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Charities have criticised the UK after the government announced it would stop direct aid to South Africa in 2015.

UK ministers said their relationship with South Africa should now be based on trade and not development.

But international charity Action Aid said it was the "wrong decision at the wrong time".

South Africa's government warned that ending the aid programme, currently worth £19m a year, would have "far-reaching implications".

It said it had not been properly consulted or informed about the move.

Action Aid accused the government of "running away from middle-income countries" and drew parallels with the UK's decision last year to withdraw aid from India.

"It seems to imply a more general UK policy of withdrawing aid from middle income countries abruptly and without the progressive phasing that would help communities adjust to new realities," spokeswoman Melanie Ward said.

Oxfam called on ministers to ensure the decision to end direct aid would not cost lives.

"Whilst South Africa should be in a position to fund its own development, there remains widespread poverty and inequality, so UK aid is still a lifeline for poor people," said Emma Seery, head of development finance and public services at the charity.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening made the announcement to end the aid programme at a conference of African ministers and business leaders in London on Tuesday.

She described South Africa as "the region's economic powerhouse and Britain's biggest trading partner in Africa".

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Tyler Bozak isn't interested in watching the Toronto Maple Leafs' first playoff game in nine years from the sidelines.

The Leafs' No. 1 centre went through a full practice Tuesday and expects to play Wednesday when they visit the Boston Bruins to open their best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series.

Bozak missed Toronto's final two regular-season games with an upper-body injury. He skated briefly Monday but left practice early.

Bozak said Tuesday he felt good and desperately wants to be on the ice for the series opener.

"It's really important." he said. "We've come a long way as a team the last couple of years and especially this year.

"We've played pretty good hockey together as a group and it would be tough to sit back and watch the most important time of the year."

In fact Bozak has got a head start on his playoff moustache, which he started growing two weeks ago.

"I can't grow much and I have to start a little earlier than a few of the guys," he said. "Hopefully we can go a long way and see how big I can get it."

Having the six-foot-one, 195-pound Bozak in the lineup is a huge boost for Toronto. The 27-year-old Regina native had 12 goals and 16 assists in 46 regular-season games but was also the club's top faceoff man.

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