Innholdsfortegnelse for 2/16/2020 i City Press

The SA Post Office is losing at least R60 million a month from distributing social grants to millions of citizens, who rely on government’s welfare net for survival. The situation is so dire that the Post Office is considering shutting down many cash paypoints around the country. The high cost drivers for this loss are cash-in-transit and security fees, which the Post Office has to pay to ensure that hard cash is delivered effectively to its cash paypoints. Post Office insiders have estimated that for every R100 the entity gained from the deal to distribute grants on behalf of the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa), it was spending R500. COSTS HAVE DOUBLED City Press has obtained the Post Office income statement for 2019, ending in December. The income statement shows…

Organised labour has given the presidency, the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) and Eskom more than 70 conditions that “have to be adhered to” before the unions can give government the go-ahead to tap into the Government Employees’ Pension Fund (GEPF) to help reduce the power utility’s debt. The union federation Cosatu and its affiliates the Federation of Union SA (Fedusa) and the National Council of Trade Unions (Nactu) presented the conditions, which include 25 Eskomrelated interventions and more than 50 economic interventions, at the presidential working committee held at Nedlac on Monday. In attendance were President Cyril Ramaphosa, government officials, the three trade unions and Business Unity SA representatives. Last month the union federation Cosatu proposed that the GEPF could be used to pay half of Eskom’s…

TV darling Nomzamo Mbatha has bade farewell to popular Mzansi Magic telenovela Isibaya. The star played the lead role as Thandeka Zungu for almost seven years on the telenovela, which airs weekdays at 8.30pm. Mbatha’s exit will surely leave the viewers disenchanted after Isibaya’s producers and writers decided to kill off her character. City Press has learnt that Mbatha was officially released from the show in December and the funeral of her character Thandeka will be aired on March 9. The details of how Thandeka is going to die are still sketchy, but two sources close to Bomb Productions told City Press on Friday that Thandeka and her husband Sbu – played by Sdumo Mtshali – will be attacked by armed criminals. “Sbu is going to survive [the shooting], but…

Smuggling drugs through OR Tambo International is easy as pie, says a former policeman with years of experience in airport security. And it’s all thanks to the help of corrupt police officers and airport personnel. “Airport personnel are easily paid R1 000 a time to look the other way,” said the former police officer, who did not want to be named. Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, national police spokesperson, admitted that “corruption was a concern”, but denied that police were losing the fight against drugs. According to Naidoo, drug-related crime declined by 28.1% between 2018 and 2019, and other countries have praised South Africa for its successes in this regard. Police have carried out 20 drug raids per month at the airport between January and August last year, and have arrested more…

A unionist has been singled out as a key figure behind the appointment of Vaal University of Technology (VUT) vice-chancellor and principal Ndodomzi Zide. Zide’s leadership style has been criticised by professors Barney Pityana and Rocky Ralebipi-Simela in their report into the state of affairs at VUT. The report was published in the Government Gazette by Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande on Friday. Pityana and Ralebipi-Simela were appointed by Nzimande’s predecessor, Naledi Pandor, last year to investigate a number of allegations relating to mismanagement at VUT. The report portrays Joseph Radebe, the branch chairperson of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union at VUT, as a key figure who backed Zide’s appointment and, in turn, received favours from him. These include having charges of misconduct against…

The DA is looking into the possibility of retrenching more staff to create a structure that is more suitable to its needs. The decision will be made before the end of the party’s financial year next month. In a letter to its employees, dated February 11, the party explained that its federal council was undergoing a review process and would be “restructuring”, a move that could see the party cut down on jobs. “We will soon meet with employees who may be affected by this process, and we remain committed to engaging openly to reach the best possible outcome,” the letter read. DA federal finance chairperson Dion George told City Press that the party was working on finalising its new structure, after which it would be able to determine exactly…

A family business in Kempton Park that manufactures luxury Belgian chocolate has been scolded by the labour department because it employs too many black women and it was told to employ more black men. Beyers Chocolates employs more than 400 people, three-quarters of whom are black women. The company doesn’t only make chocolate, it also packages and manufactures chocolate for airlines, hotels and large retail groups under different trademarks. We are seen as a non-transforming company, despite all the upliftment work we do Many of the women work in the packaging department, where they do delicate work, such as wrapping chocolates and tying ribbons. After a recent inspection by the labour department, the company was told it employed “too many” black women. The department said the number should be reduced…

