Innholdsfortegnelse for 2021-12-18 i Pretoria News Weekend

Liam Karabo Joyce liam.joyce@inl.co.za If there is one thing that this year has proven, is that even in the middle of a pandemic, music is still a universal language. Some of the biggest and best albums of, dare I say, the past couple of years, were released this year. Here is our list, in no particular order, of the biggest and best albums of 2021. Doja Cat, Planet Her Doja Cat made it very clear that she did not come to play when she released her third studio album. The singer, rapper, songwriter and producer proved that she has all the talent needed to make it in this cut throat business. Working in the pop, rap and R&B realms, she also dabbles in Afrobeat, dance hall and other global genres.…

OWN Correspondent JOSEPH Marimane Ntimane, known as Ma-R, believes in making music that gives hope and light; and for the message of the song to change someone’s life. He hopes to achieve that with his latest single, Khale Khale, even if it is just one person. Mar-R was born and raised in the small township Ximhungwe in Mpumalanga, where he developed into a musical prodigy at the age of 7. He was blessed with striking vocals, which was useful later when he later formed the group Cokzeen in 1999, with his equally talented friend, July Thembe. Together, the dynamic duo embarked on their passions, and they were resilient in their craft, so much so that they entered and won the Lesedi FM, Iwisa Maize Meal competition in 2000. Cokzeen’s success…

Mayibongwe Maqhina mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za THE establishment of a Resistance and Liberation Movement Museum is being proposed and the country’s administrative capital city, Tshwane, is tipped to house the facility. The feasibility study on the proposed museum has already been approved by the Cabinet. This was revealed by Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa when he was responding in writing to parliamentary questions from DA MP Tsepo Mhlongo. Mhlongo had enquired the reasons that Mthethwa was purportedly pushing with the proposed museum in the Eastern Cape, something he described as a possible duplication of Freedom Park. He also asked about the budget allocated for the project, the purpose and rationale for the project. “We already have numerous sites of liberation that honour the struggle, which receive either minimal or no financial…

BETTY MOLEYA betty.moleya@inl.co.za SOUTH Africa is among countries that have high levels of alcohol consumption and people at high risk of developing a related disorder and addiction. And alcohol consumption is more common among men than women, with 16% of men reporting signs of problem drinking against 3% of women. This is contained in the National Drug Master Plan 2019 to 2024, conceived by the Department of Social Development. People who consumed high levels of alcohol were more likely to engage in behaviour such as drinking and driving and risky sexual behaviour, which also contributes to gender-based violence, according to the study. “The consumption of alcohol does not only contribute to risky behaviours, but contributes to health issues.” According to Affinity Health, long-term abuse of alcohol increases the risk of…

Section 165 of the Constitution states that the judicial authority vests in the judiciary and that the courts are independent and subject only to the Constitution and law. The judiciary must also apply the Constitution and the law impartially, without fear, favour, or prejudice and without interference from any organ of state. The laws can be used as a marker or indication of how the judiciary performed this year. The judiciary is a separate branch of the government. The executive and the legislature are elected every five years and are appointed by political parties on a proportional representation system. The party that wins the most votes governs the country and will have the majority vote in decisions adopted in the legislature. However, the Constitutional Court, in New Nation Movement versus…

SOUTH Africa today finds itself at a crossroads where prospects remain dim in light of the growing triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. The transformation agenda has not taken priority and continues to suffer at the hands of unclear leadership coupled with ineffective outcomes. In the words of Thomas Sankara: “You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness. In this case, it comes from nonconformity, the courage to turn your back on old formulas, the courage to invent the future.” Sankara’s words come at a time where a level of madness is required to break old order thinking and move boldly into the future with renewed vigour, underpinned by courage. The current socio-economic environment is replete with possibility of growth and transformation, if only…

After collecting dust for nearly two years, the 228 rooms at Bethlehem’s Ararat Hotel were scrubbed last month in anticipation of a post-lockdown Christmas boom, hopes that have again been dashed by the coronavirus. A large Christmas tree and decorations did little to brighten a deserted lobby. Like other hotels in Bethlehem, the Ararat has no guests, with the tree offering cheer to no one but the seven out of 105 employees who have not been fired. “We were expecting 70% occupancy for Christmas but all overseas reservations have been cancelled,” said Augustine Shomali, a manager at the hotel. The people of Bethlehem – a Palestinian city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank where Christians believe Jesus was born – are used to welcoming an influx of tourists each December. After…

Christmas is around the corner but you may struggle to spot a Santa spreading joy in the US this holiday season. That’s because the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a shortage of Father Christmases, according to a booking company and Santa Claus training school. Parties are back but the supply of plump, white-bearded men in red is way behind demand. Contributing to the shortfall have been the deaths from coronavirus of more than 335 Santas this year, said Mitch Allen of Texas-based Hire Santa rental agency.…

