Innholdsfortegnelse for Saturday, October 24, 2020 i Pretoria News Weekend

FINDINGS: KNOWLEDGE IS HIGH, BUT COMPLIANCE LESS SO Attitudes harden as lockdown eases: poll VAL BOJE val.boje@inl.co.za LEON LESTRADE African News Agency (ANA). LEVELS of awareness about Covid-19 are widespread among South Africans, pointing to widespread policy and media coverage and uptake by the public. However, attitudes towards the handling of the pandemic have changed as lockdown has been extended. At least three-quarters of respondents in the second UJ-HSRC Covid-19 democracy survey reported a high level of knowledge, with the dominant channel for information being television (72%), followed by radio (45%) and news sites, both print and online (41%), with a third of respondents relying on social media for their information. Researchers from the University of Johannesburg and the Human Sciences Research Council said it was disconcerting…

BLOOMING MARVELLOUS OCTOBER is the best time of the year to view Pretoria’s famous jacaranda trees with their blooms in full glory on the trees and creating a lilac carpet underneath. History has it that the first jacaranda trees, introduced from Brazil, were planted by JD Celliers in Celliers Street in 1888. Today, there are an estimated 70 000 trees in older parts of the city although the council years ago stopped planting them in newer areas as they are not indigenous to South Africa. Government Avenue near the Union Buildings is unusual in that it has a double row of trees. | VAL BOJE…

STATE, DEFENCE OPPOSE BROADCASTING PROCEEDINGS Bushiri, wife stay behind bars as bail hearing is delayed GOITSEMANG TLHABYE goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za , OUPA MOKOENA African News Agency (ANA) ATTEMPTS by Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary to be released on bail have been thwarted again, and so they will be spending the weekend separately behind bars. The Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) leader and his wife, along with co-accused Landiwe Sindani, 37, arrested by The Hawks on Tuesday, were detained at the Kgosi Mampuru II prison in Pretoria. The reason for the delay was the court attending to other cases on the roll, in addition to having to hear the media's application for permission to broadcast the bail proceedings. The State requested a postponement of the couple’s bail application, citing a…

BURSARIES No NSFAS money for ’corrupt’ students MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za HIGHER Education Minister Blade Minister is not budging on the 5000 students whose bursaries were withdrawn by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) after they misrepresented their families’ financial circumstances. A visibly angry Nzimande charged that the students had engaged in corrupt practices, and said it would not be tolerated, regardless of who it was. "The fact of the matter is that NSFAS has discovered that there are students who lied about their family income," Nzimande said. He was leading a departmental delegation to brief the higher education portfolio committee on saving the 2020 academic year. Some MPs raised concerns about the withdrawal of funding to the affected students in August after verification by the SA Revenue Service showed…

Call for road safety as holidays start KWA-ZULU Natal MEC for transport, Bheki Ntuli, has urged caution on the roads following a terrible accident on the R66 on Wednesday in which 16 people and an unborn baby died. Ntuli has described the gruesome scene on the road between Melmoth and Ulundi. Fifteen people in the taxi, including a pregnant woman, and the truck driver died. Road safety across all modes of transport and all levels of government was a top priority, he said. There was a need to improve legislation, intensify law enforcement and promote driver behavioural change through road safety awareness campaigns. While the cause of the accident was being investigated, he said factors leading to the high road death statistics in South Africa included speeding, unroadworthy vehicles and…

LAID BACK ’Subversive’ tunes sure won the day with me ... JOUBERT MALHERBE I REMEMBER that lovely old ballad by champion crooner Frank Sinatra, Somethin’ Stupid, well. That song, along with Ole Blue Eyes’ other hit, Strangers In The Night, was one of the quieter numbers that made the former LM Radio hit parade when I was in my teens. It seemed a tad incongruous between records by people like The Beatles, Stones and, say, the 1910 Fruitgum Company. I listened to the hit parade (on a Sunday night) with the transistor radio hidden beneath the pillow, so that I could enjoy the “subversive” music. The moral guardians of the time were actually quite correct about rock’s “pernicious influence” on popkids, in my case for sure. I still buy into…

