Innholdsfortegnelse for Saturday, March 20, 2021 i Pretoria News Weekend

BUS SERVICES TO BE MONITORED THE CITY of Tshwane is monitoring its Tshwane Bus Service operations closely following disruptions on Thursday. MMC of Roads and Transport Dikeledi Selowa said the metro operations were disrupted and bus drivers accosted and intimidated in Westpark by unknown people who claimed to be public transport taxi operators. She said the individuals claimed the Tshwane Bus Service was operating in their space and accused bus operators of taking their passengers which led them to disrupt the service. “The City law-enforcement teams had to react swiftly to escort the buses out of the area to ensure the safety of both passengers and drivers.” Selowa condemned the acts of intimidation and indicated that instances of criminality would not be tolerated. She said the Tshwane Bus Service has…

BIG ZULU Shining light on social ills through music MPILETSO MOTUMI mpiletso.motumi@inl.co.za MUSIC has always played a role in moulding society. Artists have used their voices to tell the stories of their communities and Big Zulu is no different. His latest offering, Inhlupheko, paints the picture of hardship and pain. It is far removed from his previous single and viral hit, Imali Eningi. The song, which features Mduduzi, focuses on the social ills that the majority of South Africans are facing. “After doing a song like Imali Eningi, I wanted to show a more musical and diverse side to my music. I wanted to touch on a subject that majority of South African’s face on a day to day basis, the biggest pandemic we are faced with which is poverty,”…

ENSNARED Orphaned elephant calf Fenya dies ANNA COX FENYA, an orphaned elephant calf that was found on February 17 ensnared in a poacher’s trap, has died. The team from the Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development (Herd) worked tirelessly over the past few weeks to try to save her life. She was brought into their care by a resident of Mahlathini Private Game Reserve, near Phalaborwa, who rescued her. Adine Roode, founder of Herd, together with wildlife veterinarian Dr Peter Rogers and the team of elephant carers at Herd, fought to gain her trust and provide her with treatment and care. Blood tests were taken which showed very low albumin levels and a low red blood cell count which accompanied her severe dehydration and emaciation. She had been alone with a…

BREWMASTERS Starbucks marks 50 years with blend I love coffee, I love tea/ I love the java jive and it loves me Coffee and tea and the java and me/ A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup (boy!) VAL BOJE THE words of this song came to mind when I took part in an event this week to celebrate 50 years of Starbucks at a coffee tasting event at the brand’s first Pretoria store which opened in 2016 at Central Square, Menlyn Maine. After a brief history of coffee from Sam Nkuna, the store’s brewmasters were on hand to demonstrate to a small media party the difference in taste produced by various brewing methods using the Starbucks 50th anniversary limited edition blend. This dark roast…

COMMENT FOOTBALLERS WHO CROSSED OVER TO MUSIC ESHLIN VEDAN eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za THROUGHOUT history there have been a number of footballers who have taken their skills beyond the football pitch and into the music industry. The following are some of the footballers who not only expressed their skills on the field but also musically. Benni McCarthy The current AmaZulu coach famously appeared in the video of TKZee’s 1998 hit song Shibobo (Final Countdown). The song went on to become a legendary hit in South Africa and was played at parties and football-themed events for well over a decade. Memorably, McCarthy sang a verse in the song. While the song as a whole is pleasing on the ear, the same is questionable with regards to Benni’s verse. It was not surprising that he…

SAT TV GUIDE TODAY Cricket: Paytm T20 International: India v England, Fifth T20, 3.15pm, CRI; Paytm Women's T20 International; India v South Africa, First T20, 3.20pm, VR2 Golf: European Tour: Magical Kenya Open, Day 3, 11.30am, ACT; Sunshine Tour: Gauteng Championship presented by Betway, Day 3, 12 noon, GOL; PGA Tour: The Honda Classic, Day 3, 7pm, GOL Motorsport: Supercars Championship: Sandown SuperSprint, Race 3, 7.45am, MSP Rugby: Aotearoa: Hurricanes v Chiefs, 8am, RUG; Rugby Australia: Reds v Western Force, 10.40am, RUG; SA Rugby: Eastern Province v Tafel Lager Griquas, 1.45pm, RUG, GSD; Emirates Lions v Cell C Sharks, 4.10pm, RUG, GSD; Six Nations: Scotland v Italy, 4.05pm, ACT; Ireland v England, 6.35pm, RUG, GSD; France v Wales, 9.50pm, GSD, RUG; Gallagher Premiership: Exeter Chiefs v Leicester Tigers, 4.25pm, VR1…

