Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-10-15 i Pretoria News Weekend

Iggy Azalea hates having to “prove” herself to other people. The 32-year-old rap star has taken to social media to hit out at perceived misogyny, revealing she hates being asked to prove that she’s “making choices from a position of power”. Azalea, who was born in Australia, but moved to the US during her teens, wrote on Twitter: “No one ever assumes a woman is making choices from a position of power/control. “Women have to PROVE that they are over and over again. I hate that. (sic)” She has confessed to feeling “utterly deprived of a personal life” during her music career. The rap star recently took to social media to offer advice to aspiring music stars, admitting that her own path towards fame and success hasn’t been straightforward. The…

THE Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Tshwane says it recently has experienced frequent “quenching” of its MRI machine which has disrupted services. Hospital CEO Dr Mathabo Mathebula said the company responsible for maintaining the machine was asked investigate the matter. “According to their report, the cause of quenching is unstable power supply. “As a hospital we want to have a further discussions with the company because Steve Biko Academic Hospital’s electric supply never gets interrupted. “Our hospital is completely exempted from load shedding,” said Mathebula. “In addition, the machine in question has never quenched since 2006, and even in instances where electricity supply was interrupted for whatever reason, we had never experienced these kinds of problems,” she said. Mathebula said she was waiting for “a plausible explanation” before additional money…

FORMER Top Billing presenter and award-winning celebrity chef Lorna Maseko returns as the host of the second season of Home-grown Tastes South Africa, which is set to premiere on BBC Lifestyle in 2023. In the first season of the show, which premiered in March, the elegant Maseko travelled the whole country and hosted different personalities, such as Khaya Mthethwa and Pearl Modiadie. Speaking exclusively with The South African, Maseko said she was excited about the second season of the series, and she couldn’t wait for audiences to discover more local stories, recipes and more. Maseko said: “I am so excited that Home-grown Tastes South Africa is returning to BBC Lifestyle for a second season. To celebrate South Africa’s incredible produce and the people behind the magic is what makes this…

Africa prepares to host fourth climate change summit It is a decade since Durban hosted the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference and the world’s leading environmental event returns to Africa, this time in Egypt. So much has changed since COP17 and COP27, yet the political landscape is reminiscent. Back in 2011, the “Durban deal” was about deliverance and finally beginning to address how to balance the needs and responsibilities across the developed and developing world. But has there been significant political progress and changes to help target the hosting continent a decade on? As we head to Sharm El-Sheikh next month it is the moment to shine the spotlight on the fact Africa is disproportionately suffering from climate change impacts that it did not cause. Yet, many countries in…

German prosecutors said they have charged the prime suspect in the 2007 disappearance of British toddler Madeleine “Maddie” McCann with three other counts of rape and two sexual offences against children. Christian B, who is serving a seven-year sentence in Germany for rape, was named as the suspect in Maddie’s case in 2020. Prosecutors in Brunswick said this week that they had also filed charges against the 45-year-old German for alleged sexual offences committed in 2000 and 2017 in Portugal. |…

You might think that with a comprehensive medical aid plan in place for you and your loved ones, there is no hospital admission – planned or unplanned – that could financially cripple you. Think again. Medical aid cover is essential in a well-considered financial plan, but with the important caveat that it doesn’t necessarily cover you completely. Jill Larkan, head of Healthcare at GTC, explains: “Most medical schemes provide full cover if their members see service providers who are within their specific network. Chances are, however, that the provider you are seeing is not within your medical scheme’s network (a case of Murphy's Law), and the bill will therefore include a portion payable by your medical aid, and a portion due by you.” Like an antidote to hospital-related financial stress,…

The world has become a challenging place. It has become difficult to make ends meet for many people in South Africa. Living costs have gone up post Covid, and business owners have especially been impacted and may even be at risk of losing everything. Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas from the International Monetary Fund reckons “the worst is yet to come and, for many people, 2023 will feel like a recession”. It is expected that the global economy will shrink by a third in the next year. Now, more than ever, is it important for estate planners to protect what they have gathered over many years. The times where people treated their estate plans and the execution thereof (including trust structures) “slap dash” are over. Even SARS is having a closer look at…

EDDIE Howe says Newcastle can in future match Manchester United as a global force in football, as they continue their dramatic rebuild under their wealthy Saudi-backed owners. The Magpies, sixth in the Premier League table, one point behind United, take on the Old Trafford giants tomorrow, 12 months after Mike Ashley’s troubled reign came to an end. Newcastle manager Howe said at his pre-match press conference yesterday that there was no limit to what could be achieved at the success-starved club, who have not won a major trophy since 1969. Asked if Newcastle could ever be as big as 20-time English champions United, he replied: “I don’t like to put ceilings on individual players, and I don’t like to put ceilings on clubs either. “Looking at my own history, Bournemouth…

