Innholdsfortegnelse for 2021-09-25 i Pretoria News Weekend

Paris Fashion Week begins on Monday. It will mark the final week of Fashion Month, where the industry’s travelling circus of models, critics, buyers and clients, travel the four fashion capitals to see what the designers have decided the world will wear in the next six months. It has been a time of glamour, parties and a literal throwback to the pre-Covid-19 times of the industry. Throw in the Met Gala and you have a glorious celebration of an industry that barely survived the pandemic. But while all this was happening, the other side of the industry was on trial. The seedy, creepy and abusive side that many would want to turn a blind eye to. While the new generation supermodels like Gigi Hadid, Imaan Hammam and Adut Akech were…

Buhle Mbonambi buhle.mbonambi@inl.co.za Style. Gadgets. Luxury. Murder. Those are the four words I associate with super spy James Bond. Think about it. He is always in the most stunning clothes, carries (and drives) the coolest gadgets that are not easily available to the ordinary person. He stays in the most luxurious locations, drinking and eating from Michelin-starred restaurants, only to end the evening killing a couple of people. For Queen and Country, of course. Agent 007 is always on Her Majesty’s secret service. After three postponements, thanks to Covid-19, Daniel Craig will finally bid us farewell as James Bond. No Time To Die, the latest Bond film, will be his fifth and final of the franchise. And he is leaving us in style. Opening on Friday, No Time To Die…

Val Boje val.boje@inl.co.za UNDERSTANDING issues around water security in South Africa was central to a National Press Club/GCIS media briefing this week. Coming on the back of the annual Water Research Commission symposium, speakers from the sector outlined some of the innovative work being done, and what more needs to be done especially in terms of the way the country thinks about a sustainable waste water ecosystem. During the symposium, Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu highlighted the importance of “water as life” and “sanitation as dignity”. In his opening remarks in the webinar, Dr Henry Roman, director, Environmental Services and Technology of the Department of Science and Innovation, said SA was about the 30th driest country in the world with an annual rainfall well below the global average. Strategic…

Willem van de Putte willem.vdputte@inl.co.za MENTION Toyota Land Cruiser to almost anyone that has a passing interest in cars and it immediately conjures images of an all-conquering all-terrain vehicle that shrugs off any obstacle and will reach its destination with little fuss. South Africans love their Cruisers, borne out by the sales figures over the past 70 years since its introduction. The 80 series in the 1990s cemented the Cruiser phenomenon locally and, in decent nick, they command top-tier prices in the used car space and on the various Toyota forums. What started as a utilitarian vehicle has evolved into a luxurious SUV that has an incredible off-road ability and remains “The Master of Africa”. If you prefer the hardcore uncompromising farm-style truck, Toyota’s got that covered too with the…

TESLA’S AUTOPILOT results in a noticeable decrease in driver attention when activated, a new report has found. According to a study based on MIT Advanced Vehicle Technology data, drivers tend to look at things non-related to driving more often and for longer periods when Autopilot is activated. “The model replicates the observed glance pattern across drivers. The model’s components show that off-road glances were longer with Autopilot active than without,” the study found.…

BRITAIN’S US Open champion Emma Raducanu said yesterday she was seeking a new coach after announcing she would no longer be working with former Davis Cup player Andrew Richardson. The 18-year-old stunned the sporting world when she won the title as a qualifier without dropping a set – becoming the first British woman to win a Grand Slam for 44 years. Speaking after a “homecoming” event yesterday at which she met tennis fan the duchess of Cambridge, Raducanu said she now wanted to target more success on the WTA Tour. “Obviously having such an experience with your team, it’s tough to have that conversation with anyone,” Raducanu said. “But I need someone who’s had that professional tour experience. “I think for me it’s just really what I need. And especially…

Clinton Moodley clinton.moodley@inl.co.za A five-star property is a luxury for most travellers. However, if you look closely, there may be some bargains to be found. The folks at Top Dollar searched for the cheapest five-star hotel in every country with some under $30 (about R440). The team searched for five-star hotels in every country on Hotels.com for a one-night stay for two in July and found the 10 cheapest accommodations for each country. Luxury properties with sale prices and countries with fewer than five five-star hotels were not considered. Instead, the website separated equally priced hotels in the top 10 by favouring the bigger room in terms of square footage. The research found that the world’s cheapest five-star hotel, the Novotel Ahmedabad Hotel in Ahmedabad, India, costs $28 a night.…

Ashley Fetters There are two kinds of comedians, according to Hacks: old-school stand-ups, the kind that rely on artfully crafted one-liners and ba-dum-chhh punchlines, who roam the stage while they perform; and contemporary, disgustingly cutting-edge performers, who sit on stools, ruminating in cadences that just barely sound like jokes. Hacks – in which a disgraced young comedy writer winds up working for mega-successful Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), who’s been cashing in on the same routine for years – hammers home early and often that Deborah sits (or rather, stands and paces) squarely in that first category of comedian. She’s old guard rather than vanguard. Smart won the Emmy for her portrayal of Vance, at the ceremony on Sunday. Her first for a starring role. Since 1979,…

