Innholdsfortegnelse for Saturday, October 10, 2020 i Pretoria News Weekend

PPE TENDER Masuku to challenge firing Premier says he failed to execute his duties, as MEC, in compliance with Constitution STAFF REPORTERS BHEKIKHAYA MABASO African News Agency (ANA) GAUTENG Premier David Makhura yesterday announced the firing of embattled MEC for Health Bandile Masuku. But Masuku has said he will challenge the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report implicating him in wrongdoing in court. Masuku has been on extended special leave since July 30 after allegations surfaced he facilitated the granting of multimillion-rand PPE tenders to his family friends. Makhura made the announcement yesterday and stated that he will not appoint a replacement until the SIU has finalised its investigation into PPE corruption. Public transport and roads infrastructure MEC Jacob Mamabolo will remain the acting health MEC in the province.…

 FROM RUSSIA Waste not, want not as chefs cook to help the hungry VAL BOJE THE concept is simple, the numbers staggering: since April 7, Chefs with Compassion, working with its partners, has served more than 1 million meals to those in need at a time when hunger was aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Operating with about 300 volunteers across the food value-chain, the chefs use hotel and restaurant kitchens in the major cities, including Tshwane, taking surplus food and creating nutritious meals for people who would otherwise have gone without. Chefs with Compassion is a collaboration between the SA Chefs Association, Nosh Food Rescue NPC, Slow Food International, Chefs Alliance SA, and Strategic PR, and aims to make a positive impact on both food waste and hunger. How it…

Moscow talks raise hopes of a ceasefire BAKU: Azeri and ethnic Armenian forces fought new clashes yesterday, while plans to hold talks in Moscow raised hopes of ending the deadliest battles in the South Caucasus for more than 25 years. The Armenian and Azeri foreign ministers were expected to attend the talks yesterday, a day after France, Russia and the US launched a peace drive at a meeting in Geneva. The Armenian government said the talks would focus exclusively on a cessation of hostilities and humanitarian issues, which it identified as exchanges of bodies and prisoners of war. More than 400 people have been killed in and around Nagorno-Karabakh since new fighting broke out in the former Soviet republics’ decades-old conflict last month. Reuters…

The People Countess Sophie in precautionary isolation LONDON: Sophie, Britain’s Countess of Wessex and wife of Queen Elizabeth’s son Prince Edward, is self-isolating at home after coming into contact with someone who has since tested positive for Covid-19, Buckingham Palace said yesterday. The royal has no symptoms but is following guidelines, a palace spokesman said. | Reuters Russia-EU ties worsening due to Navalny case MOSCOW: Relations between Russia and the EU are rapidly deteriorating, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said yesterday, responding to a question about possible EU sanctions against Moscow over the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Speaking at a news conference with his Danish counterpart in Moscow, Lavrov said the EU was acting as judge and jury in the Navalny case and had failed to share vital information…

 GERMANY Alarm over high virus infection levels in Berlin BERLIN mayor Michael Mueller is keeping all options on the table as high Covid-19 infection rates in the capital prompt concern across Germany, which recorded more than 4500 new cases yesterday. On Thursday, the city’s infections spilled over into a danger zone, with more than 50 cases recorded per 100000 people over a seven-day period. As Berlin crept towards that high-risk status, the city government introduced a night-time curfew banning alcohol and brought back limits on group socialising, in a bid to bring the spread under control. Decisions on more restrictions are to take into account a number of factors, unlike the sweeping restrictions introduced across Germany at the start of the crisis in March, Mueller said. Testing procedures and capacity…

 TELEVISION Hot new faces on local soapies LIAM KARABO JOYCE SOUTH Africa has some of the best soapies and telenovelas – and the people who act in them. Our list of the newest talents: Cantona James He plays Daniel Lefras in KykNet’s hit, Arendsvlei. The rising star, who joined the award-winning show in its latest season, is one of the newest residents in the town. James’s portrayal of Daniel, a bight boy with a damaged past, has not gone unnoticed. Jame was recently nominated for a Royalty Soapie Award in the outstanding newcomer category. Richard September He obtained his BA Honours in theatre and play at the University of Cape Town and made his TV debut on Neighborhood Watch in 2015. In 2015, he played eight different roles in the…

YOUR STARS Barbara Kiselev If today is your birthday: Make this new year your year for getting things done. For getting what you’ve wanted for so long. It’s all going your way, so no problem if things need to be overcome. Run with the challenges, it makes you a better person. Aries (21 March-20 April) Everything falls into place this week, just as you wanted. You worked for it, now is your time. You’re going places, meeting people, getting things done. Nothing can stop you, not even some negativity you need to face. You’re so over it. Taurus (21 April-21 May) This week all you need is that one final push and you’re there. You wanted it badly, more than anything. Now is your time, make the best of it.…

