HOPE MOTAU. INTERNET II. ONLINE JOURNALISM IN SOUTH AFRICA .

NEWS24.COM

I’ve visited the NEWS24 online news web, and found that the information and the news on the web are posted in order. This news web is easier to access and the format of which is applied enable the readers to find the news of their choice much easier. On the home page, you see many different news headlines and photos with little captions on the bottom. Once you click on any of the headlines; it gives you the whole story and other photos. I like the manner of which they write their stories, because they not just write the stories without the photograph unlike other online journalism. Those photographs grab the attention of the readers or any other person who is just brows on the web, to read the stories even though it was not their intension to read such stories.

The web has the search engine where the internet user is in liberty to search if a certain story is available on the web, or search any old story. Homepage also structured with different options like choosing the international, African or South African news and many more. You can choose whether you want Business, Sport, Technology or Lifestyle news. The weather updates is available, and you can choose different languages like Afrikaans or isiZulu. There are videos and audio available on this website. http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/NPA-Oscars-bail-hearing-wont-be-drawn-out-20130219

DAILYSUN.CO.ZA

I’ve also visited the Daily Sun’s online News. This online news is the most boring website I’ve ever come across, because the whole web page is written in such an extent as if is the single newspaper column. On the home page there are less than five stories with the little photographs and headline that look like the captions; those stories are without any captions on photographs. When I went through the stories and try to read them, they also show a little photograph with Headline on top and the little caption at the bottom of the image. All of this including the text of the story are very skinny as if they are written on one column of a newspaper.

The multimedia of this is very poor and need to be reviewed, because there are also no videos to watch or any other multimedia materials such as audio or blogs. The web is totally not grabbing the reader’s attention and it is not easy to stay a long on it. http://www.dailysun.co.za/indexnew_headline1.rbml?rssItemId=http%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.integrat.co.za%2Fdailysun%2F%3Fp%3D37377

IOL NEWS

The ioL is one of South Africa’s Online Journalism. Their web page is one of the best, because on its home page there are many different stories. Every story has the headline, photograph and the caption of the story. Once you click on the headline, it automatically leads you to the rest of the story. That story is including the headline, the photo and that whole story.

The multimedia of the web is also good since it has the options for videos to watch and the blog, together with the Facebook and the Twitter links; it also grab readers attention. http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/mamphela-ramphele-s-full-speech-1.1472163

PARALYMPIC STAR OSCAR PISTORIUS KILLS GIRLFRIEND ON VALENTINE'S DAY.

South African police said on Thursday they have charged Olympic sprint star Oscar Pistorius with the Valentine's Day murder of his model girlfriend, playing down reports she was mistaken for a burglar.
Police and Pistorius's family confirmed that there was only one suspect in the case and that the athlete had been taken into custody, with police saying they will oppose bail.

The 26-year-old, a national icon who made history when he became the first double-amputee to compete in the Olympics last year, was expected to appear in court shortly charged with the killing of 30-year-old model Reeva Steenkamp.

BAFANA BAFANA LOSES ON THE SOIL OF THEIR FATHER’S LAND!!!

HOPE MOTAU

Bafana Bafana crashed out of the 2013 Afcon tournament, losing 3-1 on penalties to Mali. The match had ended with a draw of one goal from both teams after the extra time.

Most South Africans’ hope was on Bafana Bafana team where Dean Furman, May Mahlangu and Lehohonolo Majoro’ spot-kick misses as what saw Bafana’s Afcon dream fade away. Anyway the Bafana players played like soldiers who were prepared to die on the field for the nation. These players despite what people were negatively saying about them, have proven that this country is richly talented and if taken good care of, could take on the world.

Bafana Bafana started the Afcon tournament with a good energy and enthusiasm, until they met Mali on quarter finals on Saturday the 2^nd of February at Moses Mabhida in Durban. Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Dean Furman won most of the battles in the midfield, resulting in the host team dominating ball possession. Bernard Parker and Tokelo Rantie were really attacking on Mali and not giving the Malian goalkeeper Soumbeila Diakite even a little chance to drink water in the goals. It came as no surprise when Orlando Pirates striker Tokelo Rantie broke the Malians heart with a goal in the 30^th minutes of the first half, after a good pass from Thuso Phala’ square pass.

However Mali came back a much recharged side in the second half and made clear their intentions to get an equaliser early on. Mahamadou Samassa finally exposed Siboniso Gaxa on Bafana’s right side, sending in a cross that found Seydou Keita in the unmarked position. Keita, who is the former Barcelona star, used his great experience to heading the ball at Khune’s goals.

Keita continued to prove why he was a member of Barcelona; the best team in the world when his presence in the midfield made things difficult for Bafana Bafana. But Bafana players continued to show some sterling character, refusing to accept Mali’s dominance forcing the game into the extra time.  Simphiwe Tshabalala finally came on for Bernard Parker in the extra time and seemed to revive the Bafana’s midfield. With no decisive goal coming to separate the two teams, the match was finally forced into the spot-kicks.

 Tshabalala stepped up to take the first spot-kick and sent Diakite the wrong way to put Bafana ahead. However, that was the only ball Bafana would convert into a goal with Furman and Mahlangu’s attempts being away by Diakite. Ending South Africa’s Afcon dream, Majoro shot failed to give Bafana Bafana another goal which lead to the excitement of the Malian side; because it was confirmed right there that Mali is going for the semi-final.

However, Bafana will certainly look back to their participation in the tournament with pride and hope that they can carry the same form into the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers later this year. TUT LIVE@12 reported that SAFA extended the contract with Gordon Igesund to 2018. This is a good decision made by our Soccer Association; because it will give him a good time to build our national team before FIFA world cup in Brazil. Igesund needs enough time to take the South African team to the green pasture, and we must not just change the coaches frequently.