Valentine’s Day is a time to show people how much you love and appreciate them. But not all attempts at heartfelt gestures ended too well on Friday: one person left his partner less than impressed after gifting her with a bathroom scale. “Gentlemen ... this is NOT, I repeat, THIS IS NOT an appropriate Valentine’s Day gift ... you may actually end up in the hospital,” lamented the woman, after receiving the digital glass scale on Friday. She was not alone: many other lovers bemoaned their partners’ disastrous gestures of romance. Retailers were also reprimanded. Taking to social media, several enraged boyfriends shared snaps of the wilted flowers they had received from retailers, complaining that their day had been ruined. A number of customers in the UK had to contend…

Jermaine Seoposenwe (Spain) The 26-year-old striker is the latest Banyana player to sign for a European club – she joined Spanish Primera División club Real Betis last week. Kelso Peskin (France) Peskin (25), also a striker, joined Toulouse FC Féminines last month. Linda Motlhalo (Sweden) The 21-year-old midfielder completed a move to Swedish Damallsvenskan outfit Djurgarden from Chinese club Beijing Phoenix on a two-year deal last month. Thembi Kgatlana (Portugal) Undoubtedly Banyana’s best player, the 23-year-old was the first big mover in the new year when she joined Benfica Feminino in Portugal. Regina Mogolola (Serbia) The 26-year-old signed with Serbian giants Red Star Belgrade from Mamelodi Sundowns in July last year.…

There is no doubt that Orlando Pirates’ clean sweep in the PSL monthly awards this week capped what has been a remarkable month for a side that was ranked outside the top half of the Absa Premiership not so long ago. Bucs head coach Josef Zinnbauer and striker Gabadinho Mhango deservedly walked away with January’s Absa Premiership coach and player of the month awards, respectively. The revival of Pirates, who were 11th on the Premiership log when Zinnbauer took over from caretaker Rhulani Mokwena in December, has largely been because of these two. Prior to the awards handover at the PSL offices on Thursday, Bucs midfielder Luvuyo Memela was voted man of the match in Pirates’ match against Bidvest Wits in the Nedbank Cup last weekend. The 32-year-old midfielder created…

The report of independent assessors into the affairs of the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) tells a story of how neglect can ruin an institution. Released on Friday, the report, compiled by professors Barney Pityana and Rocky Ralebipi-Simela, shows how the university was neglected by those who profess to love it – students and staff, parents and the community, donors and suppliers. “In this case, the university has been left to become prey to the wolves. Far too many people who could have stopped the problems have either remained quiet, looked the other way, were indifferent or afraid.” The report also raises the extent to which academics and councils relinquish their duties in pursuit of certain self-serving interests at the expense of the university. It recommends that the police and…

Dear Golden Globe Awards, Recently, the best actors for film, television and streaming titles were announced. I am told it is a great honour for anyone to be nominated and an even greater joy when their names are called. And, just as the actors who sat on their bums waiting to hear who won each category, we – the supporters of the great Kaizer Chiefs Football Club – are sitting on the edge of our seats as the 2019/20 PSL season draws to a close, hoping we’ll lift the elusive trophy. I can’t remember when we last won it. But, to get back to the Golden Globes, a quick glance at your website shows that the process to select the winners is a long one that started on July 15…

Since the start of the new year, much of South Africa’s focus has been on education, with matric results being announced and scores of children starting Grade 1. However, given the state of the education system, one might ask what determines success for children who start and stay in school, passing their matric certificate 12 years later? The ability to read and write is the basis of a successful education for every child and reading for enjoyment is a strong indicator for future academic success. Children who read regularly and hear engaging stories, in languages they understand, are well prepared and motivated to learn to read and write. However, in South Africa, 90% of the population earns just 7% of the country’s income, meaning that very few households can afford…

There is nothing we do better as a nation than to run to the grave sites of our past and curse, hoping that out of the dust and ashes will emerge the solutions to our impasse. This summarises the events of this year’s state of the nation address and the subsequent discourse that has ensued. The EFF, the third-largest party represented in Parliament, proudly claims that it has the largest constituency of young people. On the same day that FW de Klerk held an interview in which he restated his long-held view that apartheid was not a crime against humanity, Stats SA released the quarterly labour survey. It reminded us about the huge crisis of unemployment among young people. “Of the 20.4 million young people aged 15 to 34 years,…

What have we come to when we celebrate, as some people did last week, the fact that the latest official quarterly unemployment statistics – at 29.1% – have remained unchanged. This is despite the fact that it has been acknowledged that the “expanded definition” of unemployment has edged up to 38.7%. The celebrations are especially concerning because the latest statistics refer to the fourth quarter of last year, which includes the festive season and is traditionally when more part-time jobs are created. But words such as ‘expanded’ and ‘official’, along with percentages, are enough to make heads spin. I think it’s time to look at what all this means. In the first place, to be regarded as officially unemployed, a person has to be “jobless, actively seeking work and available…

