Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-03-12 i Pretoria News Weekend

Thobile Mazibuko thobile.mazibuko@inl.co.za “I FIND it funny that many designers grow locally and then find international markets. I think, for me, things quickly became the opposite in a lot of ways, so I want to circle back to South Africa and do interesting events that tie the brand back into the country,” said Thebe Magugu. This was during an interview with IOL Lifestyle, in Durban, in May last year. The quote is from a question I had asked about his plans to localise the Thebe Magugu brand. But it seems the universe had other plans and while he wants to make sure his brand is celebrated at home, the global fashion industry needs him more. When Magugu was one of the designers chosen to pay tribute to the late Alber…

Buhle Mbonambi buhle.mbonambi@inl.co.za WHAT does it take to be a socialite? Well, a few things. In the previous millennium, it was probably all about your net worth or being a member of a prominent family with an ‘aristocratic’ background. This would allow you to attend social gatherings, where you would be fêted simply because of your standing in society. Most times, you didn’t even need to have a job, just access to wealth. The definition has changed over the decades and become all about being fame-adjacent, whether it’s through who you know, where you work or how many followers you have on social media. The socialites of yore are currently depicted in The Gilded Age, which airs on Tuesdays on M-Net at 8.30pm. It’s about the Russells, a nouveau riche…

Murphy Nganga murphy.nganga@inl.co.za Additional financial constraints on medical practitioners is pushing the health-care system to its knees following the rise in the professional fee rate. This comes after the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA)announced that the annual registration fees for medical practitioners will be raised by 13% this year, and as a result, the South African Medical Association (Sama) warned that if the registration fee continues to inflate, there will be an increase in litigations due to the shortage of doctors in operating rooms. With more than 25 000 signatures on a petition underlining the challenges medical practitioners face, medical staff believe the increase is unreasonable considering they were front-line workers in the face of Covid-19 and still had to succumb to financial setbacks brought on by the pandemic.…

BETTY MOLEYA betty.moleya@inl.co.za AN ENVIRONMENTALLY friendly toilet system has been developed to help the country eradicate pit latrines in schools. It is believed the innovation will also help improve the waste management system by separating waste into wet and solid. The toilet is the invention of Birger Lundgren, originally from Sweden, who founded Sanitation Ambassadors to eradicate pit latrines in schools. These innovative toilets are made from plastic which cannot be recycled. They use less water to flush. Initially Lundgren, who lives in Cape Town, had imported the toilets for his house. After he imported them into South Africa, he was called by an Eastern Cape school asking about the innovation. “I asked them if they had water all the time and they said no. They had about two pit…

Kennedy Mudzuli kennedy.mudzuli@inl.co.za THOKOZANE Evette Magagula, known by his stage name Ivy Beatz, has launched his music career by dropping a new amapiano single, Zama Phoyisa. The DJ, songwriter and producer said the single had been taken from his coming EP, Loxion Kulcà, which was set to be released soon. In the song, he displays his ability to play several musical instruments. Born in Hammanskraal, he was raised in a Christian family. His father is former keyboard player and musician. Ivy Beatz was influenced to listen to many unique African sounds. Apart from pursuing his career as a DJ and producer, Ivy Beatz continues to use his skills by teaming up with other artists and musicians to host concerts across Pretoria and beyond. Touring provincially, accompanying musicians, bands and artists…

Willem van de Putte willem.vdputte@inl.co.za WE wouldn’t say this menacing sedan lacks sinister presence, but Brabus unashamedly refers to its new beast as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. That’s because what’s beneath the bonnet is the far scarier part of the equation. The standard Mercedes-AMG E63 S is at the upper end of its game with outputs of 450kW and 850Nm, but the Brabus 900 sedan takes things to crazy new heights with a grand total of 662kW at 6200rpm, and 1250Nm from 2900rpm. That, according to claims, is enough to get the Brabus 900 from 0-100km/h in 2.8 seconds and on to 200km/h in just 9.7s. The top speed is electronically governed to 330km/h in order to “not overstress the tyres”. As you’d expect from Brabus, there’s a lot…

THE Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) has called on Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula to extend the deadline for expired driving licences. Executive director Stefanie Fick said thousands of motorists were struggling to have their expired licences renewed. “The minister (Mbalula) needs to extend this 31 March deadline… A 10-year licence renewal period should apply to all driver’s licence cards… meaning that all driver’s licence cards should have five years added onto the… expiry date. ”…

Ashfak Mohamed ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za THE Bulls are quickly realising that they cannot afford any more defeats if they hope to reach the United Rugby Championship play-offs. That is why this afternoon’s showdown with Munster at Loftus Versfeld (4.05pm kick-off) has been dubbed a “make-or-break” game by both coach Jake White and captain Marcell Coetzee. The losses to the Stormers and Sharks in Pretoria mean that they must start thinking of bonus-point victories already in the seven remaining round robin games in South Africa – their final league encounter is against the Ospreys in Wales on May 21. The race for play-off spots is tight. While the top five – Leinster (48), Ulster (45), Glasgow (39), Edinburgh (39) and Munster (39) – are well ahead of the sixth-placed Ospreys (30), the Bulls…

