Innholdsfortegnelse for Saturday, November 21, 2020 i Pretoria News Weekend

Union calls for SABC blackout SIYABONGA MKHWANAZI siyabonga.mkhwanazi@inl.co.za THE Communication Workers Union has called for a total blackout on the SABC from today as the fight over retrenchments continues. The SABC board announced yesterday it has suspended the retrenchment process for seven days. But, CWU general-secretary Aubrey Tshabalala said there should be a blackout from today. SABC CEO Madoda Mxakwe said they would be meeting with the board after receiving a memorandum from staff. Hundreds of SABC workers protested outside the headquarters of the company in Joburg, and other parts of the country. During the past week, staff have held lunchtime pickets, saying management should take responsibility for the financial troubles at the SABC, not staff. In a video which has been widely viewed, Chriselda Lewis can be seen in…

COMMISSION INTO ALLEGATIONS OF STATE CAPTURE Zondo mulls next step on Zuma SAMKELO MTSHALI ITUMELENG ENGLISH African News Agency (ANA) DEPUTY Chief Justice Raymond Zondo must decide what his next move is after former president Jacob Zuma walked out of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of State Capture. Zuma failed to return from the tea break on Thursday after hearing that Zondo dismissed his application for the judge to recuse himself from the commission because of alleged bias against Zuma. Legal experts say Zuma’s walkout, in defiance of a summons for him to testify, constitutes a criminal offence, and Zondo could lay a charge against him and order a warrant for his arrest. But, Zuma’s legal team denied he was in breach of the commission, with…

SOME STUDENTS MAY DO BETTER DUE TO NEW TEACHING AND LEARNING METHODS Tuks weathers Covid-19 storm BLENDED learning saved the day and will continue to be used in the new academic year University of Pretoria (UP) vice-chancellor Professor Tawana Kupe believes the university has done well to cope with the impact of Covid-19 this year and that some students should return better results due to new teaching and learning methods. He said the hybrid and blended teaching and learning approach which predated the pandemic and lockdown helped the university weather the storm, and would be continued in the new academic year, with some courses having contact classes, some online classes and some with a mixture of both. Kupe was speaking at the National Press Club networking event hosted…

Vetkoek Maleis owner points a firearm at labour inspectors LIAM NGOBENI liam.ngobeni@inl.co.za THE owner of a Vetkoek Maleis franchise in Centurion is in hot water after a case of pointing a firearm was opened against him. The owner of the Hennopspark outlet allegedly pointed a gun at two labour inspectors in an action which has been condemned by Gauteng Chief Inspector Michael Msiza. “We condemn in the strongest terms, the action of a subject on an inspection pulling out a gun. Without obvious provocation, the owner became angry when inspectors requested email and contact details so that they could make an appointment to inspect his company. Msiza said the man shouted and slammed the door before going to the back of the shop and coming out with a gun that…

Grim tidings for those in search of redemption JOUBERT MALHERBE LAID BACK I’VE ALWAYS had a liking for copper bracelets and I have been sporting them for various decades now; sometimes two or three on each wrist. Whenever I attend a fair or a fete, I return with at least one new such bangle. Our family visits to the KZN South Coast have never been complete without a day trip to Durban during which I’d acquire a bangle or two and other hippie-ish accoutrements, like beads. I’ve not worn beads now for some years, but I still like seeing them. Many people have enquired whether the copper bracelets that I wear have medicinal properties. I guess they do; they’re reputed to “draw out” undesirable substances, like excess acid, which tend…

Tension at Brackenfell as matrics write exam TENSIONS continued outside the Brackenfell High School in the Western Cape yesterday morning, although matrics were able to write their physics exam undisturbed. The EFF made good on its promise to descend on the area en masse, as the protest against alleged racism continued in the light of a private matric event which black matrics say they were excluded from. Police blocked access to the school at three points, hoping to deter the protesters. Later, they fired tear gas and stun grenades and used water cannon to disperse the crowd. They would only allow a group of 100 to approach to hand over a memorandum. A previous protest by the EFF ended in a violent clash with residents who attacked party members. The…

