Innholdsfortegnelse for Saturday, July 25, 2020 i Pretoria News Weekend

Smokers’ hopes stubbed out Tobacco body’s leave to appeal dismissed ZELDA VENTER zelda.venter@inl.co.za SMOKERS’ hopes that the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein would take another look at the government’s ban of the tobacco trade during lock-down went up in smoke after the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, dismissed the Fair Trade Tobacco Association’s (Fita) bid for leave to appeal. Three judges, headed by Judge President Dunstan Mlambo, found that there were no reasonable prospects that another court would come to a different finding. Fita argued at least 10 points a week ago on which it claimed the court came to the wrong decision when it ruled against the lifting of the ban on the sale of cigarettes and related products. It was argued that Co-operative Governance and Traditional…

VACCINE Delay in cure for Covid-19 HOPES for a coronavirus vaccine before the end of this year have been dashed by a World Health Organization expert. Dr Mike Ryan, head of WHO’s emergencies programme, said the first use of a Covid-19 vaccine could not be expected until early next year. He noted that several vaccines were in phase three trials and none had failed so far in terms of safety or ability to generate an immune response. His comments came as hopes of a Covid-19 vaccine by the end of the year were raised this week when Oxford University revealed there was still a chance it could deliver its experimental jab sooner if tests kept going according to plan. Professor Andrew Pollard from the Oxford research group said in early…

LOSSES Tourism sector pleads for open borders LIAM NGOBENI liam.ngobeni@inl.co.za THE tourism sector is crying out for provincial borders to be opened so it can start the long road to recovery. With South Africa closed to international tourism and no movement allowed out of Gauteng, popular tourist destinations for locals, including game reserves, mountains and the sea, are off limits. Among those calling for greater movement to save jobs is Nicolette Ungerer from EZ Shuttle. She said they had been hard hit by lockdown over the past four months, with 30% of their staff laid off and 70% of their fleet sold, and more cuts likely. Speaking to the Pretoria News near the Union Buildings where they held a peaceful protest, Ungerer said they had to do something to make…

Lawyer’s nasty Zindzi remark investigation BIGOTED posts on social media about Zindzi Mandela’s death on July 13 have landed a Joburg lawyer in hot water. Marc Aupiais, who tweeted that she “finally got her plot of land”, faces an investigation following a complaint to the Legal Practice Council. His comment is seen as a reference to her grave and to comments she made last year during the debate over land reform. Aupiais was apparently responding to known right-winger Willem Petzer, who tweeted: “Zindzi Mandela (59) just died in Johannesburg… do you guys remember her?” The post along with another one, by Helgard Müller, and other angered the ANC. Some have since been deleted. Müller posted a picture of Springbok rugby captain Siya Kolisi kneeling by a dead springbok that has…

Mashaba confirms launch of new party FORMER Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba will launch his new political party on August 29, he said yesterday. The businessman resigned as mayor last year. He immediately launched what he termed the “People’s Dialogue” which he has used as a vehicle to gain support for the formation of a political party. Mashaba said the party has more than 1 000 volunteers and has promised that many more high profile individuals were due to join once he launches officially. The party plans to contest for seats in the local government elections in key metros such as Joburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni. He said the party would present solutions “grounded in practical and workable actions that can build a prosperous, non-racial and secure South Africa for all its…

LOCKDOWN DIARY GAUTENG COVID-19 FIGURES CONTINUE TO SPIRAL FRIDAY, MARCH 27 Day 1 of lockdown level 5. FRIDAY, MAY 1 Day 1 of lockdown level 4. WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 E-commerce restrictions lifted but alcohol and tobacco sales banned. SUNDAY, MAY 24 President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the nation. THURSDAY, MAY 28 Co-operative Governance Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma announces changes to level 3 restrictions. Tobacco sales still banned. MONDAY, JUNE 1 Day 1 of lockdown level 3. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga postpones reopening of schools. Long queues to buy alcohol. TUESDAY, JUNE 2 Gauteng High Court rules in favour of Liberty Fighters Network’s challenge to lockdown regulations. THURSDAY, JUNE 4 Cabinet agrees to extend the State of Disaster to July 15. MONDAY, JUNE 8 Schools reopen for grades 7 and 12.…