Zelda Venter zelda.venter@inl.co.za THE saying goes that a donkey is as stubborn as a mule. However, when Basjan was given the opportunity to turn to religion for a few minutes, he did not disappoint and (pardon the mixed metaphor), took to it like a duck to water. Last Sunday, the priest of a church in the small Free State town of Rosendal’s message to his flock was all about humbleness. The theme was “on the back of a donkey”. He asked restaurant owner and former SABC journalist Liela Magnus if her two donkeys, Oscar and Basjan, could make a turn past the pulpit and around the front of the church, just so that the message could have a literal meaning for the congregation. Magnus had said farewell to city life…

Jonisayi Maromo jonisayi.maromo@inl.co.za THE SAPS said it was working on putting interim measures in place to ensure that service delivery at the Criminal Record Centre in Pretoria is not compromised after the building which houses the critical unit was closed. The Bothongo West Plaza, in the Pretoria central business district, houses police officials attached to the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management component. SAPS national spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said the unit administered criminal records, issues police clearance certificates as well as processing of fingerprint applications for firearms. “While engagements continue to urgently resolve the impasse that emanates from the closure of the building since Tuesday, March8, the organisation has already embarked on measures to ensure business continuity by deploying members to other nearby Local Criminal Record Centres to render…

THE new Lexus NX midsize SUV is set to land in South Africa soon, and the premium Japanese carmaker has released pricing before the launch. The vehicle will initially be available in two flavours, with the normally aspirated 2.5-litre 250 EX model retailing at R860 000 and the 2.4-litre turbocharged F-Sport variant commanding R1 075 400. There’s a full line-up of hybrid models on the way later this year. The NX 250’s 2.5-litre motor powers the front wheels only and produces 152kW and 239Nm, while the all-wheel drive F Sport’s 2.4T unit is good for 205kW and 430Nm. The new Lexus NX also introduces a new 35cm touchscreen infotainment system. Standard features on the base model include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with auto high-beam, dual-zone climate control and powered…

ITALY’S Imola circuit will continue to host Formula One until 2025. The track returned to the calendar in 2020, for the first time since 2006, as Formula One sought to fill gaps left by other races cancelling due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It retained its place in the 2021 and 2022 world championships. Italy has two races, with Monza hosting the Italian Grand Prix and Imola's round named after the surrounding Emilia-Romagna region. “I am delighted that we will be continuing our excellent partnership with Imola,” F1 chief CEO Stefano Domenicali said.…

| Reuters NOVAK Djokovic will kick off preparations for his French Open title defence next month at the ATP Masters event on clay at Monte Carlo, the Serb said on his website. The 20-time Grand Slam winner was unable to defend his Australian Open title in January after being deported from the country in a furore after being initially admitted to the tournament despite not being vaccinated against coronavirus. The 34-year-old will also miss this month’s ATP 1000 tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami, unable to enter the US without a proof of vaccination. “Novak will open his 2022 clay court season in Monte Carlo, where he won the Masters 1000 title twice, in 2013 and 2015,” a post on his website said. Monaco, where Djokovic resides, allows international…

Sacha van Niekerk sacha.vanniekerk@inl.co.za The Oxford Dictionary defines topophilia as “a feeling of affection which individuals have for particular places; ‘the term topophilia couples sentiment with place’.” “New year, new city, new job” is the mantra those looking for a fresh start put out into the universe. But when it all finally comes to fruition, the reality can be more overwhelming than expected. Suddenly you find yourself living in a new city, in a strange neighbourhood, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, feeling untethered to the place you should now be calling home. It takes more than having a new area code to create attachments. From visiting museums to becoming a regular at your new favourite hangout, these are the best ways to learn to love where you live. Visit museums Culture,…

Sacha van Niekerk Taking the term “unaccompanied minor” to whole new heights, a 9-year-old boy snuck onto a plane to run away from home, flying more than 2 700km away. On the morning of Saturday, February 26, Emanuel Marques de Oliveira was reported missing by his parents in Manaus, a city in north-west Brazil. He left authorities gobsmacked when they learnt he had embarked on his solo adventure after typing “how to get onto a plane unnoticed” into the Google search engines. Emanuel’s mother, Daniele Marques, said she noticed her son’s disappearance in the early hours of Saturday. She said: “I woke up at 5.30am, went to his room, and saw that he was sleeping normally. “Then I fiddled with my mobile phone a little and got up again, at…