Libya’s warring sides sign truce agreement GENEVA: The two main warring parties in Libya have signed a ceasefire agreement in Geneva, UN Libya envoy Stephanie Williams announced yesterday. “I wish to congratulate you on what you have accomplished here. “It needed much courage,” Williams told military envoys representing Prime Minister Fayez Serraj and military strongman Khalifa Haftar. “I hope that this agreement will put an end to the suffering of the Libyan people.” The fourth round of the military talks began on Monday bringing together a delegate affiliated with the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) and another representing Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA). dpa…

IS behind massive DRC prison break CAPE TOWN: Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the massive prison break on Tuesday in which more than 1300 prisoners were freed from a jail in Beni in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in a co-ordinated attack. In a media statement, IS linked the operation to a recent “Answer the Call” campaign speech made by its spokesperson, Abu Hamza al-Quraishi. Mayor Modeste Bakwanamaha said only about 100 prisoners remained following the simultaneous assault on the Kangbayi central prison and on two military camps that provide security to it. ANA…

The People Brazilian soccer great Pele turns 80 SÃO PAULO: Brazilian soccer great Edson Arantes do Nascimento “Pele” celebrated his 80th birthday yesterday. Pele was born in Tres Coracoes, Minas Gerais, Brazil on October 23, 1940. The Santos, New York Cosmos and Brazil striker is the only man to win the World Cup three times. | EPA-EFE Biden shocks viewers with ‘Hitler’ comment WASHINGTON: During the final debate on Thursday before the November 3 US presidential election, Democratic nominee Joe Biden, pictured, did not think twice before referring to Adolf Hitler as he hit back at US President Donald Trump’s remarks related to his relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. After Biden accused Trump of legitimising North Korea by meeting with Kim, Trump responded by insisting that “having a…

RECORD A BIRD that flew non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand is believed to have set a new world record for its migration marathon, New Zealand’s department of conservation told dpa yesterday. The male kuaka, or bar-tailed godwit, like the one pictured, was tracked as it flew more than 12 000km across the Pacific Ocean in nine days, the department of conservation said. The previous record for non-stop flight by a bird was 11 680km, set in 2007. The godwit which set the record is known as 4BBRW. ANA Archives…

COMMENT A ‘voice for the voiceless’ Media freedom came at a price for which some still pay dearly SIYAVUYA MZANTSI DAVID RITCHIE African News Agency/ANA Archives PRESS freedom in South Africa is guaranteed. But it’s “fragile”, that’s why Reporters Without Borders ranked South Africa 31 out of 180 countries in its 2020 World Press Freedom Index. The organisation observed in its report: “South Africa’s 1996 constitution protects press freedom. The state security agency spies on some journalists and taps their phones. Others are harassed and subjected to intimidation campaigns if they try to cover certain subjects involving the ruling ANC, government finances, the redistribution of land to the black population or corruption. “The opposition Economic Freedom Fighters party was given a High Court warning in 2019 because of…

Revered Thwala stars in M-Net’s Legacy DEBASHINE THANGEVELO SIYABONGA Thwala is one of South Africa’s most revered actors in the soapie and telenovela landscape. He played Vuzi Zwane on e.tv’s Scandal, which bagged him a Golden Horn accolade for Best Actor in a TV Soap. He’s also been on Generations, and let’s not forget the indelible impression he left as taxi boss Mpiyakhe Zungu on Mzansi Magic’s Isibaya. Now he’s bagged another plum role on M-Net’s first telenovela, Legacy. Cast as Msizi Zulu, he has been in cunning pursuit of the CEO position at Legacy Investments and L24 News. With the recent murder of founder Sebastian Price (Deon Lotz), who was on the cusp of embracing retirement by handing over the baton to a worthy candidate, it has made the…

YOUR STARS Barbara Kiselev If today is your birthday: It’s all there for you. The relationship. The career. But always pay attention to you. It’s about how you see yourself, and present yourself. So have a go this new year it’s all happening. Just beware you need to be cautious sometimes. Aries (21 March-20 April) You always get things done, pronto. This week you’re wrapping things up, getting it all done, nothing can hold you back. So time to move the career forward. Things may turn around. All you need do is try. Taurus (21 April-21 May) Tough times. But nothing you can’t handle. This week see yourself on a journey of self-discovery. So be open to new things, and don’t worry about what they think of you. It’s about…