 TENNIS Willander favours teen Swiatek RECENT history in women’s Grand Slam finals suggest that Iga Swiatek’s lack of experience might not be a problem when she takes on Sofia Kenin in the French Open final today, yet Roland Garros can be tough on the youngsters. Naomi Osaka beat Serena Williams in the 2018 US Open final, then Petra Kvitova at the 2019 Australian Open with Simona Halep beating Williams in last year’s Wimbledon showdown. Australian Ashleigh Barty, however, hammered teenager Marketa Vondrousova in last year’s French Open final and if the average age of the women’s champions at Roland Garros is the lowest of all four Grand Slams - 23.7 to 23.8 for the US Open, 24 for the Australian Open, 25.3 for Wimbledon, the claycourt tournament is also known…

TV GUIDE TODAY Boxing: WBA Pan African Junior-middleweight Title: Brandon Thysse v Boyd Allen (10 Rounds), 6.30pm, ACT Cricket: Indian Premier League T20: Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders, 11.50am, CRI; Chennai Super Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore, 3.50pm, CRI Cycling: UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, XCO Olympic Women Elite, 12.15pm, VR2; UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, XCO Olympic Men Elite, 2.45pm, VR2; Amstel Gold Race, Women’s Elite Race, 12.15pm, VR3; Amstel Gold Race, Men’s Elite Race, 3pm, VR3; Giro d’Italia, Stage 8: Giovinazzo-Vieste (200km), 12.20pm, VR1 Golf: European Tour: BMW PGA Championship, Day 3, 12 noon, GOL; LPGA Tour: KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Day 3, 5.30pm, GOL; PGA Tour: Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Day 3, 11pm, GOL Motorsport: MotoGP: Grand Prix of France, Qualifying, 1.30pm, ACT; DTM:…

 RUGBY Aplon: You don’t come to the Bulls just to compete, you aim to win ASHFAK MOHAMED GIO Aplon turned 38 on Tuesday, and he joked that his new Bulls teammates brought out a “wheelchair” for him at Loftus Versfeld. But as crazy as it seems that a full-back can still play at a high level at that age, when it comes to Aplon, it is even crazier that he is doing it in the light-blue colours of the Pretoria side rather than his beloved Stormers in Cape Town. The man with the twinkle toes from Hawston in the Western Cape used to give the Bulls defence the run-around when wearing a Stormers or Western Province jersey, but ahead of tonight’s Super Rugby Unlocked clash against Griquas (7pm kickoff), he…

WORKING FROM HOME, BUT OFFICE POLICIES STILL APPLY THE global pandemic has resulted in a new way of doing things. Working from home, for at least part of the week, has become commonplace, but with workers in the comfort of their own homes, does this give them free reign to consume alcohol and drugs while on the clock? Aadil Patel, national head of the employment law practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, says even if workers are not physically working from the office, labour laws and company policies still apply. “The Occupational Health and Safety Act; General Regulations states that subject to the provisions of sub regulation (3), no person at a workplace shall be under the influence of or have in his or her possession or partake of or offer…

Concerns over mental health care GOITSEMANG TLHABYE goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za WITH up to 17 million people in South Africa battling depression, substance abuse, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, the South African Society of Psychiatrists (Sasop) has called on the government to increase training for mental health-care workers. The statistics for the top five mental health diagnoses in the country were revealed by the Mental Health Federation of South Africa. And with today being World Mental Health Day, the society said it had joined in the call for equal access to better mental health for all, alongside the World Health Organization. With one in three adults expected to experience mental illness in their lifetime, the society said the need for facilities was a serious concern. There were roughly 1 000 psychiatrists to serve…

Surfer feared taken by shark in Australia SYDNEY: A male surfer is feared to have been taken by a shark off the south coast of Western Australia, surf lifesavers said yesterday. Police told the national broadcaster ABC a surf board had been found in the water at Kelp Beds Beach near Esperance, 700km southeast of Perth, and a search has been mounted for the missing surfer. A witness reported a the incident in the area, which is notorious for shark attacks. Police closed the remote beach while lifesavers on jet skis searched the water. A 17-year-old girl was mauled by a shark three years ago and later died, and in 2014 a 23-year-old male surfer lost his arm and other hand in a shark bite. dpa…