NETFLIX’s teenage drama series has been renewed for Season 4 at the streaming platform, which will also be the show’s last season. According to Variety, this news of a Season 4 renewal comes even before a premiere date was assigned to Season 3, the production on which had recently finished. Never Have I Ever, co-created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher, stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Devi. “Hey Crickets, we’ve got some morning announcements for you: Season 3 of Never Have I Ever is gonna drop this summer! Plus we’ve just been renewed for a fourth and final season, which we are absolutely thrilled about. We can’t wait to reveal all the steamy romance and hilarious adventures we have in store for you. Thanks to all our fans for your support…

In THIS new normal, people need their own spaces, where they can spend time with family and friends, and also work and recharge. This has fuelled people’s inclination towards buying and upgrading their homes, giving their spaces a pleasant look as they continue to spend more time at home. The post-pandemic period has created a gamut of inspirations for styles to develop as people continue to keep the home as the centre of their life, especially during the new work-from-home era. Moreover, the very definition of “new” has changed in perception for consumers, businesses and industry as all are revisiting the existing systems and ways of working. Home-living has become escapism from the instability of the outside world as people see their homes as a refuge of calm Home textiles…

BETTY MOLEYA betty.moleya@inl.co.za THE elderly need to be acknowledged and capacitated because they carry on their shoulders memories and wisdom needed in communities. Their role in society can only be positive in building a self-reliant society, Gauteng Social Development MEC Morakane Mosupye said. Mosupye was addressing some “golden oldies” during a luncheon at the Southern Sun Hotel in Pretoria to celebrate them and shower them with love. She said: “Older persons are the cornerstone of the country, a repository of history, culture, customs, and heritage.” The elderly, who had been brought by their children and grandchildren, came from across the city to be celebrated and honoured for caring for their loved ones. They socialised, reconnected with some of their old friends, former colleagues and neighbours over a meal. “This is…

Rapula Moatshe rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za THE City of Tshwane has been found wanting for failing to keep Public Protector advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane abreast of the steps it had taken against its former Emergency Services chief Previn Govender for misrepresenting his qualifications. This was revealed yesterday by Mkhwebane during her visit to Tshwane House, where she hosted an annual stakeholder roadshow meeting attended by traditional leaders, non-governmental organisations, and Gauteng government officials led by Premier David Makhura. She used the opportunity to update stakeholders on her previous reports into investigations conducted in various government entities, expressing disappointment that some of her recommendations and remedial actions had not been implemented. Tshwane metro was also cited among entities still lagging behind in terms of adhering to the public protector’s report findings. For example, Mkhwebane said…

Shingai Darangwa shingai.darangwa@inl.co.za The Wife recently treated viewers to one of the most explicit sex scenes in recent memory between Zandile (played by Khanyi Mbau) and Nkosana (played by Mondli Makhoba). The racy scene has been circulating on social media over the past few hours and has seen fans debating fiercely about whether the two actors had actual sex while shooting the scene. This comes after Mbau unleashed a series of Tweets on Wednesday in which she acknowledged fans’ disappointment at the season, and was critical of the show’s current direction. “We have let you down, we have not given you what you had anticipated: a love story between Zandile and Nkosana,” she said. “That’s what we all hoped to experience. Season 1 had all the romance a wife should…

Willem van de Putte willem.vdputte@inl.co.za IT’S like Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture when the cannons and bells start to make their presence known. A visceral rage of the machine that keeps you wanting more and asking more from Porsche’s new 911 GT3. And it will gladly oblige, so much so that I reckon if you ever do get to find its limits, hopefully you’re on a track with decent run-offs and tyre barriers. I don’t think Neil Diamond had the glorious howl of a 4.0-litre rear-mounted six cylinder boxer engine at 9 000rpm in mind when he wrote Beautiful Noise but, for a petrol head, this is nirvana. The GT3 is essentially a street legal racing machine with a roll cage, not much sound insulation and an attitude to match. And that’s…

FORD Motor will separate its fast-growing electric vehicle operations from its legacy combustion engine business in a historic reorganisation of the 118-year-old company. The Ford Model e unit will scale up the carmaker’s EV offerings and develop software and connected-vehicle technology and services. Ford Blue will focus on combustion vehicles, cutting costs and simplifying operations. Ford said it plans to be able to make two million electric vehicles annually by 2026, a big step up from the 600 000 it’s aiming for in 2024.…

Marchelle Abrahams marchelle.abrahams@inl.co.za Charlotte Rhys shampoo? Yes please, I’ll take two to go. It’s no secret that when most of us check out of a hotel, there are certain “freebies” we can’t leave without, especially the complimentary coffee pods or body wash. Some of us, however, take it a step further. If your big suitcase allows it, that fluffy white robe looks very enticing. So when local singer Glo Zanayi (@glo_zanayi) shared a tongue-in-cheek tweet about helping herself to some of the hotel’s more luxurious items, it definitely got tongues wagging and others fessed up to what they take after a hotel stay. Taking to Twitter, Zanayi shared: “I hate hotel duvets. They are so thick, I can’t close my suitcase.” The post gained more than 12K retweets and 160K…