Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-12-06 i Pretoria News

IN AN effort to drive transformation in the diamond sector, the De Beers Group yesterday announced that Molefi Letsiki Diamonds (MLD) would become its first majority black-owned sightholder, effective from January 1, 2023. A sightholder is a company on the De Beers Global sightholder sales list of authorised bulk purchasers of rough diamonds. De Beers Group sells its rough diamonds through two channels: global sightholder sales, and auctions. The diamond miner said Molefi Letsiki was an alumnus of the De Beers Enterprise Development Project for diamondbBeneficiators launched in 2016 to facilitate growth and transformation of diamond beneficiation in South Africa. According to the world’s biggest diamond producer by volume, Letsiki formed part of the first cohort of the Diamond Beneficiators Project and was a second-generation diamantaire, whose father worked…

THE more things change, the more they stay the same. For investors, with 2020 still fresh in their minds, this year has been yet another case in point. With so much having changed this year, it is easy to believe we’ve entered a new paradigm. But although much has changed, the future is no less certain than it was a year, or two, or even ten years ago. Investing today is equally challenging, because we’re still looking to make portfolio decisions in highly uncertain times. We still need to carefully review the opportunity set, try to put emotions aside and take calculated risks. The reward then lies in waiting to see whether we realise a return better than risk-free. This sounds simple, but it is far from easy. For most…

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) had to dig deep to pay two accident victims – one who was once an ace soldier and sportswoman, and the other a then matric pupil who is now wheelchair bound. In both cases, the RAF was ordered to pay the victims about R4 million. In the first case, a 27-year-old soldier, Gift Duiker, a member of the SANDF Women’s Football team, was injured when the bus taking her to the national championship overturned in 2018. The parties had previously settled the merits of the claim on the basis that the RAF would be liable for 100% of the proven damages. The accident occurred on the N12 between Britstown and Victoria West after the driver of the bus fell asleep at the wheel and…

TELEVISION news channel eNCA has been questioned about its failure to post an interview with Independent Media executive chairman Dr Iqbal Survé on its Power to Truth programme, presented by Professor Onkgopotse JJ Tabane a week ago. The channel failed to respond to questions sent to marketing boss Vimla Frank on why, a week after the interview with Survé, the interview was not posted on the eNCA website despite other episodes going online immediately after they were aired. The failure to post the episode has raised questions about editorial censorship and bias at the station, fuelling suspicions of political interference that affects media freedom. Sources inside the broadcaster said the decision not to post the interview was believed to have come from eNCA bosses allegedly close to President Cyril…

Land and homeowners in the Centurion area should treat all pipe leaks as a matter of urgency before the concentration of water ultimately leads to the formation of sinkholes. A simple and inexpensive way residents can test for leaks in their pipes is to open their meters and close off all the taps in the house. Should the water meter keep running even after the taps have been closed, then homeowners should promptly fix the leak, said Professor SW Jacobsz from the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Pretoria. Jacobsz said that there were caves in the Centurion area which formed a long time ago and had reached an equilibrium. However, he said with more and more people moving into the area and developing on the land, the…

The reaction of the so-called experts after the Section 89 independent panel found there is prima facie evidence of serious misconduct against President Cyril Ramaphosa has been shocking, to say the least. The panel made its findings after foreign currency, hidden inside a sofa at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm, was stolen. Following the report being made public, there have been growing calls from political parties for the president to fall on his sword. According to media reports, Ramaphosa was ready to throw in the towel late last week, but his political handlers in the ANC persuaded him to stay on, saying that if he resigned the party would be thrown to the wolves. While Ramaphosa has gone to ground since the political fallout last week, his supporters in the…