Africa mourns peacemaker Mkapa DAR ES SALAAM: Tanzania’s former president Benjamin Mkapa, who worked to end conflict in East Africa during and after his decade in power from 1995, died yesterday while being treated for an undisclosed illness, the presidency said. Mkapa, who was 81, won the country’s first multi-party elections in 1995 and was re-elected for a second five-year term in 2000. He led several regional peace mediation initiatives and afterwards continued to seek reconciliation in Burundi, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes region. Mkapa’s successor, former president Jakaya Kikwete, told reporters that he visited him in hospital on Thursday and they had a long chat although Mkapa was in pain. Tanzanian President John Magufuli declared a seven-day mourning period, during which flags would be flown…

SUDAN Mass grave of 28 soldiers believed to be from al-Bashir era found SUDANESE investigators have found a mass grave believed to contain 28 bodies of soldiers executed by officers of former autocrat Omar al-Bashir, the attorney general said yesterday. The 28 men were executed for allegedly planning to overthrow al-Bashir in 1990, a year after he had taken power during a military coup. A team of 23 investigators acting on behalf of the public prosecutor had searched for the mass grave for three weeks, according to the attorney general’s statement. The findings will form part of evidence gathered for an impending trial against al-Bashir for leading the 1989 military coup against democratically elected prime minister Sadek al-Mahdi. The 76-year-old, who was ousted last year after months of street protests…

IRAQ Iraqi forces free curator kidnapped in Baghdad A GERMAN curator kidnapped in Baghdad earlier this week has been freed by Iraqi security forces, officials said yesterday, without providing details about the operation. Hella Mewis, who was born in Berlin and has lived in Baghdad for several years, has been handed over to the German embassy in the capital, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said. She was freed in a security operation in Baghdad yesterday, the ministry added in a statement that made no mention of who had kidnapped her nor what the motive might have been. Mewis, 48, was kidnapped on Monday in the Iraqi capital by unidentified armed militants. No one has claimed responsibility. “The interior minister has vowed to track down the kidnappers and bring them to the…

UNITED KINGDOM Local holidaying encourgaged THE air would normally be full of anticipation with kids excitedly planning the coming two weeks and parents anxiously making sure everyone gets on the flight. The first Friday after schools in Britain close for the summer is always one of the busiest for the country’s airports as families escape for the warmer climes of southern Europe, from Portugal’s Algarve in the west to the island nation of Cyprus to the east. Not this year. The coronavirus pandemic has ended all that. The concourses at London’s Gatwick Airport, which is the UK’s second-busiest, are eerily quiet. In any normal year, it would be the busiest day for departures with 85000 travellers leaving – only 7500 were set to take off yesterday. Instead, it’s all about…

ENTERTAINMENT Which new food show should you watch or skip? BUHLE MBONAMBI THERE are certain things I look for before I decide whether to watch a particular food show. And it’s not always about the food. Chief among them is whether I’m entertained. Did I learn something fascinating? Is the cast interesting enough for me to get emotionally involved? And finally, is the food something I would make afterwards? If I tick all four, I would probably never miss an episode. But I have since learnt that there’s no such thing as a perfect show. Take Dinner at Somizi’s for instance. It’s a fun show. I am entertained by his theatrics, his interview style and his cooking. However, I do not like that we do not get the measurements for…

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES? VICKIE Lange said retirement funds can: Proactively engage with members at crucial points in the savings journey. Provide individualised solutions that better match your personal circumstances. But there are also many things that you, as a member, can do. Lange had the following tips: Establish your financial goals early in life. Plan on how to meet your goals – develop a healthy savings habit. Discuss solutions with a financial adviser when it matters. “Life events, such as starting a career, are important triggers,” Lange said. Stay committed to achieving your goals. “Even when life throws you a curve ball, get back on track – don’t be derailed for the long term.” Start building resilience early in life – develop the ability to bounce…

WORDS ON WEALTH We’re getting a hard lesson on living more frugally MARTIN HESSE | martin.hesse@inl.co.za EACH YEAR in July – Savings Month – Old Mutual releases its Savings and Investment Monitor, a survey of working households in our metropolitan areas on how they are coping financially, pinpointing trends in spending and saving. And each year the results are a little depressing, showing the low priority most people give to saving and their high levels of debt. But the surveys find that, on the whole, households get by, even if the way they manage their finances leaves a lot to be desired. This year, however, given our surreal circumstances in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis, the results were understandably shocking, highlighting just how severely households were affected and just…

