Innholdsfortegnelse for 3/22/2020 i City Press

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Popluar television actress Jessica Nkosi says she is leaving Isibaya for greener pastures. Nkosi, who plays the role of the sweet and lovable heroine Queen Qondi has bid farewell to Mzansi Magic’s most watched show. Her character has grown over the years – Qondi went from being the girl serving the tea to being the queen who was served. “Yes, I am leaving the show. But I am still shooting my last scenes right now. I am not sure how Qondi is going to exit the show, but I will know in the coming weeks as I am having a meeting with the production team,” she said. When asked about her new chapter, she said she hadn’t signed with any show yet. “We should just wait and see.” The 30-year-old…

It’s not business as usual as popular chilling spots – restaurants, nightclubs, shebeens and pubs – have to close their doors at 6pm under strict new regulations, and many patrons will find it difficult to adapt to this unusual lifestyle. Affected clubs include Moloko in Johannesburg and Pretoria; Taboo, The Sands and Boa in Sandton; and Montana and Sumo in Rosebank – they all start operating at 11pm. A 35-year-old from Johannesburg, who has been enjoying the nightlife since she was 17 and who declined to be named, said this would not stop her from enjoying herself: “I really enjoy the nightlife. From Thursday to Saturday, I am usually clubbing with friends, but the president has spoken. We need to do our part as citizens. This will help me to…

With the number of confirmed Covid-19 coronavirus cases in South Africa breaching the 240 mark and set to climb, authorities said they were desperately trying to slow the spread of the virus to avoid swamping the fragile healthcare system. The proportion of the population that could be infected “can go to about 60%”, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize told reporters in Bloemfontein on Friday. “It doesn’t mean those people are going to die, it doesn’t mean all of them are going to get it at the same time, it doesn’t mean we’ve now got an apocalypse,” he said. President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the virus a national disaster on March 15, closing schools and some borders, and imposing travel bans on international travellers who recently visited 10 of the hardest-hit nations, including…

Experts have gathered to discuss and reveal their predictions for the future of home automation. According to futurologists, about 90% of household chores will be automated, thanks to robots, drones and artificial intelligence (AI) by 2040. They claim that these intelligent machines will help with laundry, dusting and even making the bed. King’s College Professor Mischa Dohler and futurologist Ian Pearson created a report with consumer site comparethemarket.com to predict how homes will look in two decades’ time. According to the experts, and the Life More Automated report they published, certain chores, such as washing clothes and dishes, have already become more convenient due to technological inventions. It is expected this will continue and eventually reach the point where most people will save almost two hours a day, amounting to…

While home-based education is the best option for some parents in urban areas, many in rural areas do not have this option, says Siyabulela Fobosi, education researcher at Rhodes University’s Public Service Accountability Monitor (Psam). Fobosi says this means that “schools must accommodate parents’ and guardians’ varying capacities, and provide comprehensive supportive materials”. He said government’s directive that schools go on early recess to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus further proves the need to ensure that schools are equipped with e-learning facilities so that pupils continue studying at home. He said Psam supported government’s decision that schools go on early recess. Governments in 119 countries around the world, he said, had closed education institutions to contain the pandemic. He said the effect of a lack of e-learning materials…

South Africa’s decision to close some borders with Lesotho is disrupting businesses in the tiny mountain kingdom because the owners have to travel longer distances to bring back goods into the country. South Africa shut down seven borders between neighbours in a bid to control the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. Businesspeople in Lesotho this week said the move would cripple the country’s already weak economy. Consumers would feel the pinch as a result. Ntaote Seboka, president of the Lesotho Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said businesspeople would incur more expenses when they import goods from South Africa because they would have to use other borders, which are far. Seboka said some businesspeople live far from the borders. This meant they would have to increase their prices to cover their…

A difficult draw, rather than the exodus of players last season, is being given by the Lions as the main reason their Super Rugby side managed to win just one of its six matches this season. “Four of our matches were overseas, of which one was against an international team,” said Rudolf Straeuli, chief executive officer of the Lions. There was a feeling at Ellis Park that the overseas losses were not a true reflection of what the team could accomplish, and that they should be judged after more home games. However, since last year’s Super Rugby season, the side lost coach Swys de Bruin, as well as players, such as Jacobie Adriaanse (retired), Danie Mienie, Malcolm Marx, Robbie Coetzee, Lourens Erasmus, Robert Kruger, Stephan Lewies, Kwagga Smith, James Venter,…

Amid the Covid-19 coronavirus crisis, most of the local football clubs could be forced to give players some time off as the games remain suspended. The indefinite postponement of the programmes due to the lockdown means some PSL clubs could be presented with a challenge when it comes to keeping their players fit while in self-isolation. This week, most clubs confirmed that their players were still reporting for training, but they have been mindful of government’s restrictions on mass gathering and the requirement of self-isolation to curb the spread of the virus. Safa chief medical officer Dr Thulani Ngwenya said the Covid-19 pandemic was a rude awakening and that professional football clubs needed to invest in sports medicine. To back up his statement, the Bafana Bafana medico bemoaned the shortage…