Sudan’s military and civilian leaders yesterday signed an initial deal aimed at ending a crisis caused by last year’s military coup, prompting sceptical protesters to cry betrayal. Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan seized power in October 2021, derailing a rocky transition to civilian rule that began after the 2019 ouster of veteran autocrat Omar al-Bashir. The past year has seen near-weekly protests and a crackdown pro-democracy medics say has killed at least 121, a spiralling economic crisis exacerbated by donors slashing funding, and a rise in ethnic violence in several remote regions. Divisions among civilian groups have deepened since the coup, some urging a deal with the military while others insist on “no partnership, no negotiation”. Yesterday’s deal was signed by Burhan, paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and multiple civilian…

China is set to announce the further easing of some of the world’s toughest Covid-19 curbs as early as tomorrow sources said, as investors cheered the prospect of a policy shift that follows widespread protests and mounting economic damage. China’s zero-tolerance measures, from shut borders to frequent lockdowns, contrast sharply with the rest of the world, which has largely decided to live with Covid-19. The strict approach has battered the world’s second-largest economy, put mental strain on hundreds of millions and last month prompted the biggest show of public discontent in mainland China since President Xi Jinping took power in 2012. Although last month’s protests largely subsided amid a heavy police presence across major cities, regional authorities have since cut back on lockdowns, quarantine rules and testing requirements to varying…

Lumajang: Rescuers evacuated more people yesterday from villages after the eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Semeru, officials warning of danger from cooling lava despite less activity from the volcano. More than 2 400 villagers have now fled their homes and taken shelter in 11 evacuation centres after the highest mountain on the country’s main island of Java erupted early on Sunday. Officials announced a state of emergency for the next two weeks. Yesterday, dozens of evacuees in Lumajang district where Semeru is located ventured back to their ash-covered homes to retrieve important belongings, before returning to shelters. | AFP…

Sydney: A new New South Wales (NSW) report has found migrant workers in Australia are facing a wage theft problem and called for reforms to boost protection for them. The trade union surveyed 7 000 job ads across more than 10 industries. More than 1 000 migrant workers shared their experiences when working or applying for jobs. More than 60% of the job ads audited offered wages below the minimum pay. The retail industry was the worst offender at 85% , followed by cleaning, transport, construction and hospitality. Over one-third of migrant workers reported being paid less because of their visa type, and one-quarter because of their nationality. | IANS…

Spain coach Luis Enrique is convinced his players can overcome Morocco in the World Cup last-16 today and deal with the pressure of a penalty shoot-out if they need to. Morocco were surprise group winners ahead of favourites Croatia and Belgium. Spain finished second in their group after losing to Japan to set up today's last-16 clash against the only African team left in the tournament. At last year's European Championship, Spain were involved in two shoot-outs, beating Switzerland in the quarter-finals before they were knocked out by eventual champions Italy in the semis. "Over a year ago, in many national camps we told players, 'You have homework ahead of the World Cup. You must take at least 1 000 penalties with the club'. You can't just train them when…

THE ANC is expected to use its majority in Parliament today to vote against the adoption of the damning Ngcobo report, citing the judicial review that embattled President Cyril Ramaphosa filed in the Constitutional Court. The decision that ANC MPs should toe the party line when voting was announced by treasurer-general Paul Mashatile following a “tense” national executive committee (NEC) meeting yesterday. “The President of the ANC, comrade Cyril Ramaphosa attended the special NEC and made remarks after which he was allowed to recuse himself. Members of the NEC having received the report of the special NWC held on Sunday engaged extensively, fully and frankly; concluding that the NEC resolved that the ANC will vote against the adoption of the report of the Section 89 Panel, given the fact that…

A MAN convicted on a host of charges received an early Christmas present when the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned his convictions and subsequent life imprisonment sentence – due to shoddy police investigations and poor prosecution. Five judges of the Supreme Court emphasised that good police work, coupled with dedication from the prosecution, was vital to ensure crime was curbed in the country. “Prosecutors play a critical role in the criminal justice system in response to crime. They generally represent the authority of the State in ensuring that perpetrators of crime are held accountable for their actions and, in that way, communicate a strong message to the community that crime will not be tolerated. “In line with the burden of proof that rests on their shoulders, it is essential that…