GAMEPLAN Rugby’s changing face SA’s D-Day as best teams will invade Northern Hemisphere MARK KEOHANE EPA SOUTH Africans, get ready for a rugby future made for a greater viewing experience and one designed to ensure better player welfare. Get ready for South African rugby’s invasion of the northern hemisphere. SA Rugby, already in the north through the Cheetahs and Southern Kings, will sooner rather than later have a greater presence through an expansion that is likely to include the bigger South African Super Rugby brands the Sharks, Bulls, Stormers and Lions. The north has been warned: The South Africans are coming, not as imports to the very best clubs in the United Kingdom and France, but as teams in an expanded Pro14 tournament. New Zealand, bullish in going…

Third time lucky as Rebels get act together THE Melbourne Rebels got their first success on their enforced road trip when they beat the New South Wales Waratahs 29-10 in a scrappy, penalty-strewn Super Rugby AU contest at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesteray. Nearly a month after leaving their homes to hit the road ahead of the lockdown of the southern state of Victoria because of a spike in Covid-19 cases, the Rebels finally notched a win after a loss and a draw in their previous two matches. Tries from scrumhalf Ryan Lou-wrens and winger Marika Koroibete along with 19 points from the boot of flyhalf Matt Toomua were enough for a convincing victory. The Waratahs had only themselves to blame for their third defeat in four matches in the…

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE NUMBERS SOUTH Africa is in fifth position globally for the total number of active Covid-19 cases recorded, behind the US, Brazil, India and Russia, which have larger populations. It is in 14th place in the number of deaths, but when it comes to the number of deaths per million of its population, it fares better than countries hit earlier in the pandemic such as Spain, Italy and France, as well as the US. However, South Africa has not reached the expected peak of infections. This is predicted to occur in mid-August to early September. ◆Global: 15.673 million cases, 636 848 deaths. ◆National: 408 052 cases, 6 093 deaths. ◆Gauteng 148 854 cases, 1 187 deaths.…

UNPROTECTED Tshwane apologises for protest Condemns damage to infrastructure; alerts residents to further service delays RAPULA MOATSHE rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za THE City of Tshwane is concerned that a three-day protest over pay by municipal workers this week could impact negatively on service delivery. The protest, which turned violent, was held by workers affiliated to the SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu), and led to damaged municipal property including traffic lights and fire hydrants in the inner city. Protesters also cut metal water pipes, opened up manholes and lit fires at various intersections and invade Tshwane House. On Thursday, the police fired rubber bullets to disperse the workers embarking on continued unprotected strike action. City spokesperson Lindela Mashigo apologised to residents and warned of possible delays in services due to disruptions caused…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA MULTIPLE VACCINE DOSES NEEDED In poor countries, we still need better ways to measure the effectiveness of the many government workers providing health services. They are the crucial link bringing tools such as vaccines and education to the people who need them mostBILL GATES PEOPLE could need multiple vaccine doses to immunize themselves against the coronavirus and deploying a vaccine will require a global effort, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has said. Go to: www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/health…

Fish nets criticism over ‘racist’ tweet FORMER Bafana Bafana player Mark Fish has committed another social media faux pas after liking an overtly racist tweet and then tweeting “all lives matter” when asked about it. In an expletive-filled Tweet, a user named @Chris_ZAR280 criticised everyone who has supported the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement – from the Proteas to Springbok captain Siya Kolisi. The user said Kolisi, who supported the movement in an powerful video on Sunday, was “a BEE appointment”. Fish, who played 62 times for Bafana Bafana during his almost 15-year career, liked the tweet. “Mark Fish, since you liked this post, please tell us where you stand on this matter?” he was asked by Twitter user @Terryboysa73. Fish replied: “All lives matter.” He continued, “If you stand…

LAID BACK MISSING MAMBA IN CAR PARK LEADS TO CONSTERNATION JOUBERT MALHERBE I HAD occasion the other day to recall that old song by The Beatles, Drive My Car, which goes: Baby, you can drive my car/Yes, I’m gonna be a star… Beep beep’m beep beep yeah… It was on the album Rubber Soul, the album which presaged the Fab Four’s foray into something far more than just “yeah, yeah, yeah”. What happened was that I went to the mall in funky Doringkloof in a small Daihatsu Charade car that my son Gabriel had been using for some time. He has been living with his girlfriend, Sumine, and they have been using her car mostly. The small car is fun to drive, not least because it has an automatic gearbox…

