Innholdsfortegnelse for Saturday, March 6, 2021 i Pretoria News Weekend

BOKO HARAM Two held as Mamelodi gang probe continues STAFF REPORTER TWO suspects, a man and a woman, both aged 37, yesterday appeared before the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court on charges of theft, trespassing and fraud. The case is part of the police’s investigation into several cases opened by victims of the alleged infamous Boko Haram group that is accused of terrorising the communities and businesses in and around Mamelodi. This comes after intensified investigations by a multi-disciplinary team, following an appeal by the police for people to come forward and give statements that would substantiate the cases that were reported. The public was also asked to assist with information that could lead to the apprehension of those perpetrators that, according to Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, were holding…

‘COMING 2 AMERICA’ SA actresses reign supreme in Hollywood THUSO Mbedu and Nomzamo Mbatha are making waves in the US and flying the South African flag high. Mbatha will be on screens from tomorrow on Amazon as part of the cast of Coming 2 America. The film starring Eddie Murphy, Wesley Snipes, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan and Teyana Taylor, among other stars, is set in the royal country of Zamunda, where newly-crowned King Akeem (Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi (Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new, hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York – where it all began. Original cast favourites from Coming to America return including King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones), Queen Lisa (Shari Headley),…

SOCCER Tough ask for Chiefs as Downs look to consolidate MIHLALI BALEKA GERHARD DURAAN BackpagePix MAMELODI Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs have had contrasting outings in the group stage of the CAF Champions League thus far. But both teams are eager to bag maximum points in match-day three of the competition. Chiefs have endured a turbulent start in their campaign as they are third in Group C with one point after two matches. They drew the first match at home against Horoya AC. In the second, which was held in Ouagadougou, in Burkina Faso last Sunday, Amakhosi were humiliated 4-0 by Wydad Casablanca, who are on pole in the group after bagging maximum points in their first two matches. Chiefs, though, will hope to get their campaign up and running when…

SOCCER SuperSport stutter to stalemate with Galaxy ESHLIN VEDAN SAMUEL SHIVAMBU BackpagePix SUPERSPORT United’s chances of securing a first Premiership title since 2010 appear to be getting slimmer after they were held to a 0-0 draw by TS Galaxy at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville last night. Matsatsantsa went into the game without their two best finishers, Bradley Grobler and Thamsanqa Gabuza, due to injury and the absence of the seasoned forwards showed as Kaitano Tembo’s side struggled to create opportunities. Galaxy dominated possession in the first half and had better scoring opportunities. Ronwen Williams showed why he is regarded as the best South African goalkeeper as he pulled off two great saves in the 22nd and 26th minutes of the game to deny Galaxy midfielder Khayelihle Shozi from…

QUICK READ HILARIA’S ‘SO IN LOVE’ WITH BABY 6 Hilaria Baldwin is “so in love” with her newborn daughter. The 37-year-old author confirmed she and her husband Alec Baldwin had called their sixth child Lucia and praised the little tot as a “dream come true”. Sharing a picture of her baby, she captioned it: “We are so in love with our daughter, Lucia. Just like your brothers and sisters, you are a dream come true.” | Bang Showbiz ‘I’D LOVE TO SEE BRITNEY RELEASED’ Britney Spears’ father would “love” to see her out of conservatorship. The Toxic hitmaker’s dad – Jamie Spears – has been her conservator since 2008 but he insists he would love for her to be able to live her life. His attorney said: “Jamie would love…

QUICK READ STEP UP PEUGEOT’S parent company Stellantis recently indicated that the French brand would take a step upmarket, and to kick-start this future vision, Peugeot has unveiled a new badge and brand identity. But it’s more than just a rehash of the existing identity – what we see here is a whole new badge, featuring a roaring lion’s head within a coat of arms, and also incorporating the Peugeot name in block letters. But you’ll have to wait for the all-new Peugeot 308 later this year to see the new badge on a car. | Reuters BUZZ WHILE the original Type 1 “Hippie Kombi” is associated with a smoky interior, driving under the influence of any mind-altering substance is dangerous and illegal. That might not apply to Volkswagen’s upcoming…