 MICHIGAN Six charged over plot to kidnap US governor SIX MEN plotted to try to kidnap Michigan Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer at her holiday home, according to a criminal complaint unsealed on Thursday in federal court. Four of the six men had planned to meet Wednesday to “make a payment on explosives and exchange tactical gear,” the FBI said in the court filing. The FBI quoted one of the accused as saying Whitmer “has no checks and balances at all. She has uncontrolled power right now. All good things must come to an end”. Authorities scheduled a Thursday afternoon news conference to talk about the case. The government used informants and undercover agents to thwart the alleged plot. The criminal complaint said the plan involved Whitmer and her second home…

 MALI Woman describes years in captivity AT ONE point during her four years in the hands of jihadist militants in northern Mali, French aid worker Sophie Petronin said she felt like giving up hope. She wandered into the desert, sat on the ground in the baking sun and wept. The 75 year old who ran a charity for malnourished and orphaned children when she was kidnapped near the desert city of Gao in 2016, was one of four hostages released and flown to the capital Bamako on Thursday. Petronin said snippets of news from home comforted her while in captivity and she found the strength to endure her ordeal when a small voice in her head spoke to her. “It said you mustn’t cry or be sad. “I will stay…

Grief and astounding courage in the age of Covid LINDSAY SLOGROVE lindsay.slogrove@inl.co.za COVID-19 hit home hard this week. There we were, two of the dogs and I, intertwined on the couch having a mid-Saturday zizz, when the phone rang. It was my sister, Janet, so distraught I couldn’t hear what she was saying. It finally penetrated. Her husband, Sean, and my beloved brother (in-law), was dead. It wasn’t Covid-19; he had a massive heart attack out of the blue, while driving home from the vet with his daughter, Tyane. Jan and Sean had been married more than 30 years, and I had known him from school days in the mid ’80s. Ironically, last week’s column involved mortality and a lament that people with scientific superpowers often did not live to…

3 THINGS TO WATCH THIS WEEK Sunday, October 11 THE SECRET HISTORY OF AIR FORCE ONE: HISTORY CHANNEL AT 9.20PM The one-hour special uses exclusive footage to bring audiences inside Air Force One. Gripping archives paired with insider interviews will illuminate the incredible history of America’s most famous plane. Monday, October 12 THE GOOD DOCTOR S3: M-NET AT 7.30PM In an explosive season three, Dr Marcus Andrews vows to help a Good Samaritan who was injured while stopping a sexual assault. Dr Audrey Lim faces a difficult decision when a young patient’s parents suspect that Dr Neil Melendez made a mistake. Monday and Tuesday, October 12 and 13 THE OATH: SABC3 AT 9.30PM The crime drama explores a criminal gang made up of men and women who are sworn to…

 SOCCER Ntseki sees Namibia draw as no obstacle going forward MIHLALI BALEKA BAFANA Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki says he expects the physicality and enthusiasm that were shown by Namibia during their international friendly on Thursday to be some of the key components that will characterise the Sao Tome and Principe approach. The South Africans will clash with the islanders (Sao Tome) in back-to-back encounters of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers next month as they aim to qualify for the continental showpiece in Cameroon. However, in their first preparations for Sao Tome, Bafana played southern region neighbours Namibia to a 1-1 draw at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, thanks to a first half well taken goal by Luther Singh, while the Brave Warriors equalised from Absalom Limbondi in the…

 EPL Everton on the double with Premier League monthly awards EVERTON manager Carlo Ancelotti was named Premier League Manager of the Month for September and said their strong start to the season can be the ideal launch pad to push for a European spot. Ancelotti’s side have set the early pace with wins over Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace last month, before they defeated Brighton & Hove Albion last Saturday to maintain their perfect start. “The key was the first match at Tottenham. That victory increased our confidence. We worked well in the transfer market. We signed players we need … they’ve adapted really fast,” the Italian coach said in a Premier League statement. “Our target is to reach Europe next season and to stay at the…

TRAGEDY Metro cop dies in head-on crash with bus LIAM NGOBENI YET another officer from the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) has lost his life following an accident on Wednesday. Spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said the officer was off duty when he was involved in a head-on collision with an A Re Yeng bus at the corner of Paul Kruger and Mansfield streets. “The driver of the bus and four passengers were taken to hospital.” Mahamba said the cause of the accident was still unknown, and a case of culpable homicide had been opened and would be investigated by the SAPS. “TMPD is very saddened to lose one of its hard-working members. He was deployed at special operations at the time of his passing. “We would like to send…