I was delighted to see that the PSL decided to cancel all of this weekend’s matches because of the Covid-19 coronavirus. This will bring enormous relief to all concerned, not least the players and especially match officials. We referees are a hardy bunch. We get our appointment and, without question, carry out our duties to the best of our ability. That’s not to say that there isn’t the danger that we won’t contract the virus from someone either on the field or in the crowd. Medical experts tell us that we have to remain at least 2m from the next person. Can you imagine that on a football field? How can you have a football match without players tackling each other? What about when a player has to make a…

Match officials have been urged to keep themselves fit during the pause in the football programmes caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. Jerome Damon, chairperson of Safa’s subcommittee on refereeing, said: “These are indeed challenging times for any athlete, and match officials are in that category. Nothing beats being in the actual game for the person in the middle’s fitness. But given that this will not happen for the foreseeable future, we have measures that are about to be rolled out.” Damon said the committee had put together a programme that match officials needed to follow. “Our fitness team, led by Derek Hanson, is putting together a programme for match officials so they can keep fit at home. When we resume [playing matches], there will be a range of fitness…

‘The idea of playing behind closed doors does not work. There will be no football; our decision is final’DANNY JORDAAN ‘Firstly, let’s agree that the league was suspended because of the directive by [President Cyril Ramaphosa] that we must reassess the situation’IRVIN KHOZA ‘As we speak, they [the PSL] can have their match tomorrow with no spectators’NATHI MTHETHWA The SA Football Players Union (Safpu) has called for cool heads amid this week’s conflicting statements from the domestic football bosses and the sports minister in reaction to the effect of the Covid-19 coronavirus on the local game. Power- struggles- appeared- to- be- the- order- of- the- daythe- moment- Safa- declared- a- nationwide- suspension- offootball- at- all- levels. Safa- on- Monday- called- for- the- indefinitepostponement- of- football- shortly- after- government’sdecision- to- ban-…

The unexpected outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus, declared a national disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa and a pandemic by the World Health Organisation, appears to be creating a disconnection. Still, the virtual hugs and tiptoe greetings are creating a Thuma Mina experience even with the disconnection. In keeping with the policy mooted by the Wireless Open Access Network (Woan) – and given that part of its objectives include lowering the cost of data – spectrum allocation, particularly in rural areas, is critical as the virus continues to affect the economy. Developed countries have many internet users. The challenge in South Africa is that people in rural areas do not have access to the internet or data because of the lack of telecommunications infrastructure. A primary reason for this is the…

As the world continues to deal with the outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus, South Africa’s count of those infected is growing at an alarming pace and the figure will grow more as people are tested. President Cyril Ramaphosa and other spheres of government have demonstrated leadership that should be supported and applauded. For the first time as the nation we have put our political differences aside for the sake of the country. This should be viewed as the beginning of good things to come. Political parties can rekindle and invoke the spirit of past leaders, such as former president Nelson Mandela, to put the country first instead of grandstanding and cheap political point-scoring. Businesses, churches, NGOs and all civil society groupings should work together with vigour to ensure this pandemic…

According to the famous educationalist and philosopher Nel Noddings: “The single greatest complaint by students is that teachers do not care.” Noddings considers lack of care on the part of teachers as a major factor in the troubling traits many adolescents show in their later years. The tragic drowning of Parktown Boys’ High School pupil Enock Mpianzi (13) in January in North West while his teachers were said to be nonchalantly playing games on the other side of the camp, indicts teachers for breaking the one fundamental pillar of being a teacher – caring. The loss of Enock’s life indicts all of us, as the community, the school governing bodies, the department of education, because pupils have always told us “teachers do not care”. The grief of the Mpianzi family,…

Put SAA out of its misery. This is the call being made by aviation experts, who believe the airline should be liquidated at a time when the Covid-19 coronavirus has forced even financially healthy airlines to their knees. According to Guy Leitch, editor of SA Flyer magazine, it will cost government R2 billion per month to keep SAA on life support. Joachim Vermooten, a transport economist, said the R6.5 billion that government promised SAA in 2020/21 and the R16.5 billion required to fulfil its debt obligations over the next three years, was at least R2 billion short of what was needed. Leitch believes government has far more pressing obligations than pumping more money into SAA, but Vermooten doubts that they are ready to let go of the airline. Peter Attard…

Times are tough for everyone, but those who are quick-witted and have an unwavering will to win will survive. It has been said many times before and it is still true today – it’s business unusual. People used to joke that when China sneezed, the whole world caught the flu. It is no longer a joke. China caught the Covid-19 coronavirus and the whole world went into a panic. Many businesses have forced their staff to work from home to reduce the risk of infection, restaurants are empty and a new term has forced its way into our daily vocabulary: social distancing. Covid-19 brings new questions to the way we do things. Do companies really need the hordes of staff members who are housed in large offices that cost a…

