Innholdsfortegnelse for 9/6/2020 i City Press

It’s been said that it is not how you start that is important, but how you finish that matters most, and this was the case with Kaizer Chiefs, who broke their supporters’ hearts yesterday when they were pipped to the Absa Premiership championship by defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns. The Brazilians made it a hat-trick of league titles after snatching it at the death yesterday. Chiefs have no one to blame but themselves after blowing the hefty 13-point lead they had at one stage in the campaign. It did indeed end in tears for the Amakhosi faithful, who were hoping to break their long run without silverware. Chiefs were on top of the log table for almost the whole year, only to lose it on the last day of the campaign.…

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Businessperson Ellen Nkutha has accused controversial TV host Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye of owing her at least R125 000. Nkutha told City Press that she cashed out her pension money and paid for Jub Jub’s legal fees in 2011. This was after the musician allegedly struggled to foot his legal bills. In 2012, Jub Jub and his co-accused, Themba Tshabalala, were convicted of killing four children after driving into them while drag racing in Protea Glen, Soweto, while under the influence of hard drugs. Two other children were left with permanent brain damage. Nine years later, Nkutha, who is currently unemployed, claims that she has not been paid what is due to her. “Now that I am not working, I want my money back. I decided to come out publicly,…

Initially hailed as a positive step towards rooting out corrupt public office-bearers, the ANC national executive committee (NEC) resolution that all members charged with corruption should step aside is now under scrutiny for being impractical and infringing on government structures’ autonomy. Two ministers who spoke to City Press said the decision “was motivated by a public outcry against corruption and was not well thought out”. “It was meant for the party [ANC] to be seen to be doing the right thing, particularly at a time when leaders continue to damage the image of the party by looting funds meant to assist citizens during this pandemic. [However], there was oversight regarding implementation and how this might infringe on government structures’ own rules and regulations,” said one minister. Another senior ANC member…

Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) president, Zizamele Makhaza has scored himself a three-year contract after convincing Police Minister Bheki Cele to defer the date of his retirement even though he has not been an active police officer for 15 years. Makhaza, whose rank is a colonel, was expected to go into retirement on November 30 because he is turning 60, but will now keep his SA Police Service (SAPS) salary and perks until November 30 2023. Makhaza has been working full time at Popcru on secondment since 2005. His contract extension has not gone down well with a section of his rivals in the union, who see this as a strategy to buy time to cover up shenanigans in Popcru’s business arm, the Popcru Group of Companies (PGC).…

Obese patients should be able to pick what language doctors use to refer to their excess weight, experts have said. Many people find words such as ‘fat’, ‘chubby’ or ‘plus-size’ upsetting or offensive, a study undertaken in the UK has found. Researchers suggested that GPs and other healthcare workers should make a “conscious effort” to ask patients prior to appointments what terms they prefer. Many patients said more neutral language such as “overweight” or “body mass index” was less distressing. A study by the University of Leeds and University College London examined the importance of language used by doctors, nurses and midwives when addressing overweight patients. Nearly 3 000 adults, most of whom were overweight or obese, were asked what terms they preferred, and were questioned about their emotional response…

As the dispute about the pricing of remdesivir – a potential Covid-19 antiviral drug – intensifies, with heated arguments regarding access to and pricing of medicines and medical interventions during a pandemic, at least one more generic pharmaceutical company has entered the fray. This week, Indian generic pharmaceutical company Hetero, one of the world’s largest producers of antiretroviral drugs, followed Cipla SA (also a pharmaceutical manufacturer focused on generics) by distributing the drug to South Africa’s private healthcare sector. The drug – which was found to reduce the recovery time of patients hospitalised for Covid-19 and needing supplementary oxygen therapy from 15 to 11 days, according to a preliminary report published in the New England Journal of Medicine in May – has raised a bone of contention among health activists…

