Innholdsfortegnelse for 2021-07-31 i Pretoria News Weekend

Going for gold may be the mantra at Tokyo 2020, but for a certain coterie of elite athletes, who pulled in joint earnings of over $353 million (about R5.2 billion) last year, dripping in gold is par for the course. In an ultra-competitive world where big talent transacts to big money, these Olympians have smashed, dunked and putted their way to the top of the wealth rankings, often sparking feeding frenzies among big-name sponsors eager for their endorsements. While the high cost of getting to the Games has seen some athletes turn to crowdfunding campaigns to help pave their way – trainers, state-of-the-art equipment and practice facilities don’t come cheap – others entered the arena with a regality reserved for the one percenters seeking the holy grail of GOAT status…

TODAY is World Ranger Day, and more than 150 teams across Africa are gearing up for the 2021 Wildlife Ranger Challenge, a fundraising initiative to support thousands of the men and women on the front line of Africa’s protected areas. A new survey, conducted by conservation organisations Tusk and Natural State, with 60 field conservation organisations across 19 African countries, found that rangers see no relief in sight, as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact Africa’s communities and wildlife. The economic stresses of Covid-19 on communities and reduced ranger presence, has resulted in an increase in poaching, but the threat is expected to increase further, with ranger capacity remaining low, and as international borders open. Launching this week, the Wildlife Ranger Challenge will bring together rangers across 20 African countries…

R350 ‘can’t buy much’ Goitsemang Tlhabye goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za MAMA Josephine Makula, 54, of Soshanguve is one of the millions of South Africans whose only source of income in the past year has been the now reintroduced R350 Covid-19 relief grant. However, Makula said although she lived alone since her husband died last May, the necessities she could cover with the grant barely lasted her the month. With the money, she is able to buy 2kg rice, 2.5kg mealie meal, 2.5kg flour, 750ml cooking oil, and 2kg sugar. This comes to R100 at her local supermarket. With the remaining money, she has been able to buy 2kg of chicken at about R40 or canned food. The rest of the money has gone towards paying back money she borrowed for taxi fare. “Much…

Mashudu Sadike mashudu.sadike@inl.co.za THE MUSINA Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo is not operating after the provincial Department of Employment and Labour Occupational Health and Safety shut it down. The court was deemed unfit to be inhabited, and was closed on Monday. It was served with a notice prohibiting the building from being used, as it was in danger of collapsing, injuring employees or even killing them. This follows a complaint laid by employees of the court to the department and the Public Servants Association about the unsafe working environment. The complaint was laid last week, and an inspection was conducted on Monday, which led to the immediate closure of the court. In a statement, departmental spokesperson Lerato Mashamba said the inspector prohibited the use of the building as per the Occupational…

Data released from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers shows that Chery ranks first in year-on-year growth among the top 15 Chinese brand car sales from January to June. After ranking first in the industry in the year-on-year growth rate from January to May, Chery’s growth rate again ranked first, and far exceeded the industry’s average growth rate of 25.6%. Chery’s sales have been “advancing” for six consecutive months, maintaining the year-on-year growth rates of 80.2%, 144.9%, 130.5%, 91.6%, 58.1% and 58.3%. The cumulative sales volume is 424 457 vehicles.…

PUBLIC Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane called on the National Assembly this week to halt the inquiry into her fitness to hold office with immediate effect. This after the Western Cape High Court found some rules for the removal of heads of Chapter 9 Institutions unconstitutional. This happened hours after the Section 194 Committee decided to proceed with the inquiry and adopted a draft programme because the court had not made a ruling on her application to declare the rules unconstitutional. See https://bit.ly/IOLPubProtector…

DR Christos Christou I have spent the past five weeks in South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation and one with some of the worst health indicators. This was not my first time in South Sudan. I was in Gogrial in 2013, operating inside an inflatable tent. This time I worked in a camp. Our intervention in what is now Bentiu IDP camp – a former Protection of Civilians camp established in 2014 after an eruption of violence that forced thousands of people to flee to the nearby UN Mission in South Sudan base. During the first two weeks of my recent mission, I had to operate on victims of violence – especially gunshot wounds – almost every night. Most of the injuries were to limbs, but there were also severe…