IF the world was a place of logic, as Ian McIntosh himself once said, then men would ride side saddle … and Natal would not have beaten Northern Transvaal in the Currie Cup final at Loftus Versfeld on October 6, 1990. But that is exactly what happened in one of the greatest and most romantic sporting upsets of all time. Hollywood could not have scripted it better. Natal had not been playing the Currie Cup big boys for long after languishing in the B section for most of the ’80s; two weeks before the final they had been beaten 28-6 by Naas Botha’s Northern Transvaal at Loftus and the same team had given Natal a 24-9 hiding at Kings Park a month before, and then Natal squeaked into the final…

Managing stress has long been important for overall health. Stress levels appear to be at an all-time high with load shedding, high fuel prices, and the Covid-19 pandemic all affecting people. “Adaptogens are synthetic compounds like bromantane, levamisole, afobazole, bemethyl, etcetera, or plant extracts that have the ability to enhance the body’s stability against physical loads without increasing oxygen consumption”, says Faaizah Laher, registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Association for Dietetics in South Africa. “Extracts from Panax ginseng, Rhodiola rosea, and Schisandra chinensis are considered to be naturally occurring adaptogens and plant adaptogens. “To put it simply, adaptogens’ properties and mechanisms of action are evolving due to more evidence emerging, but they’re believed to act as eustressors, or ‘good stressors’, that mimic mild stress in the body.” They decrease…

One of the alleged hit men in the 2016 multiple murder of a family from Mmakau village, said to have been orchestrated by the daughter, never thought the day of his arrest would come. This was according to Sergeant Walter Ngobeni, who took to the stand in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria yesterday to testify in the trial-within-a-trial surrounding the admissibility of confessions allegedly made by one of the alleged hit men. Ngobeni said he and other officers went to look for the accused, Kagiso Mokone, and traced him to Brits on December 17, 2021, after they failed to find him at his home in Mmakau. The officer, stationed at the Hartbeespoort Dam police station, said on locating the alleged hit man they informed him they were looking for him…

We all dream of and hope to live in a peaceful world. Achieving peace, in the Bahá’í view, calls for fundamental changes in our mindset and the acceptance that human beings have an innate capacity for harmony and co-operation. It calls for the recognition that we are all created inherently noble. In our world today, however, aggression and conflict are so common that many have come to believe that such behaviour is inherent in human nature and therefore cannot be eliminated. On the one hand people express their longing for peace and harmony, and on the other there is a belief that human beings are selfish and aggressive and not capable of erecting a social system that is progressive and peaceful. Such views of human nature have contributed greatly to…

SOUTH Africa was one of the 35 nations that abstained this week in the United Nations General Assembly vote, that overwhelmingly condemned Russia’s attempts to annex four regions of Ukraine 0 Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia. The resolution got the thumbs up from 143 of the 193-member states, while 35 states including the People’s Republic of China, India, and seven SADC countries – South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Mozambique and Tanzania – abstained. The rest of the member States did not vote. The vote was rejected by Russia, supported by Belarus, North Korea, Syria and Nicaragua. South Africa’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Mathu Joyini said Pretoria abstained from the vote because it believed the focus should be on ending the war. “Unfortunately, some elements of the…

A GROUP of event promoters are set to drag reality TV star and entertainer Zodwa Wabantu to court for taking money upfront and then failing to show up at gigs. The promoters have united and are mobilising others and owners of entertainment venues. They say they have given up rescheduling the star of Zodwa Wabantu Uncensored and are demanding their money back and approaching the court to attach her assets. United under the campaign #ZodwaMustPay, they have opened a WhatsApp group with promoters from far and wide, including Soshanguve, Hammanskraal, Winterveld, Rustenburg, Limpopo, North West and Gauteng. Legal practitioner Solly Golele, a promoter as well as entertainer, and DJ Maizer said Sedibe Attorneys and Shela Attorneys were building a case against the star. They are bringing together all aggrieved promoters…

There has been a significant increase in the number of children and adolescents falling pregnant and giving birth from as young as 10 years old, known as “early pregnancy”. The Free State Department of Health has reportedly revealed that 150 girls aged 10-14 have given birth in the past five months, which has once again sounded the alarm on the crisis of early pregnancy in youth. This is a major cause for concern. A study published in the South African Medical Journal earlier this year showed a 48.7% increase in the number of births to girls aged 10-14 between April 2017 and September 2021. Between April 2020 and March 2021, some 934 girls between 10 and 14 years old gave birth in Gauteng alone. It is also important to note…