This year has probably been the toughest in memory for most of us. It’s been one of lost jobs, retrenchments and businesses under strain. We tend to look abroad for solutions to local problems when, in fact, we have ways of joining forces and pooling strategies right here. It is with this in mind that black-owned company Kunene Makopo Risk Solutions launched a digital stokvel app. Stokvels are, by definition, innovative, exclusive clubs of 12 or more people serving as rotating credit unions or savings schemes in which members contribute a fixed amount to a central fund on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis. This largely hidden economy has been around since 1932, when it was pioneered in disadvantaged communities as a means to get through financial turmoil. Speaking to…

May 26 2019 Politician Panyaza Lesufi and Johannesburg-based businessman David Mogashoa meet in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, in what would mark a vital step on the road to reviving Swallows. “This was a lunch date that got us where we are today,” reminisces Mogashoa of the meeting held at Birchwood Hotel June 14 2019 Mogashoa buys the Moroka Swallows FC intellectual property rights for R1.5 million from the liquidators at auction July 9 2019 He purchases the status of Maccabi FC in the NFD’s GladAfrica Championship for R8.5 million and registers the club under his portfolio of companies – Bahwiti Investments August 17 2019 Swallows mark their return with a 1-1 draw against TS Sporting at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto September/October 2019 The club relieves head coach Zeca Marques of his duties…

Finkie Sekete (Legend): “A year ago, Swallows were practically dead, and for the club to now be promoted to the premiership is an incredible achievement. Credit must go to the club leadership for this. Many people didn’t think that the club would win the first division in its first season back.” Judah Duiker (Legend): “I am overjoyed with the return of the Birds to the top division. Well done and congratulations to those who made this possible. Swallows are a big club close to the hearts of many people. As a legend of the club, I am very happy.” Alvin Geldart (Superfan): “I am the happiest person in the world right now because my beloved Swallows are back. The team will now take its rightful place in South African football.”…

Sports goods manufacturer Puma is offering lucky City Press readers a chance to win some amazing prizes. Up for grabs are new Mamelodi Sundowns home jerseys and pairs of the latest Puma Ultra 1.1 football boot. Puma has created new Sundowns jerseys with “50 Years” emblazoned below the club’s redesigned emblem to mark its golden jubilee. The shirt is a slim-fit cut with a Johnny collar reminiscent of 1970s playing jerseys, which symbolises the one worn in the era in which Sundowns was established. • To win one of the jerseys, answer this question: Which year inspired the design of the new Sundowns jersey? SMS PUMA Downs and your answer to 34217. Please include your name, surname, shirt size and delivery address. Puma recently launched the revolutionary Ultra 1.1 football…

This week, the nation heard once again how millions of rands meant to be spent on keeping South Africa safe ended up lining the pockets of corrupt individuals. Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu presented a sobering report on audits conducted by his office into how R500 billion meant for health response and the relief of social and economic distress caused by the Covid-19 pandemic was spent. The first part of the audit laid bare details of what happened in relation to the procurement of personal protective equipment. There were clear indicators of fraudulent activities in the procurement processes, Makwetu said. “We have been reporting on and warning about poor financial management controls, a disregard for supply chain management legislation, an inability to effectively manage projects and a lack of accountability in many…

Face of poverty In the dark 90s, there was once a victim of apartheid who was crying out for opportunities. While other victims yearned for land to grow crops, water to drink and jobs so they could feed their families, this one, Nomvula Mokonyane, was grieving over how the evil apartheid system had denied her the chance to drive an Aston Martin. A friend then took pity on her and “lent” her R2 million to buy the car. In her own words: “We are a family that has got friends who understood our pain of always being denied opportunities,” whined Mokonyane before the Zondo commission this week. Eish. Prophet Sizwe? The Eastern Cape health spokesperson posted on Facebook that he could foresee an East London-based journalist dying. “Kukho intatheli endiyibona…

