Innholdsfortegnelse for Saturday, October 31, 2020 i Pretoria News Weekend

Williams is new Tshwane mayor SAKHILE NDLAZI JACQUES NAUDE African News Agency (ANA) HE IS the first mayor of the capital in the eight months since Stevens Mokgalapa resigned from the post in the wake of a sex scandal. Before the vote, the ANC’s regional chairperson Kgosi Maepa said it would not field a candidate to oppose Williams, and its members abstained from voting. Williams won 97 of the 125 votes cast, with 25 for the EFF’s MoAfrika Mabogwana, and one spoilt ballot. The voting took place under the eye of Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) officers during the first official council meeting since lockdown, with results announced by Speaker Katlego Mathebe. The election comes after a ruling by the Supreme Court of Appeal upholding a judgment by…

SECOND WAVE President expected to give Covid-19 update soon PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation again in the coming week, but an end to lockdown is unlikely. Speaking to the National Council of Provinces earlier in the week, he said he wanted to look at a report from health experts closely and would address the country on what needed to be done. He did, however, dismiss rumours that the country would be put back into lockdown level 3, saying it was “simply not true”. However, what can be expected is restrictions on the size of gatherings and the current tourist travel plan in place at least for another month. South Africa went to alert level 1 of lockdown at midnight on September 20. The resurgence in Covid-19…

UP retains 6th place in global ratings GOITSEMANG TLHABYE goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za OUPA MOKOENA African News Agency (ANA) UNIVERSITIES in the capital city continued to hold their own, according to the seventh edition of the Best Global Universities rankings survey. The rankings include nearly 1500 top universities across 86 countries, and are divided into five regional rankings of the best-performing universities in Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Latin America. In the 2021 edition, 10 new subject area rankings were included bringing the number of subject areas to 38. Universities were measured according to their work in the fields of biotechnology and applied microbiology, cell biology, chemical engineering, endocrinology and metabolism, energy and fuels. These subjects are in addition to gastroenterology and hepatology, infectious diseases, nanoscience, public, environmental and occupational health,…

Former Bosasa COO Agrizzi granted bail JUDGE Ratha Mokgoatlheng overturned a ruling by a lower court and granted former Bosasa boss Angelo Agrizzi bail in the form of a property (a villa in Italy) he owns, to the tune of about R16 million. Judgment took place in Agrizzi's absence as he is in the ICU wing of a Joburg hospital under police guard. According to his lawyer Daniel Witz, the State requested some form of surety to secure his client’s bail. “After negotiations, the value of the property in Italy was put up as a bail amount. Mr Agrizzi will give a guarantee that should he evade his trial or his bail revoked that the National Prosecuting Authority would inherit the property. As part of Agrizzi’s bail conditions, he has…

SPRING HAS SPRUNG SPRING may be a difficult season to fully enjoy, especially if you have allergies. But there’s one thing we can’t take away from spring – it has the best food. This season has the bestbountyof fruit, vegetables and herbs and it almost forces you to explore and try something new. And this is what we have in this sixth edition of FOOD: fresh and delicious recipes that are easy and celebrate spring produce. From home-made jams, cocktails and smoothies to salads, juices, sorbets and savoury dishes. If you plan to entertain, there are recipes that are light, greenandhealthy,which guestswilllove. Aftersix months of eating heavy (but delicious) food, you will enjoy this and your body will thank you. Until next time … Let’s Get Cooking! ■ http://bit.ly/IOLFood06…

Biden promises to reunite families WASHINGTON: US Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Thursday vowed to create a task force to reunite more than 500 children who were separated from their families at the US-Mexico border by the Trump administration and whose parents have not been located. Under Republican president Donald Trump thousands of children were separated from their parents at the border, mostly in 2017 and 2018, because their parents were being prosecuted for illegal entry or over concerns about their identities or criminal histories. Reuters…