FORMULA ONE Hamilton plays second fiddle to fired up Bottas for the eighth time in a row VALTTERI Bottas set the pace for Mercedes in the first Portuguese Grand Prix practice in 24 years yesterday, with six-times Formula One world champion team mate Lewis Hamilton second fastest. The Finn has made a habit of going quickest in the first session of the race weekend, doing so eight times in a row even though the only practice two weeks ago at the Nuerburgring was on the Saturday due to bad weather. The Friday morning prowess has not translated into wins on Sunday, however, with Bottas 69 points adrift of Hamilton after 11 races. Hamilton, who was 0.339 seconds slower than Bottas’s best effort of 1:18.410 on medium tyres around the undulating…

TV GUIDE SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER Cricket: Indian Premier League T20: Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Capitals, 11.50am, GSD, CRI; Kings XI Punjab v Sunrisers Hyderabad, 3.50pm, CRI Cycling: La Vuelta a Espana, Stage 5: Huesca-Sabinanigo (182.5km), 4pm, VR2, VR1; Giro d’Italia, Stage 20: Alba-Sestriere (198km), 12.20pm, VR1 Golf: European Tour: Italian Open, Day 3, 1pm, GOL; LPGA Tour: DriveOn Championship, Day 3, 7pm, GOL; PGA Tour: The Zozo Championship, Day 3, 11pm, GSD, GOL Motorsport: MotoGP: Grand Prix de Teruel, Qualifying, 2.30pm, ACT; Formula 1: Portuguese Grand Prix, Practice 3, 10.45am, MSP, SSM; Qualifying, 1pm, MSP Netball: Netball League: Kingdom Queens v Tornadoes, 2.45pm, VR4; Gauteng Golden Fireballs v WC Southern Stings, 4.45pm, VR4; Mpumalanga Sunbirds v Northern Cape Diamonds, 6.45pm, VR4 Rugby: Mitre 10 Cup: North Harbour v Auckland,…

RUGBY Lions v Cheetahs a backline catfight MORGAN BOLTON A GOOD ol’ fashioned forwards battle awaits the Emirates Lions when they host the Free State Cheetahs today (kick-off 4.30pm), but that might not be the most exciting dogfight on the field. No, it is the backline skirmish in Johannesburg which might offer up some tasty treats. Waiting in the wings: Rabz Maxwane and Jamba Ulengo v Rosko Specman and Malcolm Jaer The Cheetahs’ wings are on fire. Jaer and Specman have scored three tries apiece in their two games, collecting six of the nine tries scored by the Bloemfontein-based team. Together, they have run their opposition ragged, tallying up 356m carried. They face a Lions pair in Ulengo and Maxwane that have scored a try apiece, with their former teammate…

Jones in line for Test appearances record WALES captain Alun Wyn Jones did not want to dwell on equalling the record for the most Test appearances when he leads his country against France today, but reiterated his commitment to continue playing at the age of 35. “I’m very fortunate again to put on the red of Wales but I’m probably past my days of looking back too far and (instead) I’m looking forward and that’s what I’ll focus on,” he told reporters at the Stade de France yesterday. Jones will play his 148th Test, which includes nine for the British & Irish Lions, to move level with former New Zealand captain Richie McCaw. He will have the chance to take the record outright when Wales host Scotland in the Six…

Officers will have no choice but to perform same-sex marriages PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Civil Union Amendment Bill into law. This means that state officials will have no choice but to solemnise same-sex marriages. Under the new 2020 Civil Union Amendment Act gazetted yesterday, marriage officers cannot object to performing a same-sex ceremony. Same-sex marriage in South Africa has been legal since the Civil Union Act came into force on November 30, 2006. Legal advisor of Freedom of Religion South Africa Daniela Ellerbeck said FOR SA had petitioned Ramaphosa to exercise his constitutional prerogative and refrain from signing the bill into law and refer it back to Parliament. “FOR SA pointed out that the bill is in direct conflict with Justice Sachs’s recommendation in the Fourie case which…