When HIV/Aids took root in Africa, and public fear began to spread, there were many snake oil salespeople who exploited public anxiety, proffering herbal and other remedies that were useless at best and potentially harmful at worst. We find ourselves at a similar juncture as we navigate the Covid-19 pandemic. On April 9, when Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina announced that his country had developed a herbal treatment for Covid-19, it was bound to provoke mixed reactions. And it did. Debate has raged between proponents and opponents of the widely touted mixture, which has been dubbed Covid-Organics. It is based on the artemisia plant, which grows naturally throughout Africa and is used as a traditional remedy for multiple ailments. In 2015, Chinese researcher Professor Youyou Tu received a Nobel Prize for…

English is no longer the lingua franca, Python is. According to statista.com, there are 1.3 billion people who speak English – that is a yawn compared with the 3.8 billion smartphones in the world. Am I comparing apples to oranges? Actually, no, but I am comparing apple juice to orange juice, and that is perfectly acceptable. After all, many idioms are idiotic anyway. Who said people don’t compare apples to oranges? They do it all the time when buying fruit. Business is changing and so are customers, and this is mostly driven by artificial intelligence. Driverless cars are a reality, and manager-less businesses are also becoming a reality. There was a time when every division had its own manager, but now every manager has to justify his or her existence.…

The portfolio committee on mineral resources and energy is seeking legal opinion to expropriate Lily Mine in Mpumalanga, where the bodies of three workers have been trapped underground since an entrance to a shaft collapsed in 2016. The committee’s chairperson, Sahlulele Luzipho, says expropriation might be the best option because Vantage Goldfields SA (VGSA) has been rejecting offers to purchase the gold mine in Louisville near Barberton. VGSA has been involved in a string of litigations with potential buyers, especially those linked to Siyakhula Sonke Empowerment Corporation, its subsidiary Flaming Silver Trading 373 and Arqomanzi, an entity formed by Flaming Silver and Taung Gold. Lily and its sister mine, Barbrook, were put under business rescue following the disaster and have been for sale for the past four years for R310…

WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT NONPAYMENT OF A JOINT BOND? Mpho writes: What happens if the other partner does not pay half of the joint bond? Is there any action that can be taken? City Press writes: From a bank’s perspective, if there is a shortfall in the payment of the joint bond, this will affect the credit record of both bond holders – even the person who is still meeting their responsibilities. This is the risk of a joint bond agreement. Ideally, you should have an agreement in place with the person you entered into the joint bond arrangement with as to what would happen if one of you stopped paying. If the person has stopped paying and you want to exit the agreement, you will have to buy…

Section 100 administrators in North West, who have been accused of looting in cahoots with some ministers, are enjoying the services of bodyguards and around-the-clock police protection at their hotel in Mahikeng, and are being chauffeured around at taxpayers’ expense. This is according to the contents of a 20-page strongly worded letter containing 43 questions from North West provincial legislature members. They raised concerns about the continuous presence of the administrators in the province, and wanted to find out what they had achieved so far. The interministerial task team on the North West intervention, led by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, was given seven working days to respond to the letter, which was sent on Thursday. The letter questions the cost implications of having the team of…

The ANC’s cleansing phase, championed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, is expected to continue until next year’s municipal elections. This follows proposals that no party candidate with disciplinary issues or a criminal record should feature on the governing party’s election list. Even those with pending allegations could be excluded. To attract more voters – electoral trends have shown a heavy decline in support – the ANC plans to abandon factional slate politics, select candidates who are not only popular within the party, but also preferred by the community, and take steps to ensure that each candidate will have the capacity to implement ANC policy. The revised method of selecting suitable candidates to represent the party was contained in a leaked document presented at the national executive committee (NEC) meeting this past…

Did the months of teetotalling whet your appetite for something with a little kick post-prohibition? Look no further for drinks inspiration, because we’ve got your back with three amazing cocktails. Best of all, you don’t need to leave home to get your hands on the ingredients, as they are all available online. Cosy up this week with drinks that are guaranteed to warm you from the inside out and are easy to whip up in your kitchen. DARK AND STORMY Ingredients 50ml Kraken Black Spiced Rum 150ml ginger beer Lime wedge Method Combine all the ingredients in a glass filled with ice. Stir to mix and enjoy! Or don’t stir and leave the Kraken lurking on top. Dangerous. Go on, we dare you. DON FASHIONED Ingredients 5 parts Don Papa…