As recently as March last year the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) released a discussion document seeking industry input on how best to go about implementing low-cost benefit options (LCBOs). The intention was to introduce measures to provide the protection of healthcare cover for low-income households. The project to introduce minimum benefits, especially tailored for LCBOs, was meant to be implemented to replace risk-based health insurance products, which were, until recently, subject to an exemption framework. Just nine months later, in December, as the holiday mood began to settle over the nation, the CMS announced that no further exemptions to the insurance products would be granted and the replacement LCBOs would no longer be developed and rolled out – no exemptions, no exceptions, finish and klaar. And what rationale was…

212 000 The number of deaths that exceed the number of births in Italy. The country isn’t just in an economic slump, its population is also sagging, pushing it into its biggest demographic crisis in more than a century. Italian President Sergio Mattarella said: ‘Families are not Italy’s connective tissue, they are Italy. This trend needs to be reversed.’ According to Italy’s statistics office, for every 100 deaths there are just 67 births. Italy’s population is about 60 million and Eurostat projections see it declining to fewer than 56 million by 2050. That sets it apart from the eurozone’s biggest economies, France and Spain, which will record population growth in the same period, while Germany’s will be little changed R4.4 billion The amount that Harmony Gold will pay for AngloGold’s…

Economists are becoming more pessimistic over the chances of a speedy recovery for China’s virus-hit economy as evidence mounts that the disruption will be deeper and more long-lasting than first thought. With factories struggling to reopen amid curbs on movement, consumers housebound and global supply chains fraying, analysts from Citigroup, Nomura Holdings and Gavekal Research are among those signalling deeper concerns than their initial estimates. That’s even amid signs that the spread of the virus is slowing. S&P Global Ratings said growth this year could be as low as 5%, which would be the weakest since the early 1990s, while Capital Economics goes so far as to predict the end of the global economy’s 43-quarter growth streak. Such concerns challenge early predictions that China’s economy would follow a V-shaped trajectory,…

Botswana plans to conclude negotiations with De Beers on a diamond sales agreement by the end of April to replace the current 10-year deal. The government wants to see more gems cut and polished within the borders of the world’s second-biggest diamond producer, creating jobs and boosting the state coffers, according to Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security Lefoko Moagi. An agreement is crucial for both parties. Botswana accounts for more than two-thirds of De Beers’ production, while the country relies on the gems for 90% of its exports. “We are looking at April, not beyond, for all this to happen and be successfully concluded,” Moagi said. “We now want further to move into the value space; the bottom end of the business which involves valuation, pricing,…

To solve the problem of underinsurance and disappointment at the claims stage, app-based insurer Naked is using artificial intelligence and technology to estimate your ideal insurance requirements. Ernest North, co-founder of Naked, says they use a chat box called Rose, which can insure your contents within a few minutes. Apart from requesting photographs of specific items you wish to insure, Rose asks you to take photographs of specific rooms where high-value items may be found, such as your living room. “We then use AI imaging and work out if there are high-value items in your home and whether you are possibly underinsured. For example, you may only want R150 000 of household contents insurance, but you have a R40 000 entertainment system. At this point, Rose will make a recommendation…

The National Credit Regulator (NCR) has a website that shows you if your debt counsellor is registered – https://www.ncr.org.za/register_of_registrants/registered_dc.php . There are currently only 1 657 registered debt counsellors, but there are also 2 059 counsellors who have not maintained their registration for various reasons. Only a registered debt counsellor can help you. If your debt counsellor is not registered, not contactable or not providing you with the required service, you can transfer to another debt counsellor. Approach a new debt counsellor and complete the application form. Then, after the transfer has registered on the NCR’s system, which takes about a week, the new debt counsellor will be on your record. According to David O’Brien of debt counselling firm Meerkat, if you change debt counsellors for any reason, you need…

When it comes to matters of the dance floor, we get it all the way in. Whether we’re winding our hips, bouncing up and down on our haunches or simply falling to the ground with King Monada. Not many countries could stand up to us in a dance battle. Looking back, we’ve identified a few of the more popular moves that every South African should know, besides the always handy toyi toyi. Let’s start with the kwasa kwasa. Arthur Mafokate is a problematic individual, but he didn’t invent this dance. He had an uncanny ability to spark dance crazes way before social media dance challenges. Back then, he didn’t even have a Facebook page, just Channel O and Studio Mix. Kwasa kwasa was not his to start with. He did…