US HIJACKINGS ON THE RISE CAR hijacking is a crime South Africans are all too familiar with, but it’s not something one would expect to be a big problem in the US. A year of Covid-19 has given rise to what US police leaders call an alarming trend: teenagers pointing guns in peoples’ faces and carjacking them. In Chicago, the frequency of the crime more than doubled in 2020 to about four a day. Three teenagers are charged with murder after a 65-year-old retired firefighter was shot in December during a lunchtime hold-up in a busy shopping district. IOL Motoring…

Music duo drops song promoting KZN Durban artists Aewon Wolf and Kyle Deutsch embarked on an epic eight-day, 2 542km journey across KwaZulu-Natal to shoot their latest music video for their song, We Have It All. The duo, who have cemented their names in the South African music industry, dropped their new song and video on March 3. The song, captured by Tourism KwaZulu-Natal's appointed digital agency iNCO Creative, celebrates KZN and its diverse offerings. They travelled to the South Coast, Drakensberg Mountains, the Midlands, Battlefields, North Coast and Durban to capture footage for the video. Arnold Phillips, stage name Aewon Wolf, said iNCO Creative contacted him to shoot a music video showcasing the province. The song, created with Deutsch and producer Earl Evans, was inspired by KZN. The Say…

EDITOR’S CHOICE ON IOL MICROINSURANCE READY TO DISRUPT AFRICAN INSURANCE INDUSTRY WHEN it comes to insurance, there are few more exciting markets right now than Africa. Before Covid-19 struck, McKinsey predicted the African insurance market would grow at about 7% a year between 2020 and 2025. That’s nearly twice as fast as North America and three times faster than Europe. The pandemic slowed that growth to some extent. But we’re still seeing significant innovation in the African insurance sector, where fintech insurers are using technology to reach previously underserviced markets. LESSONS FROM THE BUDGET THAT COULD BENEFIT YOUR BACK POCKET MOST South African households are grappling with the same problem as the finance minister – trying to do more with less. Just as Covid-19 has taken its toll on the…

COVID-19 Include youth in vaccination process RAMNEEK AHLUWALIA HIGHER HEALTH, the student and youth health and wellness agency of the Department of Higher Education and Training, supports the science-oriented approach, clarity and transparency that the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has applied to the Covid-19 vaccination effort. As the pandemic evolves, we must base our prevention and treatment strategies on current and forthcoming knowledge. Viral evolution resulting from mutations is a known phenomenon. In order for Sars-CoV-2 to survive in a new vector (that is, within us humans), it keeps mutating to form new variants. In doing so, it tries to escape the human antibody response. The vaccine’s job is to produce an antibody response to defeat the virus while the variants keep trying to escape the developed antibodies…

URBAN DESIGN South African cities are not designed for women BONNY FOURIE HENK KRUGER African News Agency (ANA) FROM inadequate pavements and few safe walking spaces to scarce public toilets and family facilities, South Africa’s cities were never designed with women in mind. And, say the experts, it will take more than an influx of women into the engineering, construction and architectural industries to create inclusive cities. What is also needed, they say, is more opportunities for women to gain leadership roles in politics. Astrid Haas, a policy director at the International Growth Centre, says women’s roles in urban life, and in African cities particularly, date back to colonial times. In those days, men found work in the mining and construction sectors, to which women had no access. So in…

MOUNTING PRESSURE Chief justice remains defiant over Israel utterances LOYISO SIDIMBA loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za OUTGOING Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng defiantly told retired Gauteng Deputy Judge President Phineas Mojapelo that the Palestine-Israel dispute was peripheral and not inherently South African in his response to complaints against him. Pressure has been mounting on Justice Mogoeng to comply with Judge Mojapelo’s Judicial Conduct Committee decision ordering him to unconditionally apologise and retract his pro-Israel views made in June last year. Justice Mogoeng told a webinar organised by The Jerusalem Post that he was under an obligation as a Christian to love Israel and pray for Jerusalem’s peace, which meant that country’s peace. ”If I curse Abraham and Israel, the almighty God will curse me too. I cannot do anything, as a Christian, other than love…

FULL BENEFITS Government’s ballooning legal bills THOUSANDS of public servants have been sitting at home for the last year, at a cost of R100 million to the taxpayer. They are on full benefits and full pay pending their disciplinary hearings, but one former senior manager believes they have been suspended to prevent them from blowing the whistle on state capture. This week, Department of Public Service and Administration communications director Moses Mushi confirmed that as of January this year, 6 344 public servants had been suspended “pending disciplinary process at both national and provincial governments”. Disciplinary cases are supposed to be finalised within 21 months according to public service regulations, but many remain unresolved beyond this. The department reported to the Forum of South African Directors-General on Monday this week…

