Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-02-26 i Pretoria News Weekend

Shingai Darangwa shingai.darangwa@inl.co.za When Riky Rick released the heartfelt and now harrowing single Home in 2020, he did so discreetly and without any promotion. Instead, he announced that he was releasing Ungazincishi featuring Focalistic, a song he was teasing for a while. He then quietly added Home as a snack of sorts to accompany Ungazincishi. If you were a casual fan you’d probably only listen to Ungazincishi, which was an instant hit and dominated that summer. But if, like me, you were a fan, Home was the immediate stand-out of the two songs. On it, Riky poured his heart out about the struggles he was going through with his mental health, the heavy burden of fame that was weighing on his shoulders and the pressures of being a breadwinner. “All…

Sameer Naik sameer.naik@inl.co.za SOUTH Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world. It also has one of the highest unemployment rates, and the country is notorious for its high levels of gender-based violence. Now it has another huge problem to contend with. This week, it was revealed that South Africa also sits in the top 10 countries to have the most cybercrime in the world. This was revealed by world-renowned cybersecurity company Surfshark, that recently compiled research about the countries that have been hardest hit by cybercrime over the past few years. While South Africa sits sixth in the countries found to have the most cybercrime, research by the award-winning cybercrime company has shown that South Africa has shown the sharpest rise in cybercrime recently compared to…

Kedibone Modise kedibone.modise@inl.co.za Renowned musician, performer and actress Lira is now adding tutor and “master” to her impressive resume. Lira recently partnered with MyMastery, an online platform that offers a unique learning experience, delivered by South African icons who will share insights into their craft and journey to success. As a master of the art of performance, Lira is set to offer young creatives some valuable and practical tips on how to survive the industry. “I’ve always been passionate about sharing everything I have learnt in pursuing a creative career because I know what it’s like to have your gift feel like a constant niggle that won’t go away,” offers Lira. “Any person who wishes to use their gift to contribute to the world and make a living out of…

Scores of people from all religious backgrounds gathered in Johannesburg yesterday to denounce increasing Islamophobia and threats of violence against Muslims in parts of India. This comes after a ban on hijabs in colleges and some schools in the southern Indian state of Karnataka this month which has triggered a conflict amid growing concerns that the attacks on Muslim symbols and practices are part of the larger Hindu far-right agenda of imposing majority values on minorities. The country’s 200 million Muslim minority community fear the ban on hijabs violates their religious freedom, guaranteed under India’s constitution. The protest organiser and social activist Salman Khan agreed and said any act of discrimination is against the ideals of Hinduism. “Calling for girls and women in India to remove their hijabs perpetuates Islamophobia,”…

THE recent visit of former president Thabo Mbeki to the ANC in the Free State has led to more questions than answers. Most revealing is that the issues of concern have been raised publicly by members of the ANC. To better understand the dis- pleasure of some members of the ANC about Mbeki’s visit to Free State, it is crucial to understand the origin – admittedly, this is only part of it – of the current internal strife of the ANC. It is a sad and well-known fact that Jacob Zuma’s defeat of Thabo Mbeki’s bid to serve a third term as the president of the ANC at the party’s 52nd national conference in Polokwane in December 2007 tore the party apart. This state of affairs within the ANC provoked…

Martin Hesse martin.hesse@inl.co.za When one weighs up his giving with the one hand and taking with the other, it’s difficult to assess whether South Africans will benefit overall from tax changes announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in his Budget Speech. However, at least he didn’t seek to increase the tax burden on financially-stressed South Africans for the 2022/23 tax year. On the relief side, the personal income tax brackets, medical tax credits, rebates and tax thresholds will be adjusted by an “inflation-related” 4.5%. There will be no increase in the fuel levy, which many analysts had predicted. However, sin taxes – excise duties on alcohol and tobacco products – will increase by between 5.5% and 6.5%, a more substantial hike. There are also no inflation-linked increases to things such…

The Budget speech touched on the government's proposed “two-pot” system for retirement savings, saying more work needed to be done. Michelle Acton, key account manager at Old Mutual Corporate Consultants, says the fact that the Minister has given the green light to the restructuring of the retirement system for individuals to allow for greater preservation and partial access to funds via the two-pot system is welcome. “More detail is required in terms of understanding the parameters that would allow for early access. This will need to be provided in the draft legislation that will be published for comment towards the middle of the year,” she says. Acton says more information on how National Treasury plans to tax contributions is also critical to reform. “Our current retirement fund tax dispensation is…

AS Russian forces moved deeper into Ukraine yesterday, sports bodies moved to strip Russia of events, with St Petersburg losing the Champions League final while the Formula One Grand Prix will not be held in Sochi. Russia launched its invasion by land, air and sea on Thursday following a declaration of war by President Vladimir Putin, with an estimated 100 000 people fleeing as explosions and gunfire rocked major cities. European soccer governing body Uefa decided to relocate the Champions League final to the Stade de France in Paris after receiving support from French President Emmanuel Macron. The decision was met with regret by the Kremlin but welcomed by UK Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries. “Russia must not be allowed to exploit sporting and cultural events on the world stage to…