A WISE person once said “Take care of your pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves.” However, saving and investing seems increasingly difficult in the current post-pandemic environment. Recently it was announced that the chief executive of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, will retire with a fortune of $197 billion (about R2.9 trillion), some 740 000 times the median American’s retirement wealth. Unlike Bezos, who recently achieved his lifelong ambition of travelling to space, many cannot afford to follow their dreams during their golden years. This extraordinary retirement venture prompts an important question: how does a “normal” person go about achieving real wealth, and are the only alternatives either to inherit wealth or to become a business mogul? For many of us, neither of those are realistic options. Many would…

TODAY’S column was to have covered the annual Old Mutual Savings and Investment Monitor, but Old Mutual had to move its presentation to the first week of next month so I’ll be covering that next week. This week let’s look at another measure of how South Africans are coping financially – the quarterly Momentum-Unisa Consumer Vulnerability Index. The index and quarterly report form part of Momentum’s Science of Success campaign and are produced in partnership with Unisa. The compilers of the second-quarter index were Itumeleng Olien and Johann van Tonder from Momentum, and Jacolize Meiring and Professor Carel van Aardt from Unisa’s Bureau of Market Research. Their research incorporated the views of 96 key informants – including researchers, bankers, insurers, retailers, government departments, economists and financial analysts – who deal…

SIYA Kolisi has backed up SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus’s claims that the Springbok captain was disrespected by the match officials during the opening Test against the British & Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium. On Thursday morning, a video of Erasmus highlighting a string of officiating inconsistencies went viral. He also shared how he felt the match officials showed the South Africans a lack of respect and didn’t treat them the same as the Lions leadership. During the captain’s press conference yesterday, Kolisi said: “I didn’t feel respected at all, I didn’t feel I was given a fair opportunity. But I’m looking forward to a new game and a new referee. “I think Ben (O’Keeffe) will give a fair opportunity for both captains, and that’s…

WHAT does a team that has just endured a wretched domestic season do to prepare for the next one? Raid the transfer market, of course. After all, isn’t it that poor seasons are almost always put down to a lack of the requisite playing personnel? Unless of course the finger of blame points directly at the technical head, in which case the poor coach gets sent packing quicker than you can say top eight. Even then, the new incumbent is bound to send management scouring the market as he looks to have the squad made of his type of players. And when that particular club had just come from a season that saw them banished from doing any player trading following an infringement of the transfer rules, a…

Clinton Moodley For those seeking privacy with gorgeous views, Six Senses Shaharut ticks all the boxes. The luxury hotel in the south of the Negev Desert in Israel opens on August 5. Already gaining much appeal from the international market, the resort offers 60 suites and pool villas that merge into the desert topography to preserve the natural terrain. The minimalist decor adds glamour to the majestic setting. Rooms come with all the modern conveniences like minibar and complimentary snacks, flat panel smart TV with satellite and entertainment system, individually controlled air-conditioning, in-room safe and unlimited wi-fi. While it may be tempting to put your feet up and savour the charming landscapes, the resort boasts a series of sustainable experiences for guests. They can opt for a sunrise or dusk…

Alyssia Birjalal alyssia.birjalal@inl.co.za Mumbai police have raided Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra’s Juhu bungalow and seized 48 terabytes (TB) of mostly adult images and videos following Kundra’s arrest last week. Kundra was arrested on July 19. Police said they had sufficient evidence that he was a key conspirator in the porn production ring. He maintains his innocence. Shetty who was interrogated by police, said she was unaware of the exact nature of the content on the app “Hot Shots”, but described the material as “erotica” rather than pornography. Shilpa said her husband was innocent and alleged that it was co-accused Pradeep Bakshi who was involved in the app. According to a report on IndiaTV, the police are said to be planning to clone Shetty’s phone and might question…

Mayibongwe Maqhina mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za THE Department of Sport, Arts and Culture plans to spend R30 million over the next 10 years on returning the remains of South Africans that lie outside the borders of the country. This emerged this week when the department made a presentation on the policy to Parliament. The move comes after the Cabinet in March adopted the national policy on the repatriation and restitution of human remains and heritage objects. Vusithemba Ndima, deputy director-general for heritage promotion and preservation, said the policy presented an opportunity for the repatriation and restitution of the human remains of those who died during colonialism, apartheid and resistance. Ndima said the remains could be of those who fell in the line of duty, in military action or in civil society struggles against…