Taiwan to build new submarine f leet TAIPEI: Taiwan will start building the first of eight new domestically-developed submarines next week, it said yesterday. The long-mooted project will strengthen the island’s defences in the face of China’s rapidly modernising military and activities in the Taiwan Strait. Democratically-run Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has four submarines, two dating to WWII, and is no match for China’s fleet, which includes vessels able to launch nuclear weapons. The first of the submarines is expected to enter service in late 2024. | Reuters…

The PeopleLara Trump eyeing 2022 senatorial bid NEW YORK: Lara Trump, US President Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, worked behind the scenes as a producer for Inside Edition before joining her father-in-law’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns. Lara, 38, wife of the US president’s middle son, Eric Trump, has recently been telling associates that she is considering running for a US Senate seat in her home state of North Carolina, the New York Times reported on Thursday, citing “three allies”. She could likely be seeking to fill an expected vacancy that will left by Republican Senator Richard Burr in 2022. Following Trump’s 2016 election win, Lara became the on-air spokesperson for Real News Update for Trump Productions. | Sputnik Russian jailed for bid to sell defence secrets MOSCOW: A former employee of the…

UNITED KINGDOM Co-worker defends ‘kind’ UK minister COLLEAGUES defended British interior minister Priti Patel yesterday after the BBC and other media reported that an inquiry looking into claims of bullying against her concluded that she had broken ministerial rules. Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked officials in March to carry out the inquiry to “establish the facts” after allegations were raised against Patel, one of the most senior ministers inthe government. That followed the resignation of Philip Rutnam, the top official in the interior ministry, who alleged Patel had been guilty of bullying staff. Citing unnamed sources, the BBC, other broadcasters and UK newspapers said a draft report found Patel had broken the ministerial code – stating that ministers should treat officials with respect – and that there was evidence of…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA WHO CALLS THE SHOTS? Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supperFRANCIS BACONPhilosopher, statesman and essayist Hailed as a pandemic game-changer, the new Covid-19 vaccine offered countries that had pre-ordered doses an escape from a cycle of lockdowns and new waves of sickness and death. But while richer nations plan their vaccination programmes, experts warn poorer and developing countries face hurdles that could deny billions proven protection. See https://bit.ly/VaccineBattle…

INTERVIEW A beautifully crafted love story set in a different era DEBASHINE THANGEVELO SOUTH African film-makers don’t often attempt period movies. So when the press release went out that Toorbos was hitting the big screen, it got noticed. Aside from the period that the story is set in, there was a fair amount of curiosity around René van Rooyen’s adaptation of Dalene Matthee’s top-selling 2003 novel. Set in the 1930s, the story follows Karoliena Kapp, played by Elani Dekker. With South Africa’s Knysna forest as the backdrop, our female forest dweller protagonist finds herself at a crossroads after meeting the man of her dreams. Her inner conflict leads her on an unforgettable adventure. Toorbos is Dekker’s first period movie. She already has Jou Romeo (2016), Vaselinetjie (2017), Liewe Lisa (2019)…

YOUR STARS Barbara Kiselev If today is your birthday: An interesting year ahead, where you can be all that you can be. So don’t slow down, a bit of work will get you where you were going. It’s all about feeling right and doing right. So let go and enjoy the ride. Aries (21 March-20 April) No time to waste! Gotta get going this week. A week of activity, busy, busy, busy, but that’s the way you like it. So keep going, keep the pressure on, and you can find yourself getting there. Just a bit of work, that’s all. Taurus (21 April-21 May) The good news this week is your career. You are reaching new heights, getting the recognition you deserve. So pay attention to what’s happening around you…

The power of online learning A RECENT survey among South Africans showed that during the lockdown many of them had upped their skills by doing an online course. In the 4th-quarter 2020 issue of Personal Finance magazine, we guide you through the fast-expanding world of free and paid-for online education. Also in this issue: u How the pandemic has irrevocably changed the property market. u An analysis of the business interruption saga. u Investing in commodities. Personal Finance magazine is the only publication in South Africa dedicated to giving you all the information you need to manage your money wisely and grow your wealth. Don’t miss the new digital issue (which you can download), available for R24.99 at https://digital360.africa/category/personal-finance/ or take out an annual subscription (four issues) for R90.…