CRICKET Moreeng wants Proteas to carry momentum into T20s ZAAHIER ADAMS BackpagePix PROTEAS Women's coach Hilton Moreeng hopes his team can maintain the momentum they have gained on this tour in India in the upcoming T20 series. Moreeng's side created history this week when they thumped their hosts 4-1 in the ODI series – it was the Proteas Women's team’s first series success in India – and he hopes the confidence gained from this victory will filter through to the three T20s, starting today in Lucknow. “We are delighted to have beaten one of the best teams in the world in their own conditions,” Moreeng said. “Coming to the sub-continent is never easy, especially after coming here the last time and being beaten so badly. “But we sat down as…

QUICK READ ELTON JOHN SLAMS VATICAN OVER SAME-SEX WEDDINGS SIR Elton John, 73, has blasted the Vatican’s refusal to bless same-sex marriages. The musician – who married David Furnish in 2014 – has taken aim at the Vatican after it was announced that the Catholic Church will not be blessing same-sex marriages because they believe it is a “sin”. On Twitter, Elton wrote: “How can the Vatican refuse to bless gay marriages because they ‘are sin’, yet make a profit from investing millions in Rocketman, a film which celebrates my finding happiness from my marriage to David??” The Vatican said the Catholic Church will still “welcome and bless” LGBTQ people, but not their legal unions. | Bang Showbiz IDRIS ELBA IS NOW A CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR IDRIS Elba has added…

DRINK 5 whisky trends you’ll be seeing everywhere in 2021 LUTHO PASIYA THE Covid-19 pandemic caused a lot of personal and economic disruptions this past year. Many producers had to alter their release plans, but there were still a significant number of new whiskies over the year. What will happen in the world of whisky this year? Teeling whisky founder Jack Teeling shares his predictions. Whisky cocktails It is not new but continues to be a significant trend as people explore fresh ways to enjoy whisky in all sorts of drinks, be it shaken, stirred, poured, or built. If you go to some of the best bars around the world you will find whisky cocktails. Changing whisky drinkers The whisky lovers of today come from all backgrounds, age profiles and…

QUICK READ JENSON’S NEW CO-DRIVER WITH two weeks to go before the start of the new Extreme E off-road racing series, teams are unveiling their drivers who will be taking professional motor racing with electric SUVs to the most remote corners of the world. Jenson Button’s JBXE team has announced that he will be sharing the cockpit of his ODYSSEY 21 with Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky. In recent years, the Swedish driver has successfully competed in the Scirocco R-Cup Germany and in the rallycross discipline. ‘MSC’ BACK ON TIMING SCREEN THE letters MSC on a F1 timing screen once charted the dominance of seven-times world champion Michael Schumacher but this season they denote the presence on track of his son Mick. The Ferrari great first took the abbreviation to set himself apart…

CELEBRITY ESCAPES Stay at these A-lister-owned hotels CLINTON MOODLEY CELEBRITIES usually get A-list treatment when they travel. They check into some of the grandest hotels with 5-star amenities at their beck and call. Some of them have ventured into the hotel industry, creating out-of-this-world experiences for guests. Here are five celebs who have ventured into the hotel industry: Robert De Niro Bet De Niro, famous for his roles in Goodfellas and The Irishman, didn’t strike you as a hotel owner? The 77-year-old, together with Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Meir Teper, created the Nobu Hotels concept, described on its website as a “local experience with a modern design and stunning spaces”. The group owns hotels in Chicago, London, Los Cabos, Barcelona, Marbella and Manila. There are plans to expand into Africa,…

TECHNOLOGY World’s tallest moving statue set to be a Giant success TRAVEL REPORTER The Giant, deemed the world's tallest moving statue, is set to become a top travel attraction. Inspired by Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, the statue stands 10 storeys high. Supported by Enterprise Ireland, the Giant will transform every hour and have the ability to speak or sing. The Giant’s arms and head can move in various positions. Its patented skin, a matrix of millions of programmable LED pixels, gives it the ability to instantly take the form of any man or woman, boy or girl, from historical figures such as Albert Einstein or Amelia Earhart to celebrities like Lionel Messi and Beyoncé. That's not all. The immersive exhibits feature state-of-the-art technologies, including augmented and virtual reality, robotics and…