Inception (2010) M-Net Action (DStv channel 110) Sunday, 8pm Cobb steals information from his targets by entering their dreams. He is wanted for his alleged role in his wife’s murder and his only chance at redemption is to perform the impossible – an inception. What Lies Ahead (2019) M-Net Movies Action+ (DStv channel 106) Tuesday, 8pm A surprising peril emerges between two women who have been thrown together on an unexpected road trip from Georgia to New York. The Outcasts (2017) M-Net Movies Zone (DStv channel 139) Wednesday, 7pm After falling victim to the prank by the high school Queen Bee, two nerdy best friends decide to get revenge by uniting the outcasts of the school against her and her friends.…

From page 1 Kwele had taken over the hot seat from prominent businessperson Mark Barnes, who quit his position as CEO in August after having differed with the previous board on the issue of separating Postbank from the Post Office. “There was no cordial working relationship between the board and the management [which Kwele led],” said a source. “The board also reversed several decisions, such as performance-linked increases – which saw managers not receiving salary increments because the Post Office lost over R1 billion last year. “The board members were also claiming too much money from the Post Office, which was already bleeding financially.” Kwele’s lawyer, Eric Mabuza, said the allegations made against his client were baseless, and they were challenging her suspension at the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa,…

Leaders of the 160 000-member Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) are refusing to account for members’ investments worth R200 million that vanished after it was channelled to a mysterious company with close links to union bosses. The money, meant for the benefit of police and prison warders, cannot be traced after it was irregularly transferred to an entity known as Popcru Group of Companies Management Services (PGCMS). Popcru is one of Cosatu’s biggest affiliates and runs a successful investment arm, Popcru Group of Companies (PGC). Mpho Dipela, the former financial director of PGC, was the sole director of PGCMS. PGCMS was itself owned by the Popcru Trust, of which Dipela and Zizamele Makhaza (formerly Cebekhulu), who has been Popcru’s president for 23 years, are trustees. PGCMS has now…

‘Ngenani bantwana bami (Come inside, my children),” legendary actress and storyteller Nandi Nyembe welcomes us with a friendly smile into her tiny apartment in the northern suburbs when we meet with her to talk about her role in a new, gripping M-Net drama, Still Breathing. Dressed in a floral dress and sporting a curly Afro wig, Mam’ Nyembe, who is best known for playing Nandi Sibiya on SABC1’s Zone 14, opens up about playing the role of Innocent, a maid who was in an abusive marriage. She also reflects on how in real life she suffered abuse at the hands of two men she loved. “I recently left my children and grandchildren because I wanted to live alone in peace. I am happy here,” she grins, as she leans on…

With five Grammy Awards to their name, internationally-acclaimed Ladysmith Black Mambazo have captured audiences across the world with their melodic isicathamiya music which helped promote South Africa abroad. The group collaborated with international artists such as Americans Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Josh Groban and Dolly Parton. Its popular hits such as Diamonds On The Soles of her Shoes, Nomathemba, Hello My Baby and Graceland were fan favourites. Their collaboration with Simon in 1986, when they recorded the Graceland album, took the world by storm. They have never looked back, touring the globe and winning more awards. Joseph Shabalala died on Tuesday. He was 78. • SEE A TRIBUTE IN VOICES…

In all the speculation that has done the rounds about the Springboks’ prospects since rumours of the their possibly playing in the Six Nations in 2024, nobody has floated the idea of Jacques Nienaber’s men campaigning in both competitions. Over the past week, talk has been about the New Zealanders, South Africa’s main Sanzaar partners, alternating between saying they need the Springboks to stay in the Rugby Championship and calling their mooted departure good riddance, and the northern hemisphere teams tut-tutting about not needing a southern hemisphere team soiling the Six Nations’ traditions. But with the Six Nations starting this month and concluding next month, and the Rugby Championship traditionally taking place between late August and early October, it’s conceivable that the Boks could play in both competitions. With the…

The Stormers finally conceded points in a Super Rugby fixture this year, but the result was reassuringly familiar as they pipped a spirited Lions team in a pulsating derby at Ellis Park yesterday. John Dobson’s men, who bossed the set piece but struggled all day with their attack – frequently coughing up possession and struggling to string together a few passes – needed an 82nd-minute try by Ruhan Nel to grab victory in a game that looked like it would be their first defeat of the season. In a move in which they suddenly found their fluency, courtesy of two speedy thrusts by winger Seabelo Senatla, with replacement fly half Jean-Luc du Plessis and winger Sergeal Petersen keeping the ball alive through linking play and safely gathering a dipping pass,…

I am probably the only person who – when US president, then candidate Donald Trump, said, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any votes” – saw a pistol in his hand. It was a Glock 45. Weapons have always looked crude in the hands of politicians. Late Palestine Liberation Organisation chairperson Yasser Arafat’s pistol looked dodgy even when neatly tucked into its holster. That was regardless of the whole world resigned to his “freedom fighter” credentials. It is advisable for politicians to simply stay off guns – they, like lies, don’t suit them. But maybe this advice would not work on a man who has been calling for his machine gun to be returned to him since he was chucked…