ALL ABOUT TRUSTS Don’t assume a trustee has the board’s authority to act PHIA VAN DER SPUY OUTSIDE parties that deal with a trust often assume the trustees have both the authority and capacity to enter into transactions binding the trust. If trustees have not ensured that these requirements are met, to what extent can these outside parties be deemed to have known? In the instance of companies and close corporations, the courts have adopted a principle called the Turquand Rule, which provides that a contracting party, dealing in good faith, can assume that actions have been properly and duly performed and the required approvals were obtained, subject, however, to the requirement those actions have to be within the company’s constitution. Section 20(7) of the Companies Act provides that a…

TODAY’S TV GUIDE SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER Cricket: Women’s Big Bash League: Hobart Hurricanes v Perth Scorchers, 6.35am, CRI; Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Renegades, 10am, CRI Golf: Sunshine Tour: Joburg Open, Day 3, 12 noon, GOL; LPGA Tour: Pelican Women’s Championship presented by DEX Imaging & Konica Minolta, Day 3, 8pm, VR1, GOL Motorsport:MotoGP: Grand Prix of Portugal, Qualifying, 3.30pm, MSP Rugby Mitre 10 Cup: Premiership Semi-final 1: Auckland v Waikato, 3am, RUG; Championship Semi-final 2: Hawke’s Bay v Taranaki, 5.30am, RUG, GSD; Vodacom Rugby Tri-Nations: Argentina v Australia, 10.35am, RUG; Autumn Nations Cup: Italy v Fiji, 2.35pm, ACT; England v Ireland, 4.50pm, ACT; Wales v Georgia, 7.05pm, ACT; Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked: Toyota Cheetahs v Tafel Lager Griquas, 4.15pm, RUG; Cell C Sharks v DHL Stormers, 6.30pm, RUG; Gallagher Premiership:…

SOCCER Safa chief believes Bafana need all their tried and tested players for Afcon qualifiers MIHLALI BALEKA SOUTH African Football Association president Danny Jordaan cut a cautious figure ahead of the last round of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, suggesting Bafana Bafana might need seasoned-campaigners to defeat Sudan away. The South Africans are eyeing their successive qualification for the continental showpiece as they are second in Group C with nine points – the same number of points as leaders Ghana. But should they bag three points in the last two matches they’ll all but book their spot in the finals in 2022. The route to get there is, however, a tricky one. Bafana will host the highest ranked side in the group Ghana, who defeated them away, at home…

Controversial symbols may go ◆Louis Botha (1862 – 1919) was the first prime minister of the Union of South Africa (1910 – 19). ◆The son of a Voortrekker, he became politically active and held a number of posts before he was elected to the Volksraad (parliament) in 1897. ◆There he sided with the moderates against president Paul Kruger’s policy toward the Uitlanders (non-Boer, mostly English, settlers). ◆During the South African War in 1899, Botha rose rapidly to command the southern Boer force which besieged Ladysmith, and captured an armoured train with Winston Churchill among the prisoners. ◆After the war, Botha returned to politics and helped form a new party in the Transvaal, Het Volk (“The People”). When Het Volk won the Transvaal elections of February 1907, Botha became prime minister.…

More weekend stormy weather AFTER servere thunderstorms yesterday, further rain can be expected for the rest of the weekend. Traffic was severely disrupted on all routes leading in and out of the city yesterday afternoon as the rain pelted down and visibility was poor. The weather service has issued warnings of heavy rain and strong winds today with the chance of flooding in low-lying areas. Temperatures will drop today with more rain forecast for the morning and afternoon, and further thunder and lightning late night, with rain on tomorrow afternoon. The sun should come out on Monday although further storms are expected during the week. | STAFF REPORTER…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA TREVOR, MAN OF THE YEAR You have two choices, two paths to take as a comedian. You can tackle the difficult subjects and be harsh about it, be brash, be abrasive. But adding hatred to racism is not going to help everybody. So I like to have fun around it.TREVOR NOAH SOUTH Africa stand up, your golden boy, Trevor Noah, is presenting as the final GQ Men Of The Year cover star. In an interview with Wesley Lowrey, he spoke about racism and how hard it is hard to explain in America. Go to: www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/style-beauty/fashion…