RIVONIA TRIAL FACTS OFTEN referred to as “the trial that changed South Africa,” in October 1963, 10 leading opponents of apartheid went on trial for their lives. The accused were: Nelson Mandela (accused no 1) Walter Sisulu ( accused no 2) Govan Mbeki (defendant) Raymond Mhlaba (defendant) Ahmed Kathrada (defendant) Lionel Bernstein (defendant) James Kantor (defendant) Denis Goldberg (defendant) Elias Motsoaledi (defendant) Andrew Mlangeni (defendant) The group was arrested with the police relying on the 90-day detention law to delay their appearance in court while investigations continued. The defendants, who appeared in the Pretoria Supreme Court, were charged on two counts of sabotage. The details of the charges they faced were: (1) Recruiting persons for training in the preparation and use of explosives and in guerrilla warfare for the purpose…

The Covid fog shows no sign of lifting LINDSAY SLOGROVE IT FINALLY seems to be sinking in for real: this is a long-haul journey. When we went into lockdown in March, we were all set to sacrifice, be good citizens, stay at home for the duration and flatten the curve. For those of us lucky enough to do so, it was quite the treat to log on to work while still in jarmies and slippers. Finding ways to maintain the close team-work needed to produce the best Saturday read we could was an interesting challenge. Understanding and learning how to make technology work for us in remote mode felt like a fun learning curve. Then it just dragged on and people started starving, jobs evaporated, salaries were slashed and it…

Confederate statues retired in Virginia RICHMOND: The US state of Virginia has removed from its state capitol the busts and a statue honouring Confederate generals and officials. That includes a bronze statue of General Robert E Lee positioned in the same spot where he stood to assume command of the state’s armed forces in the Civil War nearly 160 years ago. They are the latest Confederate symbols to be removed or retired in the weeks since the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police sparked a nationwide protest movement. Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, a Democrat, quietly ordered the Lee statue and busts of generals JEB Stuart, Stonewall Jackson, Confederate president Jefferson Davis, and others removed from the historic Old House Chamber. AP…

US-CHINESE RELATIONS China lashes out at ‘political lies’ Consulate closures ratchet up tensions CHINA blasted US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo yesterday for “concocting political lies about China” after he accused Beijing of operating “concentration camps” in Xinjiang province. In a speech delivered on Thursday at the Richard Nixon presidential library in Yorba Linda, California, Pompeo said Washington and its allies must use “more creative and assertive ways” to press the Chinese Communist Party to change its ways. “Pompeo made a speech in which he carried out a malicious attack on the Chinese Communist Party and China’s social system, and made groundless accusations against China’s domestic and foreign policies,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters. Wang had taken particular affront to Pompeo’s choice of location for the speech.…

IRAN US jet fly-by ‘terrorised’ plane passengers IRAN said yesterday a US fighter jet “harassed” an Iranian civilian airliner in an act of terrorism which injured and panicked passengers, dismissing a US account that the jet was merely conducting a visual inspection. The Iranian plane, belonging to Mahan Air, was heading from Tehran to Beirut at the time. Several passengers, some seen screaming and shouting, were injured in the flight manoeuvre over Syria, according to Iranian media, but the US military said its F-15 was at a safe distance. Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mohammad Eslami was quoted by the semi-official ISNA news agency yesterday as saying Iran had lodged a formal complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization, describing Thursday’s incident as a “terrorist act, one of…

3 THINGS TO WATCH THIS WEEK SUNDAY, JULY 26 Wild Tokyo: BBC Earth at 5pm From the mountainous forests of Tokyo’s Okutama region, along the Tama River, through the wild sanctuaries of Tokyo’s city centre and out to its volcanic islands, Wild Tokyo features stunning 4K photography that reveals an unseen side of Japan’s capital city. SUNDAY, JULY 26 Mental Samurai: M-Net at 5pm Golden Globe-nominee Rob Lowe hosts this mental obstacle course that sees contestants battling the boundaries of their minds to answer questions accurately with speed and precision. Players must also contend with being physically transported around the set at high speeds. THURSDAY, JULY 30 Charles & Di: The Truth Behind Their Wedding: BBC Lifestyle at 8pm Find out the truth behind the fairy-tale wedding of the century…