The uncertainty surrounding whether the Springboks will play in this year’s Rugby Championship, and the subsequent speculation about their playing in an eight-nation tournament in the northern hemisphere instead, has left the current world champions in something of a no-man’s land. One would imagine the playing future of the reigning world champions would long have been secured, regardless of the fact that this Covid-19 ravaged year is nothing if not defined by its many moving parts, but here we are with no confirmation either way for competitions pencilled to begin on November 7 (Rugby Championship) and a week later (the Eight Nations). Looking at the role New Zealand played in basically eliminating South Africa from Super Rugby, it makes sense that SA Rugby is reluctant to dignify that slight –…

In addition to Virgil Vries in goal, Swallows thrived with a strong spine that had players who were considered rejects and over-the-hill – Vuyo Mere in defence, Lebohang Mokoena in midfield and Phumelele Bhengu up front. Vuyo Mere Despite his vast experience, Mere had to undergo a week’s trial before he was signed in September last year. The 36-year-old former Bidvest Wits, Mamelodi Sundowns and Platinum Stars defender was a regular feature in the Swallows rearguard. Lebohang Mokoena “Cheezeboy” came through Maccabi FC before the status of the Johannesburg-based club was bought by Swallows prior to the start of this campaign. The former Orlando Pirates midfielder, who turns 34 this month, was appointed captain, featured in 27 games and registered four goals. Phumelele Bhengu “Ace” was signed during the January…

Swallows FC head coach Brandon Truter’s grey sweatshirt is always hanging around his shoulders, a look he adopted by default, rather than by design. It became a common feature during his team’s match days and is still evident. This fashion trend from the 1980s, which was mostly associated with wealth, is something Truter’s technical staff and players believe worked like a lucky charm during the Soweto club’s return to the top ranks of domestic club football. “The club wanted me in formal wear, but I soon ditched that for a casual look because I felt more comfortable on the bench in a simple top, jeans and sneakers,” chuckled the 43-year-old from Mitchells Plain in Cape Town. Nicknamed “Brakkies” (“small dog” in Afrikaans) during his high school days, Truter was elated…

The ANC – recently declared “corruption accused No 1” by its president, Cyril Ramaphosa, in a letter sent to the organisation’s members – is facing a crisis that, at the very least, puts its political future at risk. Amid the crisis, and while Ramaphosa may not have fully appreciated the political, legal and moral import of his pronouncements, the ANC is, arguably, a criminal enterprise and a case for its lawful dissolution seems reasonable. Let me explain. Seeking the dissolution of a charitable organisation isn’t unheard of. Under US law, a criminal enterprise is defined as “a group of individuals with an identified hierarchy, or comparable structure, engaged in significant criminal activity”. Last year, the Donald J Trump Charitable Foundation was forced to shut its doors and pay $2 million…

The killing of a mentally impaired teenager in Eldorado Park last week has once again forced the country to focus on the conduct and training of members of the police force. Sixteen-year-old Nathaniel Julies, who was born with Down syndrome, was shot and killed close to his home last Wednesday. Three police officers have since been charged with his murder. While the court is far from pronouncing on the officers’ guilt or otherwise, there are several disturbing factors about this incident. Firstly, what danger could an unarmed boy with Down syndrome pose to the police? Why did police throw him into their van and speed off after shooting him? And why was he dumped at a hospital with a report stating that he was killed during a gang fight? The…

With Women’s Month done and dusted, government departments and brands will pack away their girl power press releases and move on to Heritage Month. Which is perfect – what better time to interrogate our collective legacy and how we are making the world a better place for everyone through our actions? Which brings us back to Women’s Month. This year, government’s theme for August was Generation equality: realising women’s rights for an equal future. Every year, there’s the same wailing and gnashing of teeth as everyone realises that women are not, in fact, any more equal that year than they were in any previous year. These events are usually led by those who are in the perfect position to equalise women’s opportunities and protect them from the toxic patriarchy in…