A SHY baby ball python is on the loose in Garsfontein and her teenage owner is heartbroken. Ozzy, said to be a shy but loveable “girl”, somehow got out of her cage on Friday last week. Her owner, Zuraida Venter, 14, told the Pretoria News she was at the end of her tether with worry. “I have three wonderful snakes as my pets. My eldest ‘child’ is called Alexa and she is a corn snake. Her bonded partner is Axl, also a corn snake. And then there is Ozzy, my most beautiful brown ball python baby of about 10 months.” Zuraida said that a week ago, while the family was getting ready for a camping weekend, she noticed Ozzy was not in her cage. She wanted to check up…

‘The leadership of these schools is contributing to the problem’ PRIVATE schools have recently been under the spotlight for various reasons, not all positive. But the golden thread is a stony silence and a business-as-usual attitude once the noise subsides. Diversity and inclusivity remain a headache for private schooling in South Africa. This subject is dominating global headlines amid another royal race row involving the late queen of England’s lady-in-waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, which may seem contradictory. Fortunately, Prince William swiftly responded, saying Lady Hussey’s racism has no place in the world. One cannot leave Fifa out of the debate since there’s no justification for saying that racism and discrimination have no place in football while denying footballers the right to spread a message of love – or fans their…

Iranian shops shut their doors in several cities yesterday, following calls for a three-day nationwide general strike from protesters seeking the fall of clerical rulers, with the head of the judiciary blaming “rioters” for threatening shopkeepers. Iran has been rocked by nationwide unrest following the death of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini on September 16 in police custody, posing one of the strongest challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 1979 revolution. Amini was arrested by Iran’s morality police for flouting the strict hijab policy, which requires women to dress modestly and wear headscarfs. The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that an amusement park at a Tehran shopping centre was closed by the judiciary because its operators were not wearing the hijab properly. The reformist-leaning Hammihan newspaper said morality police…

About 2 500 dead seals have been found on the coast of the Caspian Sea in south-western Russia, conservation authorities said, a significant setback for the endangered species. The Natural Resources Ministry in Dagestan said the seals had been found at different locations along Dagestan’s coast, which lines the north-west portion of the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland body of water. The ministry said autopsies on some of the first few hundred seals found determined that they probably died of natural causes. Kazakhstan, one of five countries bordering the Caspian Sea – along with Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkmenistan – has on a few occasions this year reported the deaths of dozens of the seals, but not as large a number. The animals’ remains will be examined in a…

Seoul: North Korea fired a barrage of artillery projectiles into a maritime buffer zone yesterday, Seoul’s military said, the latest in a series of launches by Pyongyang. About 130 artillery rounds were simultaneously fired from two separate sites, one on North Korea’s east coast and one on the west coast, the South’s joint chiefs of staff said. Seoul’s military said the barrage was a “clear violation” of the 2018 agreement between the North and South that established the buffer zone in a bid to reduce tensions. It said none of the shells crossed the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border between the two. The military had issued “several warnings” over the barrage. | AFP…

Guns N’ Roses are suing a Texas gun store for making fans think it is associated with the band. Singer Axl Rose and co have filed a lawsuit against online shop Texas Guns and Roses, run by the Jersey Village Florist, accusing them of “confusing consumers into believing it was connected or associated with, or licensed by, GNR.” The papers say despite a cease and desist letter being sent in 2019, the shop continues to “intentionally trade on GNR’s goodwill, prestige and fame” without GNR’s approval, licence or consent. The band is seeking damages and for the store to change its name. The owners insist there is no confusion between store and band. | Bang Showbiz…

South African rugby will take its first tentative steps into European club rugby championship competition this weekend – a move that could possibly change the landscape of the game in the country. While The Bulls, Sharks and Stormers duke it out against their English, French and Irish counterparts in the top tier Heineken Cup due to finishing the United Rugby Championship (URC) 2021/22 season in the Top 8, the Emirates Lions – along with the invited Free State Cheetahs – will slog it out in the Challenge Cup. After a good run of victories this past fortnight, the Joburgers will be looking to do the double over the Dragons, who they recently beat at the end of last month in the URC, in their debut in the second tier European…