SETBACK Women, girls hit hardest by pandemic PHUMZILE MLAMBO-NGCUKA ON MARCH 9 lat year, the 64th Commission on the Status of Women proactively took precautions and scaled down the session. Two days later, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Covid-19 a pandemic. Our lives changed from then. We know how hard the effects of Covid-19 have been on those who are living in difficult situations. Its toll is sparking fears of a further mental health epidemic. The pandemic has been especially hard on women and girls. It has hit hardest those who are least able to cope. The gains we have made in the past are at risk. Emerging from this crisis are more orphans and child-headed homes. Following school closures, there are 10million more girls this decade who are…

MILESTONE Corruption continues to erode human rights GUSHWELL F BROOKS MOTSHWARI MOFOKENG African News Agency (ANA) MARCH 21 will always be remembered as a historic day of great tragedy. It is the day on which more than 60 unarmed black people were shot and killed by the apartheid police during a peaceful protest against the oppressive and undignified pass laws in 1960, in Sharpeville. More than six decades later, the repressive and oppressive apartheid regime of yesteryear has been replaced by a constitutional democracy, based on equality, dignity and freedom for all within South Africa. With a firm memory of our brutal past, the Constitution ensures that the discrimination and brutality of the past will not be repeated. Therefore, March 21 is now commemorated as Human Rights Day, a day…

UNITED STATES Old strategies a handicap for Biden’s foreign policy KATRINA VANDEN HEUVEL AFP PRESIDENT Joe Biden’s bold $1.9trillion (about R28trillion) rescue plan is rightfully lauded. Liberals and conservatives have suggested that it marks the end of the conservative era that Ronald Reagan launched 40 years ago. But although the new president deserves kudos for his domestic policy, when it comes to foreign policy initiatives, the new era looks hauntingly like the old. Biden’s foreign policy team – carefully curated exemplars of the establishment – usually says all the right things: the world has changed; new crises – a climate emergency, global pandemic, crushing economic downturn, crippling corruption and inequality – demand attention; revitalising our democracy and fixing our economy are the priorities. Americans are “rightly wary”, Antony Blinken said…

ACCIDENT Aviation mourns ‘finest’ airmen killed in crash JONISAYI MAROMO THE SOUTH African Civil Aviation Authority (Sacca) is mourning the death of what it called two of the country’s finest aviators in a crash on Wednesday. Retired Colonel Rama Iyer, 69, and retired Major-General Desmond Barker, 71, were killed when the Patchen Explorer aircraft they were flying crashed in Pretoria. “Colonel Iyer’s illustrious career spans over 40 years, and many aviators looked up to him. He was generous with his vast knowledge, and hence well-respected in the flying community,” the Sacca said in a statement. At the time of his death, Iyer was employed on a contract basis in Sacca’s aviation safety operations division, assisting with various projects. Barker had a very distinguished career with the South African Air Force…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA CURBING OUR ENTHUSIASM The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes ‘sight-seeing.’DANIEL J. BOORSTINE A new study reveals that the pandemic has affected tourists’ attitudes and behaviour in unforeseen ways, often subconsciously. The study indicated that post-pandemic tourism could curb our motivation for new adventures. Go to: www.iol.co.za/travel/travel-news…

CONSTITUTION HILL Human rights festival goes virtual MPILETSO MOTUMI VANESSA SEPTEMBER THE Constitution Hill Human Rights Festival was a casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic last year. This year, the event is adapting to the new normal, presenting 10 days of virtual events, free and open to all. The festival brings together key thinkers, academics and civil society organisations to engage a wide audience using a variety of formats designed to stimulate thought and debate. The focus this year is on the impact of Covid-19 on human rights, the rule of law and the direction South Africa and the world could and should be taking after the crisis. The latest moral outrage is the failure to ensure equity in vaccine distribution. Just 10 countries have administered more than 75% of all…

COMMENT Oneness of humanity: key to human rights FLORA TECKIE AS WE celebrate Human Rights Day tomorrow, it is timely to reflect on how an equal standard of human rights for all can be achieved. A genuine commitment to human rights, in the Baháí view, is only possible through recognition of the oneness of humankind. This requires abandonment of prejudice of every kind – race, class, colour, creed, nation, gender – anything which enables people to consider themselves superior to others. It requires that the extremes of wealth and poverty be done away with. Respect for human rights will be strengthened through recognition of two basic concepts: first, that human rights are God-given rights, and secondly, a consciousness of the organic oneness of the human race. Recognition of our oneness…