 SPECIALS ‘Stay and play’ at luxury resort WALKERSONS Hotel & Spa, on 800 hectares of beautiful countryside in Mpumalanga, is a 5-star country house offering accommodation with all the modern comforts. There’s also a luxurious on-site spa and the chance to take in the charms of Dullstroom or try your hand at fly-fishing. One of the resort’s biggest attractions for guests and day visitors is its delicious cuisine. The Terrace restaurant serves traditional full breakfasts and light lunches. Afternoon tea has long been a popular treat in Dullstroom, and come dinner time, the 5-course meals at the Flying Scotsman are exceptional. South Africans can take advantage of “Stay in SA, Play in SA” specials with 50% off midweek stays and 30% at weekends, based on a two-night stay and subject…

 LEVEL 1 Blue Train back on track with specials for locals KARISHMA DIPA THE Blue Train was one of many of the country’s tourist attractions badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. Even now that it is allowed to resume operations, it will be under strict conditions, including that travellers will be expected to produce a Covid-negative test result. But there is some good news for South Africans who have always dreamt of a trip on the luxury train between Pretoria and Cape Town, and that is with the absence of its regular international tourists, it is now available – with some special rates – to locals for the next period. “The specials are mainly targeted at residents of South Africa, with the aim of encouraging them to reacquaint…

Fugitive who fled to Brazil due back in SA PRETORIA: One of South Africa’s most wanted fugitives, murder suspect Gerhardus Jansen van Vuuren, who fled the country to Brazil to avoid standing trial for the murder of his ex-girlfriend in 2011, was due to be extradited yesterday, police said. Jansen van Vuuren, 39, was due to face trial in 2013 after he allegedly beat and stabbed his 25-year-old ex-girlfriend, Andrea Venter, to death in December 2011 outside the residential complex in Johannesburg where she lived, SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said. After a failed suicide attempt at the scene of the crime in 2011, Jansen van Vuuren was charged with Venter’s murder at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court. “Four days before the start of his murder trial in May 2013, Jansen…

 UNITED STATES Trump ‘ fit for public engagements’ Pushing for in-person debate with Biden UNITED States President Donald Trump, who is pushing for an in-person debate, secured a doctor’s statement saying he was expected to be able to resume public engagements today. The New York Times reported a person close to the White House saying Trump was discussing holding a public event with people on the White House grounds today. Trump said he was feeling “really good” and might return to the campaign trail. His physician said in a memo Trump had completed his course of therapy and could return to public engagements. The newspaper also reported that the virus “cure” that Trump touted on Wednesday was created with cells originally derived from foetal tissue, a practice he had…

CARPING POINT Flawed system that is failing all South Africans KEVIN RITCHIE @RitchKev IT STARTED with a scripture reading and a prayer – and ended with a police van being upended and torched. More than 1 000 people turned up to protest at Senekal, in eastern Free State, earlier this week, ostensibly to show support for the family of Brendin Horner, the young farm foreman who was beaten to death and then strung up on a pole last Friday. The murder of people on farms is scandalous. Almost always unimaginably cruel – although Horner’s murder plumbed deeper depths than before – they have become a rallying cry for the white right wing and an increasing problem for the Ramaphosa administration, whose response is an ostrich-like denial. Keeping quiet just plays…

EDITORIAL Zuma runs out of options FORMER president Jacob Zuma cynically threw the dice for the umpteenth time – only to come up empty-handed at the Zondo Commission into State Capture yesterday. No mean slouch at using legal tactics in his patented Stalingrad defence, Zuma has opted in recent times to try to defend himself in the court of public opinion instead. He has been determined to avoid appearing in front of Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. It’s understandable – 34 witnesses to the commission have already implicated him. Yesterday Zondo, after hearing argument from the commission’s legal team, formally authorised the issuing of a summons against Zuma to compel him to attend next month. In truth, Zondo had no option, not after Zuma had failed to respond positively to…

Dismantling society’s narrative about compulsory sexuality In a world obsessed with sex, they aren’t, writes Sarah Neilson IN A SOCIETY obsessed with sexuality, what does it mean to be asexual? The world has become more open about discussions of what it means to be queer. But even in queer communities, which fight against culture’s oversexualisation of queer bodies and lives, sex remains a linchpin of the conversation around liberation. In Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex, journalist and science writer Angela Chen uses interviews, research and experience to offer a framework that loosens stigmas about relationships, emotion and sex in a culture that operates on “compulsory sexuality”. That term, borrowed from Adrienne Rich’s 1980 essay “Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence”, is one Chen uses…