Johannesburg  - South Africa's ruling African National Congress said it would never endanger the health of former president Nelson Mandela after drawing criticism for flying him to an election rally in wet conditions to support the party.

At a press conference Monday the ANC's campaign director Fikile Mbabula insisted: "The ANC would not put the life of Madiba at risk," referring to Mandela by his clan name.

Mbalula also insisted that the 90-year-old anti-apartheid icon had expressly asked to attend an ANC rally together with controversial leader, Jacob Zuma.

Johannesburg, Feb. 23 : Australian opener Simon Katich has acknowledged that South Africa's fast bowlers led by Dale Steyn can once again be too hot to handle in the forthcoming series, but hastens to add that the Aussies have their measure.

"He''s (Steyn) obviously up there at the moment. In terms of pace, he''s probably one of the quickest going around, apart from Brett (Lee) when he''s fully fit. You throw in the other couple as well. They''ve got a well-balanced attack," Fox Sports quoted Katich, as saying.

Johannesburg, Feb. 23 : The key to Australia defeating South Africa will be team skipper Ricky Ponting, who averages more than 50 per innings in Tests.

If the captain grabs the Proteas by the scruff of the neck and overshadows rival skipper Graeme Smith to make the series his own, not only will Australia''s chances of retaining the world No. 1 ranking go through the roof, but Ponting will go close to overtaking Steve Waugh in fourth place on the list of Test run-scorers," says in an article for the Sydney Morning Herald.

Johannesburg - Seven Zimbabweans, four men and three women, were found dead in South Africa after their shack in Western Cape province was allegedly set alight, police said Monday.

A police spokesman told SAfm public radio that the alleged attack, which took place in a squatter camp, was under investigation.

Last year, mobs killed at least 62 people and drove thousands of others from their homes in a two-week frenzy of xenophobic violence targeting mostly migrants from neighbouring countries, such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi.

Dubai, Feb. 23 : The ICC today confirmed that Emirates Elite Panel umpire Steve Bucknor had announced his retirement from officiating, effective at the end of his upcoming Test and ODI assignments in South Africa.

Bucknor's last assignment as an elite panelist will be the third and final Test between South Africa and Australia to be played in Cape Town from March 19 to 23, while his final match commitment as an international umpire will be in Bridgetown, Barbados, on March 29 when he will stand as a local appointee with elite panel umpire Aleem Dar in the fourth ODI between the West Indies and England.

Johannesburg (South Africa), Feb. 23 : West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor, who was at the centre of a bitter and controversial Test series between Australia and India last year, will retire next month.

The 63-year-old Jamaican has stood in a record 126 Tests and over 170 one-day internationals, but his last engagement will be the third Test between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town from March 19 to 23.