Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-12-10 i Pretoria News Weekend

’Tis the season of Spotify Wrapped, that time of year when users of the streaming service unabashedly reveal their taste in music – and just how many minutes they spent jamming to the same song – via a made-to-share breakdown of their listening history. As droves of people disclosed the soundtracks to their lives on Wednesday, one artist reigned supreme in their personalised decks of animated slides: Bad Bunny, also known as El Conejo Malo and Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (his real name). For the third year in a row, Bad Bunny was the most streamed global artist on Spotify. Garnering over 18.5 billion streams in 2022, he more than doubled the amount he racked up last year. His latest album, Un Verano Sin Ti was also the most streamed…

Cheesy rom-coms aren’t usually Robby Bailey’s preferred genre during the holiday season, but after he watched Netflix’s gay Christmas movie Single All the Way with his partner, he was pleasantly surprised. Gay characters in other movies often seem like caricatures, written by someone who “met a gay person once,” Bailey, 37, said. But these characters were “just like everybody else,” he said. “It felt more relatable.” Holiday movie season is ramping up again, and so is queer visibility in recent years in its formulaic rom-coms. “We believe that everyone deserves love and that our storytelling is enriched by reflecting the diverse voices, perspectives, traditions and families of our audience,” Lisa Hamilton Daly, Hallmark Media’s executive vice president of programming, wrote in a statement to The Washington Post. “Our priority is…

All roads lead to New Orleans as Miss South Africa 2022 Ndavi Nokeri readies for Miss Universe 2023. On Tuesday morning, the Miss South Africa organisation hosted a press conference at The Maslow, Sandton, for the grand reveal of Nokeri’s national costumes that she’ll be wearing at the 71st Miss Universe pageant on January 14. Among the guests were her parents, who came from Tzaneen, Limpopo. Hosted by former Miss SA and Miss Universe, Zozibini Tunzi, Nokeri’s farewell kicked off with cultural praises from poet Ntombhi ya Mutsonga. When the big moment came, everyone in the room was impressed with what the designers came up with. For the national costume, the Limpopo beauty will don a Tsonga- inspired asymmetrical dress with African map wings built by Henk Henderson…

Businessman Vusi “Khekhe” Mathibela and his three accomplices will spend the festive season at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Service centre still awaiting their final sentence for the 2015 murder of billionaire businessman Wandile Bozwana. The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria couldn’t conclude sentencing proceedings, initially set down for four days this week. In postponing the proceedings to next year after the conclusion of the testimony of a clinical psychologist called by the defence, Judge Papi Mosopa said before the matter began he had called in the legal counsels to his chambers and proposed they proceeded next week despite it being the recess. “It’s recess now, but I was willing to compromise my recess time to deal with this matter because accused 1 and 2 have been in custody since 2015, while…

HISTORY was made this week when members of the public viewed Sungazers for the first time at the the National Zoological Garden in Pretoria. The purpose was to introduce Sungazers to the public and help educate people and raise awareness about the plight of these endangered enigmatic lizards. It was also to inform people that the facility known as Pretoria Zoo was one of the few in the world to officially breed these lizards. Mike Adams, the curator at reptile park at the zoo, said they had kept Sungazers in a number of off-exhibit areas for more than 15 years. “All of our Sungazers, except one, were originally confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade. These unique lizards that are endemic to South Africa are highly sought after in the…

The current Toyota C-HR is already arguably the most daringly styled compact SUV on the market, but the Japanese carmaker is upping its game with the next generation. What you see here is the new Toyota C-HR Prologue, and it gives us a good idea of how the second-generation compact SUV model will look. “The Toyota C-HR prologue is a first – but very real – vision of a car that will soon be turning heads on roads across Europe,” Toyota said. Toyota isn’t mentioning too many specifics just yet, but the carmaker did disclose that the new C-HR will be available as a conventional hybrid as well as a plug-in hybrid. As with the current Toyota CH-R the next-gen model is being designed at Toyota’s ED2 European Design Development…

DEAN Elgar has cast doubt on Temba Bavuma’s availability for the first Test against Australia, after Bavuma didn’t bat on the opening day of the Proteas’ warm-up match in Brisbane because of concerns about an elbow injury. The vice-captain of the Proteas Test team last played an innings in the T20 World Cup on November 6 when South Africa suffered a shock defeat to the Netherlands and were eliminated from that tournament. Elgar suggested that Bavuma “jarred” his elbow, which could have exacerbated an old injury. Bavuma picked up the elbow injury in India earlier this year during a T20 series there and missed the tour to England as a result. He was declared fit for the World Cup, but then struggled there too. “He needs time in the middle,…