PARIS FASHION WEEK Designer showcases collection in creative way WITH many live fashion shows put on hold due to the pandemic, designers have resorted to creating fashion films to showcase their collections. Multi-award winning designer Thebe Magugu adopted the same approach when he unveiled his Autumn/Winter 2021 collection. The film premiered at Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday. Titled Banyoloyi A Bosigo (Midnight Angels), it was shot by Kristin-Lee Moolmann, who was inspired by1970s B-movies. For this collection, Magugu worked with some of his traditional healer friends. As one of the six finalists for the Woolmark Prize, Magugu used a lot of merino wool in the collection. But he added some traditional elements. He had his friend, Larisa Don, an eco-printmaker, create a pattern for him by pounding cannabis and imphepho…

COMMENT Racism: a major barrier to peace and justice WE observed the World Day of Social Justice on February 20. It is a requirement of justice that everyone is treated as equals and that the racism prevalent in many parts of the world be eradicated. To be just at the individual level implies fair-mindedness in our judgments; equity in our treatment of others; and application of justice daily, in everything we do and towards all our fellow human beings. At collective level, justice must be the guiding principle in all our social norms and activities. It is a requirement of social justice that everyone lives in dignity in a peaceful, prejudice-free and just world. One of the major challenges preventing humanity from living in a just and peaceful world is…

RUGBY It’s time referees step up to the hot seat MARK KEOHANE PAUL ELLIS AFP ENGLAND rugby coach Eddie Jones refused to answer the question about referee Pascal Gauzere’s obviously incorrect decisions that resulted in two Welsh tries. England had lost and Jones said that if he answered the question he would be fined and he still wanted to put food on the table for his wife and food in the bowl for his dog. He may have been joking about not having enough in the bank to feed his family and pet but he wasn’t joking about the fine. A coach or a player speaks out and they are bringing the game into disrepute. They are fined. A referee cocks up and he or she is human. The reward…

YOUR STARS Barbara Kiselev If today is your birthday: A new year, a new you. Take the opportunity to change the game, and you can. Somehow you can revise your vision and set yourself up for success. It’s all about seeing the result, and chasing it. Aries (21 March-20 April) Sometimes you’re just lucky. This week it’s all happening for you. Take the opportunities and run with them. Luck is on your side, all the work you put in now sees you gaining ground. It’s all about carpe diem. Taurus (21 April-21 May) You can expect some delays to your plans this week. It’s all about knowing what you want, and sticking to the masterplan. Don’t let anything derail you and keep the pressure, you’re going to win this one.…

ANALYSIS Poor Adele, she was Robbed KIMAYA NARIANAN ADELE Ferguson was a compassionate young woman emerging from a tragedy – before she became one. She possessed a spirit so optimistic, even the flames that engulfed her life could not destroy it. The easiest way to describe Adele – an astral-projecting tragedy that made Hamlet look like child’s play – is to say that she was “Robbed”, quite literally. Having spent the better part of six episodes being hated for things she had nothing to do with, Adele emerges from the trauma of a fire on her family’s estate that killed her parents. She is already guilt-ridden, since she was astral-projecting at the time of the fire and was completely unaware of what was going on in her surroundings. Simultaneously, Rob…

SOCIAL MEDIA Hilarious TikTok trends that will never stop being funny SACHA VAN NIEKERK MANY people joined TikTok last year out of sheer boredom but they chose to stay on the app for its range of hilarious prank challenges, dances and the laughter it brought during an otherwise dull time in our lives. TikTok trends we will always love: Main character All too often, we go through the motions of life without appreciating the little things that make our lives special. The audio from a TikTok which went viral last year preaches: “You have to start romanticising your life. You have to start thinking of yourself as the main character. If you don’t, life will continue to pass you by.” The words served as a reminder to find beauty in…

QUICK READ Retail CONSUMERS can now deposit cash directly onto their bank card at till points in any Shoprite, Checkers or Usave store. Together with other established in-store services like cash withdrawals, money transfers, and bill payments, this new functionality means shoppers can now perform most basic banking tasks at all supermarkets within the Shoprite Group. Each of the group’s almost 1 700 supermarkets in South Africa will be able to process these transactions during their normal operating hours. Cash deposits of up to R3 000 can be made at a flat rate of R19.95 per transaction for the major South African banks. Banking NEDBANK clients can now withdraw cash at ATMs using the Nedbank Money app and a QR code. Preni Naidoo, Nedbank executive for self-service banking, says: “The…