NIGERIA Nation to push for WTO candidate NIGERIA will lobby for its candidate to head the World Trade Organization (WTO), the country’s foreign ministry said in reaction to her last-minute rejection by the US that threw the regulator’s leadership selection process into confusion. The US on Wednesday spurned Nigerian former finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala hours after a high-powered WTO panel recommended her to lead the global trade watchdog, teeing her up to become its first African and first woman head. “Nigeria will continue to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure that the lofty aspiration of her candidate to lead the World Trade Organization is realised,” the country’s foreign ministry said on Thursday evening. The ministry said the WTO’s 164 member states were expected to adopt Okonjo-Iweala as the director-general, but the…

TELEVISION Epic record deal for the winner of ‘Idols SA’ ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER THE winner of Idols South Africa season 16 will be signed to Kalawa Jazmee Records. The label will handle the artistic development, management and marketing. The winner will also access a wide network of Kalawa artists and alumni. Launched in the early ’90s as an independent music label, Kalawa Jazmee Records is now celebrated for being a hit factory, as well as a cradle for talent. It has discovered, produced and managed some of Mzansi’s finest – the likes of Boom Shaka, Bongo Maffin, Mafikizolo, Thebe, Trompies, Busiswa, Zonke, Candy Tsamandebele, Professor and Tamara Dey. For decades, the label has been giving generations of South Africans some of the best soundtracks of the time. Its contribution to the…

YOUR STARS Barbara Kiselev If today is your birthday: This is a year for you, and what you always wanted. Somehow that career is delivering on time. And you’re getting recognised. So take the time for yourself, it’s about applying yourself, and to be all you can be. No doubt. Aries (21 March-20 April) You value your independence, so maybe time to assert it. This week use your natural confidence to bring about positive change in your life. It’s up to you, so do the work, you will get the results. And come out on top. Taurus (21 April-21 May) Hello, hello it’s a brand new world. So gear up, and face those challenges. You put it off, but now you can win, be all that you can be. So…

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 WHERE TO INVEST A R2M INHERITANCE? I’m expecting an inheritance of about R2 million in the coming months. Should I put most of it into my retirement or property portfolio, or should I split it among other investments? I want to make the most of this gift, but to be safe, given the current uncertainty. Name withheld Shreekanth Sing, a financial adviser from PSG Wealth Northcliff, responds: There are a few factors to consider. Allowing this gift to work for you and grow is commendable. If you have any debt, you may want to settle it first. The freedom that comes with being debt-free can’t be underestimated. Any…

RUGBY Simelane wreaks havoc as Lions take Griquas apart despite losing their way in second half MORGAN BOLTON EMIRATES LIONS … (28) 61 Tries: Skosan (3), D Kriel, Pienaar, Pelser, Visagie, Simelane, Nothnagel; Conversions: Jantjies (8) GRIQUAS … (3) 31 Tries: Burger, Luus, Verity-Amm, De Beer; Conversion: Whitehead (4), Penalty: Whitehead IF the Emirates Lions were suffering any symptoms due to their Covid-19 lockdown experience this past week, then lethargy was not one of them. The Joburgers came out guns blazing in their fourth round SuperRugby Unlocked encounter against the Griquas on last night at Emirates Airline Park, dominating the first half with their power up front and pace in the backline. As expected the Lions’ scrum bludgeoned the Griquas - nevermind that the Kimberley-based side played 10 minutes with…

TV GUIDE SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER  Boxing: Heavyweight Contest: Oleksandr Usyk v Dereck Chisora, 8pm, VR1, ACT (8.45pm) Cricket: Indian Premier League T20: Delhi Capitals v Mumbai Indians, 11.50am, CRI; Royal Challengers Bangalore v Sunrisers Hyderabad, 3.50pm, CRI; Women’s Big Bash League: Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers, 3.10am, CRI; Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes, 6.35pm, CRI; Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Stars, 10am, VR2 Cycling: La Vuelta a Espana, Stage 11: Villaviciosa-Alto de La Farrapona (170.2km), 12.10pm, VR1 Golf: European Tour: Cyprus Open, Day 3, 12 noon, GOL; PGA Tour: Bermuda Championship, Day 3, 6pm, GOL Hockey: FIH Pro League, Women: Belgium v Great Britain, 3pm, VR2; FIH Pro League, Men: Belgium v Great Britain, 5.30pm, VR2 Motorsport: Formula 1: Welcome to the Weekend, Imola, 10.30am, MSP; Formula1: Emilia Romagna Grand Prix,…