There has been a significant shift in the customers’ fashion choices, and they now prefer apparel that offers the right blend of traditional and contemporary styles. This has prompted retailers and designers to adapt their business models to accommodate this demand. Both demographic and psychographic transformation is causing a noticeable shift in fit preference and product uniqueness in the Indian apparel industry. This was previously deeply rooted in the vastness and richness of Indian culture. Since the availability and accessibility of ready-made brands were limited, most people wore personalised apparel in the past. Because of its high cost and limited use, ready-made clothing was considered posh. People welcomed pre-made clothing enthusiastically as time passed, owing to its inexpensive and readily available nature. The demand shifted towards prefabricated apparel as the…

Zelda Venter zelda.venter@inl.co.za THE increase in crime over the years in Pretoria has seen a rise in applications to have certain areas proclaimed gated communities or access controlled areas. The latest community to be granted the go-ahead is a large portion of Waterkloof. Non-profit company, Safe Waterkloof, has, however, been battling with the City of Tshwane since the end of 2018 for permission to have a large portion of the area access controlled. Safe Waterkloof turned to the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, in 2020 after it did not get any answers from the City regarding its application. The court, at the time, ordered the City to urgently consider their application, which was meanwhile granted. Access control areas are in the process of being erected. The area includes 1 460 residential…

BETTY MOLEYA betty.moleya@inl.co.za A 10-YEAR academic journey through trials and tribulations has given Lehlogonolo Mojapelo more reason to be proud to be referred to as “Doctor”. The 28-year-old Limpopo-born doctor obtained her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree, and can finally officially be addressed as Dr Mojapelo. The qualification normally takes six years. She said her first obstacle had been getting into medical school. “Competition was high among other prospective medicine students, and while I met the requirements to study medicine, getting into the actual medical school was harder than I imagined,” she said. She was accepted at both the University of Pretoria and University of Free State to study for BSc degree in 2012. “At the University of Pretoria there is a BSc that you can do,…

Kennedy Mudzuli kennedy.mudzuli@inl.co.za DJ LLENTER SA has come a long way from when he used to play music during events in his primary school days. He would use his uncle’s equipment at those events. He also played in taverns. He was supported by his late grandfather, Johannes Mahlangu. “May his soul continue to rest in peace,” said the Limpopo-based Afro house/tech DJ, producer and recording studio owner. DJ Llenter SA, real name Collen Lerobane, was born on April 25, 1993, in Legolaneng and later moved to Sephaku. He has since established a record label, Llenter Musiq Records. His career began in 2012 and he has released an album, EPs and singles through Reeds Music Promoter and his own record label. Also under his name is his 2020 collaboration with young…

Jonisayi Maromo jonisayi.maromo@africannewsagency.com A light aircraft crashed near the Lanseria Airport in Gauteng on yesterday morning. Details are still sketchy, but Emer-G-Med said its paramedics responded to the scene of the light aircraft crash just after 10am. “On arrival on scene the wreckage of small aircraft was found in a field,” according to Emer-G-Med. “The pilot and only occupant was found on scene and treated for moderate injuries. The necessary investigations will be conducted by the aviation authorities.” Earlier this month, two people suffered minor injuries and were transported to hospital after a light aircraft crashed on the Olifantsbos Road at Cape Point. At the time, EMS spokesperson Deanna February said EMS responded to the incident which involved a light aircraft that had to make an emergency landing on the…

SOUTH Africa comes from a regime where most people were oppressed in the most inhuman way. This year marks 28 years of democracy where citizens vote for representatives and can participate and influence governing decisions affecting them. The latter is where much work needs to be done to realise the democratic construct that was envisaged when signing the Constitution into law. The context within which South Africa finds itself exacerbates the challenge. The legislature is to be the “voice of the people”. However, although some legislatures have embarked on ground-breaking methods to include communities in their activities, others have done nothing. One must, therefore, ask whether involving people in governing matters is a priority for political office bearers. With this background in mind, the seven-year term of the chairperson of…

No mention was made in the Budget about a mooted Basic Income Grant for South Africans. Carmen Nel, economist and macro strategist at Matrix Fund Managers, says: “The Budget does not allow for a Basic Income Grant, as the finance minister rightly notes that a structural increase in spending would require a structural increase in revenues, which would mean a personal income tax or VAT rate hike. This would be a notable risk to spending in the medium term, given socio-economic and political pressures.” However, the Budget has provisioned R44 billion in 2022/23 to continue the special Covid-19 social relief of distress grant (R350 per beneficiary per month) for another 12 months. The existing social grants will all be increased by 5% except for the foster care grant (1.9% increase)…