RUGBY Lions and Sharks to stress test systems, and find their flaws MORGAN BOLTON morgan.bolton@inl.co.za After two matches filled with largely experimental and younger players, the true form of the Lions and Sharks will begin to take shape this weekend when the two teams face each other at Emirates Airline Park. Without a championship on the line, or points to accrue, and with the racking up of victories in the win column moot, the intensity of the clash will take on an almost intangible characteristic. This does not mean that either side won't be able to gleam some facts and truths come the reviews after the match. There is a Rainbow Cup to prepare for after all, and with several Springboks and first-choice players returning to some degree for Saturday's…

Harris romps into the final in Dubai Championships HERMAN GIBBS SOUTH African qualifier Lloyd Harris survived a highly charged centre court duel to emerge victorious 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (6) in a semi-final against third-seeded Canadian Denis Shapovalov yesterday at the Dubai Championships. Harris, world-ranked at 81, yet again made the ATP rankings table look like a comic strip as he ground out a win against an opponent ranking much higher. The Canadian ranked 11th in the world, was up by a set and 4-2 in the second when Harris fought back to win five games in a row. On Thursday Harris became the first qualifier to reach the Dubai semi-finals and the following day he took this feat a step further by becoming the first qualifier to the final.…

QUICK READ WILLIAM AND HARRY’S FIRST CONVERSATION WAS ‘UNPRODUCTIVE’ PRINCES William and Harry have reportedly been in contact since Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, made several claims against the royal family during the bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey. It is believed the conversations haven’t gone to plan. Meghan’s friend Gayle King said she had been in touch with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after the interview, telling CBS This Morning: “The word I was given, those conversations were not productive. But they are glad they at least started a conversation.” On March 11, William spoke out for the first time following the interview. He said he hadn’t yet spoken to Harry since it had aired earlier that week but he intended to. In the interview, the Duke of Sussex, said…

QUICK READ SUPER SNAKE SHELBY American has unleashed what it calls the ultimate “bundle of snakes”, in the form of a new 2021 modified Mustang model range that includes an open top “Speedster” version of the Super Snake. This turns the Mustang into a two-seat roadster, with a convertible tonneau and unique striping. The Super Snake’s 5-litre supercharged V8 produces upwards of 825 horsepower – 615kW, in metric speak. Buyers can choose between manual and automatic transmission and if the Speedster body style isn’t up their alley, the traditional Mustang fastback tin-top body format is also available. SPACIOUS KIA’S new EV6, the brand’s first dedicated battery electric vehicle, may share its E-GMP platform with its Hyundai Ioniq 5 cousin. However, the vehicle ushers in a new design direction for the…

DOUBLE TROUBLE BMW’s M3 and M4 twins land in SA PRITESH RUTHUN pritesh.ruthun@inl.co.za BMW launched the all-new M3 and M4 in Cape Town this week. The new M3 and M4 sport the controversial front-end styling that we saw on the 4 Series last year, but they offer more aggressive styling elements that set them apart from the regular sedans and coupés. We’ll be testing both models in two weeks, at Gerotek, so be sure to follow us on social media. WHAT’S NEW South Africa receives only the Competition models that produce more power (375kW and 650Nm compared with 353kW and 550Nm on the standard models). The pair do away with the quick-changing DCT that we know and love, as BMW M engineers have reverted to a torque converter automatic again.…

LUXURY TRAVELS Supersonic jet will fly to destinations in half the time A NEW supersonic jet that can fly to the world’s top destinations in a fraction of the time is under development. Headed by Spike Aerospace, the state-of-the-art Spike S-512 Supersonic Jet “sweeps passengers to their destinations in half the time it takes other jets”. The news of the supersonic jet comes 18 years after the world’s fastest commercial jet, Concorde, grounded its supersonic fleet in 2003. According to the Spike Aerospace website, the Spike S-512 jet will fly at Mach 1.6 and about 720km/h faster than any other civilian aircraft. For example, travellers can get from New York to London in less than three hours, or Dubai to Johannesburg in 3.8 hours. Spike S-512 can carry 18 passengers…