With South Africa still battling to ward off load shedding even as it confronts the Covid-19 coronavirus, the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) appears to be dragging its feet when it comes to procuring emergency power. This is according to some of South Africa’s leading energy experts. Nersa waited almost a month before kicking off a public participation process this week in relation to ministerial determinations aimed at stabilising electricity provision. Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe handed these proposed determinations to Nersa on February 21. In South Africa’s highly regulated electricity industry, legislation requires a determination by the minister of mineral resources and energy before additional power acquisitions can be effected. The determination must comply with the country’s long-term plan for electricity provision, the integrated resource plan (IRP) – and…

$253 trillion The value of total worldwide debt by the end of September last year, inflated mainly by higher borrowing by governments and non-financial corporates. The world’s debt when compared with its total output hit an all-time high of more than 322% in the third quarter of the year, and it is set to keep growing, the Institute of International Finance (IIF) said in a recent research report. Record low interest rates in countries around the globe have made it easier and more attractive for corporates, individuals and governments to borrow, and thus incur more debt. ‘Spurred by low interest rates and loose financial conditions, we estimate that total global debt will exceed $257 trillion in the first quarter of [this year], driven mainly by non-financial sector debt,’ the IIF…

Shoppers threaded their way between stalls hawking everything from watches to pigs’ feet in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, this week, two days after the government banned large gatherings to combat the Covid-19 coronavirus, but exempted markets such as this. Buyers and sellers at the Abacha Street market said they could not afford to stay away – they depend on the market for their daily food and wages. A growing number of African countries are announcing increasingly restrictive measures to try to halt the spread of the virus, which has infected more than 200 000 people globally and killed more than 10 000. They have shut borders, closed schools and universities and barred large public gatherings. Uganda banned religious gatherings and weddings, despite not having a single Covid-19 case. South Africa…

Business tip: Work at leaving the world a better place than you found it. Mentor: Jalal Ghiassi-Razavi, director at the Association of Allan Gray Fellows, who told me that passion always trumps money. Inspiration: My mother, Khanyisile Lioma, who put pressure on us to succeed, and was always constant and supportive. Favourite books: The Bible and Zero to One by US entrepreneur Peter Thiel. Wow! Moment: Graduating with distinction from Cambridge University. Life philosophy: Have the humility to learn, always.…

According to the SA Banking Risk Information Centre, there has been a sharp increase in the cases of cybercriminals trying to exploit the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. They are using coronavirus-based scams to trick people into clicking on emails or SMSes which appear to offer medical supplies and vaccines. These emails appear to be from reputable companies – but once people click on links or provide personal information, the cybercriminals can either access their computer systems or bank accounts. Cybersecurity provider Mimecast is tracking emails of cybercriminals who are trying to capitalise on the virus by attempting malicious email attacks. According to Mimecast, there are currently multiple malicious emails being circulated to unsuspecting end-users via business and personal emails. These include emails that appear to come from the centres…

Ami Faku Imali Available on all streaming platforms Back at The Artivist Restaurant in Braamfontein, I was tossed on a seat with the nose bleeds. Not so high up or quite so far away from the action but also not prime. It didn’t matter, however, as the efficacy of Ami Faku’s stage presence not only reached me but in moments carved a way in and through the soul. You can always tell what kind of artist you’re about to see when the ambient sounds of D’Angelo and Nina Simone are what she opts to play before she comes out. Quite bold too, considering the virtuosity of both musicians. The two-night performance had been sold out two nights in a row and her album had moved around 10 000 units. A…

He said he had been receiving messages about smaller hotels, guesthouses and lodges going out of business. Craig Newman, CEO of the 126-year-old Rand Easter Show, said the effect of the cancellation of the iconic annual expo would “be felt from cleaning to security to technicians, electricians and many other suppliers”. “But safety comes first and we have had to adhere to calls to curb the virus that is destroying the world. “The virus is actually killing businesses more than it is actually killing people. How many businesses have had to shut down? “The biggest casualty across the world are small businesses, many of them within the exhibitions and events space. It is crazy, scary and unprecedented, and has never happened before in any of our lifetimes.” NO TO OPPORTUNISTS…

Thinking of rushing to your local pharmacy to stockpile on medication? Don’t. The Independent Community Pharmacy Association (ICPA) – representing more than 1 100 community pharmacies across the country – has appealed for calm in the wake of the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 200 people in South Africa. Jackie Maimin, the CEO of the ICPA, said: “What we are saying is that our members are open for business and we will be on the front lines. We have standard operating practices in place and have posters outside our pharmacies to advise people that if they are displaying symptoms of Covid-19 infection, they must rather call in. We will then redirect them to the relevant entity. “Mostly, the key thing is not to panic. We are saying…

South Africans working in China have told City Press that they trust the stringent measures that have been implemented there in dealing with the virus, whereas the laissez-faire approach here in South Africa makes them reluctant to return home. Boipelo Makhwiting teaches English in Inner Mongolia, situated in northern China, and says her decision not to come back is the “patriotic thing to do”. She is full of praise for the Chinese government, which she believes has made the right moves to protect citizens. While the province where she resides “has not been badly affected”, she says, the government made it easy to track those who were infected via an app, set up to help detect the number of cases in an area. “The nice thing about China is that…