Hazel Food Market finds a new home ONE of Pretoria’s most popular food and craft markets is to move to a bigger home. After 11 years, the Hazel Food Market is relocating from Greenlyn Village in Menlo Park to Phobians (Old Boys’ club) in Lynnwood, on November 7. The new venue will have about 120 stalls selling organic produce, deli meats, cheese, breads, light meals and confectionery along with the arts, crafts and culture market specialising in handmade goods. One things the Hazel Food Market is known for is its international flavour and this, the organisers say, will not be lost. Visitors can expect to see many popular vendors, along with some new ones. Another drawcard is that the market is a place to meet friends and share a meal…

CROWNING MOMENT It’s all systems go for Miss SA 2020 THE countdown to the Miss South Africa pageant 2020 has begun and while it is virtual this year, the event still promises to be one to remember. Miss South Africa 2020 will be crowned at The Table Bay hotel in Cape Town with the show broadcast live from 5pm on M-Net DStv channel 101 and Mzansi Magic DStv channel 161. The show’s director and executive producer, Gavin Wratten, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic may have restricted us in some ways, but it has also opened up many new and exciting opportunities.” The crew will use Cape Town as its stage, broadcasting from the harbour, the beach and the city. The celebrity judges include former Miss SA and the current Miss Universe,…

Constantinides a global ambassador EARTHSHOT Prize is a UK initiative to find solutions to environmental challenges. Recently, Prince William launched The Earthshot Prize, a new global award for the environment – and one of its ambassadors is South Africa’s Catherine Constantinides. The prize is aimed at incentivising change that helps to repair the planet, with a decade of action centred on five “Earthshots” – goals to be achieved by 2030. These are to protect and restore nature, revive our oceans, clean the air, build a waste-free world and fix our climate. Five £1-million (R21m) awards will be made annually, providing at least 50 solutions to these global environmental problems. Global ambassadors such as Constantinides will use their voice and platforms to inspire the world to engage and immerse themselves in…

LOCKDOWN DIARY WARNING OF A SECOND SURGE HEALTH Minister and wife test positive for Covid-19; SA has cumulative total of 705 000 cases with more than 18 000 deaths SUNDAY, MARCH 15 President Cyril Ramaphosa declares National State of Disaster; travel ban, border closures. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 Schools across SA close. FRIDAY, MARCH 27 Day 1 lockdown level 5 (until April 30). TUESDAY, APRIL 21 R500 billion stimulus announced in response to the pandemic. FRIDAY, MAY 1 Day 1 lockdown level 4 (to last to May 31). SUNDAY, MAY 24 Ramaphosa announces move to level 3 of lockdown. MONDAY, JUNE 1 Day 1 lockdown level 3. Industries return to work; work-from-home remains the norm. MONDAY, JUNE 8 Grades 7 and 12 back at school; domestic business flights resume. WEDNESDAY, JUNE…

China urges Britain to fix visa ‘mistakes’ BEIJING: The Hong Kong office of China’s foreign ministry yesterday urged Britain to “immediately correct its mistakes” regarding visa policy for those with British National (Overseas) status. The comments came after Britain confirmed details on Thursday of its citizenship route for almost 3million people in its former colony, saying there would be no quota on numbers, with five-year visas to cost £250 (about R5288) each. Reuters REUTERS…

› FRANCE Mayor threatened with ’decapitation’ a week after teacher’s murder A FRENCH mayor said he had received beheading death threats – just one week after the decapitation of schoolteacher Samuel Paty shocked France. “These threats must be taken seriously,” Jeremie Breaud, the mayor of Bron near the French city of Lyon, told BFM TV yesterday, adding that he had received offers of police protection. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin expressed his support for Breaud on Twitter, and confirmed the mayor would get police protection. Breaud posted on his Twitter account a photo of graffiti on a wall in the town saying “Jeremy Breaud, we will cut your head off”. Police are investigating the circumstances behind the threats. Paty was killed on October 16 in outside his school in in…

Japan, Britain sign free trade deal for post-Brexit era TRADE JAPAN and Britain signed a bilateral free trade deal yesterday in the first such major post-Brexit deal, reducing tariffs on Yorkshire lamb sold in Japan, as well as auto parts for Japan’s Nissan plant. “How fitting it is to be in the Land of the Rising Sun to welcome in the dawn of a new era of free trade,” British International Trade Secretary Liz Truss told reporters at a signing ceremony in Tokyo. Appearing with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Truss called the agreement a “landmark” as the first major trade deal for Britain since it returned as an independent trading nation. The deal, estimated to boost British trade with Japan by £15 billion (about R317bn), will also make it…