INTEREST RATES AT 23/07/2020 *One-month rate applies to fixed deposits only, not to notice deposits. Senior citizens may qualify for an extra 0.5% at certain banks on 12-month investments. Rates quoted are nominal, not effective. Rates are for interest paid monthly, apply to investments from R50 000 to R100 000, and are correct at the time of going to press, but are subject to change. Source: Personal Trust (independent agents for deposit-taking institutions). Telephone 021 689 8975. Personal Trust cannot accept responsibility for errors at source.…

RANDS & SENSE The science behind keeping investments in lockdown COLLIN NEFDT THE SPEED of the market crash and the subsequent bounce-back reveal once again that the real danger to long-term investment returns is not market volatility but investor behaviour. We all know the markets swing between highs and lows. When the dip is as dramatic as in the Covid-19-induced market sell-off, it’s not always as easy to keep faith. However, when long-term investors don’t hold their nerve and opt to switch to lower-risk assets during a crisis, they lose out in the long run. Many investors have been surprised at the sharp stock market recovery. Granted, the Covid-19 pandemic is a unique event; but we need to remember that investor behaviour is not. Extreme market volatility occurs when the…

FORMULA ONE Covid-19 puts brakes on in the Americas Reuters FORMULA One scrapped all four of this season’s races in the Americas due to the Covid-19 pandemic yesterday and added three European rounds, including old favourites Imola and the Nuerburgring, to the calendar. While previously scheduled Grands Prix in Canada, Texas, Mexico and Brazil were cancelled, Formula One said in a statement that Portugal’s Portimao will host a race for the first time. “Due to the fluid nature of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, local restrictions and the importance of keeping communities and our colleagues safe, it will not be possible to race in Brazil, USA, Mexico and Canada this season,” it said. The cancellations take the tally of races axed from the original 2020 calendar to 11. The other casualties…

ALCOHOL BAN Restaurateurs offer alternatives A SPOKESPERSON for the government caused consternation this week when they tweeted on Wednesday that the ban on the sale of alcohol and cigarettes would remain in place until the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19 was lifted. After much outrage on social media, the government backtracked on the issue, stating that it was an error and the ban was part of level 3 lockdown regulations. The government has given the number of people suffering from alcohol-related illnesses and injuries putting a strain on the health system as its main reason for reimposing the alcohol ban. “By limiting alcohol-related hospital visits and admissions, we are limiting exposure to, and transmission of, Covid-19. A ban on alcohol sales will also have an impact in…

EDUCATION Unions support school closure DA set to challenge president’s decision, claiming it is not based on scientific fact SIYABONGA MKHWANAZI TEACHERS’ unions support the decision of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that public schools will close for the next month. With the exception of matrics who will have just one week off, other classes will only resume later as part of the government’s plans to limit the spread of Covid-19. The DA has however said it will challenge the decision in court because it was irrational and was not based on scientific evidence, but political pressure from teacher unions. The SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) and National Teachers’ Organisation of SA (Naptosa) said they fully supported the decision of the government to close schools. Sadtu general secretary Mugwena…

COMMISSION Justice Zondo forces absent judge to appear IN A rare move, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo issued a directive compelling high court Judge Tintswalo Makhubele to testify at the state capture inquiry. Zondo decided this yesterday after hearing an application by Makhubele’s lawyer, advocate Gift Shakoane, which sought to postpone her appearance. Makhubele served as the chairperson of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA’s interim board and has been implicated by Prasa’s employees for interfering in the legal litigation between Prasa and a contractor, Siyaya Rail Solutions. Makhubele was scheduled to give evidence yesterday but her lawyer asked for a postponement. Shakoane said the judge was involved in a car accident on Thursday and was “too traumatised” to appear. Zondo appeared frustrated and proposed that Makhubele appear today but…