Media forum focus on news in digital era REPRESENTATIVES from media organisations across the continent joined academics and government officials for this week’s China-Africa Media Cooperation Forum. The one-day event was co-hosted by the Chinese embassy in Kenya and the Media Council of Kenya, under the theme “China-Africa Media Cooperation in the Digital Era”. Zhou Pingjian, China’s ambassador to Kenya, said the Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterised by the digital technologies among others, had ushered in a new era for both China and Africa. He advocated for objective and scientific media coverage that would enhance mutual understanding and friendship between China and Africa, and the promotion of mutual learning between journalists of different countries through organisations of journalists. Maureen Mbaka, of the Kenyan Ministry of Information and Communication Technology said the…

CREATED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN NPOS AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES Coronavirus comic book to educate youngsters KARISHMA DIPA karishma.dipa@inl.co.za CHILDREN might not have been the face of the global health crisis and have largely been spared from the direct health effects of Covid-19. But experts across the globe have continuously warned that the pandemic had profound effects on their well-being as some witnessed loved ones getting sick or even experienced the death of a friend or family member. For the first time in their young lives, they also experienced isolation, forced to be away from their schools, extra curricular activities and friends. In this unprecedented time, youngsters also had to try to comprehend the importance of measures to prevent themselves and their loved ones from contracting the coronavirus. To…

Sierra Leone mulls warrant for Koroma FREETOWN: Sierra Leone’s anti-corruption commission could issue a warrant for the arrest of former president Ernest Bai Koroma after he failed to comply with a summons for questioning. Koroma failed to appear before the anti-graft agency at its headquarters in the capital Freetown on Thursday because of concerns over his safety, his lawyers said. “We are considering issuing a warrant for his arrest,” said the country's anti-corruption commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala. The summons was the latest move in a campaign by Koroma's successor, President Julius Maada Bio, to investigate the previous administration that Maada Bio says took the country to the brink of economic collapse. Koroma denies any wrongdoing and has said corruption allegations are part of a long-running smear campaign. | Reuters…

UGANDA Bobi Wine released on bail as protest death toll rises to 37 UGANDAN pop star and presidential candidate Bobi Wine, whose arrest this week triggered protests that led to at least 37 deaths, was released on bail yesterday after being charged with holding rallies likely to spread the coronavirus. Authorities have deployed the military across the capital Kampala and surrounding areas to help police disperse protesters. They have used live bullets, tear gas, water cannon and arrested hundreds. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, was arrested on Wednesday while campaigning in eastern Uganda for allegedly holding mass rallies in violation of restrictions on gatherings imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The death toll sparked by the protests had jumped to 37, police said yesterday. Police spokesperson…

RECOGNITION Press freedom award for Amal AMAL Clooney joked about Meryl Streep’s “marriage” to her husband George Clooney while accepting the Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award at the online CPJ International Press Freedom Awards on Thursday. After being introduced by Streep, Amal hailed the screen star as an “inspiration” and poked fun at the “something special” they both have in common, Bang ShowBiz reported. The international human rights lawyer who married George in 2014 said of Streep: “You are an inspiration as a woman, as an artist, as a press freedom advocate … but it does occur to me that we have something special in common, which is that we’ve both been married to my husband.” George and the actress voiced married foxes in the 2009 animated adaptation of Roald…

CARPING POINT ‘Prophet’s’ Moses-like exodus KEVIN RITCHIE @RitchKev THE raging torrents of the Limpopo didn’t miraculously part for him and his wife to walk across unhindered – in fact, we don’t even know if that’s where he left. He could have walked across from a village in the North West to its neighbour in Botswana. He might even have cadged a lift in his friend the President of Malawi’s jet out of Waterkloof Air Force Base. If he did, it wouldn’t have been the first time someone with connections evaded the law: Sudanese strongman Omar al-Bashir was spirited out of the country with government help while our own justice department was trying to serve an arrest warrant on him issued by the International Court of Justice. Grace Mugabe wiped her…