The film and TV industry worldwide has almost come to a standstill and most artists face an uncertain future as a result of the shutdown prompted by the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak. This week, singer Thandiswa Mazwai and poet Lebo Mashile were among the artists who broke their silence on Twitter. Mazwai posted this tweet: “Dear bills … I have no money to pay you and won’t have none until I can get back to work. No gigs, no money! Sorry bond payments, sorry tax payments, sorry insurance.” Mashile urged people to pay their outstanding debts to service providers such as freelancers and contractors. “The biggest companies in SA, along with parastatals and government itself, have outstanding invoices sitting with them while service providers try to figure out how we are…

In an effort to ensure that teaching and learning continues remotely amid the Covid-19 coronavirus crisis, universities have come up with innovative ways to keep studies going. One of those drastic measures is providing online platforms, just like the University of SA’s distant learning. A snap survey to establish what measures the country’s 26 universities have undertaken to respond to government’s directive to suspend lectures found that different universities have various ways of dealing with the pandemic. Elijah Moholola, the University of Cape Town (UCT) spokesperson, said they had to make serious decisions after two cases of Covid-19 were confirmed on campus this week. He said UCT was developing a different approach to teaching and learning so that students did not lose the academic year. “The university has worked on…

What with the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak having raided SuperSport’s live coverage cupboard to the point where it is bare, our staple sporting diet as we self-isolate is on DStv Catch Up, where you can relive pretty much every memorable event from the past decade or so. One such unforgettable episode was the occasion of AB de Villiers scoring that jaw-dropping 149 against the West Indies in the Pink ODI five years ago. In the innings that cemented his “Mr 360” nickname, De Villiers compiled those runs off 44 balls, setting new world records for the fastest man to a half century (16 balls) and a ton (31 balls), and equalling the number of sixes (16) in an ODI innings. As impressive as those numbers sound, there was something otherworldly about…

SA: Absa Premiership Number of participants: 16 Suspended since: March 17 Suspended until: Indefinitely Matches played: 23/24 of 30 Only Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits have played 21 games Top: Kaizer Chiefs lead chasers Mamelodi Sundowns by four points, but the Brazilians have a game in hand while Wits still have an outside chance to challenge if they utilise their two outstanding fixtures against Chiefs Bottom: Baroka FC, Polokwane City, AmaZulu (all tied on 23 points) and bottom-placed Black Leopards remain in danger England: Premier League Number of participants: 20 Suspended since: March 13 Suspended until: April 30 Matches played: 28/29 of 38 Top: Liverpool are 25 points clear of defending champions Manchester City, and need just two more wins to clinch the league title Bottom: With fewer than 10…

This week, South African football bosses lost out on a great opportunity to lead the nation, all because of petty politics. The question is: If the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic could not unite football bosses, what will it take to get harmony in our football world? This was a great opportunity to show unity, but if this national calamity can’t make those who lead Safa, as well as their PSL counterparts, put aside their petty differences to work hand in hand, then nothing will – at least for now. This week’s unfortunate incidents once again demonstrated the lack of unity between Safa and its special member, the PSL. This is how the drama unfolded. After Sunday night’s national address by President Cyril Ramaphosa about Cabinet’s decision on how to tackle Covid-19,…

As citizens of an ambitious democracy, there is a lot about the state that we can criticise. There was much the Mandela government felt short on, the Mbeki government messed up, the caretaker Motlanthe administration decided on and the calamitous Zuma government (if you can call it that) buggered up. Early into his tenure, there is a lot that the Ramaphosa government has failed us on. So yes, as citizens we have a lot to be grumpy about. But when the government does right and fulfils its obligations to citizens, we should acknowledge it. We might believe it is what ministers and public servants are paid to do anyway and that it is not necessary to praise a fish for swimming. But that would amount to being mean with praise.…

Facts ’n figures Strict regulations that could see people peddling fake news about Covid-19 being sent to jail or fined are now in place. But government failed to demonstrate that charity begins at home when it took no action against Masechaba Ndlovu, the new spokesperson for the arts and culture minister, who wrongly tweeted that 116 people had already died of the disease. In a confident tweet, Ndlovu warned: “There is no ‘if’ or ‘maybe’, people are dying. The death toll was at 64 yesterday, we now stand at 116.” Ndlovu is seen as a celebrity spokesperson and this tweet did not help her cause. Vaccine no-no Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has called on the public not to panic about Covid-19 and for cool heads to prevail. But while the…