Chulumanco Mahamba chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za THE first annual SA Amapiano Awards have been marred by a legal battle between the organisers and non-profit organisation Amapiano Awards, which claims the concept was stolen from them. Last week, the first annual SA Amapiano Awards announced their nominations for the awards set to take place in October. The awards, which include nominations for popular Amapiano hitmakers, Dbn Gogo and Kabza De Small, were started to give recognition to the artists and performers leading the sound that has found itself at the forefront of music culture. The upcoming event has been marred by allegations from non-profit organisation Amapiano Awards that DJ Qness Ndlovu stole the concept for the awards from them. Lawyer Kevin Smith of Gani Mayet Attorneys, acting on behalf of Amapiano Awards, issued Saapa…

WHAT would Nelson Mandela have made of the Cricket for Social Justice and Nation Building (SJN) hearings being conducted by Cricket South Africa? The SJN project was started to get to the heart of racism in South African cricket, which reared its head in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement last year. It was Lungi Ngidi, a child of Mandela’s “new” South Africa, who inadvertently opened the can of worms. An innocent, though thoughtful call from Ngidi, for the Proteas to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement, unleashed a storm from the country’s black cricketers, including notably Makhaya Ntini, about discrimination they had suffered as part of the Proteas. Mandela used all the country’s national teams to highlight the kind of unity from which the country…

A UN delegation is visiting KwaZulu-Natal after the province was rocked by violence and looting two weeks ago. The team will meet with provincial leadership to assess the effect of the alleged insurrection. The representatives of the UN agencies planned to travel to some of the communities that were heavily affected by the unrest that left more than 300 people dead and many more vulnerable due to the disruption of the food supply chains and damage to infrastructure. See https://bit.ly/IOLUNinKZN…

Tokyo Olympics organisers dismissed any link to rising coronavirus cases in Japan this week after reporting more than 20 infections among Games participants. More than 190 athletes, media and Olympic employees and contractors have now tested positive for the virus, according to Tokyo 2020 figures that do not include some cases at airports and in training camps. Japan reported more than 9 580 cases nationwide, the first time the figure has topped 9 000, with cases also at a record level in Tokyo.…

Anna Rich AS AN individual taxpayer, you will be aware of the marginal tax brackets – from 0% through 18%, 26%, 31%, 36%, 39%, 41% to 45% – that apply to taxable income. If, for example, your income is R400 000 a year, you’re within the R321 601 to R445 100 band for the 2020/21 year, and your marginal rate is 31%. However, it is a common misconception that this percentage is applied to your entire income; the 31% rate applies only to the last “stepped” portion of it. A useful metaphor for understanding how this works is to think of the bands in the South African Revenue Service (Sars) tax table (as published on its website) as rising water encroaching on a basement staircase about to be flooded,…

Clinton Moodley THE founder and chief executive of LIO Global, Nadia Read Thaele, shares the cost of second residency and citizenship programmes for South Africans. Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes allow South Africans to invest in property or pay a sum of money as a government contribution. The programme helps people secure a second residency or citizenship with the added benefits of visa-free access to mainstream destinations such as the US, UK and Euro Zone for extended periods, depending on the programme chosen. Caribbean Programmes The Caribbean Programmes makes the perfect option for those seeking lush views, stunning weather and a myriad of activities, among other things. “A major advantage of the Caribbean programmes is that South Africans do not need to leave home to secure citizenship and there are…

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck almost had an awkward run-in with her ex-fiancé Alex Rodriguez at a posh restaurant this week. The On the Floor hitmaker’s assistant had to quickly cancel the couple’s reservation at the fancy Bagatelle St Tropez restaurant on the French Riviera after she discovered the 46-year-old sportsman was dining there with another woman. A source told the DailyMail.com: “JLo had made a reservation at the same restaurant the same day. Her assistant turned up to check everything was okay, and there was A-Rod having lunch. She alerted JLo and the reservation was quickly cancelled.” Alex – who split from Jennifer in April 2021 following four years of dating – was reportedly with blonde sports presenter Melanie Collins. Lopez is in the South of France celebrating her…

Gerry Cupido geraldine.cupido@inl.co.za While diamonds are a girl’s best friend, there isn’t a person who would say no to a diamond-studded Rolex in place of a traditional ring. What better way to watch your love stand the test of time! The pandemic has forced us to do things differently. Weddings, if not virtual, have become more intimate. Couples have come up with creative and sometimes quirky ways to say their ‘I dos’. In the same way that ceremonies have changed, the traditional engagement gift has evolved. Global fashion shopping platform Lyst has reported a 42% increase in searches for ‘couple,’ ‘engagement’ and ‘wedding’ watches. An analysis of their Wedding 2021 Report predicts a rise in sales of upmarket timepieces. According to Refinery29, Morgan Le Caer, the content lead at Lyst,…