Half the world is unprepared for disasters, says the UN. Even as climate disasters are multiplying, some countries lack the advanced early warning systems needed to save lives, it said this week. In a fresh report, the UN agencies for weather and for disaster risk reduction found countries with poor early warning systems on average see eight times greater mortality from disasters than those with strong measures. “Extreme weather events will happen. But they do not need to become deadly disasters,” UN chief Antonio Guterres said. |…

It will be difficult to avoid a global recession in 2023, and the recent surge in global bond yields is already reflecting the market’s expectation of a significant economic downturn next year. The good news for investors, however, is that all types of bonds – government and corporate, high- and low-quality – are now looking attractive. This is the view of Jim Leaviss, chief investment officer at M&G Investments in London, who spoke at an M&G presentation in Pretoria this week. Leaviss, who has been called “the UK’s best-known bond investor” and is responsible for overseeing some £141 billion in assets under management, said a recession was “very likely”, with central banks’ aggressive interest rate hikes already having had a dramatic impact on global growth. He noted that almost every…

Royal AM and Marumo Gallants have continental commitments this weekend as they attempt to seal their places in the next round of preliminary qualification in this season’s edition of the CAF Confederation Cup. Thwihli Thwahla were guilty of missing good scoring opportunities in their first leg encounter, a trait they will have to shake off when they meet Zambian giants Zesco United at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium this afternoon at 3pm. The KwaZulu-Natal club are in their maiden CAF campaign and with huge uncertainty surrounding players and members of the technical team, it is expected to be a tough one. Their opponents Zesco enjoy plenty experience on the continent having been a part of both CAF competitions on a regular basis and will be favourites to dispatch Royal AM at…

SSANELE Shange may not have realised his goal of winning his age group category at the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, last week, but the man from Gingindlovu is all the better for the experience and excitedly looking forward to a great future in the sport. A bad fall during the bike leg of the race after another contestant rode into his front wheel saw Shange tumble off and injure his hip and shoulder. “Everything had gone according to plan [up to] then,” Shange told Independent Media this week on his return from only his second Ironman event. “I was able to complete the swim in one hour as planned and I was deep into the bike race and on course to complete it under five hours when the…

The cleanse, tone and moisturise routine is fundamental to great skin care. This three-step beauty routine is what the beauty industry has built its businesses on. They maintain that everybody needs three basic products: a good cleanser that strips the skin of impurities, a toner that tightens pores and, of course, a moisturiser that hydrates. This is what the industry has led people to believe, and no one even questions it anymore. South African skin-care expert Trevor Steyn, however, believes this routine does more harm than good to the skin. Especially for those living in modern cities. This Durban scientist says almost everyone is suffering, or has suffered, from some form of sensitive skin condition. “More than 85% of teenagers in the Western world suffer from acne, with eczema more…

A HUNGARIAN Vizla puppy has become the subject of a legal wrangle in the Johannesburg High Court involving a breeder and the owner of another male dog. The male mated with the breeder’s dog with the aim of producing a litter of highly sought-after puppies. According to the contract, the owner of the male dog, which is named Cody, was allowed to choose the best pup as payment. But the bone of contention in this case was that Charlie, the female, only produced one pup. Cody’s owner wanted to claim the pup, but Charlie’s owner refused under the circumstances. Aggrieved by this, Cody’s owner, Willie Wolmarans, turned to court to force breeder Tania Davey-Smith to give him what he regarded as his pup. Wolmarans asked for an order to declare…

THE highly-anticipated 2022 South African Sex Expo has suffered a setback following the removal of half of its advertising posters. Despite this, the event organisers said everything was set and ready for the much-loved adult-themed educational spectacle, which started yesterday at Times Square in Menlyn, Pretoria East. The organising company said it was dismayed that, despite receiving the initial go-ahead from the City of Tshwane and purchasing stickers to place advertising posters displayed on street poles close to the venue, these were removed days before the four-day event. According to the company, the posters had the advertising approval stickers provided two weeks prior to the event. The company said despite this, it was informed by the metro complaints were received from the public about the advertising and, as a result,…

With climate change bringing warmer temperatures and changing weather patterns across the globe, one of the Earth’s greatest allies may be found in the tiny insect known as the termite. This is according to an international study which has revealed that termites are more than just an irritating wood-eating insect, and are pivotal in contributing positively to the Earth’s carbon cycle. The study, championed by the University of Miami, with contributions from the University of Pretoria, sought to investigate termite and microbial wood discovery and decay. While most people may think termites are a nuisance, consuming wood in homes and businesses, researchers have found that termites, which represent less than 4% of all insect species worldwide, are critical in natural ecosystems, especially in the tropics, because they help recycle…

