Johannesburg  - World football governing body FIFA on Monday said 27 artificial football turfs would be built around South Africa, including some of its poorest areas, as part of the tournament's legacy programme.

The turfs would be completed in time for the World Cup, FIFA officials said in Johannesburg. South Africa's lottery body would support the project with 81 millions rands (8.9 million dollars).

Johannesburg/Lilongwe - US popstar Madonna has left Malawi after having failed in her bid to adopt another child in the south- east African country, according to media reports in South Africa and Britain on Monday.

The 50-year-old and her children took off in her private jet in a quiet part of the airport in the capital Lilongwe on Sunday. She had been shielded from the media by security guards, South African radio reported.

Madonna later landed in London where she handed her son Rocco as well as her adoptive child David Banda over to her ex-husband Guy Richie, 40, according to British media.

Sydney - Australian international rugby player Shawn Mackay died Monday in a South

Powered by a tidy bowling performance, South Africa registered a comprehensive seven wicket win over Australia in a crucial tie here on Sunday. With this win, South Africa has leveled the five-match one-day international (ODI) series at 1-1.

Batting first, the star-studded Aussie batting line-up started a disastrous start as they lost half of their side of mere 19 runs. From Australia, Callum Ferguson scored the highest 50 runs while Mitchell Johnson also contributed a useful 30 runs for the team. Both Ferguson and Johnson scored a crucial 63 runs partnership for the seventh wicket.

Durban (South Africa), Apr. 3 : Australia captain Ricky Ponting has warned his players not to be distracted by the build-up for the Indian Premier League (IPL) that is to be played in South Africa.

The IPL caravan for the five-week event is about to hit town, led by Shane Warne''s defending champions Rajasthan Royals.

Johannesburg  - South Africa's presidential front-runner Jacob Zuma on Thursday blasted what he called his country's "soft approach" on crime and hinted he was not adverse to vigilante justice.

Zuma was addressing leaders of the country's Afrikaner minority, whom he praised as the only "true South Africans" among the country's white population.

Zuma is campaigning for general elections on April 22 that his African National Congress (ANC) party is expected to win.