AUSTRALIA ‘Probe’ into Vatican money transfer AUSTRALIAN state police said yesterday they were not investigating the transfer of money from the Vatican to Australia, throwing doubt on Italian media speculation that it might be linked to the overturned convictions of Cardinal George Pell for child sex abuse. Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera speculated in recent weeks that Vatican investigators were looking into whether Pell’s nemesis at the Holy See, ousted Cardinal Angelo Becciu, wired E 700000 (about R134million)) in Vatican money to a bank account in Australia, and whether that money was tied to Pell’s sex abuse trial. Victoria Police, which in 2017 charged Pell with child sex abuse, said the Australian intelligence agency responsible for detecting international financial crime, Austrac, had confirmed that Vatican money had been wired to…

November 3 is not D-Day for the US alone LINDSAY SLOGROVE lindsay.slogrove@inl.co.za DO YOU remember where you were when you heard the news? It was the very early Daily News shift and the shock was brutal. Just about every one of us in the newsroom drew in shocked gasps and uttered expressions of horror. Donald Trump had won. This was not the history we were all prepared to witness. We produced the headlines that day in 2016 in a state of – to steal some apt phrases – fire and fury, while being strongly, bigly and powerfully confused. His deeply unpopular Democrat opponent, Hillary Clinton, had narrowly but consistently led the polls. We believed them, then. We assumed, given Trump’s obscene Access Hollywood tapes, in which he admitted to sexual…

3 THINGS TO WATCH THIS WEEK FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 Work In Progress S1: M-NET at 10.30pm The season premiere of this uniquely human comedy follows Abby, a 45-year-old self-identified fat, queer dyke whose misfortune and despair unexpectedly lead her to a vibrantly transformative relationship. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 Cheeky Palate: 1Magic at 7pm Phat Joe invites celebrity guests to “his” lush house for a three-course meal, drinks and conversation. They spend the hour discussing topical issues, from news headlines to their careers, while acclaimed chef and author Lentswe Bhengu whips up their dinner. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25 I Still Believe: M-NET at 8.05 Based on real-life events, I Still Believe is an inspiringly touching love story about how the Christian music star Jeremy Camp handled a love loss by keeping the hope…

WORDS ON WEALTH Global equities, SA miners perform best MARTIN HESSE | martin.hesse@inl.co.za LOOKING at some popular global and local market indices for the 12 months to the end of the third quarter, you would never conclude that 2020 has probably been the most traumatic year for financial markets since 1929. Other indices, however, reflect the full extent of the pandemic-triggered crisis. The MSCI World Index, which constitutes about 1 600 stocks of companies throughout the world, was up 19.82% for the year in rand terms and up 10% in US dollars. The Nasdaq Composite Index, which represents US tech and industrial stocks, was up 40% in US dollars over the 12 months. The FTSE/JSE All Share Index was – surprise, surprise – up 2.01%. Not exactly hitting the lights…

The Brief HAVE A BASIC WILL DRAFTED FOR FREE NEXT WEEK NATIONAL Wills Week, an annual initiative of the Law Society of South Africa, takes place next week, from October 26 to 30. The Law Society warns that do-it-yourself wills are often not valid because the legal requirements have not been met, and recommends that you have your will drawn up by a qualified attorney. A number of law practices around the country are participating in Wills Week. They will draw up a basic will for you free. To find a participating attorney in your area, go to www.lssa.org.za/our-initiatives/advocacy/national-wills-week/ ‘RISKS IN PENSION SYSTEM NEED TO BE ADDRESSED’ IN A recent survey of the pension systems of 39 countries, South Africa scored better than Austria, Italy, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Mexico…

SOCCER Lampard confident about giving unpredictable Man United the Blues MANCHESTER United’s wildly unpredictable start to the season will have no bearing on Chelsea’s Premier League trip to Old Trafford today, according to Blues boss Frank Lampard. United lost 3-1 and 6-1 at home to Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur respectively but bounced back with an away win at Newcastle United last weekend and pulled off a notable win at Paris St Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday. Chelsea have not won in the league at Old Trafford for seven years and Lampard’s reign as manager began last season with a 4-0 hammering at United. They also lost 2-0 at home, although they did win the FA Cup semi-final between the two. “I think the league’s unpredictable, you can…