RELIEF Court rejects urgent bid to extend special grant top-up ZELDA VENTER zelda.venter@inl.co.za ABOUT 7 million beneficiaries of the special Covid-19 caregiver grant will from next week receive R500 less than they have been during lockdown. Gauteng High Court judge Nana Makhubele struck the application by the Black Sash Trust to continue with the payments while Covid-19 is still with us off the roll as it did not meet with directives relating to urgency. The urgent application was brought by the Black Sash Trust assisted by the Centre for Applied Legal Studies on the eve of the expiry of the special grant. Counsel for the government, in particular the Minister of Finance, had called for the matter to be struck from the roll as it was not deemed urgent. Acting…

COURT Malema defends using white advocate in case JULIUS Malema has defended using a white advocate in the case in which he and MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi are accused of assaulting a policeman. Outside court on Thursday, Malema told supporters there was nothing wrong with using a white lawyer and slammed those who had criticised him for using Laurence Hodes SC. The trial in which Lieutenant-Colonel Johannes Venter of the Presidential Protection Services claims he was assaulted when he prevented the vehicle in which Malema and Ndlozi were travelling from entering the cemetery where Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was being laid to rest in 2018, has been postponed to next year. Malema told supporters Hodes was on a retainer, and he was using white lawyers because they had won cases for him in…

Miss SA shows why she’s a winner THE new Miss South Africa, Shudufhadzo Musida, believes in daily affirmations and can sing. This emerged when the 24-year-old Wits post-graduate student from Limpopo, who lifted the crown last Saturday, was interviewed on SABC 3’s Afternoon Express show. She was answering a question from a listener who asked if she believes in affirmations. “I do. I do," said Musida. “Actually, the morning of the finals, I was listening to a gospel song by Marvin Sapp called Keep It Movin’.” She then starts singing a few verses, which leaves host Palesa Tembe and the rest of the crew applauding. She said her daily affirmation includes a chorus line “I believe there is a winner in me”. “I listened to that song throughout. And that’s…

LAID BACK Little succour when the heavy weather looms JOUBERT MALHERBE CLIMATIC conditions have provided the inspiration for plenty of rock music that I’ve listened to over the years. Never mind the futuristic, synthbased output from a band like Joe Zawinul’s Weather Report. There’s also “listen to the falling rain/listen to it fall”, by José Feliciano and, of course, those two by the Creedence lads, Have You Ever Seen The Rain? (much loved at cricket) and the far better Who’ll Stop The Rain?. I also regularly recall the lovely song by Peter Gabriel, Here Comes The Flood, when I hear the foreboding sound of a storm building up, usually to the south. And when it hits, it’s a case of “thunderbolt and lightning/ very very frightening…”. Well, the above scenario…

Worst decline in tourism since 2009 INTERNATIONAL tourist arrivals dropped by 70% during the first eight months of the year because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the World Tourism Organization (WTO). Initially, it was the northern hemisphere's peak summer season that was affected by travel restrictions, with tourist arrivals down by 81% in July and 79% in August, the UN body said. The unprecedented decline in arrivals up to August led to a loss in revenues of $730 billion (about R11.8 trillion) – more than eight times the drop recorded following the 2009 economic crisis. "This unprecedented decline is having dramatic social and economic consequences, and puts millions of jobs and businesses at risk," WTO head Zurab Pololikashvili said. Europe had 68% fewer international arrivals and Africa and the…