THE owners of Manchester United, the Glazer family, have not taken their usual semi-annual dividend out of the club as they look to sell the English giants. The regular flow of money out of the club in dividends has been a frustration for fans as United’s fortunes on the pitch have deteriorated during the Glazers’ reign. A total of £33.6 million (about R713.5m) was paid to shareholders, with the Glazers taking the majority, in the 2021/22 season as United finished sixth in the Premier League. “On 15 November, the board of directors did not approve the payment of the semi-annual dividend for fiscal 2023,” United said in a statement. The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (Must) welcomed the news. “Dividends should not be paid when the football club is not achieving…

As winter meets coughing season in the US and airport crowds are reaching pre-pandemic levels, more travellers are probably getting on a plane when they’re not feeling 100%. Health experts warn it’s best not to fly if you have any symptoms. Not only do you risk making the passengers around you ill, but the environment on board could make you feel even worse. “Many of the conditions on aircraft can exacerbate your symptoms when you have a respiratory illness,” said Henry Wu, an associate professor of medicine at Emory University. Here’s how flying while sick could affect you and your fellow fliers, and what experts say you should do about it. Flying can make congestion, sore throat and dizziness feel worse Respiratory illnesses affect your sinuses and Eustachian tubes, which…

Gyles Brandreth “didn’t want to upset anyone” by claiming Queen Elizabeth had cancer when she died. The 74-year-old author has caused a stir with his new book Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait because he wrote the monarch – whose cause of death was attributed to old age following her death in September aged 96 – had been suffering from myeloma, and though he stands by what he wrote, he dismissed suggestions that the revelation was “intrusive”. Speaking to HELLO! magazine, he said: “It’s not unusual for a doctor to write ‘old age’ on a death certificate when a person over 80 dies, as happened with the queen. “But I’d heard she had bone marrow cancer so I thought it was legitimate to include that paragraph. “The queen’s doctor in Scotland, who…

THE City of Tshwane loves all its children and encourages all those who can to commit an act of kindness and give them Christmas presents to spread joy and cheer. This is the message of executive mayor Randall Williams, who invited children from Ba-Tliseng Day and Night Centre in Atteridgeville and gave them hampers.. The toddlers had the pleasure of having Williams and chairperson of Committees councillor Sakkie du Plooy as Father Christmas. The boys and girls were happy and could not wait to get home to open their presents. By the time they were taken down to their transport vehicle in the basement, they had already opened the gifts and were playing with the toys. Their principal, Malebo Taukobong, said: “We are extremely happy and feel very blessed that…

The Pretoria Zoo has announce the birth of a ring-tailed lemur. The zoo confiscated four ring-tailed lemurs three months ago, barely two months after the mum became pregnant and gave birth to a healthy baby. Madagascan ring-tailed lemurs are highly social primates and can live in large groups run by a matriarch. The Pretoria Zoo has only four ring-tailed lemurs, two males and two females, and they’re now joined by the recent addition. Conservation team leader at Pretoria Zoo, Oratile Mohajane, said the baby was born on October 22, and all at the facility were proud and happy. However, the baby is still growing at the zoo’s veterinarian hospital and will only be able to join the others in an enclosure when fully grown in two years’ time. At…

Perched along a rocky stream high up in the Eastern Cape Drakensberg mountains, at 2 505m above sea level if you want to be exact, Tenahead has the distinction of being the highest mountain lodge in South Africa. And getting there is an adventure. Those of us living among the hustle and bustle of the nation’s busiest cities often crave isolated getaways like this. But the isolation in this part of the country is startling. Even more arresting are the panoramic views, and feeling on top of the world becomes a literal sensation. What exactly were we doing here? Kia invited us to experience the new Sorento on a travelogue that would take us through some of the country’s most spectacular unpaved mountain passes. I’ve often shrugged at people who…