NICOLETTE’S NICKELS Financial knowledge is power only if you apply it NICOLETTE MASHILE ONE of my favourite sayings is “Financial literacy, just like weight loss, isn’t dependent on one thing. It’s 20% education and 80% your action.” A year into the Covid-19 pandemic, I’m reminded of a young woman I interacted with a few months before South Africa’s initial hard lockdown. She was thinking of taking out retrenchment cover. Two months into lockdown, when we were all cooped up in our nests and small businesses were taking the biggest economic losses, she was retrenched. She called me in a panic about her options. I casually said to her: “I know it’s a difficult time, but you are better off than your colleagues, who probably don’t have retrenchment cover.” I could…

INTEREST RATES AT 04/03/2021 *One-month rate applies to fixed deposits only, not to notice deposits. Senior citizens may qualify for an extra 0.5% at certain banks on 12-month investments. Rates quoted are nominal, not effective. Rates are for interest paid monthly, apply to investments from R50 000 to R100 000, and are correct at the time of going to press, but are subject to change. Source: Personal Trust (independent agents for deposit-taking institutions). Telephone 021 689 8975. While all care is taken to ensure that these figures are accurate, Personal Trust cannot accept responsibility for errors at source.…

UAE: WARNING FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS COMMENT Penal code limiting free speech IQBAL JASSAT DUNCAN CHARD Bloomberg SOUTH African expats residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), be warned: overzealous securocrats in the Gulf oligarchies are watching you and all foreign migrants, ready to pounce if you dare to criticise any of its allies. Fear has gripped foreign nationals who are employed in various sectors – ranging from banking to teaching, following the imprisonment of a Jordanian resident of the UAE. His crime? Criticising the Jordanian government. Human Rights Watch, which has been monitoring the case of Ahmed Etoum, 46, reported that he has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for his Facebook posts criticising Jordan’s government. The ludicrous charges for which the court convicted him are…

QUICK READ New Zealand WHILE most countries have reported a drop in birth rates, hospitals in New Zealand say they have noted an increase in activity in their maternity wards. Social media enthusiasts had predicted a baby boom with all the free time at home sparking passion, while others predicted it would be similar to the period after WWII when soldiers returned home. However, the pandemic has also brought psychological challenges from being cooped up. But New Zealand’s swift-reaction, initial brief lockdown in March last year allowed couples to reconnect. | African News Agency (ANA) Singapore IN A BID to drive digital transformation, Singapore has rolled out a five-year plan to turn public libraries into digital learning hubs. The drive will keep libraries relevant in a digital world as visitors…

DATA SA gets tough on WhatsApp CHULUMANCO MAHAMBA chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za FACEBOOK cannot share any contact information it collects from WhatsApp users in South Africa without first obtaining authorisation. The Information Regulator of South Africa this week said it noted with concern the statement released by WhatsApp, detailing changes that a user would face if they ignored Facebook’s terms by the May 15 deadline. WhatsApp issued a statement on January 15 in which the company informed users that it was preparing a new privacy policy, under which it could share some data, including location and phone numbers, with Facebook and its other units such as Instagram and Messenger. The company insisted that it would always protect users’ personal conversations with end-to-end encryption so neither WhatsApp nor Facebook could see these private messages.…

Robberies on the rise in suburb A SPATE of robberies and thefts have plagued the Moot, with two shootings in the past week alone. On Tuesday, Kilnerpark Security received a call that a robbery was taking place at the Vodacom store at the Gezina Galleries shopping centre. “The suspects fled the scene in a white sedan vehicle believed to be a Chevrolet Aveo," said Kilnerpark spokesperson Ancelize van der Kooi. In Johan Heyns Street the suspects fired multiple shots at a member of the public, wounding him in the upper body. Van der Kooi said the following day they received a call from a community member who reported a house robbery. He also stated that two people had been shot. "Kilnerpark Security reaction officers, SAPS and Netcare 911 were dispatched…