EMPOWERMENT Feminist TV series tackles GBV, patriarchy MPILETSO MOTUMI mpiletso.motumi@inl.co.za FOR the next eight Sundays, viewers can tune into a unique South African talk show that will focus on women empowerment. It’s A Feminist Thing, hosted by Phinah Kodisang, broadcaster Kgomotso Matsunyane as well as activists Thando Gumede and Nyiko Shikwambane, will tackle old and deeply-rooted systems of power that cut across custom, class, culture, politics and religion. The show, presented by Soul City Institute (SCI), explores violence against women through an intergenerational perspective and engages with "patriarchy" not as theory, but as lived reality. It also explores relationships between women, gives real expression to the ways that women love, support and empower each other, and shows patriarchy’s divisive and destructive power. The SCI has partnered with SABC Education and…

Tanzania’s president likely to win election DODOMA: Tanzania’s president is poised to be declared the overwhelming winner of Wednesday’s election despite widespread allegations of fraud, while the ruling party appears to have secured the two-thirds majority in parliament required to change the constitution. Populist President John Magufuli has 83% of votes with 60% of ballots counted, the electoral commission said yesterday. The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party has won 194 parliament seats, while opposition parties have won just two. That means upsets even in opposition strongholds, with the leaders of the two main opposition parties losing their seats. AP…

The People First Jerusalem-born American gets passport JERUSALEM: Yesterday, the US issued a passport for the first time to a Jerusalem-born American with “Israel” listed as the place of birth instead of the city. The US ambassador to Israel presented the document to Menachem Zivotofsky, 18, after a change of policy by US president Donald Trump that is likely to please pro-Israel supporters before next week’s election, but that Palestinians condemned as a violation of international law. | Reuters Anti-masker urges caution after getting virus HELENA: A Montana resident who called the Covid-19 pandemic a “sham-demic” and mocked mask-wearers said he is now taking the pandemic seriously after contracting the virus. Gilbert Herrera of Butte, pictured, and his partner Gina Sandon spoke about their experience fighting the respiratory virus, which…

DEMONSTRATIONS Muslims rise in protest over cartoons THOUSANDS of Muslims, from Pakistan to Lebanon to the Palestinian territories, poured out of prayer services to join anti-France protests yesterday, as French President Emmanuel Macron’s vow to protect the right to caricature the Prophet Muhammad continues to roil the Muslim world. Demonstrations in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad turned violent as 2000 people who tried to march towards the French Embassy were pushed back by police firing tear gas and beating protesters with batons. In Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore, thousands of worshippers celebrating the Mawlid, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, took to the streets, chanting anti-France slogans, raising banners and clogging major roads en route to a Sufi shrine. In Multan, a city in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, thousands more burned an…

Beware of the altering states of ignorance LINDSAY SLOGROVE lindsay.slogrove@inl.co.za DAMN, here’s something else to stress out about. How do you know you really know you know and aren’t just unaware that you don’t know? Kinda throws the brain a little, no? Doing some regular scientific research in the home office, I discovered there’s a thing called the Dunning-Kruger effect. It may not be new to the boffins out there, but it was new to me and it cracked open a world of angst. The Dunning-Kruger effect, according to psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger, who really “discovered” it, is a cognitive bias in which people with low ability or knowledge at a task overestimate their ability. “It is related to the cognitive bias of illusory superiority and comes from…

3 THINGS TO WATCH THIS WEEK Tuesday, November 3 Ice Road Rescue S5: National Geographic at 7pm The heroes face another harsh winter and new challenges. To survive, they must take on partnerships and explore new territories. But it’s not easy when you’re used to being the boss and it’s time for the next generation to take on the battle. Monday, November 1 Deep State S2: Fox Africa at 8.45pm Three US Special Forces are killed in an ambush in Mali. The US is supposedly there to support the Malians in their fight against terrorism. However, its activity is underpinned by the deep state and forms part of a cover for the new gold rush – the goal to beat China in the race for African natural resources. Tuesday, November…