Hanisha Kapoor, chief operations officer at ArchiesBeauty.com, shares make-up trends experimented with by Bollywood divas, throughout 2021, for inspiration. The Classic Red Lip We don’t see a future where classic red lips go out of fashion. The right way to achieve this celebrity look is to focus on accentuating your lips and keeping the rest of the face minimal. Give your lips a good scrub to plump them, moisturise, and apply a red lip liner to define the shape of your lips. Now go on with the perfect shade of red, and finish your look with a slick of eyeliner, and minimal concealer and foundation. No Make-up Look Deepika Padukone, pictured above, does a wonderful job of achieving the minimal look by softly covering any dark spots or blemishes and…

NOKWANDA NCWANE nokwanda.ncwane@inl.co.za TO CELEBRATE Heritage Day and the 90th birthday of the Voortrekkers, three teams from the Polsslag Voortrekker Commando made history by creating the world’s longest tart, at 12m. The teams were made up of Grade 1, 2 and 3 pupils. The tart is being showcased today during the food festival, at the Voortrekker Monument. The Voortrekkers is a cultural movement that empowers modern Afrikaner children and youth. Hermien Wolff, who facilitated the activity, said they were proud of the end product and thankful to all the children who participated. Wolff and her team used 120 litres of milk, 480 eggs, 25kg of sugar, 36kg of butter and 36 of kg biscuits to make the tart. Etienne Buis, 7, who participated in the initiative, said he was proud…

GERMAN activists have filed lawsuits against BMW and Mercedes-Benz for refusing to tighten their carbon emissions targets and give up fossil fuel-emitting cars by 2030, it was reported. The NGO Deutsche Umwelthilfe confirmed the lawsuits had been filed. The companies were given until September 20 to agree to the NGO’s demands, which also included limiting production of internal combustion engine (ICE) cars ahead of 2030. Neither of the companies has so far set an end date.BMW and Daimler also confirmed that they had not accepted the NGO’s demands.…

THE AGEING Nissan GT-R has been given a minor make-over for 2022. This includes new cosmetics and chassis upgrades through the introduction of two T-spec limited edition models in the form of the Premium Edition and Track Edition by Nismo. Both T-spec editions gain exclusive carbon ceramic brakes as well as a carbon fibre rear spoiler, widened fenders, bespoke engine cover and unique badging. Buyers can also opt for two new body colours: Midnight Purple and Millenium Jade. | IOL Motoring…

AMONG football fans, Soweto is synonymous with epic battles involving Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. But today the Orlando Stadium hosts an encounter of different proportions and nuances. Rhulani Mokwena, the son of a family of Pirates greats, who had a stint as assistant coach and coach at Bucs recently, is back to fight for points as Mamelodi Sundowns coach. He returns as someone who’s willing to take the gloves against a Pirates club that ‘raised him’, given the fact that his grandfather, father and uncle donned the black and white jersey of the club with distinction. He wants to prove that his current team Sundowns are worthy of leading the table after the fourth round of league matches, and that last season’s triumphant outing was no fluke. Mokwena might…

Ashfak Mohamed ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za THEY’VE ruled South Africa, but were handed a “rugby lesson” by Benetton in the Rainbow Cup final. Now the Bulls have to square up to the mighty Leinster, Ireland’s powerhouse province who are four-time European champions and have won the previous incarnation of the United Rugby Championship a record eight times. That includes the last four seasons, so it is a truly daunting prospect for Jake White’s team when they run out in front of a big crowd at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin tonight (6.15pm SA time kickoff). But it is exactly that prospect that excites White about the occasion. Whereas the Bulls were favourites to beat Benetton in the Rainbow Cup final in June, they are rank underdogs against Leinster. Very few pundits would call…

Clinton Moodley clinton.moodley@inl.co.za Checking into a hotel used to be effortless. However, with the third wave, many travellers are on edge when staying at a hotel. For some, like me, there’s constant paranoia. “What if I touch something?” “Is this person too close to me?” “Did they really sanitise this room?” are just some of the questions I ask when I check into a property. While the tourism industry is doing everything in its power to ensure Covid-19 health and safety protocols, guests also have a responsibility to adopt new methods to ensure their safety. For example, in the past, staff would bring your luggage to your room. They would stack it neatly in the designated area and be on their way. While this still happens at most hotels, it’s…

IANS In all the excitement, it’s easy to overlook the impact a wedding has on the environment. While everyone is making their big fat wedding dreams come true, they are also adding to their carbon footprint and undue energy consumption. Modern couples are now looking for ways to have a wedding with an environmentally conscious mindset. It’s become about incorporating less waste, locally sourced and seasonal food, and natural materials over the use of plastic. Mindful wedding planning and decor includes the use of recycled paper and goods along with eco-friendly venue needs. Check out this quick guide by Prerana Agarwal Saxena of Theme Weavers Designs, that will help you to achieve an environmentally conscious wedding without compromising on luxury: Choose locally sourced material to uplift artisans Sustainable can be…