Kenyan asylum seeker Pallo Mandela dreamt of freedom on his seven- day bus journey to South Africa. His brother had found him in bed with a man, and now he was fleeing for his life. “He became very wild and very toxic,” said the 27-year-old, conjuring the painful memories from a small suburban house outside Pretoria, where he now lives. “He came with a bottle to hit my head and said he was going to kill me,” said Mandela, who arrived in South Africa in February last year. Gay sex is banned in Kenya, and the police arrested him. Days later, queer activists paid bribes for his release and told him to “disappear”. “The only option I had was to come to South Africa,” Mandela said. “That was the only…

MARK KEOHANE EARLIER in the week I was scrolling through the British rugby site ruck.co.uk and among the threads was headlined: The Greatest Rugby XV of all time. Naturally, I clicked through. The side, the result of a 200 000 – strong BBC fan poll included three South Africans in 1995 World Cup – winning captain Francois Pienaar, 1995 World Cup winner Joost van der Westhuizen and the 2007 World Cup winner and Springbok try-scoring record holder Bryan Habana. It was Pienaar’s selection that surprised me the most, given just how many fantastic No 6 flankers have played the game. Pienaar, at his peak, was an outstanding international player and among the best Test captains, but there are other No 6s I would have considered, with Schalk Burger and Siya…

Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif, who recently tied the knot in a royal-esque wedding, have shared heart-warming pictures from their wedding shoot at the Six Senses Fort Barwara Hotel. Both actors took to their social media to share the pictures. While Vicky shared one picture where he is seen planting a peck on his bride’s forehead, Katrina posted a series of pictures capturing different emotions of the couple. The couple shared a common caption, which read: “To love, honour and cherish”. The pictures show the couple’s most cherished moments from their wedding, which grabbed headlines. The actors twinned in pastel shades illuminated by the evening sun. Their outfits merged perfectly with the old-world stone walls of the fort-turned-hotel. In addition to pastel, floral was also the theme for the photo…

Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif, who recently tied the knot in a royal-esque wedding, have shared heart-warming pictures from their wedding shoot at the Six Senses Fort Barwara Hotel. Both actors took to their social media to share the pictures. While Vicky shared one picture where he is seen planting a peck on his bride’s forehead, Katrina posted a series of pictures capturing different emotions of the couple. The couple shared a common caption, which read: “To love, honour and cherish”. The pictures show the couple’s most cherished moments from their wedding, which grabbed headlines. The actors twinned in pastel shades illuminated by the evening sun. Their outfits merged perfectly with the old-world stone walls of the fort-turned-hotel. In addition to pastel, floral was also the theme for the photo…

Zelda Venter zelda.venter@inl.co.za A TUSSLE over “who brought the most assets into the marriage” played off in the Limpopo High Court, sitting in Polokwane. The man complained he had to share his hard-earned assets with his now former wife, while she brought only a car and furniture when they married. But, as the court pointed out, when they signed a prenuptial agreement before the wedding, it was binding, and the assets should be divided equally. The court said although at the stage of changing vows the couple had no idea the marriage would not last, the prenuptial agreement remained in place. The couple, who cannot be identified as the application forms part of divorce proceedings, were married for about five years before things turned sour. To make things worse for…

Betty Moleya betty.moleya@inl.co.za THE long-awaited documentary series Tsako Pitori will premiere on Wednesday, in partnership with MTV Base, bringing viewers the success stories of some of the biggest music names to come out of Pretoria. In the series, viewers can expect tales of success, setbacks and artists overcoming the odds to put Pretoria on the map. Senior vice-president and general manager at Viacom CBS Networks Africa, Monde Twala, said Pretoria’s impact on the local entertainment scene was without question. He said they were proud to tell the story of Pitori’s finest talent in this one-of-a-kind music special. “As a channel, we are excited to give some of the biggest names in the country a platform to tell their stories of success and inspire a new generation of artists to do…

INTERNATIONAL Human Solidarity Day on Monday is a day for celebrating our unity in diversity. It is intended to remind us of the need for global co-operation and solidarity. In our world today, it is a common belief that we can unite if we are of the same race, nationality, religion or ethnic origin, but we often are suspicious and even mistrust those who are not from the same background, let alone entertain the thought of uniting with them. According to the Baháí writings, our well-being, peace and security are dependent on our unity – a unity that embraces and honours the full diversity of humanity. Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Baháí faith says: “The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is…

Mayibongwe Maqhina mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za IF THE Al Jama-ah party had its way, the maintenance laws should be amended to provide for provisional maintenance orders before a court makes a determination for maintenance of a complainant and her children. The party’s leader, Ganief Hendricks, intends to introduce in Parliament a private member’s bill that seeks to make this ideal a reality. This emerged in a notice, published by the the National Legislature, inviting members of the public to make written comments. A summary of the proposed legislation says the bill seeks to amend the Maintenance Act to provide for a process and criteria for provisional maintenance orders. “The duration of the provisional maintenance order (should) be until the final determination of the matter or a formal hearing in terms of Uniform Rule…