RANDS & SENSE 10 ways to run life’s financial race successfully JOHN MANYIKE SOME PEOPLE view life as a competition in which you have to be seen to be doing better than those around you. To these people, showing that you are leading the race means spending money to buy things you don’t want or need to impress people you don’t like with money you don’t have. The accurate measure of running life’s race is different. It is about doing the best you can and completing the race with enough money to sustain yourself through retirement and also leave a legacy. Ultimately, the most important competitor in the financial race is the individual runner. If you ignore the pressure to impress others, the focus becomes improving yourself and your future…

Solskjaer aims for century celebration against Arsenal MANCHESTER United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said yesterday he hoped to celebrate his 100th game in charge of the club with a victory, but is well aware of the threat posed by old rivals Arsenal. Solskjaer faced questions about his position following this month’s 6-1 Premier League defeat by Tottenham Hotspur but his team have since won three of their last four games in domestic and European competition. “Arsenal is always going to be difficult, because they’re a very good team with a good manager who has got some great ideas on how football should be played and I’m looking forward to it,” Solskjaer told reporters ahead of tomorrow’s game. “Surprised it’s 100 games, it’s gone really quickly even though a lot has…

SUPER RUGBY UNLOCKED Key flashpoints that could decide winner or loser ASHFAK MOHAMED RYAN WILKISKY BackpagePix BackpagePix THE Bulls are still on Cloud Nine after thumping the Sharks last week, but the Stormers are also in buoyant mood after a last-gasp win over the Pumas. So, who will rule the roost in tonight’s Super Rugby Unlocked showdown at Loftus Versfeld (7pm kickoff)? We took a closer look at three flashpoints that could decide the outcome… Scrum battle One of the highlights of the match will be the one-on-one battle between Springboks Trevor Nyakane and Steven Kitshoff at scrum-time. Nyakane was pushing hard for Frans Malherbe’s Springbok No 3 jersey in 2019, but things didn’t go his way – and then he got injured in the opening World Cup game against…

SOWETO DERBY Derby legends stand behind their team ‘If playing against Pirates doesn’t motivate you, something is wrong’ MIHLALI BALEKA ITUMELENG ENGLISH African News Agency (ANA) THE Soweto derby is about who wants it more. That has often become the cliché from the current crop and past Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs players whenever the biggest sporting event in South Africa approaches. But as Daine Klate reminisces how Pirates were at the pinnacle for two successive seasons – during the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 campaigns – winning a back-to-back treble, he gives a unique description of what it took for the Buccaneers to reign supreme over their nemesis. “At Pirates, we used to have a good run and we ended up losing the derby. And vice versa. So, it’s always been…

MOST VIEWED IOL.CO.ZA Covid-19’s double strike as Ahmad joins Infantino on sidelines CONFEDERATION of African Football (CAF) president Ahmad Ahmad has become the latest senior global football figure to test positive for Covid-19 days after his FIFA counterpart Gianni Infantino. “This morning I’ve been declared positive to Covid-19,” Ahmad said in a brief statement. “I have mild symptoms, but I’m well. I am now in isolation for 14 days at least.” Infantino made a similar revelation on Tuesday and is self-isolating for 10 days, FIFA has confirmed. Malagasy-born Ahmad, 60, is hoping to retain his position as CAF president at their elective congress in March. His first tenure, however, has been marked by corruption allegations and an official complaint to FIFA’s ethics committee over his conduct. He denies any wrongdoing. |…

GLOBAL: ADDRESSING WASTE AND FOOD SECURITY Nothing wrong with brown bananas NORMAN CLOETE norman.cloete@inl.co.za AN estimated 170 million tons of food produced globally ends up as waste, according to to the World Wildlife Fund. In South Africa, this figure stands at 10 million tons, which is about a third of food produced annually in the country, at an estimated value of R61.5 billion. By cutting down on food waste, South Africa will not only decrease carbon emissions but significantly turn around the food insecurity felt by many. According to head of food sciences at Stellenbosch University, Professor Gunnar Siggi, food waste is directly linked to the consumer’s demand for fresh produce and the fact that fresh produce, especially, is often not available in “loose format”. “We are slowly…

