Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-01-03 i Pretoria News

In the past few years, social media has changed the way consumers look at products, especially cosmetics and skin care. You will undoubtedly run into beauty products if you spend even a minute on Instagram or TikTok. Despite the summer weather, there’s a reason why skin-care professionals recommend summer skin care. Ruan Winter, from South African skin-care brand Vitaderm, says the heat, late nights, excessive food and drink consumption, and a general lack of routine have an impact on our skin in various ways. Winter says there are a few simple things we can do to lessen how external elements affect our skin and how our skin reacts to them. Exfoliating is one of the finest ways to accomplish good skin. Consistent exfoliation will keep our skin healthy and radiant.…

LOOKING back, 2022 was a challenging year for education in South Africa and the continent. It began on a sad note for South Africa’s matriculants as many faced the prospect of a bleak future after being spewed out of a school system that continues to fail millions of pupils. On the flip side, private schools have continued to get a lousy rap amid stubborn silence from the Independent Schools Association of SA (Isasa) on various issues affecting its members. Some 45% of parents struggled to keep up with the exorbitant fees for their children at private schools. At the same time, Isasa’s leadership allows its members to escape without transforming; their silence on bullying at several schools over the past year is shocking, along with other unsavoury practices that have…

Tens of thousands of people paid their respects yesterday to former pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, at the start of three days of lying-in-state at St Peter’s Basilica before his funeral. They began queueing before dawn to view the German theologian’s body, which was transferred early yesterday from the monastery in the Vatican grounds where he died on Saturday aged 95. “I arrived at 6am, it seemed normal to come and pay homage to him after all he did for the church,” said an Italian nun, sister Anna-Maria, near the front of the queue that snaked around the edge of the vast St Peter’s Square. Benedict led the Catholic Church for eight years before becoming the first pope in six centuries to step down in 2013, citing his…

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office this week for a third term as Brazil’s president, vowing to fight for the poor and the environment and “rebuild the country” after far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro’s divisive administration. The 77-year-old veteran leftist, who previously led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, took the oath of office before Congress, capping a remarkable political comeback for the metalworker-turned-president less than five years after he was jailed on controversial, since-quashed corruption charges. Lula was driven through the ultra-modern capital in a black convertible Rolls-Royce, accompanied by First Lady Rosangela “Janja” da Silva and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin. Giving a blistering overview of the past four years under Bolsonaro, who snubbed the ceremony, Lula said his government would work to undo a legacy of economic decline, surging…

Kampala: Ugandan police said yesterday they had arrested a concert promoter after a stampede at a New Year’s Eve party in the capital, Kampala, that left 10 people, including children, dead. The partygoers were killed at Freedom City mall in Kampala as revellers thronged a single exit to watch a midnight fireworks show. Police said four other exits had been ordered shut by the promoters and investigators were looking at whether “negligence” was to blame for the loss of life. Most of the victims were aged between 10 and 20, police said. The promoter is well-known in Kampala for staging major festivals. | AFP…

Srinagar: Ten people have been killed within six days in a sudden uptick in violence in the usually more peaceful Hindu south of disputed Indian-administered Kashmir, officials said yesterday. Two gunmen suspected to be anti-India rebels opened fire on houses in the remote village of Dangri on Sunday, leaving four residents dead and five injured, a police official said. Yesterday a seven-year-old child and another person were killed in an explosion near a house, another police officer said. The deaths followed a firefight between government forces and suspected rebels at a checkpoint in Jammu city last Wednesday in which four suspected rebels died. | AFP…

The festive season is over and the league is back in full swing and stuttering Cape Town City will be looking to get into the top eight when they meet revived SuperSport United at the Cape Town Stadium today (5pm kick-off). Matsatsantsa have been much-improved this season under the guidance of veteran coach Gavin Hunt and are third in the league. The team from Tshwane are seven points adrift of league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and are in the hunt for the title. Also today (7.30pm kick-off) Royal AM (11th) host eighth place TS Galaxy at the Chatsworth Stadium. The Rockets will be looking to get better at converting draws into wins as they have only lost three league games this season but have drawn seven which is the joint…

COMMUNITIES have expressed disappointment that they were often excluded from Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) job opportunities because of patronage and external interference in recruitment process. This was one of the concerns received by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure during its public consultation process to solicit the views of communities on the imminent EPWP policy. The policy envisages addressing rising unemployment in the country, among other s. Deputy director for EPWP, Carmen-Joy Abrahams, commended the input by communities. “Your comments (submissions) will guide us as we craft and refine the EPWP so that it tackles the rising unemployment levels. The department is consolidating all submissions and will infuse them into the new EPWP policy.” Serious issues raised by communities included reviewing current funding mechanisms for the programme…