South Africans experience many tragedies daily: murder, crime, horrific road accidents and high levels of femicide and gender-based violence. We are generally a traumatised nation. However, we are also a nation that tends to move on too quickly from one incident that captures our attention to the next. We organise marches, shutdowns and, within a short time, we have either forgotten or moved on. I believe this is probably why politicians do not deliver on the promises they make. This is because they know how easily we forget and, as a result, they get away, sometimes literally, with murder. Right now the world is on tenterhooks because of the Covid-19 coronavirus. Countries are anxiously navigating this uncertainty as they fight to contain the virus and save citizens’ lives from the…

It is sometimes tempting to focus on the tree rather than the forest surrounding it. In this instance, the tree would be the Covid-19 coronavirus and perhaps the forest is the National Health Insurance (NHI) system. Before I am accused of writing in parables, let me put this in policy terms. As everyone is rightly consumed by the immediacy of the Covid-19 crisis, the longterm goals of building a quality healthcare system that restores our collective humanity may be forgotten, at least for a little while. This could be dangerous because, as a matter of course, healthcare services – especially hospital services – are often called into play during an emergency. In Gauteng, we have a clear attitude to Covid-19 – we will tackle it head-on with all the skill,…

The fear of a virus is everywhere. Government officials and highly qualified biblical theorists are also shaking with fear – their human infallibility and wisdom has met its match. It is this fear that prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the nation and issue decrees on how the state will respond to this evil called Covid-19. The president’s announcements, including the banning of gatherings of more than 100 people, are acceptable and well intended. For his own part, Ramaphosa was responsible enough to emphasise that these measures were not exclusively directed at churches, but all religions. This ensured that most of us Christians were ready to comply. However, some aspects of the media, the CRL Rights Commission and the police minister are beginning to urinate on this cooperation that Ramaphosa…

Wake up black child! Wake up! This is a social media hashtag often used when a black person does something that puts them at a disadvantage. A common example is how black people will spend money on expensive alcohol and clothes while they have no assets such as a house. The hashtag is meant to awaken our consciences and make us realise that our white compatriots are building generational wealth while we, instead of following suit, are regressing by making stupid decisions. #WakeUpBlackChild! is not meant to show that others lack empathy about how damaged black communities are because of the injustices in the past, but rather it is meant to motivate us to work at redressing those injustices by helping to build a progressive nation. My #WakeUpBlackChild! moment was…

The story of Zimbabwe, beautifully told House of Stone by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma Atlantic Books 384 pages R295 Winner of the Edward Stanford Prize for Fiction with a Sense of Place, House of Stone is easily one of the best debut novels you will ever read. Novuyo Rosa Tshuma’s novel is both entertaining and shocking, filled with compassion, anger and hopelessness. This Zimbabwean novel is not for the faint-hearted. During the turmoil of modern Zimbabwe, Abednego and Agnes Mlambo’s teenage son goes missing. Their enigmatic tenant, 24-year-old Zamani, who has lived in the spare room for years, seems to be their only hope for finding him. As he weaves himself closer into the fabric of the grieving community, it’s as if quiet, polite, well-read and well-heeled Zamani is part of…

Hopefully sooner rather than later, a vaccine will be developed to counter the Covid-19 coronavirus. But the eruption of this disease, which is spread by contact, has highlighted several important – and all too often largely ignored – factors about our world and the way we live in it. In the first place, the spread of Covid-19 has underlined that we really do live in an interconnected global city. It is a place where even the most far-flung suburbs and rural areas are readily accessible to those who have the wherewithal to fly or cruise from place to place. Also clearly highlighted is the fact that this is a grossly, even obscenely, unequal global society sprawled across the quarter of the planet’s surface that is land. One example of this…

Gilbert Mosena, the National Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) acting president, has cautioned small businesses that the effects of the Covid-19 coronavirus could bring them to their knees should the number of infected people continue to rise. As the virus continues to hit in an environment that has already seen a sharp rise in insolvencies over the past year, Mosena said that Nafcoc expected the coming months to be particularly tough on the country’s small businesses. “In the next two weeks, if the number of infected people increases, there will be closure of many businesses, including in the taxi industry. We hope we will be able to manage the situation in the townships and the rural areas. The danger is that if a small business closes, this could…

Global warehouses are stuffed with frozen cuts of pork, wheels of cheese and bags of rice. But as the Covid-19 coronavirus snarls logistical operations, the question becomes: How does all that food actually get to people? Despite the inventories, grocery stores are looking almost apocalyptic with their aisles of empty shelves. Panic buying has made it nearly impossible for retailers and suppliers to keep up with the unprecedented spike in demand. In just one example of the constraints, there is a finite number of trucks that can load up at warehouses to bring in the chicken or ice cream or toilet paper that people want to buy. There are limits on how much time can be spent stocking shelves or filling rail cars. Then there is this weird knock-on from…

Africa would probably see increasing numbers of Covid-19 coronavirus cases in the coming weeks because it was “very likely” that some cases were slipping through the net, the head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control (CDC) said on Thursday. “We are picking up some people but we are also missing some people,” said Africa CDC director John Nkengasong. “The situation will get worse before it gets better because the chances are clear that people have slipped through.” The virus has spread in Africa more slowly than in Asia or Europe, but 34 African nations have now reported more than 600 Covid-19 cases. Worldwide, it has infected nearly 220 000 people and killed more than 10 000, according to a Reuters tally. Nkengasong said the number of confirmed cases in…