Sometimes the universe just comes along and slaps you with some perspective. A chance conversation with a Congo-born cab driver in Cape Town did just that to me. Now in his thirties, the man was forced to become a child soldier at the age of 10. He did and witnessed things that he does not want to remember; and those he remembers, he does not want to talk about. Like many of his countrymen, he eventually fled the Democratic Republic of Congo’s never-ending conflict. He was one of the lucky ones who did not end up in a refugee camp. He made his way to South Africa, obtained refugee status and began to make a life here. Although he thinks of going back home “if my country needs me”, he…

There are serious questions about whether the DA will recover. Despite the leadership of John Steenhuisen, the DA has a significant presence of right-wing zealots who, like Helen Zille, have decisively moved from the South African liberal tradition embodied by Helen Suzman, towards a version of the libertarian wing of American alt-right politics. Mbali Ntuli has entered the leadership race at a critical time in the DA’s history. She joins when there is likely to be no black constituency for a right-leaning DA. The recent draft policy document of the DA reads: “Individuals, when free to make their own decisions, will not be represented in any and every organisation, sector, or level of management according to a predetermined proportion. The DA, therefore, opposes race, gender and other quotas.” It is…

We took note of the article by John Matisonn – How Russia eased its way into SA nuclear – published in City Press on February 4 2020. Regrettably, this is just another hit piece full of “classic” anti-Russian clichés, including, you guessed it, the “secret nuclear deal”. What is remarkable is that it is the second article by Matisonn in City Press recently and both of them are serving the same purpose – advertising Matisonn’s book, Cyril’s Choices: Lessons from 25 Years of Freedom in South Africa. The desire to promote one’s own creation is understandable, although using anti-Russian innuendo to do so is unacceptable. The article astonishes its reader from the very beginning: “State capture began in Russia long before South Africa.” The first, instinctive reaction is to go…

The state bank and sovereign wealth fund that government wants to establish will struggle to make headway in the face of dire budget deficits, a mountain of state debt and scant economic growth. So said economists, who were commenting on these proposals after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state of the nation address, delivered on Thursday. The president announced that government had decided to establish a sovereign wealth fund in order to protect the country’s “national endowment”. Such funds are relatively common in countries that are rich in resources such as oil or minerals, and where big surpluses result from the income derived from such resources. During his speech, Ramaphosa also announced that government would continue with its plans for a state bank, meant to ensure that all South Africans have access…

Gold Fields won’t be rushing to join AngloGold Ashanti in exiting South Africa after its last mine in the country returned to profit last year. The South Deep operation generated $15 million (R223 million) of net cash last year after a decade of losses. Profitability will improve this year as output climbs at the mine that sits on the world’s second-biggest known body of gold-bearing ore. For CEO Nick Holland, the mine has the potential to be a “shining light” for a South African gold industry in terminal decline. “We have a responsibility to the country in making this big resource viable,” Holland said on Thursday. “What kind of message do we send to the country if we throw in the towel?” The nation’s gold sector has shrunk to less…

The world is throwing away more than twice as much food as previously thought, and the wealthy are the worst offenders, according to new analysis. In 2001, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation estimated that one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted. But that figure grossly underestimates how much food is thrown away at home because it doesn’t take into account that rich people waste more than their poorer counterparts, according to analysis by Wageningen University & Research. The average person wastes 527 calories of food a day, far more than the 214 calories a day the Food and Agriculture Organisation estimated for 2005 to 2007 in its earlier report, according to The Hague-based Wageningen Economic Research. This is based on data about food production, body…

Breaking the ice and taking advantage of the encouraged intracontinental trade, Isuzu Motors SA has commenced shipping knocked-down kits for its Isuzu D-Max bakkie to Kenya. The Port Elizabeth-based motor manufacturer exports the kits from the Port of Ngqura in the Eastern Cape. Industry experts have welcomed the move, which allows for tariff-free passage of goods across Africa. Responding to written questions from City Press this week, Isuzu Motors SA corporate affairs, business strategy and legal executive Denise van Huyssteen said the Kenyan project was an important step in the company achieving its growth strategy, which is geared at strengthening its presence in key sub-Saharan Africa markets. “This is done through a combination of tactical knocked-down kit initiatives to grow our volumes and strengthen our dealer distribution networks. “It took…