THE board of Umalusi said it was ready for the 2022 National Senior Exams. The news was announced by the Umalusi CEO at the Protea Hotel in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, yesterday. Umalusi is the council for quality assurance in general and further education and training that moderates the educational systems and processes. The final countdown for the annual National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams has begun across the country, and the MECs in all the provinces have been unveiling their state of readiness ahead of the 2022 matric final exams. All the education MECs are confident their provinces will do well in their exams. The 2022 final exams are expected to run from October 31 to December 7. Some 755 981 matric pupils will be sitting for the school- leaving qualification.…

There seems to be light at the end of what was certainly a dark tunnel for the 229 SA students studying at universities across Russia. But the battle is far from over. On the one side, the Mpumalanga Department of Basic Education said the situation was being resolved, but on the other, students in Moscow accuse the department of lying. The students faced eviction and possible expulsion because their rent and tuition fees were not paid. The Mpumalanga Department of Education said it was making every effort possible to ensure their studies in the Russian Federation were at no stage compromised. Spokesperson Jasper Zwane said the department was working around the clock and in the best interests of students and would not rest until all issues were addressed within the…

DJ, MUSIC producer and vocalist Musa Keys’s star keeps shining brighter and is getting internationally recognised. The Selema (Po Po) hitmaker has scored a nomination in the Best African Act category at the 2022 MTV Europe Music Awards. Keys is up against African acts who have been dominating on the continent and internationally. Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Black Sherif, Tems and Zuchu have all topped the charts this past year. Keys took to his social media platforms to share the biggest highlight of his year. He is having a great year after bagging the Tecno Record of the Year at the South African Music Awards in August. His fans wasted no time in congratulating their favourite artist on his latest achievement. Keys is one of the biggest amapiano acts in…

I always resist and even discourage negative comparisons between what worked well during the apartheid era and what just does not work or has even collapsed in the post-apartheid era. I avoid doing this because it is irritating to hear the pro-apartheid apologists gloating about anything which was better during apartheid days. Having said this, I must concede that the two vital areas where the post-apartheid South African government has dropped the ball are maintaining law and order and rail transport. I grew up in uMlazi township where we always used the local train system. We used it to go almost everywhere because it was cheap and safe. I grudgingly concede that the presence of the South African Railways Police kept the local trains safe to such an extent I…

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi accused the US of resorting to a “policy of destabilisation” against the Islamic republic which is gripped by protests over the death of Mahsa Amini. A wave of unrest has rocked Iran since the 22-year-old, an Iranian of Kurdish origin, died on September 16 after her arrest by the morality police in Tehran. “Following the failure of America in militarisation and sanctions, Washington and its allies have resorted to the failed policy of destabilisation,” Raisi said at a summit in Kazakhstan this week. The violence has led to dozens of deaths mostly of protesters – including children – but also members of the security forces. Hundreds have also been arrested. The judiciary said this week that Faezeh Hashemi, 59, the daughter of Iran’s former president Akbar…

Year to date investors have been fleeing from risk assets due to a confluence of intertwining factors. This includes very hawkish central banks globally trying to fight persistently high inflation, a softer global growth outlook, the war in Ukraine and further supply shocks (just to name a few). It is understandable that some investors are feeling fearful and defeated by the current market volatility and muted returns. When very persistent negative narratives are so visible, it becomes very difficult for investors to focus on anything else. We become obsessed with the things we don’t know and how markets will play out over the short term, and we lose sight of the things we do know. When it comes to investing, what do we know? 1. Crisis brings opportunity. John…

Retirement. What does the word mean to you? For the enviable few who have built up a decent nest egg, retirement represents a life of leisure as compensation for years worked. But that is not the reality for most South Africans. When 10X Investments published its first South African Retirement Reality Report in 2018, it highlighted how poorly prepared working South Africans were for retirement. Subsequent reports, including the latest, released recently, have shown that the outlook is worsening by most measures. The 2022 report shows that the warnings of the last four years have had little effect on outcomes, noting that “retirement still holds the prospect of deprivation and disempowerment for most South Africans”. The report is based on findings of the 2022 Brand Atlas Survey. Brand Atlas tracks…

GOALKEEPING is one of the hardest jobs in football. If you make a mistake, it can potentially cost your team and their result more than any other position. This week, we look at the five best goalkeepers in the Premier League at the moment. 5. Jose Sa (Wolves) Wolves have not been in good form recently, but Sa has been their one bright spark. He has good distribution skills and sharp reflexes. He has been the most consistent player in the side for a while now. He was an apt replacement for fellow Portugal international Rui Patricio, who left Molineux in 2021. 4. Alisson (Liverpool) A year ago, many would have had Alisson at number one, but he declines by virtue of his team also declining so far this season.…