The global market collapse caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic has created a buying opportunity for those who are still investing for retirement, however, it comes at a very bad time for those who are about to enter retirement. It could also undermine the income of those who rely on their investments to get by. This highlights the need to do proper financial planning prior to retirement and make sure you are invested in the appropriate funds to manage market volatility. ABOUT TO RETIRE: YOU CAN DELAY YOUR RETIREMENT Rita Cool, a certified financial planner at Alexander Forbes, says most members of pension or provident funds are most likely invested in the fund’s default investment option. Most default options follow a life stage model, which means that, as you approach…

We have received many questions from workers and self-employed people who have been affected by shutdowns due to the Covid-19 coronavirus. With incomes reduced, most people want to know what options are open to them. CLAIMING FROM UIF If you are employed and are required to enter self-isolation due to exposure, you can claim from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF). If your company has temporarily closed or reduced hours, you can also claim from the short-term UIF benefit. It is important that your company notifies the UIF if they are contemplating a short-term shutdown. The application has to be made via your company. If you require more information, click on the tab “UIF benefits” and for details on how to apply, click on the tab for “manuals”, which takes you…

In the early 1960s, pharmacists and government authorities were of the view that South Africa had experienced key aspects of a “pharmaceutical revolution” during the previous 40 years. These were fulcrum decades in South African medicines’ history in which newly invented medicines became critically important. Most of the new therapeutic substances in high demand were antibiotics. But the class of drugs comprising synthetic hypnotics, sedatives and tranquillisers were also important. As early as the 1930s, these substances – especially barbiturates – posed challenges to those who sought to control them. Enmeshed in multiple issues of chemical, commercial, professional and regulatory definition, timid controls were proposed in 1937. But even these failed to gain support, facilitating a permissive market for those who could afford the new drugs. These people were, by…

In the article “Stop SA’s gun violence plague now”, published last week, City Press erroneously inserted the phrase “Covid-19 is less deadly than guns” in the subhead and which was not part of the text from the authors. The subhead should have read: “As the country goes into Covid-19 mode it is important to remember that not a single person in SA has died from it yet. But more than 20 people are shot and killed in SA every day. We must call this what it is: a public health epidemic, write Sithombo Maqungo, Richard Matzopoutos and Andrew Nicol.” City Press apologises to the authors.…

Professor Renata Schoeman, a psychiatrist and head of the MBA healthcare programme at the University of Stellenbosch Business School, has an explanation for South Africans’ behaviour during this time of crisis and the palpably heightened levels of anxiety and panic-buying that has occurred. She says that when people experience uncertainty in terms of their health and security, they automatically want to try to take control in some way. “Times of crisis are common, so are pandemics. Uncertainty and herd mentality are common during times of national crisis. You can think back to the recent water crisis in Cape Town. It was very real and I remember going into a Spar and seeing people elbowing each other out of the way to grab bottles of water and hand sanitisers. “One big…

American country music legend Kenny Rogers has died, aged 81. A family representative said he “passed away peacefully ... from natural causes” at his home in Sandy Springs, Georgia, US. Owing to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, the Rogers are planning to have a small private service at this time, with a public memorial at a later date. Rogers topped pop and country charts during the 1970s and 1980s, and won three Grammy Awards. Known for his husky voice and ballads including The Gambler, Lucille and Coward Of The County, Rogers’ career spanned more than six decades. He once summed up his popularity by saying that he believed his songs “say what every man wants to say and what every woman wants to hear”. After growing up in poverty on a…

The lawyers of former top cop Lieutenant General Khomotso Phahlane are confident that when his trial continues in May they will be able to punch holes in a forensic report by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) that forms the basis of the state’s case against him. Phahlane is accused, along with other high-ranking police officials, of fraud and corruption regarding their involvement in a procurement contract that saw the installation of blue lights in police vehicles in Gauteng in 2016 – at a cost of R84 million. City Press has seen a copy of the response Phahlane is set to submit to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) with regard to Ipid’s forensic report, which was handed to him and his co-accused in the Johannesburg Commercial Crime Court on Tuesday…

The look on the truck driver’s face as a pistol-like device was drawn closer to his forehead showed just how anxious he was. All it took was a nod from the woman whose eyes were fixed on the reading reflected on the back side of the thermometer – also referred to as the thermometer gun – to bring back the man’s smile. He breathed a sigh of relief as he was allowed to proceed to the immigration offices. His entry into Botswana had just been confirmed. The man had been screened and his body temperature was not alarming. Officials at the Botswana side of the Ramatlabama border, near Mahikeng in North West, were satisfied that he was not infected with the deadly Covid-19 coronavirus. The setting, outside on a porch…