SCANDAL Disgraced former mayor Mokgalapa quits DA JONISAYI MAROMO jonisayi.maromo@africannewsagency.com DISGRACED former City of Tshwane mayor Stevens Mokgalapa, who resigned from the capital city’s top post earlier this year following a sex scandal, has now resigned from his party, the DA. DA Gauteng provincial chairperson Mike Moriarty said the DA wished Mokgalapa success in his future endeavours, “whatever they may be”. “The Democratic Alliance notes the resignation of former mayor and City of Tshwane councillor Stevens Mokgalapa. We thank Mr Mokgalapa for his service and wish him well with his future endeavours, whatever they may be,”said Moriarty. “The DA will continue its pursuit of freedom, fairness and opportunity for the people of Tshwane and South Africa.” In February, the DA summoned Mokgalapa to a disciplinary hearing to explain statements he…

Bunny Chow makes world’s top food list SOUTH Africa’s Bunny Chow has made it on to a list of the world’s most delicious foods. Recently, CNN Travel scoured the planet for what they think are 50 of the most delicious foods created. In first place was Massaman curry, which originates from Thailand. This dish is spicy, coconut-flavoured, sweet and savoury. In second place is Neapolitan pizza, which originates from Italy, and is described as best made simply using high-grade wheat flour for the hand-rolled dough, three types of fresh tomatoes, and the strict use of a wood-fired oven. Third place was chocolate from Mexico, where the humble cacao bean is a bona fide culinary wonder. South Africa also made it on to the list, with the bunny chow sitting at…

Kolisi pitches in to help KARISHMA DIPA karishma.dipa@inl.co.za SOUTH Africa’s golden boy Siya Kolisi is using a new commercial venture to help youngsters from an impoverished community like the one he grew up in. The Stormers and Bok captain announced a five-year partnership with lifestyle brand Freedom Of Movement (FOM), negotiated through Roc Nation Sports. Kolisi will play a hands-on role. “It is a partnership I am passionate about, and it was important that I wasn’t just seen as a face but a voice when it came to decision-making.” This includes not only designing leather products such as footwear and travel bags but having a say on social responsibility initiatives. With FOM, he has decided that the proceeds from the Kolisi Vellies partnership will be donated to the…

Nod for euthanasia in polls but not dagga WELLINGTON: New Zealanders voted to legalise euthanasia in a binding referendum, but preliminary results released yesterday showed they likely would not legalise recreational marijuana use. With about 83% of votes counted, New Zealanders emphatically endorsed the euthanasia measure with 65% voting in favour and 34% voting against. The “No” vote on marijuana was much closer, with 53% voting against legalising the drug for recreational use and 46% voting in favour. That left open a slight chance the measure could still pass once all special votes were counted next week, although it would require a huge swing. The two referendums represented significant potential changes to New Zealand’s social fabric, although the campaigns for each ended up getting overshadowed somewhat by the coronavirus pandemic…

TURKEY Deaths and flooding as earthquake hits Aegean region AT LEAST six people were killed in Turkey after a strong earthquake struck the Aegean Sea yesterday, bringing buildings crashing down and setting off tidal waves which slammed into coastal areas and nearby Greek islands. People ran into streets in panic in the coastal city of Izmir, witnesses said, after the 7.0 magnitude quake struck before midday. Some neighbourhoods were deluged with surging seawater which swept a flood of debris inland and left fish stranded as it receded. The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency said at least six people died, one due to drowning, while 202 people were injured. There were reports of collapsed buildings with people stuck in the rubble in some of districts of Izmir, one of Turkey’s main…