Achraf Hakimi was born in Madrid but will have little hesitation plotting the downfall of Spain when he and his Moroccan teammates take on the 2010 World Cup winners today. The flying wingback is one of the key players in the north African outfit whose last-16 match in the Qatar World Cup against Spain, at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, gives them a chance to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time. Hakimi could even have been on the opposite side, as he was called up when still a teenager for Spain's junior team. "I felt it was not the right place for me, I did not feel at home. It was not for anything in particular, but it was not how I lived at home,…

Speculation regarding the future of Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and his outburst following his substitution against South Korea were in sharp focus on Monday ahead of their World Cup last-16 game against Switzerland. The forward, who left Manchester United by mutual consent last month following a controversial interview, was linked with a potential move to Saudi Arabia but Portugal coach Fernando Santos said he knew nothing about it. "I have not spoken to him about this," Santos said ahead of today's game against the Swiss. "I don't know about this. It is his decision. I did not even know about this and I heard about this when I arrived here." Ronaldo's future is unclear with several clubs around the world reportedly interested in signing him. "We are focused on the World…

Cyber security companies have warned South Africans to remain vigilant online when they go about getting the best deals from the Black Friday specials, now extended into the festive season. Many have been busy with their last-minute shopping as the festive season is in full swing, but so too are criminals. A study using aggregated data from Surfshark Antivirus showed that there was a noticeable 16.94% rise in cyber threats in South Africa a week leading up to Black Friday last month. The research showed South Africa had a threat rate of 13 threats per 100 scan cycles, especially during the month leading up to Black Friday, with the most common threats being riskware and viruses. “The holiday shopping season starting with Black Friday is not only beneficial for the…

GAUTENG Education MEC Matome Chiloane said he was deeply saddened about the death of a Grade 6 boy learner from Refalotse Primary School in Winterveldt during a school trip. The Grade 6 learners, accompanied by teachers and some parents, travelled to a resort on Friday for a school trip. After lunch, the learners went to play at the swimming pools under the supervision of educators and parents. They were alerted by learners of a fellow learner who was unresponsive in one of the swimming pools. The educators immediately removed the learner from the swimming pool and tried to resuscitate him while waiting for emergency services and police. The learner was certified dead by paramedics upon their arrival. Police are investigating the incident. “We are deeply saddened by the passing of…

From p1 “It concluded that information before it ‘discloses, prima facie’ that the president may have been guilty of serious misconduct. The panel was thus mistaken,” he said. Ramaphosa had confirmed that the millions of US dollars stolen on his farm were from the sale of animals. The money was not banked and appears to have not been declared to the relevant authorities. The animals sold two years ago to a Sudanese businessman have yet to be collected. Ramaphosa had also not reported the theft that took place on his farm to the police, only informing his head of security Wally Rhoode. But in his court papers filed yesterday, he argued that the panel should have determined whether “sufficient evidence exists” to warrant an impeachment process. Speaking to the media…

IF WE want to bear the characteristics of who we are as a country, then how does the Constitutional Court justify the release of the unrepentant murderer of Chris Hani on parole? As a democratic state, this is a disgrace, and as president of the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru), I strongly appeal to the Constitutional Court to overturn this decision. On November 21, the highest court in the land upheld an appeal brought by convicted killer Janusz Walus and ordered the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services to place him on parole within 10 days. Chief Justice Raymond Zondo said that Justice Minister Ronald Lamola’s 2020 decision to refuse Walus parole was “irrational and it falls to be reviewed and set aside”. Walus was sentenced to…