ONLINE SERIES Afrojazz queen Judith Sephuma next up on JazzFix STAFF REPORTER AFTER the successful launch of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival’s (CTIJF) online series, JazzFix, South Africa’s Queen of Afro jazz Judith Sephuma has been announced as the second artist to be showcased, at the end of this month. The specially curated never-before-seen showcase will feature her sold-out 2017 performance at the CTIJF as well as an intimate interview with JazzFix host, TV and radio personality Unathi. Since the release of her triple platinum-status debut album titled ACry,A Smile, A Dance in 2001, Sephuma has attracted interest and acclaim from jazz, Afrosoul and gospel music lovers all over the world. Her collaboration with Michael Bolton singing the old classic Over the Rainbow, and another with Kenny G, on…

MUSIC Bringing South Africans together MPILETSO MOTUMI mpiletso.motumi@inl.co.za VAN TUKA Essentials is a project that aims to reconnect meaningfully with the core audience of Gallo Music. Fans include both young and old, over the years. The record company is aiming to become relevant to the new music and culture landscape while tapping into the global creative community that values its depth and history. The project sees a curated playlist of classic songs that have been part of the fabric of daily southern Africa life Van Tuka (from the old days). In the effort to revive the culture of sharing and listening to music together with family and friends, Gallo has mixed the playlist up with a few contemporary songs from a younger generation of artists to balance all occasions. The…

WEEKEND TV GUIDE TODAY Cricket Paytm Test Series: India v England, Fourht Test, Day 3, 5.45am, CRI; Pakistan Super League: Islamabad United v Quetta Gladiators, 10.50am, ACT; Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars, 3.50pm, VR1 Golf Sunshine Tour: Kit Kat Group ProAm, Day 3, 12 noon, GOL; PGA Tour: Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, Day 3, 7.30pm, GOL; LPGA Tour: LPGA Drive On Championship at Golden Ocala presented by JTBC, Day 3, 9.30pm, ACT Hockey FIH Pro Women’s League: Netherlands v Germany, Match 1, 3pm, VR2; FIH Pro Men’s League: Netherlands v Germany, Match 1, 5.30pm, VR2 Rugby Aotearoa: Crusaders v Hurricanes, 8am, RUG; Rugby Australia: Rebels v Brumbies, 10.40am, RUG; Guinness Pro14: Zebre Rugby Club v Glasgow Warriors, 2.55pm, RUG; Ulster Rugby v Leinster Rugby, 9.30pm, RUG; Gallagher Premiership:…

QUICK READ PRIYANKA FEELS ‘PICKED ON FOR NO REASON’ PRIYANKA Chopra thinks people within the South Asian community pick on her “for no reason”. The 38-year-old star has enjoyed success in Bollywood and Hollywood, but Chopra believes there is a “sense of cynicism” among some people within the community. Chopra reflected: “I do notice a sense of protectiveness from a lot of people but also a sense of cynicism from a lot of people. Picking on me for no reason.” She told the Beyond Bollywood podcast: “I’ve started noticing the difference between fans who know me and are protective of me and they are the wind beneath my wings. I also feel disheartened and discouraged by the other side.” | Bang Showbiz ALEX KINGSTON DREAMS OF PLAYING A BOND VILLAIN…

EDITOR’S CHOICE 5 podcasts you should listen to right now THE past year has changed us all a lot. Many have had the luxury of time and so our digital entertainment needs have reached a new high. However, with limited production of shows and movies in 2020, we have ventured into the realm of podcasts. But with the plethora of options waiting for you on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts, you need to make an informed decision. We scavenged the depths of the internet to bring you our top 5 picks of podcasts for right now! 1 Harappa Matters Hosted by Shreyasi Singh, founder and chief executive of Harappa Education, Harappa Matters dives in to explore the human side of things at work as the accomplished guests tell their…

QUICK READ ‘WE NEED TO DO BETTER’ FERRARI boss Mattia Binotto conceded that however the upcoming Formula One season pans out, “we know that we need somehow to do better in 2021” after last year’s disastrous campaign. “Certainly last year was a big, big disappointment,” Binotto said of Ferrari’s worst season since 1980. “We know that we cannot repeat such a bad result,” said the man whose job it is to lead the famous F1 name out of the doldrums. | AFP NO CLUBSPORT FOR SA Volkswagen’s Golf GTI turns 45 this year and to mark the occasion the carmaker has unleashed a special edition called the GTI Clubsport 45. However, the 45 edition is almost certain to remain forbidden fruit for South African GTI fans. Although its outputs remain…