3 THINGS TO WATCH THIS WEEK Tuesday, November 24 Comey Rule: M-Net at 9.30pm A gripping political drama based on a book by former FBI director James Comey. Jeff Daniels and Brendan Gleeson star as former FBI director James Comey and President Donald Trump in this two-part series. Sunday, November 22 Rebuilding Paradise: National Geo at 9pm Director Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind) captures the incredible strength and determination of a small California community after it suffers a devastating bushfire in 2018. They learn to come together in order to not just survive but rebuild. Sunday, November 22 Spiderman: Homecoming: M-Net at 8.05pm Following the phenomenal Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man must learn to adjust to a new reality. Starring Tom Holland and Zendaya, the adventure and excitement is off the charts…

INVESTING ETF reclassification may impact retirement funds ACCORDING to a recent circular by the South African Reserve Bank, exchange-traded instruments listed on the JSE that reference foreign assets but are traded in rands will be reclassified as domestic investments. On the face of it, this means JSE-listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track foreign indices, such as the S&P500 or the MSCI World Index, will no longer be regarded for exchange control purposes as foreign investments but as local ones. Magda Wierzycka, the chief executive of Sygnia, said in a podcast on BizNews that this has huge implications for retirement funds, which, under regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act, are required to invest a minimum of 60% of their portfolios in local assets (with up to 30% offshore and a…

PLANNING POINTS You might not want to get married, but you still need a will HESTER VAN DER MERWE A HIGH Court judgment caused a stir recently. The court ruled that certain sections of the Intestate Succession Act were unconstitutional because they discriminated against heterosexual unmarried life partners. Two people living together in a long-term heterosexual relationship were not protected by the Act. In other words, if one partner died intestate (that is, without having a valid will), the other partner would not automatically inherit from the estate. The act did provide for married couples, for obvious reasons, and it also provided for same-gender life partners due to the historical difficulty that those couples faced getting married in a traditional fashion. In both of the above situations, the surviving partner…

Thunderstorm wreaks havoc as golfers negotiate tough Firethorn course MICHAEL OAKLEY Sunshine Tour AS Wilco Nienaber rolled in his putt for his fifth birdie of the day – to go back on top of the Joburg Open leaderboard with fellow South African Jacques Blaauw – a massive Johannesburg thunderstorm started to roll in and a few minutes later the dreaded hooter sounded and the players scurried off the Firethorn course as the lightning drew near. The pair were both on -12 when play resumed an hour and 40 minutes later and Blaauw wasted no time in taking the lead back with a birdie on the 17th. Blaauw, resplendent in lime green, opened with a front nine 32, which included a bogey on the massive par-4 second hole that was playing…

No free lunches in Tshwane council meetings RAPULA MOATSHE There’s a popular adage that there is “no such thing as a free lunch” and this is the case for councillors in the City of Tshwane. Newly elected mayor, Randall Williams, has decided there will be no free lunches for councillors during future meetings, with the money that would have been spent redirected to early childhood development (ECD) centres. This was communicated by mayoral committee member for community and social development services, Thabisile Vilakazi, who was discussing with departmental officials the reprioritisation of money earmarked for catering. According to Vilakazi, the budget earmarked for internal catering and external events could be put to better use in funding safety and security programmes at ECD centres, including providing Covid-19 isolation rooms. She said…

Positive step for Covid-19 vaccine US pharmaceutical corporation Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech announced yesterday they plan to file for emergency authorisation of their Covid-19 vaccine. This is viewed as a landmark moment and a signal that a powerful tool to help control the pandemic could begin to be available by mid to late December. The filing is a significant step in the effort to develop a vaccine and will move the race to its next, deliberative phase - a weeks-long process in which career scientists at the Food and Drug Administration scrutinise the data and determine if the vaccine is safe and effective. Only after the agency has given the green light will a first, limited group of high-risk people be able to access the shots. A South…

INJURY ON DUTY Victory for domestic workers in the ConCourt DOMESTIC workers employed in private households will, in future be able to apply for compensation when injured on duty. This follows a judgment handed down in the Constitutional Court this week which declared section 1(xix) (v) of the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, 1993, unconstitutional to the extent that it excludes domestic workers employed in private households from the definition of “employee”. Justice Nonkosi Mhlantla said the impact of the judgment “must go beyond a symbolic victory for domestic workers, and should also, practically speaking, cement their rights and place in our society. The landmark judgment was set in motion after Maria Mhlangu, who was employed as a domestic worker in a private home for 22 years, drowned…