TRAVEL TIPS 5 subtle ways to help you score a hotel room upgrade HOTEL upgrades are rare and few, but if you play your cards right, you may secure yourself one. Be warned, hotels aren’t obligated to upgrade a guest no matter how convincing they are. That said, nothing is impossible, and you may get bumped up to a bigger hotel room with luxurious amenities. 1 BOOK OFF-PEAK SEASON TRAVEL Your chances for a room upgrade are far better when you travel during the off-peak season. There are fewer guests, rooms are available and staff are less stressed. Staff have more flexibility to upgrade guests than when at full capacity. 2 CALL AHEAD Travellers can call the front desk to find out about the occupancy on the day of their…

NICOLETTE’S NICKELS It’s not always about how much you make NICOLETTE MASHILE EVERYONE has their own money rule that they swear by. My one: “It’s not about how much you make; it’s about how much you keep and where you keep it.” Back in my corporate days, I was highly paid. It was probably a bribe to keep me in the job, as I had made myself somewhat valuable to the business. I had very little investment knowledge, and most of my money was neatly tucked in a notice account. I was very proud of myself for saving so much money each month, but my money wasn’t growing at the rate I would have liked. I was getting one part of my rule right: I was not allowing lifestyle creep…

ALL ABOUT TRUSTS Could your trust be disregarded by the courts? PHIA VAN DER SPUY THE fact that you have a written trust deed is no guarantee that your assets are secure and the trust is safe from attack. If you never intended to create a genuine trust from the outset, it may be attacked and labelled a sham trust. On the other hand, if you created a trust, but have treated the trust assets as if they were your own, your creditors, the South African Revenue Service and perhaps even a soon-to-be-ex-spouse can have it labelled an “alter ego” trust – in other words, an extension of yourself. Despite the fact that the trust does exist, the court will disregard it and treat the assets as if they belong…

Learners isolate after positive Covid-19 case SAKHILE NDLAZI sakhile.ndlazi@inl.co.za PARENTS have been urged to disclose to schools if their children test positive for Covid-19. The warning comes after about 100 Hoërskool Waterkloof pupils were placed under quarantine after a Grade 11 learner and the parents failed to declare a positive Covid-19 status to the school. Provincial Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said the school reported that a learner tested positive and the school management were not made aware of this. “All the children who were in close contact with the learner were advised to isolate. We are monitoring the situation. “We call upon parents to always act responsibly and comply with Covid-19 regulations at all times,” said Mabona However, the school’s spokesperson, Annette Grobbelaar, denied these claims. “As soon…

IN BREACH OF REGULATIONS Shopper’s explosive reaction after denied entry SAKHILE NDLAZI sakhile.ndlazi@inl.co.za THE SPAR outlet in Pretoria’s northern Les Marais suburb literally came under fire from a shopper who had been refused entry because he was not wearing a mask. The man didn’t take it “lightly” when he was denied entry – and he had an explosive reaction. According to store manager Unathi Nkasana, the man was first denied entry by security staff at around 1pm on Wednesday. After a short physical altercation, the man left the scene, but he was far from done. Nkasana said when he returned, he climbed on the cash register counters and jumped up and down before again being removed from the store. This would not be the last time staff and shoppers saw…

ARTS ‘Pass Over’ play encourages tough dialogue KEDIBONE MODISE LUNGELO MBULWANA IT WAS the storyline and the poetry that drew actor and choreographer Hungani Ndlovu to Pass Over. The play is a contemporary theatre production that is currently showing at The Market Theatre. Directed by James Ngcobo, Pass Over comes on the back of the recent commemoration of Black History Month. Though the month is celebrated annually in February in America and Canada, the play aims to inspire South Africans to have tough conversations around race, police brutality and white supremacy. Inspired by Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, Pass Over explores the human spirit of young black men who dream about a “promised land” and their hope for a better future. The production follows the story of two young men,…

BIODIVERSITY UP whale unit conducts boat-based research ANNA COX THE whale unit at the University of Pretoria’s Mammal Research Institute is conducting boat-based field research on Bryde’s whales in Walker Bay, on the south-western Cape coast, under permit conditions of the government. This includes boat approaches to the whales in order to obtain photographs for subsequent individual identification (through the marks in the dorsal fins) as well as skin biopsy samples for subsequent genetic analysis. At about 600, the Bryde’s whales has the smallest population size of any large whale species occurring in South African waters, with its current international conservation status listed as “data deficient” and nationally as “vulnerable” under the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s criteria. The Bryde’s whales will be observed along the South African coast…