The wedding and events industry has taken a knock since the Covid-19 coronavirus hit the country. Wedding and events planner Tumelo “Butterfly” Makamu said the industry was losing millions and some of the service providers had even closed down. “I have recently received emails from at least two service providers – sound and lighting, and an upmarket furniture company – who informed us that they have closed down because of Covid-19. “The flower market is also facing a difficult time; they have dropped their flower prices and, as a result, they are facing a huge loss. They cannot export their flowers any more. The flowers are going to waste. This is bad, especially for big businesses,” said Makamu. She said her clients were shifting dates for later in the year.…

Colourful Muvhango villain Khakhathi “KK” Mulaudzi, played by Macdonald Ndou, is vulnerable after an incurable disease knocked him down. In recent episodes, a desperate KK has been forced to apologise and make amends with all those he has wronged. Of late he has also become forgetful – sometimes even failing to remember the name of his son Kgosi (played by Tebatso Mashishi) and the promises he made to his fiancée Matshidiso (played by Buhle Samuels). He believes that he has a fatal disease, but what he does not know is that Matshidiso and her boyfriend – who is KK’s doctor – have made it all up. This has left many fans thinking this could be the end of his character in the weekday telenovela. But Ndou doesn’t think so. He…

A threatened protest march against Chinese businesses by the ANC Youth League in Soweto has culminated in an agreement that will see South Africans being prioritised over foreign nationals for employment at China Malls. The Soweto youth league group, represented by Bheki Nkutha alongside Wendy Makhoba, met with China’s Consul-General in South Africa Tang Zhongdong after posters about protest action at the malls by the league’s members started making the rounds last month. Tang managed to pull some strings and had the protest halted. Since then, the Chinese business community and the league have engaged in numerous meetings to find solutions that will be mutually beneficial. As of the April 1, shops in all China Malls are expected to employ at least one South African national, while all the car…

Harnessing the power of electronic media will be key to Herman Mashaba’s release of The People’s Dialogue report on the inputs made by South Africans during the dialogues he has been holding since last year, as well as to launching his new political party. The former City of Johannesburg mayor, and founder and chairperson of The People’s Dialogue, along with his former chief of staff and now chief executive officer at The People’s Dialogue Michael Beaumont, spoke to City Press on Friday. Mashaba said the report from The People’s Dialogue – a platform he formed in December last year to engage with South Africans from all walks of life about how he could build a South Africa that all citizens can be proud of – was supposed to be launched…

“It’s bad that something like this has to happen so you can rest, and I would never wish for an injury just to be able to rest because the road you have to walk back to health and fitness is not easy.” So said World Rugby’s player of the year for 2019, Pieter-Steph du Toit, after nearly losing his leg after an injury he sustained during the Stormers’ Super Rugby match against the Blues at Newlands last month. “But I would never trade my injuries for anything because I have learnt so much from them. It’s made me the person I am today and I’m proud of that.” However, the 27-year-old player did not realise just how serious his injury was when he was taken off the field that day.…

The financial implications of the cancellations of football fixtures are huge. And the PSL – trading as the NSL – will in all likelihood not be spared a huge shortfall in the aftermath of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. This is the main reason that the PSL, like its international counterparts, is determined to complete the current season, despite criticism from some quarters. As things stand, most professional clubs around the globe fear a cash crunch that could make it hard to pay players’ salaries. Others, such as promotion hopefuls from the lower leagues, could resort to legal action should the season be called off. The PSL ranks among the top-earning leagues in the world, having posted a record R1 billion in revenue in the 2018/19 season. This milestone was attributed…

Sports officials and organisations are facing anxious and worrying times in the wake of the havoc caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus. With- sporting- codes- across- most- of- the- world- havingground- to- a- standstill,- officials- will- at- some- stage- findout- that- making- the- decision- to- halt- sport- was- mucheasier- than- deciding- what- comes- next. Football- officials- the- world- over- must- be- hoping- thatthe- unlikely- occurs- and- that,- by- some- miracle,­ competitions- such- as- the- Premier- League- and- the­Champions- League- can- be- completed. That- would- at- least- eradicate- some- of- the- issues,- likethe- question- of- promotion,- relegation- and- qualificationfor- European- competitions.- But- what- it- would- not- do- isaddress- the- question- of- loss- of- income,- the- realpossibility- of- thousands- of- jobs- being- lost- in- thefootball- industry- and- clubs- going- bankrupt. Similar- scenarios- –-…

South Africa has not been spared the global equity market bloodbath, growth revisions and threats to the health of the economy as a result of the outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus. In fact, being such a small economy, and one that is struggling to boost growth and employment anyway, we are more vulnerable to external price shocks. Trillions of rands in value has been wiped off the stock exchange, and the rand has plunged by 17% against the dollar. The picture is dire. The governor of the SA Reserve Bank, Lesetja Kganyago, on Thursday announced that the bank was reducing the repo rate by a full 100 basis points to alleviate the short-term fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. The cut was larger than many economists expected and smaller than some…