17 new envoys present credentials in South Africa VAL BOJE val.boje@inl.co.za PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa received Letters of Credence from a large group of ambassadors and high commissioners nominated by governments to serve in diplomatic missions in South Africa. The ceremony, delayed by Covid-19, took place at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria on Thursday in two groups. Envoys from the following countries 17 countries join those serving at missions in Pretoria to advance diplomatic relations between their countries and South Africa. l People’s Republic of China: HE Chen Xiaodong. l Democratic People’s Republic of Korea: HE Park Jong Dae. l Socialist Republic of Vietnam: HE Hoang van Loi. l Republic of Botswana: HE TC Modise. l Ivory Coast: HE S Kone. l People’s Republic Of Bangladesh: HE Shabbir Ahmad…

Vodacom announces journo of the year THE national winners of the 19th Vodacom Journalist of the Year are AmaBhungane’s Susan Comrie and eNCA’s Dasen Thathiah who share the R100 000 prize money. Lifetime Achiever Award went to Sy Lerman. National winners are: l Photography – Esa Alexander, Sunday Times l Sport – Kayleen Morgan, Eyewitness News l Features – Relebogile Stephens, SABC Cutting Edge l Financial and Economics – Susan Comrie and Sam Sole, AmaBhungane l Politics – Michael Kimberley and Nomazima Nkosi, The Herald l Sustainability – Bongani Fuzile with Sino Majangaza, Daily Dispatch l Opinion – Samantha Lee-Jacobs, People’s Post, TygerBurger l Live Reporting and Breaking News – Dasen Thathiah, assisted by Nkanyiso Mdlalose, Neil Raath and Mcebisi Sithole, eNCA l Innovation in Journalism – Emile Bosch with…

Still no basic services for Gomorah residents JAMES MAHLOKWANE james.mahlokwane@inl.co.za JACQUES NAUDE  African News Agency (ANA) SODOM and Gomorrah were notorious cities in the Old Testament book of Genesis, and Pretoria has its own Gomorrah. Residents of this informal settlement, who saw the taxi protests on Wednesday took to the streets themselves to protest that they have no running water or electricity 20 years after they moved to the area. A group from the Malusi One section of the settlement in Pretoria West marched to Tshwane House yesterday to demand that their grievances get priority from the newly elected DA leadership. They claim they were the original dwellers in the area, but still have no services, despite these being provided to newer parts of the settlement. They sang and danced…

Mysterious Papal ‘like’ of racy photo VATICAN: The Vatican said yesterday that it had asked Instagram to investigate how a “like” attributed to Pope Francis’ official account ended up on a photo of a scantily clad Brazilian model. The “like” was discovered earlier this week by one of the 2.4 million people who follow Natalia Garibotto on the photo and video sharing site. A Vatican source said that according to early indications, the “like” did not come from the Vatican and it was unclear whether the account had been hacked. While it is not clear when exactly the “like” button was pressed, Garibotto's photo was “unliked” by the pope’s verified account on November 14 after becoming the talk of the town in media the day before. Garibotto was apparently pleased…

ETHIOPIA: UN PLANS FOR 200 000 REFUGEES Tigray ‘war’ escalates REBEL forces from Ethiopia’s Tigray region fired rockets yesterday at the capital of the neighbouring Amhara region, Amhara authorities said, increasing fears that the conflict could spill into a wider war. Two weeks into the conflict, the UN said it was making plans for as many as 200000 refugees fleeing into neighbouring Sudan, and made an urgent appeal for $200 million (about R3billion) to assist them. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people have been killed and tens of thousands of refugees have fled fighting in Tigray, raising questions of whether Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed can hold his ethnically diverse nation together. “The illegal TPLF group have launched a rocket attack around 1.40am in Bahir Dar," the Amhara government’s communications…