Debt counselling firm DebtBusters recently released its quarterly debt report for the last quarter of last year, and the figures were shocking. According to the report, South Africans’ net income has declined markedly in real terms since 2015 and consumers are making up the shortfall by borrowing money on a large scale. Average debt levels are increasing 13% more than average income levels. The report found that people who applied to the company for debt counselling last year had, on average, 15% less real net income compared with those who applied in 2015. In other words, based on buying power, South Africans have become poorer over the past four years. Interestingly, higher-income earners suffered the most real salary drops, and bring home 20% less in real terms than their counterparts…

Retail chain Woolworths has gone big to launch its winter collection. The Catch the Feels campaign celebrates 20 South African heroes who have done remarkable work locally and around the world. Set to launch on March 9, the campaign brings together the likes of Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi, businesswoman Basetsana Kumalo, comedian Celeste Ntuli, the Ndlovu Youth Choir, and award-winning designer Thebe Magugu, among others. #Trending spoke to the campaign’s creative director, Michael Carter, who said for this winter collection the retailer would be focusing on key categories including soft touch, boots, cotton jackets and knitwear. Wanting to create an authentic experience, the brand chose The Market theatre for the campaign shoot. Carter explains that what they ended up with was a nuanced product steeped in the history of the…

Paradise Blue The Market theatre Showing until March 1 Director: James Ngcobo Starring: Aubrey Poo, Seneliso Dladla, Pakamisa Zwedala, Busisiwe Lurayi, Lesedi Job Of all the jazz joints in the world, we are taken to Paradise Club, a place where the finest quality jazz is experienced by the finest people in Detroit’s Black Bottom. Chairs are stacked on tables in what appears to be a nightclub, while a drum kit sits in the background with a bedroom setting to the right. Blue is a club owner and a musician who’s running his late father’s jazz club. He’s a man with money on his mind and an underperforming club on his hands owing to too much competition on the strip. Aubrey Poo assumes the role of Blue in this classic American…

The pancakes Make the pancakes upfront, they warm well in a microwave if want to serve them hot. • 2 cups sifted flour • 2 extra-large eggs • 250ml milk • 125ml vegetable oil • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1 tbs caster sugar • 250ml soda water or sparkling water In the bowl of a food processor place all the ingredients, except the soda water, and blend well. Add the soda water and blend again. Rest the batter for 30 minutes before making the pancakes. Spray a frying pan with non-stick cooking spray and heat the pan to a medium-high heat. Ladle batter into the pan and swirl to coat the base. Cook for one minute each side and place the cooked pancake on a plate. Repeat the cooking…

At the top of a flight of stairs, inside a freshly painted building on Cape Town’s sometimes very touristy Roeland Street, my attention is caught by a circle of portraits hanging from the ceiling. The portraits feature Yonela Makoba, who is the artist and the sole feature in the work. The portraits exude a rare power that guides you into this solo exhibition titled Kwantlandlolo: Tangerine Prays for Tabula Rasa. At the centre of the tenacious yet gentle visual storm of floating portraits is a sculpture made from resin. The almost translucent artwork shaped like a torso has a container with impepho in it – sitting at its base. It acts as a site for centring yourself in the work as the audience. “The resin was the alternative to glass…

Blue Story The creators of this tragic tale do well to show off the rich intermixture in the soundtrack, which I’ve been streaming since. The story has hard-hitting and heavy moments that will leave you marinading in the pointlessness of gang-banging. – Phumlani S Langa Les Miserables The film explores false utopias that could easily fall apart. It also reflects what we experience in South Africa – a rainbow nation that is, ironically, one of the most violent and unequal societies in the world. – Moroetsana Serame Bad Boys for Life Seeing Will Smith and Martin Lawrence looking old and catching so many beat downs was just weird. It didn’t make sense, even though ageing is part of life. The pair had a believable charm about them when they were…

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Popular fashion designer Quiteria Kekana (36) has accused Nigerian-based designer Abiodun Folashade Tokunbo of replicating a recent design of his. Isithembiso actress Nandi Mbatha sported a structured mustard Quiteria Atelier dress to the Sun Met at Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town earlier this month. Mbatha’s dress was the talk of the town, with the court divided between those who totally loved it and those who gave it a thumbs down. My dream is that every household around the world will one day own a Quiteria original. No fakes Tokunbo, the founder of Anjy Luminee Couture, has since copied the design and posted it on her social media, @ceolumineeofficial, as her own. But she did not only plagiarise the design, she also copied Mbatha’s hairstyle and shoes. Tokunbo recently posted a…