It has been a surreal time as we all shift our mind-sets, our workspaces (if we are lucky enough to be able to work from home) and our children’s schedules, and as we try to be mindful of others. But perhaps the most unexpected challenge of all has been learning to be mindful of touching our faces! Who knew that it was going to be so mind-bending? Things are scary, but this has also been a good time for taking a long, hard look at our political leaders – globally – to try to decide if they are best in show for this crisis and for the future, as we increasingly grapple with climate change. Many people around the world have learnt the terrible truth, that when push comes to…

In the week before the 60th commemoration of the Sharpeville massacre and the 24th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution, the Anti-Racism Network of SA challenges us to take stock and recommit ourselves to the struggle against racism. This is necessary because it is dangerous to underestimate the length, the breadth and the depth of racism. Racism has a long history Without trying to identify an exact starting point, it must be said that racism has been an integral part of the economics and politics of European modernity. The colonial conquest of the Americas, Africa and Asia was driven by a European sense of white superiority and exceptionalism, which included the right to occupy land through military force, take possession of natural resources, and buy and sell human beings…

Bhekani Thabede Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal In 1994, all armies – the statutory and non-statutory armed forces – were disbanded and integrated into the SA National Defence Force (SANDF). Why do we still have the one army, Umkhonto weSizwe, making itself a force that still exists outside the SANDF? If any of the former forces can assemble in their old uniforms and carry weapons, there will be an outcry across the country. JJ Molomo Gauteng The Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans’ Association should not be ignored by all in the security sector. The military wing was engaged on all fronts. The generals and foot soldiers faced a common enemy. The code of conduct was clear. The differences and grievances need a unified and well-articulated approach to create a win-win situation that creates…

In 2003, without proper consultation, officials in Limpopo changed the far north town of Louis Trichardt’s name to Makhado. Makhado Ramabulana was a 19th-century Venda king famous for defeating the Boers at Luatame, Vhulorwa and Ha-Madzie. In the process they killed lots of vaTsonga warriors led by a Portuguese mercenary named João Albasini. Not only did authorities fail to consult stakeholders, they also didn’t take into consideration minority concerns that the new name was akin to celebrating a chapter in the vaTsonga’s history soaked in blood. The imposition failed its first hurdle when the Pretoria High Court ordered the town to revert to Louis Trichardt. The court didn’t order restoration because Louis Trichardt, a Voortrekker slave-taker and coloniser was a saint but because the process was flawed. Courts can’t be…

The department of mineral resources and energy has intervened in the litigation process that has stalled the reopening of two Mpumalanga gold mines and the retrieval of the bodies of three workers who were buried underground. The department hopes to pursue the owner of Lily and Barbrook mines, Vantage Goldfields SA (VGSA), as well as Arqomanzi - an entity formed by Siyakhula Sisonke Corporation (SSC) subsidiary Flaming Silver 373 and Taung Gold - to reach an out-of-court settlement. Arqomanzi has put in a solid R472 million offer to buy the mines, located in Louisville, near Barberton. They were shut down on February 5 2016 when the entrance to Lily Mine collapsed. But Vantage has been reluctant to sell to the company, preferring to sell to Real Win Investments instead. The…

Dineo Lioma’s energy and enthusiasm are infectious, and the way she speaks about things such as artificial intelligence (AI), DNA, enzymes and gene sequencing to aid those in the field of healthcare makes one believe there is hope for our virus-stricken world. Lioma has co-founded two medical technology companies, founded a third and currently runs two of them – and she is not yet 30 years old. She has a master’s degree in micro and nanotechnology enterprise with distinction from Cambridge University in the UK. Cambridge offered Lioma the chance to do her PhD there to “work out how to harness solar and mechanical energy”, but the engineer, who grew up fiddling with electrical plugs in her family’s home in Bloemfontein, Free State, and obtained her BSc in metallurgical and…

Cool says guaranteed annuities are offering particularly good rates. A 65-year-old with a joint life with profit annuity targeting an increase each year of 70% of inflation can receive a rate as high as 7.5%. Considering the maximum recommended drawdown rate for a living annuity is 5% with no guarantee increases, many retirees could be better off opting for the guarantee. They will also not be subject to the same volatility of the market, and their incomes can never reduce, only increase in terms of their chosen increase pattern. People worry that a guaranteed annuity does not allow them to leave anything for their children when they die. Cool says people should realise that the breakeven point for a guaranteed annuity, depending on which increase pattern is chosen, can be…

Johannesburg has been buzzing with people claiming that the fraternity of Afro-soul has another hard-hitting act in the fold. Ami Faku has created a sound shrouded in raw emotion with her life experiences providing the gravitas that powers her music. The streets sing praises of her songs and the media seem drawn to the young songwriter. #Trending went to DJ Kenzhero’s Untitled Basement in Braamfontein last Friday to take in a performance of Faku. It was a scintillating experience, which you can explore in our review of her set and album. A friend to the listener Rocking black leather trousers, a white T-shirt and mid-cut Air Force Ones in all white, the singer is early for our meeting. Sitting at a table alone all unassuming, she’s listening to some music…