MIGNON du Preez announced her retirement from international cricket yesterday, bringing the curtain down on a 15-year career in which she played a pivotal role in transforming women’s cricket in South Africa. Du Preez, 33, said she would continue to seek opportunities in global leagues, but she was also looking forward to starting a family, with husband, Tony. “My cricketing journey has been nothing short of a crazy roller-coaster ride with all the ups and downs, but, oh boy, it was one hell of a ride, and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world,” Du Preez said. She thanked family, friends, Cricket SA, her home province Northerns and the SA Cricketers Association for their help and support throughout her career, as well as her teammates in the Proteas…

THE festive season is usually set aside for loved ones to reunite after being apart for the better part of the year. Kaizer Chiefs took a leaf from that custom as they hosted a match between their Invitational team and SuperSport’s 2022 World Cup panel this week. The match was hosted at Chiefs’ Naturena headquarters on Wednesday afternoon, where the hosts won 7-4. The Chiefs team was mostly made up of their former players who hold positions at the club, including coach Arthur Zwane. The SuperSport team had former Chiefs players and legends in their set-up, such as Stanton Fredericks. On the day Chiefs opened the doors to their facilities, which are regarded as “world class”, to some of the best ex-players from Africa and abroad, including Asamoah Gyan, Africa’s…

THE South African Rugby Union fought hard to ensure that their top local franchises are able to play in the Champions Cup, as it was seen as something equivalent to – and even better than – Super Rugby. But yesterday, Jake White picked an experimental side shorn of every starting player from last week’s URC win over Cardiff for tonight’s Champions Cup opener against Lyon at Loftus Versfeld (7.30pm kick off). It is understandable why White made such a selection. The Pretoria side have a gruelling schedule over the next few months, as after the Lyon encounter they travel to England to face Exeter Chiefs. Then it’s off to Cape Town to take on URC champions the Stormers, before flying to Durban for a showdown with the Sharks at Kings…

Maserati recently introduced its latest offering, the Grecale, to customers and members of the media at an exclusive unveiling. The Grecale is the Italian brand’s latest entry point into the range and is set to ruffle a few established feathers. Here are five things that you need to know about this Trident-wearing compact SUV. What’s in a name? The Gregale (Grecale in Italian) is a north-easterly Mediterranean wind. Naming its cars after the most famous winds of the world is a tradition for the brand. It began in 1963 with the legendary Mistral. The Ghibli, Bora, Merak and Khamsin followed. In 2016 Maserati put its name on the Levante, the first SUV in the Trident brand’s history. Now, the Grecale has ushered in a new era for the luxury brand.…

Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) has announced the opening of Taj Amer, a new oasis of modern luxury in Jaipur. The hotel’s design blends contemporary elegance with paying homage to Rajasthan’s traditional architecture and offers stunning views of the ancient Aravalli Range. Puneet Chhatwal, managing director and chief executive officer of IHCL, said, “IHCL has been in the Pink City for over 50 years. The culturally rich and historically significant city has evolved into a global tourist destination and important commercial hub. “This opening is in line with IHCL’s vision of strengthening our presence in key markets across India. With the launch of Taj Amer, IHCL has grown to nine hotels across brands in Jaipur.” Strategically located in Kukas, Taj Amer is a short drive from the majestic Amber Fort…

It is only while standing on Mont Faron overlooking Toulon that the noticeable cut-out of the Old Town can be easily recognised. Reaching the peak of Faron is a cable car away and as it ascends, the city opens up and the bay, described by the vice-president of Rugby France, Henri Mondino, as the “most beautiful in the world”, fully reveals itself. Lagoon-like, the roadstead is encircled by a narrow peninsula on the far side and is buffered by the harbour and a short strip of land that climbs into more mountainous terrain on the mainland. It is indeed a beautiful vista to behold. Toulon has a bit of a reputation in France. Located on the coast of Provence in the south-west of the country, it is host to the…

KZN and some surrounding beaches have been given the green light for bathing, just in time for the holidays. Holidaymakers and residents can therefore look forward to an exciting programme of free festive season beach happening throughout the Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom. KZN South Coast will kick things off with its “I Love Summer” campaign from December 9 to January 3. Kids and adults can participate in hula-hoop competitions, sack races, cone diving, musical freeze and tug-of-war. Phelisa Mangcu, CEO of South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise, said the South Coast has always been a popular summer holiday destination with its high number of Blue Flag beaches, world-class dive sites, and as a home to surfers and fishermen. “This is made even more special with the ‘I Love Summer’…