SOUTH Africa today finds itself at a crossroads where prospects remain dim in light of the growing triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. The transformation agenda has not taken priority and continues to suffer at the hands of unclear leadership coupled with ineffective outcomes. In the words of Thomas Sankara: “You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness. In this case, it comes from nonconformity, the courage to turn your back on old formulas, the courage to invent the future.” Sankara’s words come at a time where a level of madness is required to break old order thinking and move boldly into the future with renewed vigour, underpinned by courage. The current socio-economic environment is replete with possibility of growth and transformation, if only…

Christmas is around the corner but you may struggle to spot a Santa spreading joy in the US this holiday season. That’s because the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a shortage of Father Christmases, according to a booking company and Santa Claus training school. Parties are back but the supply of plump, white-bearded men in red is way behind demand. Contributing to the shortfall have been the deaths from coronavirus of more than 335 Santas this year, said Mitch Allen of Texas-based Hire Santa rental agency.…

Kenyan asylum seeker Pallo Mandela dreamt of freedom on his seven- day bus journey to South Africa. His brother had found him in bed with a man, and now he was fleeing for his life. “He became very wild and very toxic,” said the 27-year-old, conjuring the painful memories from a small suburban house outside Pretoria, where he now lives. “He came with a bottle to hit my head and said he was going to kill me,” said Mandela, who arrived in South Africa in February last year. Gay sex is banned in Kenya, and the police arrested him. Days later, queer activists paid bribes for his release and told him to “disappear”. “The only option I had was to come to South Africa,” Mandela said. “That was the only…

BRITAIN’S Queen Elizabeth has cancelled a pre-Christmas lunch with her family as a precaution while cases of Covid-19 soar in Britain, a Buckingham Palace source said. “The decision is a precautionary one as it is felt to put too many people’s Christmas arrangements at risk if it went ahead.” England’s chief medical officer warned people this week not to mix with others unless they have to in the run-up to Christmas after Britain recorded its most daily coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic. |…

Police in Ethiopia had arrested a freelance video journalist working for the Associated Press (AP), the US news agency and state media said this week, confirming that Amir Aman Kiyaro was arrested in Addis Ababa on November 28 after returning from a reporting trip. Two other local journalists, identified by state media as Thomas Engida and Addisu Mulneh, were also detained. Images of the three men, as well as their ID cards, were broadcast by state media in a video report on their arrest. “The Associated Press is extremely concerned that AP freelancer Amir Aman Kiyaro has been detained by the Ethiopian government, accused of promoting terrorism,” AP senior vice president and executive editor Julie Pace said. “These are baseless allegations. Kiyaro is an independent journalist who has done important…

DELE Alli’s career has undergone a massive nosedive over the past two years. He has gone from being one of the most talked-about players in England to losing his England national team place, and now has become a fringe player for Tottenham. Signed from MK Dons in 2015, Alli was key to the Spurs team that nearly won the Premier League title in 2015/16 and 2016/17. He won two PFA Young Player of the Year awards and inclusion in the PFA Team of the season. It was unsurprising that he was linked with moves to the biggest clubs in the world, and that Sir Alex Ferguson highlighted him as a player that Manchester United should sign. Alli initially fell from grace under José Mourinho. Some would have speculated that there…

Liam Karabo Joyce liam.joyce@inl.co.za If there is one thing that this year has proven is that even in the middle of a pandemic, music is still a universal language. Some of the biggest and best albums of, dare I say, the past couple of years, were released this year. Here is our list, in no particular order, of the biggest and best albums of 2021. Doja Cat, Planet Her Doja Cat made it very clear that she did not come to play when she released her third studio album. The singer, rapper, songwriter and producer proved that she has all the talent needed to make it in this cut throat business. Working in the pop, rap and R&B realms, she also dabbles in Afrobeat, dance hall and other global genres.…

Genevieve Serra genevieve.serra@inl.co.za TWO YEARS ago, Quinton Bradley Plaatjies went on early retirement after being employed at the Department of Correctional Services for more than 35 years. In October last year, he vanished, and police are now investigating how two people allegedly withdrew R100 000 in cash from his bank account after his disappearance. The search for Plaatjies, who disappeared after receiving millions in his retirement payout, has been widened to the rest of the country. His bank account has since been frozen. Police have remained mum on the investigation and stated that they did not want to jeopardise the case, which was at a fragile and sensitive stage. The case has been handed over to the Provincial Organised Crime Unit which is are assisting the Missing Persons Unit with…