There has been a crisis in Zimbabwe for the past few years, despite spirited and repeated denials of this fact by government apparatchiks. With each passing year, the crisis deepens, while denials of it become deafening. There are obviously the privileged few for whom the crisis is no such thing at all, but a real opportunity to line their pockets. Naturally, these few have the power and wherewithal to proclaim loudest the absence of a crisis. Part of the crisis in Zimbabwe is driven by the climate crisis, which for the past three years has hurt farmers because of a lack of rain. This has resulted in the World Food Programme putting out an international call for aid to feed millions of Zimbabweans. Some argue that poor planning by government…

South Africa exported 40% fewer vehicles in the first six months of this year compared with the first six months of last year, largely because Covid-19 restrictions caused demand for vehicles in the European market to decline. This is according to Norman Lamprecht of the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa). Last year, about 74% of the 387 125 vehicles manufactured in South Africa for export were destined for the European market. In the first six months of this year, this market made up 72% of total exports. Lamprecht said the decline in exports to Europe, amounting to 55 152 vehicles (or 41.3%) between January and June, was therefore largely responsible for the poor performance figures. He added that, since June, the largest European markets had shown a…

In an article last week, titled Is your retirement safe from plunder? (City Press, August 30 2020), a subbing error crept in. In referring to a statement made by Treasury deputy director-general Ismail Momoniat, the article read: “Momoniat reiterated that National Treasury’s position is that prescribed assets and lower returns could be imposed on members and that trustees or mandated asset managers must be allowed to decide how best to invest members’ funds.” The sentence should have read “that prescribed assets and lower returns could NOT be imposed on members”. City Press regrets the error and the misunderstanding it conveyed.…

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has dismissed as “unsubstantiated” and “malicious” the allegations made by a group of “ANC comrades” in the department of transport who lashed out against him in a letter written to President Cyril Ramaphosa. In his letter in response to the staff members’ allegations that there were several irregularities in the department, including unlawful appointments and corrupt dealings by the department in its procurement of personal protective equipment, Mbalula said the group was an external force masquerading as staff members. The group also accused him of acting like a celebrity and not paying attention to his work. “I have taken an unusual stance to respond to the letter doing the rounds on social media platforms and which has begun to overflow into mainstream media,” Mbalula wrote. “This…

The ugly side of the world-renowned Kruger National Park has been documented in a tell-all book that lays bare white supremacy, spineless black managers, the murder of poaching suspects, a reign of terror against and the torture of black rangers, and trafficking of animals to private game reserves. Titled Untold Stories about the Dark Side of the Kruger National Park, the 178-page book authored by former Kruger National Park human resources senior manager Risenga Matelakengisa corroborates startling racism and torture allegations that were recently made by black field rangers and, last year, prompted SA National Parks (SANParks) management to hire Advocate Boyce Mkhize from Analytical Forensic Investigation Services to investigate. The 66-year-old Matelakengisa worked in the game reserve, which sits in the eastern parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, from 1996…

Ian McGeechan has likened the Springboks versus the British and Irish Lions three-test series in South Africa to three successive World Cup finals. McGeechan’s playing and coaching career includes four Lions tours. He coached the men in red to a series win against the Springboks in 1997, was in South Africa as a player with the glorious, undefeated 1974 Lions and then returned to South Africa in 2009 as the head coach. McGeechan has known victory and defeat in South Africa against the Springboks, but mostly he knows what it means to tour South Africa and be a Lions player and coach in our country. “It’s unique,” he often tells the media. “South Africans get the Lions.” The South African public, judging by their reaction to this week’s ticket sales…