PSL FIXTURES TODAY : Bloemfontein Celtic v Golden Arrows, Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium, 3:30pm. Baroka FC v Maritzburg United, Peter Mokaba Stadium, 3:30pm. Kaizer Chiefs v Mamelodi Sundowns, FNB Stadium, 3:30pm. Cape Town City v Chippa United, Cape Town Stadium, 6pm. AmaZulu v Orlando Pirates, Jonsson Kings Park, 8:15pm. SuperSport United v Black Leopards, Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium, 8:15pm. TOMORROW: Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila v TS Galaxy, Thohoyandou Stadium, 3:30pm. Stellenbosch FC v Swallows FC, Danie Craven Stadium, 3:30pm.…

RUGBY Three critical battles for Bulls v Sharks ASHFAK MOHAMED REVENGE will be in the air when the Sharks run out at Loftus Versfeld for tonight’s Super Rugby Unlocked contest against the Bulls (7pm kick-off). The Durban outfit were played off the park by a rampant Bulls side in a warm-up match a few weeks ago, but having been the top side during the cancelled Super Rugby earlier this year, coach Sean Everitt and his team would want to stamp their authority on their fierce rivals when log points are up for grabs. There’s been a revolution in Pretoria following the arrival of new boss Jake White, who has asked his team to find some “rhythm” on attack and defence after a couple of error-strewn displays against Griquas and the…

WHITE PAPER TV licences for satellite subscribers? NORMAN CLOETE norman.cloete@inl.co.za NETFLIX and MultiChoice subscribers may soon have to pay for a TV licence if the government adopts new legislation to help the SABC with the collection of TV licence fees. A draft White Paper on Audio and Visual Content Services was released by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies last month and paves the way for the SABC to “delegate the collection of the payment of television licence fees to other persons”. Director at Media Monitoring Africa, William Bird, said MultiChoice has a footprint in 50% of households across South Africa and many of those subscribers do not have a valid TV licence. “MultiChoice definitely has the infrastructure. They can do it. As it stands, you could interpret it…

UNDER GUARD Agrizzi thrown to the wolves, say family SAMKELO MTSHALI samkelo.mtshali@inl.co.za TIMOTHY BERNARD ANA THE family of former Bosasa chief operations officer Angelo Agrizzi, who is accused of corruption, are upset about how he is being treated, claiming the state has thrown him to the wolves despite his testimony at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry which provided overwhelming evidence of corruption. Agrizzi’s lawyer, Daniel Witz, said yesterday that his client was under heavy security guard in the intensive care unit of a Joburg hospital after suffering a heart attack on Wednesday. “There’re about nine armed guards, including three stationed physically in his intensive care room, for whatever reason, we’re not certain why. “He’s also restrained to the bed by his legs. The man is sedated, he’s on a ventilator…

INTERFERENCE WARNING Mngoma trial postponed until next year GOITSEMANG TLHABYE goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za OUPA MOKOENA African News Agency (ANA) MAGISTRATE Thandi Theledi has warned Norma Mngoma, the wife of former finance minister Malusi Gigaba, to steer clear of interfering with state witnesses or she will risk losing her bail. Mngoma appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of malicious damage to property and crimen injuria. The State said it received instructions from the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) to proceed with the matter, and managed to provide her defence with the full disclosure. The State however requested a postponement pending the outcome of the motion Mngoma has launched in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, where she is challenging the validity of her arrest and the warrant for…

SA nominees on children’s author list MORE than 250 candidates are in the running for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. The list includes some of the world’s foremost creators of literature for children and young people, as well as reading promoters. South Africa is represented among the nominees by author and illustrator Niki Daly, author Kagiso Lesego Molope, and author Beverley Naidoo. The organisation Book Dash, and Gcina Mhlophe, the author, oral storyteller and promoter, have also been nominated. According to the judges, the nominees’ works contain wonderful adventures and everyday observations full of emotion and psychological insight, brilliant visual art and humorous masterpieces. The list also includes reading promotion activities which play a critical function for the future of children’s literature globally. Staff Reporter…