Name withheld Richus Nel, Financial Advisor at PSG Wealth, Old Oak, responds: It is important to understand that the rendering of financial advisory and intermediary services to clients are regulated by legislation and professional codes of conduct. What we say or write, are often construed as “advice” but the preparation for a big adventure or road trip going “North” can wildly vary when the following becomes apparent: Where does the trip start and who is/will be going on the trip. These two determining factors are often completely unknown when we answer financial questions over the radio or the web. Advisers are often constrained in terms of information available and time to explain certain fundamental principles so we often just touch on the surface and our feedback should therefore not be…

Reuters TOTTENHAM Hotspur manager Antonio Conte expressed his commitment to the club and said he had a discussion with the owner, amid speculation that the Italian would resign in the wake of the team’s poor form. Tottenham stunned Premier League champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last weekend but lost at lowly Burnley in the midweek, suffering their fourth defeat in their last five league games. Conte appeared to question his own future at the club after their defeat in the last game, but the Italian cleared the air on Friday. “I spoke to Daniel Levy. Our chairman knows very well that I’m here to help the club in every moment. I will do that until the end,” Conte told reporters ahead of today’s league trip to Leeds United.…

Jonisayi Maromo jonisayi.maromo@africannewsagency.com THE SAPS yesterday invited graduates in possession of a National Qualifications Framework (NQF) 6 or higher to join the organisation as entry-level police trainees. SAPS spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said they were heeding the call made by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his State of the Nation Address to boost police boots by 12 000 recruits. She said the process to recruit graduates complements the 2019/2020 recruitment drive for 7 000 entry-level police trainees and the additional 3 000 posts earmarked for current serving Public Service Act employees and reservists who will be trained and deployed across the 1 156 police stations. “Successful applicants will perform operational duties and functions which include preventing, combating and investigating crime, maintaining public order, protecting and securing all inhabitants of the Republic…

Alyssia Birjalal alyssia.birjalal@inl.co.za MUSIC icon Riky Rick’s death has shaken the music fraternity and the entertainment industry to its core. Riky established himself as a leading player on the South African entertainment scene as a singer, songwriter, entrepreneur and fashion aficionado. The 34 year-old rapper died in the early hours of Wednesday in Johannesburg, apparently by suicide, but his family have not confirmed this. On social media, celebrities like Somizi Mhlongo, Pearl Thusi and Nadia Nakai posted videos and pictures in memory of the Nafukwa rapper. Somizi posted a video of Riky and him hugging and having a conversation in a crowded place while the voiceover in the video was of Riky uttering some profound words. In true Somgaga style, he wrote in the caption: “I am not ok shemmmmm.…

Stefan Wolff and Tatyana Malyarenko Russian president Vladimir Putin’s recognition of the independence of the two breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk followed a surreal live broadcast of a security council meeting in the Kremlin. Sitting facing the 13-member council, Putin cajoled and argued as, one by one, his most senior officials – including Dmitry Medvedev, a former president and prime minister, and the country’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov – took to the lectern to provide their boss with “reasons” for the formal recognition of the two republics in the country’s east as independent states. He followed this decision by authorising Russian troops to cross into the republics in a “peacekeeping” capacity. It was also reported that the recognition treaties give Russia the right to establish military camps there. Blaming…

Wednesday’s Budget re-emphasised the government's intention to ensure that wealthy South Africans pay Caesar what is due to Caesar. To this end, provisional taxpayers with assets over R50 million will be required to declare specified assets and liabilities at market values in their 2023 tax returns. In a Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr presentation on the Budget on Wednesday, Emil Brincker, director and head of the firm’s tax and exchange control practice, pointed out that there was already a heavy tax burden on upper-middle-class and wealthy citizens. Brincker said that, as a portion of total revenue, personal income tax is increasing each year, from 37.2% in 2016/17 to 39.1% this year. “When you look at who is actually paying the taxes, 20% of taxpayers – those with an annual income of over…

In his 2022 Budget speech this week, the Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana was at pains to recognise the stress ordinary households are under. He did the unexpected and did not increase the fuel levy, nor did he increase ordinary taxes. The skyrocketing cost of fuel, which has breached R20 a litre inland, has put a strain on everyone's pockets without any exceptions these past months. The cost of transport puts a further expense on just about everything, from the price of food to the costs of schooling. The upside from this year's Budget is that there will be no extra tax expenses to add in planning your own budget this year. To manage costs, planning your own budget to make sure you can afford the things you really need, is…

Bernelee Vollmer Bernelee.Vollmer@inl.co.za THE Cape Town Carnival has returned. It includes a variety of shows that are affordable, enriched with colour and history, from the costumes and the majestic artwork to the puppets. A lot of work goes into the making of this spectacular carnival, and we were able to have a sneak peek into what goes on. Some of the staff members involved in the skills development shared their input on how long they’ve been part of this historic event. “I’ve been with the carnival for 11 years now, and it has been an amazing experience, and I love being a part of the Cape Town Carnival,” says Nazeem Abdullah, leader of the skills department who creates the big and small beautiful sculptures you see on the day of…