Virgil Vries grew up dreaming of becoming a champion while playing for a certain club from Soweto. Little did he know that his dream would one day come true – not with Kaizer Chiefs from Phefeni, as was his childhood hope – but with Swallows from Dube, where he would become a champion. “It was always my dream to win trophies with Kaizer Chiefs because that was the team my family supported. But it was not meant to be and now I have become a champion with another Soweto club, Swallows, and I am over the moon,” Vries told City Press. The Dube Birds were crowned kings of the GladAfrica Championship last weekend, after an incredible run during which they dislodged Ajax Cape Town from the top of the table.…

Whether Bloemfontein Celtic win or lose in the Nedbank Cup final against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday, Phunya Sele Sele are still guaranteed a ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup next season. The lucrative PSL knockout competition offers the champions a passport to the continental second-tier tournament, but, either way, Celtic will have to step in, as Sundowns have already booked their berth in the Champions League by finishing in the top two in the Absa Premiership. The Brazilians will represent the country in the premier club competition alongside Kaizer Chiefs. Celtic and Sundowns – who are each celebrating their 50th anniversary – will face off in the Ke Yona Cup decider, which carries a R7 million purse. The Free State powerhouse will be eager to break an eight-year silverware drought…

How ironic it is that, as one old South African football club ceases to exist, another iconic outfit makes a return to top-flight football. Yesterday, the country bid a sad farewell to the 99-year-old Bidvest Wits, who have given way to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila. Most of us have fond memories of the Students or Clever Boys, as Wits were called. They truly were the giant-killers of South African football. Who can forget Bradley Carnell slaughtering Kaizer Chiefs with a brace in the BP Top8 final in 1995? I used to say with almost certainty that a corner kick was a definite goal whenever Wits had Peter Gordon in their line-up. It is no surprise that the towering defender holds the record for the most goals in Wits colours, most of…

When the 29th English Premier League (PL) season gets under way on Saturday, one of the biggest names in world football will be missing. Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, who was widely linked with a move to Manchester City after handing in a transfer request to Barcelona two weeks ago, said on Friday that he would be staying at the LaLiga club. But even without Messi, the new PL season is bound to have plenty of stars, with Chelsea’s owner Roman Abramovich being the big spender. Manager Frank Lampard can count on German internationals Kai Havertz, bought for €80 million (R1.57 billion), and Timo Werner (RB Leipzig, €53 million). They also brought in England defender Ben Chilwell, who joined for €50.2 million from Leicester City, Hakim Ziyech (Ajax Amsterdam,…

In the past few weeks, you may have seen some of your friends creating an avatar of themselves on Facebook, or you might even have created one of your own. An avatar is a virtual representation of yourself that stems from the gaming community, where players use a digital representation of themselves in a virtual world. If you’re an iPhone user, this service has been around for a while and, like the Facebook offering, the avatar that Apple offers is a cartoon-like representation of yourself. The process of creating an avatar allows you to select all the visual elements that make you immediately recognisable, including skin tone; face shape (nose, lips, eyes); hair colour, length and style; and right down to different styles of spectacles and details such as freckles.…

Government wants to give cellphone networks the right to put up their towers in your back yard. This is what critics are saying about a draft policy published by the department of communication. The expanded rights granted to service providers in the proposed policy is intended to speed up the deployment of infrastructure to boost access to faster and more reliable internet and cellphone connections. More than 83 000 people complained about the proposed policy. Property forums and organisations such as AfriForum were among those who opposed the policy, which was open for public comment on the platform Dear South Africa until this week. Among other things, the policy proposes that: • Network operators will have the right to choose where they want to set up infrastructure, and they will…

The Government and Public Policy (GAPP) think-tank has reviewed the economic plans currently in circulation in South Africa, with a view to making explicit what they say about who should implement them. Failing this, there is a possibility that none of them will ever be more than words. The ANC’s plans, and those of business, Treasury and some civil society groups have much in common in terms of what needs to be done. Where they differ, though, is in how to do it. They tend to make naive assumptions about the private sector in South Africa or they have unreasonable expectations of government departments, agencies and corporations. The ANC has interpreted the current crisis as one of continuing underdevelopment, which has “thrust on to the state a greater responsibility and…