Presenter dropped from TV show, ads TV’s Expresso presenter, Katlego Maboe, has been suspended and prominent Outsurance TV adverts, in which he features, will not be aired. This follows a social media storm after allegations of abuse against his former girlfriend surfaced. Following this, a video has emerged in which he admits to being unfaithful. The Expresso Morning Show production company Cardova Productions, issued a statement in which it condemned acts of violence against women and children. It noted that while the matters were being investigated, and pending the outcome, Maboe would not be participating in the popular show. Maboe denied the allegations of abuse, and admitted that he and his partner were going through a painful separation. Staff Reporter…

EU ministers strike deal on climate law BRUSSELS: EU environment ministers struck a deal in Luxembourg yesterday to make the bloc’s 2050 net zero emissions target legally binding, but left a decision on a 2030 emissions-cutting target for leaders to discuss in December. The landmark climate change law will form the basis for Europe’s plan to slash greenhouse gas emissions, which will reshape all sectors. It will fix in law the EU target to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and define the rules for reviewing progress towards climate targets. None of the 27 member countries rejected the bill, although Bulgaria abstained. Reuters…

NIGERIA Ogu calls for boycott amid unrest ‘We want good governance’ NIGERIA midfielder John Ogu has called for a boycott of their coming soccer continental qualifier games to protest against police brutality amid continuing violence in the commercial capital Lagos. Nigerians have been demonstrating for weeks against a police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars), that rights groups had for years accused of extortion, harassment, torture and murders. The unit was disbanded on October 11 but the protests have persisted and rights group Amnesty International said soldiers and police killed at least 12 people in Lekki and Alausa. The army denied that soldiers were at the site of the shooting. Speaking to the BBC, Ogu said: “There are games coming up and if we boycott these games I’m…

CARPING POINT No appetite for the hypocrisy being dished up KEVIN RITCHIE @RitchKev THE Marquis of Magoebaskloof seemed to scald himself on his own social media pot on Wednesday for posting his appointment of a former journalist to his ministerial team. In typical Tito Mboweni style, the issue was done and dusted by Wednesday night – openly and unequivocally. Ranjeni Munusamy, explained the Finance Ministry spokesperson, had been appointed under the minister’s prerogative as stipulated in the ministerial handbook. So there. It’s the same kind of minimalist approach Mboweni takes to his cooking. His pilchards and samp won’t win any Michelin stars this side of the second coming, but it doesn’t mean he’s going to enjoy eating them any less – or not perpetually tweet the process. Much of what…

EDITORIAL SABC can’t have it both ways TEMPERS have been flared this week at the prospect of the SABC’s push to get the current TV licence regime amended, allowing it to impose TV licences for a far wider range of TV receivers and levy video-on-demand services like Netflix or satellite broadcasters like MultiChoice’s DStv. The reason is simple: not enough individuals are paying for their TV licences. But the truth is, much like Eskom’s power supply to many municipalities or Sanral’s loathed e-toll system, this is not a new phenomenon. There are several reasons for non-payment. The SABC, like so many other SOEs, has been appallingly mismanaged and abused as the plaything of the political elite. It has run at a loss and has had to be bailed out by…

A poignant, and fab, mosaic of the Beatles “THEY ARE awful. But I also think they’re fabulous. Let’s just go and say hello.” What if young record store manager Brian Epstein had not, in 1961, after a scrappy gig in a “sweaty basement”, popped over to say hello to the band? What if, as Craig Brown wonders in 150 Glimpses of the Beatles, Paul had done better in his exams, moved up a school year and never gotten to know George? Or Ringo had had more patience with US immigration forms and succeeded in moving to Houston? Or the engine fire on a 1965 flight from Minneapolis to Portland had ended in catastrophe, cutting the band off in their prime? We are haunted by the shadows of what didn’t happen.…

RANDS & SENSE Wills are vital in transferring wealth to the next generation ANGÉLIQUE VISSER IT IS a fact that most people fail to plan. One cannot help but wonder why people commit to a lifetime of creating wealth but do not take the time to draft a will to deal with their assets when they die. Wills play a vital role in transferring wealth from one generation to the next. Anyone who is 16 years or older and of sound mind can make a will. It is important that the person who drafts the document fully understands your personal situation, knows what kind of assets will be dealt with in terms of the will, and has the legal knowledge and experience to draft a will that meets your needs.…