COMMENT Use your low-tech arsenal until a hi-tech one is available LINDSAY SLOGROVE lindsay.slogrove@inl.co.za SCIENCE went hi-tech to find a vaccine, but we have to wear the low-tech mask until we have the hi-tech solution in our arms. It can be a curse, but without technology we’d have millions more dead people. We’d probably still be waiting for the Covid-19 virus to be identified and genetically understood. Last week, our newspapers migrated to a new digital production system. Stories were “lost”, cuss words were numerous and frustrations nearly boiled over. Okay, sometimes did, in a politeish, bite-your-tongue manner. And sometimes in a “my f*k, Marelise” tone of exasperation and despair. (Remember Marelise? The young woman who cycled into a rugby post while her mom recorded the crash and her expression…

EDITORIAL Keep safe, we don’t have the vaccine yet THE news over the last few days has been awash with feel-good reports of progress being made in developing a vaccine for the Covid-19 virus, which is continuing to wreak havoc around the world nearly a year after being discovered. Pfizer Inc has reported that analysis of trial data shows its vaccine is 95% effective, and the company is expected to apply for authorisation for a coronavirus shot, which is also being tested in South Africa, within days. Also this week, Moderna released its own results and announced that it, too, expects to be able to apply for emergency authorisation of a vaccine in the US within weeks. And Oxford University said its vaccine, being developed with AstraZeneca Plc and with…

BOOK Hope, despair, life at the centre of a divided nation BARACK Obama laid out his concerns about picking Joe Biden as his running mate in 2008. The senator from Delaware loved to hear himself talk, he didn’t have a filter, and “he wasn’t always self-aware”, Obama writes in his new memoir. While “we couldn’t have been more different”, Obama writes, he “found the contrast between us compelling”, along with what he called Biden’s good heart, foreign policy expertise and appeal to the working class. With the choice finalised, Obama and Biden awaited Republican nominee John McCain’s announcement of his vice-presidential pick. Biden learnt of the decision in a meeting with Obama from a text message on an adviser’s BlackBerry. “Who the hell is Sarah Palin?” Biden said. The story…

INVESTIGATION Financial adviser gets seven years’ prison for fraud THE FINANCIAL Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) says it welcomes the seven-year prison sentence handed down last week to Gerrit Abraham Coetzee for defrauding his financial services clients. Coetzee was a key individual and partner at Vryburg Financial Services. He pleaded guilty to 58 counts of fraud and 58 counts of concealing the nature, source, location and movement of more than R12 million. The sentencing came after an extensive joint investigation by the FSCA, the Commercial Crime Unit of the South African Police Services, and the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority. The investigation, which resulted in Coetzee being disbarred as a financial services provider, revealed that Coetzee had induced clients to deposit money into his personal trading…

EPL Liverpool still world class with key players out, says Leicester's Rodgers LEICESTER City do not expect Premier League champions Liverpool to be weakened despite missing important players due to injury and illness ahead of Sunday’s clash between the teams, manager Brendan Rodgers said on Friday. Rodgers’ former side are without central defenders Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez after both had knee surgery, while right back Trent Alexander-Arnold and skipper Jordan Henderson are also nursing injuries. Forward Mohamed Salah is unavailable after contracting Covid-19 during the international break while midfielders Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara are battling to return having been out with injuries. Rodgers, however, said that Liverpool have the squad depth to cope with their problems. “They’ve got top class players. We’ve seen it ourselves with our injuries…

SUPER RUGBY UNLOCKED Duane expects direct confrontation from a ’tough’ Pumas side ASHFAK MOHAMED BackpagePix HAVING been born and bred in Mbombela (previously Nelspruit), Daniel Johannes – or Duane – Vermeulen chuckled when he was asked this week about facing yet another of his former teams. “Now you are digging very deep into the past,” the Springbok No 8 said about the Bulls’ Super Rugby Unlocked finale against the Pumas at Loftus Versfeld this afternoon (2pm kick-off). Sporting a bit of a mullet hairstyle at the time, the teenaged Vermeulen first made his name as a blindside flank for the Pumas in 2005, until he was recruited by Rassie Erasmus at the Cheetahs two years later. Now in his 16th year of professional rugby, the 34-year-old has an exceptional CV:…