CANOEING Birkett and Mackenzie favourites for Dusi podium BOTH overnight leaders retained their leads in the MyLife Dusi Canoe Marathon on the tough 46km second stage yesterday, but in sharply contrasting fashion. Ten times champ Andy Birkett staged a solo Dusi masterclass as he extended his overnight lead from 12 to 18 minutes, not putting a paddle wrong on the race's longest stage. Birkett said that he had not focused any attention on the assembled chase pack behind him, and instead concentrated all his energy on his own race. "I got into a nice rhythm from the start," said Birkett. "I think the first time I got a time split was at the headwaters of the dam. "I thought to myself – you can't back off too much because if…

It’s Clasico first, then Liverpool, for Real’s Zidane REAL Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said Liverpool will be physically demanding opponents after the two sides were drawn together in the Champions League quarter-finals, but the glamour tie will not distract them from their La Liga title bid. The 13-times European champions were pitted against last season's Premier League winners in yesterday's draw, in a repeat of the 2018 final, which Zidane's side won 3-1. However with Real sitting third in La Liga, just six points below Atletico Madrid in top spot, their focus for now remains on domestic issues. "This season as a whole is tough. We can't get ahead of ourselves, we have to take things day by day and be ready for whatever happens. We know we're alive in…

YOUR STARS Barbara Kiselev If today is your birthday: Somehow this new year you need to fight for what’s yours. But you know what? You are more than ready, and you’ll get all you want and need. So don’t back down, it’s yours to be won. So don’t ever doubt, just do. Aries (21 March-20 April) You always fight for what’s yours, this week it’s a walk in the park. You can have all you ever wanted, no contest. So keep up with what you were doing, it’s working. And all that’s needed is to run with it. Taurus (21 April-21 May) You’ve taken things to the limit, this week push even further. No limits is the name of the game. Somehow you can find yourself getting what you worked…

CELEBRITY Michelle Obama weighs in on Harry and Meghan’s interview MICHELLE Obama “prays there is forgiveness” between Prince Harry, Duchess Meghan and the rest of the royal family. Harry and Meghan sat down for a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey last week in which they opened up on their decision to step back as senior royals last year, and also accused an unnamed member of the royal family of raising “concerns” about how “dark” their son Archie’s skin would be before he was born. And now, former first lady Michelle Obama – the wife of 44th US president Barack Obama – has weighed in on the interview, saying she hopes there is “love and resolve” on the horizon, as there’s “nothing more important than family”. Speaking to Access Hollywood, she…

LIFESTYLE Not even exploding vagina candle can stop Goop’s appeal MARCHELLE ABRAHAMS WITH notes of geranium, citrusy bergamot, and cedar juxtaposed with Damask rose and ambrette seed, Gwyneth Paltrow was onto a winning formula when she released Goop’s “This Smells Like My Vagina” candle. But we’re betting flaming inferno wasn’t mentioned when she described the more than R1 000 candle. Jody Thompson of Kilburn, North London, got more than she bargained for when she went to light her candle that she had won in an online quiz. “The candle exploded and emitted huge flames, with bits flying everywhere,” she told British tabloid The Sun. “I’ve never seen anything like it. The whole thing was ablaze and it was too hot to touch. There was an inferno in the room.” Thompson…

GERMAN RACING, TV STAR DIES GERMAN racing driver and TV personality Sabine Schmidt has passed away from cancer at the age of 51. She became famous after an astounding driving feat that featured on the sixth season of the BBC’s Top Gear. Sabine was known as something of a Nordschleife guru, being familiar with every one of the 73 corners and 300 metres of hills across the legendary 20.832-km-long circuit in Germany. She was also the first woman to have won the legendary 24-hour race there. Sabine is survived by her husband Klaus Abbelen, with whom she founded the team Frikadelli Racing.…

ACCOMMODATION Inside Oskido’s luxury Airbnb apartment SOUTH African recording artist Oskido is the latest celebrity to add Airbnb host to his expansive résumé. The Woza Nana hitmaker posted about his new business venture on Twitter recently. He posted: “Hello guys. I’m so excited to tell you that my #airbnb is up and for business. I would like to host you. Please use the link below for bookings.” (sic) The listing is located in Hyde Park in Joburg and ideal for two guests. According to the listing, the one-bedroom luxury apartment is 500m from Hyde Park Corner and minutes away from Rosebank, Sandton and Melrose Arch. Judging by the pictures, the apartment is tastefully decorated and looks cosy. Offering the perfect spot to “rest, relax and even work in a laid-back…