James Mahlokwane james.mahlokwane@inl.co.za NOTHING says “long weekend” like the sight of people relaxing in a public park and reading books while others enjoy some drinks and a braai with good company. This proudly South culture could be seen at various parks in Tshwane since Thursday as people prepared for Heritage Day. Workers donned their traditional clothing on their way to work on Thursday while those who did not have to work flocked to heritage sites such as Freedom Park and the Voortrekker Monument to learn about different cultures and the history of the country. Some of the people who enjoyed their time out were military veterans who went to the monument early on Thursday morning and spent most of the day taking pictures and learning more about the battles that…

NOKWANDA NCWANE nokwanda.ncwane@inl.co.za TO HONOUR and celebrate its late and longest-serving employee Martin Matleb- yane, the US Embassy in Pretoria has renamed its Maker Space at the Es’kia Mphahlele Library after him. His commemorative plaque and photo were unveiled at the library this week. Matlebyane worked at the embassy for more than 33 years. He died from Covid-19 in July last year, after which the embassy proposed and gained concurrence from the City of Tshwane and his family to rename the Maker Space in his honour. Chargé d’Affaires from the US Embassy Todd Haskell said Matlebyane was committed to lifelong learning and engaged in American Spaces during the apartheid era as a staff member for the US Information Service. He was a frequent partner with the Public Affairs Section in…

nokwanda ncwane Resilience and determination propelled senior Unisa lecturer, PhD graduate and now author, Dr Gladys Ke-Di-Bone Mokwena, 65, to greater heights in academia and life. Mokwena, widowed at 26, raised two children as a single parent and pursued an education through night school, and published her book Resilience In Adversity last month. It will officially launch next month. From Karenpark, Akasia, in Pretoria, she achieved her PhD at 62, saying people often laughed at her, and that she was studying so she could have a well-decorated obituary. But Mokwena did not lose focus nor allow people’s opinions to derail her from reaching her goals. Her book discusses hardship and resilience from different perspectives. Mokwena also discusses the challenges in her life. “The book seeks to inspire and motivate people…

Duncan Guy duncan.guy@inl.co.za Organisers of the the sixth Durban Mile Swim Series are fuming at having to postpone the event because of the City’s failure to resolve a sewerage problem, After week’s of talks and mounting excitement amid 25O participants signed for the event, the City closed down the beaches for the long weekend, instead of fixing the infrastructure that was causing the sewage to spill into the sea. “Surely you fix these things. You don’t leave them,” event organiser Trevor Martin told the Independent on Saturday, calling the city “absolutely incompetent”. All central beaches, from the harbour mouth to the Umgeni River at the Blue Lagoon were closed yesterday afternoon because of unacceptable levels of E Coli. Those further north, all the way to Tongaat, remained closed because of…

Jason Woosey jason.woosey@inl.co.za THE Volvo XC90 premium SUV has been given a refresh for the 2022 model year and the revised models are now available to order, with prices ranging from R1 213 000 to R1 530 000. The 2022 Volvo XC90 ushers in mild-hybrid technology for the petrol models, with the previous T5 making way for the new B5 and the T6 being replaced by B6. Buyers will also once again be able to opt for a T8 Twin-Engine plug-in hybrid, which offers 300kW. The mild hybrid powertrains feature an integrated starter generator as well as a Kinetic Energy Recovery System, which harnesses braking energy to charge the 48-volt battery. While efficiency has improved with the introduction of the new mild-hybrid petrol powertrains, the outputs are slightly different, for…

Clinton Moodley clinton.moodley@inl.co.za Those looking for an all-inclusive vacation can now travel to Seychelles, where the recently opened Club Med Seychelles offers a perfect everything-included getaway. The five-star property is set on a 220ha private island of Sainte Anne, offering some of the most breathtaking views. The Exclusive Collection resort, the only resort on the island, boasts an upfront package that includes transfers, accommodation, all meals, drinks, in-resort activities and more. Packages can also include flights. Perfect for a social distancing vacay, the resort features white sand beaches, giant granite boulders smoothed by the waves, turquoise waters and lush vegetation. Here, travellers can embark on supervised exploration hikes to discover local flora, fauna and history or enjoy guided snorkelling tours. The 290 rooms cater for all kinds of visitors,…

Clinton Moodley clinton.moodley@inl.co.za Wealthy travellers are looking for more than luxurious accommodation; they prefer eco-friendly trips and stays that contribute to the environment and enhance the locals’ lifestyles. Here is what you will pay at these lavish eco-friendly stays: Casa Xixim Where: Tulum, Mexico If you are a fan of Netflix’s hit show The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals, you've probably swooned over Casa Xixim during season 2’s eco-friendly stays episode. Truth is, there is nothing you wouldn’t love at this four-bedroom property that shows off some of the most incredible waterfront views in the country. Casa Xixim, a private eco-luxe beachfront villa on Soliman Bay, adopts many sustainable practices. These include sleek modern architecture using indigenous materials, permaculture design, rainwater harvesting, recycling, composting, upcycling, and it’s fully solar-powered.…