into the final round of the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters. Kataoka, 24, birdied the final two holes for an 11-under-par total of 205 while Open champion Els of South Africa shot a 68 and Austrian Wiesberger a 67 at the US$750,000 Asian Tour event being held at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.