OWN Correspondent THE Tshwane Metro Police Department has seized suspected stolen copper cables from a truck on the R513 at Brits Road. Members of a task team were conducting patrols when they spotted a truck carrying scrap metal with three men inside. The truck was stopped and searched. Underneath the scrap metal the officers discovered bags full of suspected stolen copper cables. The driver and the two men could not account for the cables and said they were taking them to a big scrapyard in the plots. After interrogation the suspects said that they were from another scrapyard in Cullinan and had bought the cables from people who brought them in. The cables were found has an estimated street value of about R1 million. The three suspects were arrested…

Baldwin Ndaba baldwin.ndaba@inl.co.za One of the major labour unions at the SABC has welcomed the decision of the South Gauteng High Court in Joburg to order the public broadcaster’s former chief operations officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, to pay back R11.5 million owed to the SABC. Communication Workers Union (CWU) deputy secretary-general Thabo Mogalane said his union welcomed the ruling, but called on SABC board members and management to work hard and conduct oversight on all management issues to avoid a repeat. While the CWU is calling for the strengthening of financial controls in the public broadcaster, Motsoeneng said he would consider his next option after receiving the judgment and having studied it thoroughly. “I can’t comment at this stage. I have instructed my lawyers to get hold of the judgment. I…

Goitsemang Tlhabye goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za THE bid to raise the R30 billion needed to fund the “missing middle” students has been boosted by the partnership between Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University and Standard Bank. In a bid to alleviate the financial difficulties experienced by students in paying for their studies, the two entities have partnered together to offer students loans where surety was not required for selected courses and postgraduate studies. This offer is to ensure that students from low= to missing middle-income families within the Schools of Health Care Sciences, Medicine, Oral Health Sciences and Pharmacy can obtain a student loan for their educational needs. Both institutions said they hoped this would go a long way in ameliorating the difficult circumstances students face as part of the journey to complete their…

Section 165 of the Constitution states that the judicial authority vests in the judiciary and that the courts are independent and subject only to the Constitution and law. The judiciary must also apply the Constitution and the law impartially, without fear, favour, or prejudice and without interference from any organ of state. The laws can be used as a marker or indication of how the judiciary performed this year. The judiciary is a separate branch of the government. The executive and the legislature are elected every five years and are appointed by political parties on a proportional representation system. The party that wins the most votes governs the country and will have the majority vote in decisions adopted in the legislature. However, the Constitutional Court, in New Nation Movement versus…

BRITAIN’S Queen Elizabeth has cancelled a pre-Christmas lunch with her family as a precaution while cases of Covid-19 soar in Britain, a Buckingham Palace source said. “The decision is a precautionary one as it is felt to put too many people’s Christmas arrangements at risk if it went ahead.” England’s chief medical officer warned people this week not to mix with others unless they have to in the run-up to Christmas after Britain recorded its most daily coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic. |…

Police in Ethiopia had arrested a freelance video journalist working for the Associated Press (AP), the US news agency and state media said this week, confirming that Amir Aman Kiyaro was arrested in Addis Ababa on November 28 after returning from a reporting trip. Two other local journalists, identified by state media as Thomas Engida and Addisu Mulneh, were also detained. Images of the three men, as well as their ID cards, were broadcast by state media in a video report on their arrest. “The Associated Press is extremely concerned that AP freelancer Amir Aman Kiyaro has been detained by the Ethiopian government, accused of promoting terrorism,” AP senior vice president and executive editor Julie Pace said. “These are baseless allegations. Kiyaro is an independent journalist who has done important…

After collecting dust for nearly two years, the 228 rooms at Bethlehem’s Ararat Hotel were scrubbed last month in anticipation of a post-lockdown Christmas boom, hopes that have again been dashed by the coronavirus. A large Christmas tree and decorations did little to brighten a deserted lobby. Like other hotels in Bethlehem, the Ararat has no guests, with the tree offering cheer to no one but the seven out of 105 employees who have not been fired. “We were expecting 70% occupancy for Christmas but all overseas reservations have been cancelled,” said Augustine Shomali, a manager at the hotel. The people of Bethlehem – a Palestinian city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank where Christians believe Jesus was born – are used to welcoming an influx of tourists each December. After…

SMISO MSOMI CHIPPA United and Coach Gavin Hunt have amicably decided to part ways following a brief suspension due to their poor start in the DStv Premiership. Hunt was placed on temporary suspension last month after the club had what they deemed “their worst start in the clubs history”, having won just one game in their opening ten. Kurt Lentjies was placed as caretaker coach in his absence. According to reports, the two parties have reached a compromise. An agreement that will see the Gqeberha based-side pay Hunt a six month settlement amount following their decision to terminate his contract just four months into a two year contract. The former Kaizer Chiefs mentor’s return to his head coach duties seemed highly unlikely considering Chippa United’s history with coaches and…