QUICK READ Confidence FIRST National Bank (FNB) reports that the FNB/Bureau for Economic Research Consumer Confidence Index increased by three index points to -9 for the first quarter of this year. Before the Covid-19 outbreak, a deterioration in South Africa’s economic prospects saw the index at -7 in the fourth quarter of 2019. The onset of the pandemic and ensuing economic collapse saw the index fall to a 35-year low of -33 in the second quarter of last year. “Although it is heartening that the index has recovered most of its Covid-19-induced losses, consumer confidence remains depressed: the latest reading is still well below the average reading of +2 since 1994,” FNB says. Education MONEY Smart Week South Africa, an initiative of the National Consumer Financial Education Committee, is a…

KEY TAKEOUTS • On perceived quality, Capitec, First National Bank (FNB), Nedbank and African Bank have consistently performed above the industry par over five years, while Absa and Standard Bank have performed below par over that period. • On the gap between customer expectations and perceived quality, all banks exceed customer expectations, except for Standard Bank, where perceived quality falls short of expectations. • Capitec leads on perceived value by more than 13 index points (87.7) over the lowest scores in this category, which are Absa (73.6) and Standard Bank (74.5). • Capitec has the lowest complaint incidence (11.9%) and a high complaint resolution rate of 55.4%. African Bank has the second-lowest complaint incidence (14%) and the highest complaint resolution rate (59.7%). • FNB has the highest complaint incidence (23%)…

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 INQUIRY INTO MKHWEBANE PARLIAMENT voted in support of a motion on an inquiry to decide on the removal of Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. During a National Assembly sitting this week, 275 MPs voted in support of the motion and 40 members objected. Speaker Thandi Modise said the matter would be referred for an inquiry. The Constitutional Court on Tuesday dismissed Mkhwebane’s interdict to stop the process for an inquiry into her fitness for office. | IOL See http://bit.ly/IOLMkhwebaneinquiry DELAY IN LAND BILL PROCESS The National Assembly has extended the deadline for the finalisation of the bill dealing with the expropriation of land without compensation to May 31. The decision by Parliament this week comes after the ad hoc committee on land expropriation said last week it would need…

QUICK READ SAME-SEX UNIONS ‘A SIN’ POPE Francis approved a controversial statement this week from the Vatican saying that the Catholic Church would not bless same-sex marriages and described homosexuality as a choice and a sin. The statement, in response to questions from a number of pastors on whether the practice was allowed, was posted on the church’s website. “The blessing of homosexual unions cannot be considered licit. God does not and cannot bless sin,” read the statement. | African News Agency (ANA) SA DOCCIE GETS OSCAR NOD THE South African documentary My Octopus Teacher has clinched a nomination in the category Best Documentary at this year’s 93rd Academy Awards, which will be held next month. The other nominees in the category announced this week are Collective, Crip Camp, The…

QUICK READ Iran THE head of the UN nuclear watchdog says a US return to the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran is still possible. Iran told the UN that allegations of its involvement in attacks on US interests in Iraq were “unfounded and lacking legal credibility”. The US said this week that tackling Iran-backed militias, Islamic State elements and Iran’s destabilising activities in the region would help to create a favourable environment for peaceful elections in Iraq later this year. Iran said the US must meet its own obligations by lifting sanctions, ABC news reported. | African News Agency (ANA) Australia AUSTRALIA plans to set up a travel bubble with Singapore using a digital vaccine passport to allow ease of travelling between the two countries. Australia’s Tourism Minister, Dan Tehan,…

VIOLA FIGHTS FOR HER BLACK MARK TO MATTER NELANDRI NARIANAN VIOLA Davis made a black mark on Hollywood this week – and the world took heed. It was a big, powerful, thunderous mark, impossible to ignore – much like Ma Rainey, the character who earned Davis the prized tick that has eluded many black actresses in an industry mainly controlled by white men. A star who has lived, breathed and suffered for her art, Davis made Oscar history on Monday as the first black actress to garner two Best Actress nominations. At a guess, Ma Rainey would have responded with: “Y’all can now kiss my black bottom!” Known for occupying the screen with the imperious and gritty command of a champion fighter, Davis’s own life is a story so powerful,…