Q & A The Maslow Hotel’s new Executive Chef Omar Menhouk has decades of experience in food and travel. Menhouk worked in exclusive game lodges in Kenya and cooked for celebrities such as Sir Richard Branson, Nelson Mandela and the royal family of Saudi Arabia. The Algerian-born chef speaks five languages, including Arabic, Swahili and Italian. 1 What is it like working as a chef during the pandemic? Tricky. It requires lots of attention to detail and health and safety protocols. One always needs to be cautious and remind the team to prioritise hygiene and social distancing. We adhere to all protocols. 2 What was it like meeting Sir Richard Branson, and what dishes did you choose for him? Branson was a true businessman. He would ask me…

WORDS ON WEALTH What the retirement fund reforms mean for you MARTIN HESSE Bloomberg LAST week’s Budget speech by the Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni, highlighted two issues concerning retirement funds that warrant exploration: changes to regulation 28 of the Pension Funds Act to allow for increased investment in national infrastructure projects, and the introduction of auto-enrolment for all employed workers. REGULATION 28 The Pension Funds Act guarantees a high degree of protection for your savings in a retirement fund – far higher than in any other type of investment. It stipulates that your savings must be managed prudently with due attention to risk, and that this fiduciary responsibility lies with the fund’s board of trustees. Regulation 28 ensures that your investment is diversified and is not overly concentrated in…

FINANCIAL DATA ONLINE For the current financial market indicators, go to www.iol.co.za/business-report/market-indicators For daily unit trust and ETF prices and NAV-to-NAV* performance, go to www.fundsdata.co.za/navs For the latest quarterly unit trust and ETF total-return* performance, go to www.iol.co.za/personal-finance/ > Invest > Collective Investments and click on “Collective Investment Scheme Performance over 30 Years” To look up the performance of a particular unit trust fund or ETF, go to www.iol.co.za/personal-finance/fund-look-up * Total-return data shows performance when dividend income is reinvested, whereas net asset value (NAV) data records only the difference in the asset price. All data is provided by ProfileData.…

QUICK READ PREMIER ‘OFF THE HOOK’ THE National Prosecuting Authority in KwaZulu-Natal was slammed this week for deciding not to press ahead with criminal charges brought against Premier Sihle Zikalala for allegedly flouting lockdown regulations last year. On April 27 last year, the DA laid charges against Zikalala based on the then-stage 5 lockdown regulations after he called essential workers to what was described as a rally at Clairwood Hospital in eThekwini. | IOL GAUTENG REJECTS E-TOLLS JACOB Mamabolo, a member of the executive council for public transport and roads infrastructure in Gauteng, has reiterated the provincial government’s opposition to the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, implemented through an e-tolling system. Mamabolo said this week he had written to Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula in November registering their rejection of proposed Administrative…

QUICK READ CIVILIAN DIES ON US BASE AFTER several weeks of escalating tensions between the US and Iran on Iraqi soil, some 10 rockets hit the Ain al-Assad military base in Iraq’s western desert, according to a report filed by the Pentagon and made known this week. The Ain al-Assad military base hosts Iraqi forces and US-led troops helping to fight Islamic State militants. The US Defence Department told The Guardian a US civilian contractor suffered “a cardiac episode” while sheltering from the attacks. | African News Agency (ANA) SMOKING BAN IN WALES WALES has banned smoking in hospitals, playgrounds or on school premises and imposed a fine of £100 (about R2 100), the BBC reported this week, adding that the Welsh government had also made it illegal to smoke…

SIVANNA WON’T BE DRAGGED DOWN DEBASHINE THANGEVELO SIV Ngesi is a shoot-straight-from-the-lip kind of guy. And he’s unapologetic about it. An actor, comedian, MC and motivational speaker, Ngesi is a household name. And now, so too is his drag queen alter-ego, Sivanna. He introduced her a little over a month ago for an adidas x IVY PARK campaign. This was, by all means, a ballsy move on his part. And he knew it. He explained: “You know, Sivanna could arguably be SA’s most famous drag queen currently. And that’s quite interesting to say. I will say that it has been 90% love and 10% negative. And it is quite easy for people to talk about the negative. But for me, I always knew that the negative was coming. I always…