The outbreak of the coronavirus has caused scaremongering in Lesotho, where some textile workers downed tools last week in protest of the return of Chinese workers who had gone home for the holidays. Last Tuesday, factory workers at Tzicc Clothing downed tools after their Chinese colleagues were separated from them and started wearing masks. Samuel Mokhele, secretary general of the National Clothing Textile and Allied Workers Union, said when they heard there were some Chinese workers returning to the factories, they immediately approached the ministry of health. “We were informed by our members that there are Chinese workers whose noses are covered [with masks],” Mokhele said. He said the ministries of health and labour and employment organised visits to the factories to observe the situation on the ground. He said…

I have long said that referees should do the job they are supposed to do, and nothing else. They shouldn’t make comments other than what is required in the line of their duty. What am I talking about? In a recent English Premier League game between Sheffield United and Bournemouth, referee Jonathan Moss was described as “a disgrace” by Bournemouth’s Dan Gosling. It is alleged by Gosling that ref Moss showed “zero respect”, and he has called on the ref to “come out and apologise” following his team’s defeat at Bramall Lane in South Yorkshire last Sunday. Gosling also alleges that the referee mocked him and his team-mates for their recent struggles – they went down 2-1 to high-flying Sheffield United. Speaking to the Daily Echo in England, Gosling said:…

The world watched in awe when renowned England referee Howard Webb dished out a record 14 yellow cards in a World Cup final on these shores in 2010. Last season, his compatriot Mike Dean etched his name into the record books by becoming the first referee to flash 100 red cards in the English Premier League – a record he set after he sent off Ashley Young in a game between Wolves and Manchester United in April. South African football has got its own history maker in Victor Gomes, who has established himself as the most card-happy referee in the PSL. The 37-year-old Fifa-accredited match official might not have reached the same figures as Webb or Dean, but Gomes’ penchant for brandishing the yellow and red cards almost willy-nilly sets…

YESTERDAY’S RESULTS Absa Premiership Kaizer Chiefs 1-2 Maritzburg United AmaZulu 1-2 Golden Arrows Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 Chippa United Baroka FC 0-1 Bidvest Wits Highlands Park 2-0 Bloemfontein Celtic English Premier League Norwich City 0-1 Liverpool Southampton 1-2 Burnley Super Rugby Hurricanes 38-22 Sharks TODAY’S FIXTURES Absa Premiership Black Leopards vs Orlando Pirates (Thohoyandou Stadium, 3.30pm); Polokwane City vs Cape Town City (Peter Mokaba Stadium, 3.30pm) English Premier League Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur (Villa Park, 4pm) Arsenal vs Newcastle United (Emirates Stadium, 6.30pm) Cricket T20 International Proteas vs England (SuperSport Park, Centurion, 2.30pm)…

A few people have said that after waiting for an hour for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state of the nation address to start on Thursday, they switched channels or went to bed. The question is: Did they miss out on anything of importance? Well, they at least spared themselves another 30 minutes of EFF theatrics, which were never going to achieve anything meaningful. The EFF, with its 12% support from the electorate, can never decide who should or should not be in Cabinet. Much as it has the right to denounce the performance of any government minister, it is not entitled to blackmail the president into firing Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan. It was all meaningless theatre and spectacle. But back to the speech. Ramaphosa in effect stuck to the mundane…

White weddings Amid the appalling scenes at Parliament on Thursday, there was one standout moment – when Juju’s old nemesis stood up to challenge the EFF after they stoked disorder in the House. Wearing a white tuxedo with a bow tie, Boy Mamabolo stood up and was immediately assailed by Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, who barked: “Honourable member, this is not the perfect wedding [TV show], on what point are you rising?” Many ANC members agreed that while Mamabolo was well dressed, it was for the wrong occasion. A fatigued Mamabolo was later seen dozing off amid the heckling and noise. Conspiracies Black First Land First leader Andile Mngxitama is synonymous with conspiracy theories. However, this week the Gupta ally really pushed the imaginary envelope when he tried to explain why SAA…

In the 1990s, Europe’s drive to create a single market earned international kudos. It also triggered a wave of anxiety as policymakers across the world fretted about the plan’s external ramifications. Most fears of Fortress Europe were misplaced, but the global concern was telling. EU officials who prepared the plan had paid scant attention to its impact on the outside world. It all worked out in the end – Europe did not raise the trade drawbridge; imports, exports and investments grew in leaps and bounds; and everyone benefited from the creation of the EU’s large border-free market. As Europe embarks on the Green Deal – its newest transformational project – lessons learnt from the creation of the EU single market and the Common Agriculture Policy must help steer EU policies…

The Educated Waiter: Memoir of an African Immigrant by Tafadzwa Z Taruvinga Published by MFBooks 240 pages R249 When one reads a book, there’s always an unconscious expectation, although naïve, that it will have a beginning, middle and an end. This is because books are always about something and after we are done reading them, we hope for some form of resolution – be it tragic or hopeful. We unconsciously demand that things should knit together for the narrative to make sense. This is however an experience I did not have after reading Tafadzwa Z Taruvinga’s book, The Educated Waiter: Memoir of an African Immigrant. Troubled by this feeling days after I finished reading it, it became apparent to me why this might have been the case. The immigrant, and…