Zelda Venter zelda.venter@inl.co.za CARRYING their beloved sick cat several kilometres in the bitter cold from their rural home to a vet in town, held more rewards for the two children than they had realised. Not only was the now famous Babi saved by vodka, but the children received an award for their heroic deed. Jabu Maphisa, 7, and his sister Reitumetse Maphisa, 14, did not think twice when they noticed their ginger cat’s strange behaviour last month. They scooped him up and walked with him in their arms for about 2km in the cold to get him to NPO Cluny Animal Trust’s clinic in Fouriesburg in the Free State. Babi’s symptoms had first had the veterinarians scratching their heads, but it turned out that the cat was suffering from anti-freeze…

Loyiso Sidimba loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za VBS Mutual Bank liquidator Anoosh Rooplal has informed the doomed financial institution’s depositors and creditors that the chance to claim a maximum of R100 000 at any Nedank branch has ended. The affected parties include individuals, stokvels and burial societies. “The opportunity which retail depositors had within which to have up to a maximum of R100 000 of their claims honoured at any Nedbank branch has now expired. The last day to claim such money was July 8,” Rooplal said in a notice to creditors dated July 13. According to Rooplal, depositors who fall within the permitted categories of claimants that could claim funds from Nedbank but failed to do so can no longer make use of such a process. “Your only option is to submit a…

Amanda Maliba amanda.maliba@inl.co.ca SINGER AND SONGWRITER Holly Rey celebrates 10 years in the music industry by releasing her second EP, Unconditional , today, a follow up to her critically acclaimed first EP, You. Inspired by a bad break-up last year, the EP’s original theme took a 360-degree turn – moving away from the love stories we have come to know Holly Rey for, forcing her to look inwards, to learn what unconditional love for herself means and giving birth to Unconditional. Rey, who entered the industry at age 14, says although all her music thus far has been from the heart, this is a much more honest body of work that reflects where she is authentically. “And that’ the sentiment you will get while listening to it, an EP filled…

NELSON Mandela’s South African dream, which was driven by democratic values and constitutionalism and anchored on the rainbow nation chronicle, is being challenged by our socio-economic landscape. In Mandela’s words: “As long as many of our people still live in utter poverty, as long as children still live under plastic covers, as long as many of our people are still without jobs, no South African should rest and wallow in the joy of freedom.” In the past few weeks, the South African democratic order was, at face value, challenged in a way that was never seen before. The government was in turmoil about correctly categorising the unrest and pinning down its true cause. The contradiction of statements made by top leaders in this regard has also deepened the divide between…

WITH new technologies and the evolution of medical science in the 21st century, the Covid-19 vaccine was developed faster than vaccines for previous pandemics and epidemics. Vaccine nationalism, where some governments signed agreements with pharmaceutical manufacturers to supply their own populations with vaccines before they had become available to other countries, has led to the politicisation of Covid-19 vaccines. With several vaccine options available, public confidence in the safety and efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccine has, however, become heavily dependent on the political context in which the approved vaccines are distributed. Recently, the EU has welcomed vaccinated tourists from within the bloc and from the US, but not those from countries with certificates for vaccines that are not among those that have received EU marketing authorisation. The Covid-19 vaccine has…

A new World Bank financing mechanism will allow developing countries to buy Covid-19 vaccines collectively through the Covax facility, the scheme announced this week. Covax was set up to ensure 92 developing territories could access vaccines, with the cost covered by donors. The new mechanism will allow those countries to buy additional doses on top of the subsidised ones they will already receive. Countries should also have some flexibility in selecting particular vaccines that align with their preferences.…

WHEN it comes to South Africans’ state of personal emergency savings, the picture is pretty grim. First National Bank research findings released in May show that less than 6% of the bank’s middle-income customers – those earning between R15 000 and R42 000 a month – have emergency savings that would tide them over for three months or longer if they were to suffer the loss of their regular income. Perhaps more worrying is that more than a quarter of customers in the same group have no savings, and more than 80% have little to no savings accessible within seven days, in the case of an emergency. Cashing in retirement savings or long-term investment policies is a common coping mechanism used by consumers as the demands on their finances increase…