UNITED STATES Some fun with death and fear THE setting: a rolling patch of Pennsylvania farmland, about 24km from the town where Night of the Living Dead was filmed. The moment: Halloween season 2020, a moonlit Friday night. She strides up to the hayride and beckons you to the dimly lit tent behind her. Her eyes are hollow. “Blood” streaks her nurse’s uniform. Across her forehead is a deep, oozing wound. On the truck, a teenage girl slices through the darkness: “I TOLD you there’d be a COVID section.” This is Cheeseman Fright Farm, one of those Halloween attractions that emerge from the shadows in the US. On this night, it is the place to be: By 8.45pm, a line 400-strong – some wearing masks, some not – waits, at…

CARPING POINT Good story in the making as law takes action KEVIN RITCHIE @RitchKev UNCLE Cyril had no sooner announced this week that he’d be chatting to us next week than the conspiracy theorists immediately went into overdrive hinting that we were going back into a hard lockdown. Despite him actually saying that this wasn’t the case at all. He can’t win. Shortly afterwards, he placed himself in voluntary quarantine – as the protocols require – for coming into contact with someone who had Covid-19. It’s a world away from Agent Orange in the White House who became his own superspreader, taking down almost his entire military leadership and his cabinet in one fell swoop. There’s a lot for President Cyril Ramaphosa to speak about when he addresses the nation…

EDITORIAL Can the DA provide real hope? AS DA members converge virtually for the party’s elective congress, the dominant slogan will be: “Real hope, real change. Now!” That is the theme for the congress, starting today, in which a new leader will be elected. While the favourite and interim leader, the more experienced John Steenhuisen, eschewed direct public debates with his younger and more marketable rival, the two contenders did get members and the general public debating as to who should take over the hot seat left vacant by Mmusi Maimane. The age, gender and ethnic group factors featured strongly in some of the debates in newspapers, on social media, talk radio and so on. But at this crisis juncture for the party and South Africa, what will be key…

Actor gives green light to livin’ life to the fullest MATTHEW McConaughey’s memoir, Greenlights, has a way of convincing you that being Matthew McConaughey is just about the easiest thing in the world. Look at his filmography, and you’ll see an actor who gutted his way to critical and commercial success: he started with cameos and low-budget indies in the 1990s, laboured in the rom-com salt mines in the early aughts, then pivoted to Oscar bait and prestige TV, finally reaching the mountaintop with a best actor Academy Award for Dallas Buyers Club in 2014. That’s an achievement. But the man who made a meme out of Nietzsche’s notion that “time is a flat circle” isn’t going to tell a simple story about hard work and steady forward progress. By…

REACTION ‘Bitter pill for taxpayers to swallow’ R26 billion for SAA – at the expense of service delivery – and possible tax increases leave analysts unimpressed by Mboweni’s MTBPS GEORGINA CROUTH georgina.crouth@inl.co.za PHANDO JIKELO African News Agency (ANA) “BUILDING castles in the sky.” “Rearranging the deck chairs of the Titanic.” “Sacrificing our future, health and safety to salvage the unsalvageable.” Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) went down like a lead balloon with most analysts on Wednesday, as he warned that, while the piggy bank was empty, saving SAA, to the tune of R26 billion (a R10.5bn bailout for the business rescue process and R16bn in February for guarantees and interest payments) was in South Africa’s best interests. Most of that money is derived from government budgets…

Williams pulls brakes on Perez speculation WILLIAMS confirmed yesterday that Britain’s George Russell and Canadian Nicholas Latifi will continue to race for them next year, ending speculation linking the Formula One team to Mexican Sergio Perez. Perez is leaving Racing Point at the end of the season and Williams were seen as a possible destination for the experienced driver, with Russell’s position called into question. Acting team principal Simon Roberts had swerved questions about the driver line-up in Portugal last week, fuelling further speculation. “I probably caused a bit of confusion last week, I’m sorry about that,” he told reporters ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Italy’s Imola circuit. “We didn’t really want to comment on the driver position. “Nothing’s changed and this is our driver line-up for…