(GIN)—A South African who claimed he was persecuted because he is White has been granted refugee status by Canada’s immigration board. William Davis, chair of the Canadian immigration board, said that evidence presented by the White exile Brandon Huntley showed “a picture of indifference and inability or unwillingness” of the South African government to protect “White South Africans from persecution by African South Africans.”
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)—The Malaysian government has agreed to let Muslims attend a concert by U.S. hip-hop stars Black Eyed Peas, reversing an earlier ban imposed because the show is sponsored by an alcoholic beverage company, officials said. Ticket sales opened to Muslims last Wednesday for the Sept. 25 show, backed by Irish beer giant Guinness, said Bonor Seen, marketing manager for organizer Artiste World Entertainment.
JOHANNESBURG (AP)—Former President Nelson Mandela has congratulated South African runner Caster Semenya, whose dramatic improvement, deep voice and muscular build have sparked questions about her gender. The International Association of Athletics Federations initiated tests on the 18-year-old athlete after she won gold in the 800-meters at the world championships in Germany. PRESIDENTIAL GREETING—South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma, right, congratulates athlete Caster Semenya, left, during their meeting at The Presidential Guest House in Pretoria, South Africa, Aug. 25.
(NNPA)—By a slim margin of just 38 votes, a Black woman has become mayor of a small town in northern Italy. Sandy Cane, 48, won the election earlier this summer and will govern the town of Valceresio, population 5,300, which borders Varesotto and the Swiss confederation of Ticino. She will serve a five-year term. SANDY CANE
by Donna BrysonAssociated Press WriterGA-MASEHLONG, South Africa (AP) — Caster Semenya's grandmother remembers begging for money from friends and relatives to send the young runner to local track meets. On Friday she marveled at how far her granddaughter had come. CHAMPION CELEBRATED--South African athlete Caster Semenya, left, laughs with her grandmother Maphuthi Sekgala, right, during a celebration at the Ga-Masehlong village in Moletjie, 65km from Polokwane, South Africa, Friday Aug. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Semenya — the world's new 800-meter champion — returned home to the village of Ga-Masehlong, where houses are of mud or concrete, and roofed with thatch or tin. Here, residents refused to let questions about her gender dampen their celebrations of her Aug. 19 victory in Germany. Villagers broke into song as Semenya arrived, and children swarmed around her with cheers.