Ehrenreich apology for hate speech FORMER Western Cape Cosatu leader Tony Ehrenreich has finally apologised for posting a comment inciting violence and hatred against the leadership of the SA Jewish community. The SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has welcomed Ehrenreich’s apology to the SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) for a statement made on social media in August 2014. He had accused the SAJBD of being “complicit in the murder of the people in Gaza” and called for “an eye for and eye” retribution against its members and other ‘Zionist supporters. Ehrenreich said in his apology: “After due consideration of the findings and recommendations of the SAHRC, I have come to the conclusion that in the interest of promoting national unity and setting a good example, it would be appropriate…

CARPING POINT The fine art of showing solidarity KEVIN RITCHIE @RitchKev THE lockdown has stress-tested all of us, in every possible way, but for small and medium-sized business owners it’s been especially tough. For those in the tourism and hospitality business it’s been nothing short of catastrophic. The sector, perennially touted by the government as the panacea to what was once a turgid economy – rather than one in free fall – provides a disproportionate number of jobs. It’s understandable why this sector is agitating for a lessening of the restrictions, especially after the government caved on the taxis last week. There’s an art to showing solidarity though, but – as we have seen – not everyone gets it and there are few who don’t get it quite as spectacularly…

EDITORIAL Rotten state system exposed SCHOOLS are closing – again. For the matrics, literally in the final part of their final chapter of secondary education, it’s only for a week – for the rest it’s a three-week hiatus. At best the academic year for them will be delayed, at worst it’s a write-off. It’s a highly emotive subject for parents, already facing immense pressures; for the learners themselves, some of whom rely on school for their only meal and indeed haven from domestic tension; and, for the teachers themselves, many of whom are scared of becoming infected. Some schools have used the enforced hiatus of the lockdown to move online and continue teaching, but others haven’t. Some teachers are unwilling to return – despite being on full pay – and…

Ice retreats off Russian Arctic coast GENEVA: The UN weather agency warned yesterday that average temperatures in Siberia were 10ºC above average last month, a spate of exceptional heat that has fanned devastating fires in the Arctic Circle and contributed to a rapid depletion in ice sea off Russia’s Arctic coast. “The Arctic is heating more than twice as fast as the global average, impacting local populations and ecosystems and with global repercussions,” World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said yesterday. The heat was linked to a large “blocking pressure system” and the jet stream that has injected warm air into the region. The US National Snow and Ice Data Center and the US National Ice Centre showed very low sea ice in the Laptev and Barents Seas.” AP…

The People Harry and Meghan sue paparazzi in LA LOS ANGELES: Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, pictured, filed a lawsuit in California, US, on Thursday against unnamed paparazzi for allegedly taking “illegal” photographs of their son, Archie. The lawsuit, filed in Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles, cited “serial intrusions” of privacy. It also alleged that drones and helicopters entered the privacy of the airspace above the couple’s residence in LA. Reuters…

Charges against Red Bull heir dropped BANGKOK: Criminal charges in Thailand have been dropped against the heir to the Red Bull energy drink fortune who was accused in a 2012 hit-and-run that killed a police officer, police said yesterday. Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, pictured, had faced charges of speeding, hit-and-run and reckless driving causing death. He was accused of crashing his black Ferrari into a policeman on a motorcycle in Bangkok and fleeing the scene, dragging the officer’s body for several metres. The authorities issued an arrest warrant for Vorayuth five years after the accident, after he missed eight legal summons. Vorayuth is a grandson of the late Chaleo Yoovidhya, creator of the energy drink. Reuters…

This ‘Good Family’ will keep you guessing MAUREEN CORRIGAN NEVER once in the history of domestic suspense tales – from James M Cain’s Mildred Pierce to Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies – has a fictional family turned out to be as “good” as it first appears. So we savvy readers know from the get-go that the title of AH Kim’s debut thriller A Good Family must be ironic. Sure, the Min-Lindstroms may look close to perfect: like the faux families in old-school Cheerios ads, they’re good-looking, well-off and multiracial (specifically, Korean and Swedish). And, just like the families in those commercials, the Min-Lindstroms are too good to be true. A Good Family opens and closes at the Min-Lindstrom family reunion at Le Refuge, a sprawling vacation house on the Chesapeake…