South Africans are getting poorer and are increasingly turning to debt to fill the holes in their budgets. According to the latest figures released by debt counselling group DebtBusters, clients seeking its advice had, on average, 15% to 20% less disposable income than they did in 2015. Their level of unsecured debt was, on average, 40% to 50% higher. Unsecured debt is credit that is granted and that is not linked to a fixed asset such as a vehicle or a house. It includes overdrawn bank accounts, personal loans, store credit and credit cards. “It is very clear that, in the absence of a real growth in income, consumers are resorting to unsecured debt on an extensive scale,” said Benay Sager, chief operating officer at DebtBusters. The company’s clients with…

The lone gumtree swayed in the breeze as the incorruptible rain came down as if all heaven’s drains had been opened at once. Trevor, his oldest brother Martin and I sat down and enjoyed the pre-rainbow mundanity. As Yahoo! co-founder Jerry Yang once said: “Without rain, there is no life.” Indeed, without the difficulties that forge us into formidable human beings, we remain namby-pamby characters who have no business being at the table of humanity. Martin is Brother Boss, and is wearing the mantle of leadership that has been handed down from his great-grandfather, who founded their family business. Brother Boss came back to live in South Africa in 2005 after living in the US for 20 years. When he arrived at the business, he found the company employing temporary…

Your story, State authorises poultry tariffs to protect local industry (February 4 2020), premises that import tariffs on poultry imports will stabilise the domestic poultry industry and plug the R6.5 billion annual loss the country experiences because of these imports. Although the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters (Amie) welcomes the news that the tariffs decided in the SA poultry sector master plan – to which we contributed – cannot be implemented without it, your supposition that import tariffs will solve the problems that the domestic poultry industry faces is completely without foundation. It appears to rely more on emotion and scaremongering than fact – not least by the US-based and SA Poultry Association-funded lobby group, FairPlay. Amie is disappointed that the association’s sponsored organisation continues to mislead the public.…

Google’s $2.6 billion (R38.5 billion) fine is “a small amount of cash” to the search-engine giant, according to one of the five European Union judges weighing its appeal of the EU penalty. Colm Mac Eochaidh, an Irish judge, made the allusion on day three of hearings at the EU’s General Court in Luxembourg, where the trillion-dollar company is fighting regulators who fined it in 2017 for unfairly discriminating against smaller shopping search rivals. Mac Eochaidh urged Google’s lawyer to imagine he had savings of €120 in his back pocket, but was fined €2.40 for dropping some litter. “Would you miss the €2.40?” he asked. Google attorney Christopher Thomas replied that he would, in this hypothetical incident, be “struck by the infringement finding”, which would be “a very serious matter”. Mac…

Many people feel that they can choose the amount of cover they want for their household contents. For example, you may be happy with only R200 000 and the associated premium, but it’s a misconception that’s unfortunately only properly understood when it comes time to make a claim. You see, when you claim, the insurer will send out an assessor to check the full value of all your household items. This includes things that you probably don’t realise make a difference to your insurance – the curtains, perfume, groceries, plastic containers and mountain of items stored in the garage that you never use. And don’t forget about the pictures on the walls, books, DVDs, toys and games. The cover you take out should be enough to replace every single item…

Many middle- and higher-income earners are drowning in debt as they rely ever more on unsecured loans to keep themselves afloat as salaries and the economy in general continue to deteriorate. People facing this squeeze usually think they have two options – keep their heads in the sand and hope something will change, or face the facts and take action. However, another option is debt counselling, where you can select to go under debt review. While this may carry stigma or be viewed as a “failure” – the truth is, no one needs to know. You don’t have to tell your friends or even your employer. This option is preferable to waiting to default and having a judgment made against you. Once you are in default, the collection and legal…

DJI Osmo Action camera R4 995 If you’re looking for a GoPro comparison review, then sadly you’ve come to the wrong place. What got me interested in playing with the DJI Osmo Action camera was its dark, boxy shape – it was going to be a nifty little cam that could fit in any purse while still giving me the best picture quality I could hope for. Despite being the first of its line, the Osmo Action is an ideal GoPro alternative for vloggers and self-shooters. The Osmo Action’s footage is Instagramready and is an accessible product from a price point of view. If you’re looking for an action cam that’s going to give you maximum bang for buck, the Osmo Action delivers. Something that I wasn’t prepared for –…