Britain’s opposition Labour Party vowed yesterday to scrap the unelected and “indefensible” House of Lords as part of a constitutional revamp to redistribute economic growth after Brexit. Labour looks set to take power in the next election, due by January 2025, streaking far ahead of the governing Conservatives in opinion polls after a tumultuous period politically and economically. Labour leader Keir Starmer promised “the biggest ever transfer of power from (the UK parliament in) Westminster to the British people”, arguing that many voters in 2016 opted to quit the EU because of a sense of lack of democratic control. The party’s blueprint for reform, drafted by former prime minister Gordon Brown, envisions new devolution to the UK’s regions and countries including Scotland, where the nationalist government is pressing for a…

Moscow: The Kremlin said yesterday that a price cap on Russian oil exports agreed by the EU, G7 and Australia would not affect Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine. The price cap of $60 (R1 040) a barrel aims to restrict Russia’s revenue while making sure Moscow keeps supplying the global market. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia “would not recognise” the price cap, which amounted to “a step towards destabilising the global energy markets” and would “change” oil prices. The oil price cap aims to ensure Russia cannot bypass the embargo by selling its oil to third countries at high prices. | AFP…

BRUSSELS: The largest trial in Belgian history kicked off yesterday with 10 men accused of involvement in Islamist suicide bombings in Brussels in 2016 that killed 32 people and injured over 300. Set to last seven months, the trial revived painful memories for those who lost loved ones, were injured or witnessed the twin bombings at the airport and a third bomb on the metro on March 22, 2016. Around 1 000 people have registered to be represented in the hearings. Nine of the accused are charged with multiple murders and attempted murders in a terrorist context, and face potential life sentences. All 10 are accused of terrorist activities. | Reuters…

PARIS: Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy will try to convince a Paris court to overturn his March 2021 conviction for bribery and influence-peddling at an appeal hearing, which started yesterday. The initial trial saw Sarkozy sentenced to three years in prison, two of them suspended, in a stunning fall from grace for a man who served as president from 2007 to 2012 but is now facing a string of judicial investigations and trials. The court found that Sarkozy had tried to bribe a judge after leaving office, and to peddle influence in exchange for confidential information about an investigation into his 2007 campaign finances. Sarkozy said he was the victim of witch-hunts and lies. His appeal suspended the execution of the sentence in the original trial. He would have probably…

Now that the dust has settled on the November international season, we can take a considered look at the rugby landscape ahead of next year’s World Cup and - for my money - the Springboks have made more progress up rugby’s Everest than their rivals. Before a ball was kicked on the first weekend in November, Ireland and France were rated the best contenders for the Webb Ellis Cup, with New Zealand not far off them; England were breathing down the necks of the Kiwis and the Springboks and Wallabies were not doing well at the bookies. Four weekends of international rugby later, it looks a little different. Ireland and France are still right up there but they no longer look unbeatable. There has been so much hype about both…

The Stormers departed for France yesterday, bolstered by the return of two mighty Springboks. The Cape-based side will make their debut in the Heineken Champions Cup on Saturday against French Top 14 club ASM Clermont Auvergne at the Stade Marcel-Michelin (kick-off 4.15pm), and will do so with Bok prop Steven Kitshoff and utility-back Damian Willemse in the 26-man touring squad. National teammates Frans Malherbe and Marvin Orie, however, will not make the trip as they are rested after an extremely testing End of Year tour, but will be considered for selection a week later against London Irish at Cape Town Stadium. Loose forwards Nama Xaba and Willie Engelbrecht have been ruled out due to minor injuries, joining the likes of Seabelo Senatla, Sacha Mngomezulu, Evan Roos, Stefan Ungerer, Juan de…

Sadio Mane, who missed out on the 2022 Fifa World Cup through injury, has sent a touching letter to his Senegalese teammates following their World Cup exit. The Lions of Teranga were on the wrong end of a 3-0 beating at the hands of England on Sunday, exiting the competition in the Round of 16. Mane, who captained Senegal to Africa Cup of Nations glory early in the year, had to show his support from afar this time but sent a heartfelt message to his charges through his social media account. “Dear brothers, you have fallen into arms. The people are very proud of your journey and you have put the balm in the hearts of Senegalese and all supporters by defending the national flag with dignity. Continue learning and…