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED THIS FEATURE IS SPONSORED BY PSG WEALTH Email your queries to perfin@inl.co.za or fax them to 021 488 4119 PROS AND CONS OF PROPERTY INVESTING I want to invest in the current buyers’ market so that property rental income can form part of my retirement plan. What should I consider? Name withheld Richus Nel, a financial adviser from PSG Wealth Old Oak, responds: Conversations about investing in physical property have re-emerged as confidence has been shaken in the global and local financial markets, due to Covid-19. Although this may provide some security for some investors, there are downsides to weigh up. Landlords face extra costs, from gardens and swimming pools neglected by tenants, to garage-door issues, kitchen and bathroom maintenance, carpet and geyser replacements, leaking roofs and…

The Brief SANLAM PAYS OUT R4.3bn IN DEATH, DISABILITY CLAIMS IN 2019, Sanlam paid out more than 99% of death and disability claims, with total payouts amounting to R4.3 billion. Of this, R397 million was for income protection (disability) cover, R3.2bn for life cover and R406m for injury and trauma-related claims. Sanlam’s 2019 claims statistics show that cardiovascular disease, cancer and accidents remain the leading causes of claims. The insurer predicts a rise in claims for death, funeral, sickness and income protection this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Petrie Marx, product actuary at Sanlam Individual Life, says: “Our 2019 stats show the risks of severe injury or illness unrelated to the coronavirus are real. Many people are underinsured or not insured at all, with the most recent research showing…

TV GUIDE FRIDAY 24 JULY Cricket: Test Series: England v Windies, Third Test, Day 1, 11.30am, SS2 Golf: European Tour: Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood, Day 3, 2.30pm, CSN, SS5, SS1; PGA Tour: 3M Open, Day 2, 8.30pm, SS5, SS1, CSN Motorsport: NASCAR Cup Series: Kansas 400, 1am, SS6 Rugby: Rugby Australia: Waratahs v Rebels, 11am, SS1, CSN Soccer: Premier League TV: Weekend Warm-up, 7.30pm, SS3; Serie A: AC Milan v Atalanta, 9.35pm, SS9 SATURDAY 25 JULY Cricket: Test Series: England v Windies, Third Test, Day 2, 11.30am, SS2 Golf: European Tour: Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood, Day 4, 12 noon, SS5; PGA Tour: 3M Open, Day 3, 8pm, SS1, CSN, SS5 Motorcycling: MotoGP: Grand Prix of Andalucia, Qualifying, 1.30pm, SS6 Rugby: Aotearoa: Crusaders v Hurricanes,…

SOC Mokotjo’s future in a good space MIHLALI BALEKA KAMOHELO Mokotjo is not the fanciest nor the dirtiest of players in the middle of the park but his simplicity has ensured that he stands head and shoulders above his peers and teammates. It was back in 2003 when Mokotjo stunned the world, captaining the South Africa under-12 team to a successful outing in the Danone’s Nations Cup in France. That event was iconic and prestigious such that Mokotjo can be found in the gallery screenshots having snapped a picture alongside legendary former football Zinedine Zidane after their success in France. From thereon, Mokotjo was expected to hit the ground running, either representing one of three big clubs in the local Premiership or making a seamless export to one of the…

HORSE RACING Virtual July: Racegoers can cash in TANYA WATERWORTH BREAK out the last bottle of champers and get ready to switch on or link in for this year’s virtual Vodacom Durban July (VDJ). Today’s event, which is being hosted behind closed doors, will be streamed live on several digital platforms, with the main activities being broadcast live on DStv Super-Sport 204 and 210 from 1pm, while Tellytrack will provide coverage on Channel 239. Fans can also follow the event website and social media platforms, and online betting is the order of the day with some big pools to be won. Yesterday guest designers showcased their #VDJ2020 designs, under the “Butterflies” theme, a theme chosen before the Covid-19 pandemic and strict lockdown. Only essential staff such as trainers, jockeys, grooms…

EPL Champions League hopeful United is a team going places – Solskjaer MANCHESTER United have endured a difficult Premier League season but sealing third place with a win over Leicester City tomorrow will be further evidence of the team’s potential, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said yesterday. Solskjaer oversaw the Old Trafford club’s worst start to a top flight campaign in 30 years and faced questions about his suitability for the club’s rebuild but a youthful United have turned things around in the second half of the season. Having gone unbeaten in their last 13 league games, United can secure their highest finish since the 2017-18 season when Jose Mourinho guided them to second place. “Let’s get this game out of the way and get third position and continue the growth…