THE spike in the number of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) cases during and after the annual 16 days of awareness at the end of last year was alarming, as police and communities reported multiple cases every day, despite efforts to stop them. There were reports of girls as young as 4 years old being sexually assaulted and killed, women and elderly persons also being brutally raped and murdered, in what stakeholders said was a scourge worse than any pandemic. The release of statistics on violent crimes against women and children between April and September 2022 showed an alarming number of cases, and in a media briefing in December, Police Minister General Bheki Cele, described GBVF as a national crisis. One case which sent shock waves across the country was…

We owe it to our people to create better opportunities for them to lead better lives SINCE the dawn of democracy, South Africa, at various stages, has faced the problem of people migrating to cities, towns and hamlets in increasing numbers in search of better opportunities for livelihoods. The problem of shacks/land now covers every inch of the soil in the urban and peri-urban landscape to such an extent that for its resolution, it calls to mind two mega-plans developed in the world to resolve mega-problems such as the one facing South Africa today. The first one is what is called the Marshall Plan/European Recovery Programme, which was a US programme provided to Western Europe following the devastation of World War II. It was enacted in 1948 and…

Ukraine said yesterday it had shot down all Russian drones in a massive wave of attacks, after Moscow launched an unprecedented third straight night of airstrikes against civilian targets, intensifying its air war for the New Year holiday. Russian officials, meanwhile, were reeling from reports that high numbers of freshly mobilised Russian troops had been killed in a strike on a college converted to a barracks in occupied Ukraine, where soldiers were housed with an ammunition dump. A source close to the Russian-installed authorities said dozens had died. Russia has seen in the new year with nightly attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, hundreds of kilometres from the front lines. That marks a change in tactics after months in which Moscow usually spaced such strikes around a week apart. After…

Metro and bus traffic in Tunisia’s capital ground to a halt yesterday after employees of state transport company Transtu held a strike over delays in payment of wages and bonuses. The strike in Tunis highlights the financial problems faced by public companies on the verge of bankruptcy while President Kais Saied’s government contends with its worst financial crisis. The union, with 1 million members, has approved a two-day strike by air, land and sea transport workers on January 25 and 26 to protest against “the government’s marginalisation of public companies”. Hundreds of Transtu workers staged a protest in Kasbah Square, near the prime minister’s office, demanding payment. The travel chaos provoked an angry response from the thousands struggling to move around the capital. In the poor Intilaka area, people blocked…

Ciudad Juárez: Gunmen attacked a prison in the northern Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez at the weekend, leaving 14 people dead and allowing 24 inmates to escape, the Chihuahua state prosecutors’ office said. An unknown number of gunmen aboard armoured vehicles took part in the attack, and the dead included 10 prison guards and security agents, the office said. About five hours after the dawn incursion began, security forces managed to control the situation, which had also erupted into fighting between inmates within the sprawling state prison, near Mexico’s border with the US. Prosecutors said the violence at the prison also left 13 people injured. Four people were detained. | AFP…

NEVADA: Actor Jeremy Renner, who played Hawkeye in the Marvel Avengers movies, was in “critical but stable” condition in a hospital in Nevada yesterday after suffering a “traumatic injury” ploughing snow, his publicist and local officials said. Renner, 51, owns a home in Washoe County, Nevada. That area in northern Nevada received heavy snowfall on New Year’s Eve. Last month, Renner shared updates on social media when the area received large amounts of snow. “Lake Tahoe snowfall is no joke,” Renner tweeted, with the post showing a vehicle covered in snow. | Reuters…

SINCE his international debut in the Centurion Test against India in December 2021, Marco Jansen's stock as an all-rounder has gone up in the longest format of the game. The left-arm fast-bowling all-rounder has been a great addition to South Africa's bowling attack in Tests, picking up 36 wickets in eight matches at an average of 19.02 in 2022. With the bat, he has shown glimpses of being reliable, especially when he registered a fifty against Australia in the second Test at MCG. His stellar performances in 2022 meant Jansen has earned a nomination for ICC's Emerging Player of the Year award. "It didn't start great, my first over in Test cricket went for 14 (12). “I haven't really thought about it yet or reflected but it's gone way better…

AN EIGHTY-eight-year-old Mpumalanga grandmother who went missing two days before the new year is yet to be found. Maria Shiba was last seen at Kamaqhekeza in Tonga on Friday. “At the time of her disappearance, Ms Shiba was wearing a yellow dress, white beanie, black socks and blue Crocs. She was then reported missing by her loved ones,” said provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala. He said their priority was to locate the elderly woman and return her to her family, adding that police had their hands full dealing with numerous crimes over the festive season. Meanwhile, traffic officers within the provincial Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison were by yesterday stationed on different routes across the province, with the hopes of ensuring the safety of motorists and passengers.…

TIMELY intervention and pressure by the Gauteng South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) moved Eskom to lift an attachment in one of the Emfuleni municipal accounts used for salary payments, to allow workers to be paid on Christmas Eve. Samwu provincial secretary Mpho Tladinyane told the Pretoria News that the last-minute move by the power utility came as a relief to workers, who had faced the prospect of having a miserable festive period. The union had expressed disappointment with Eskom’s decision to attach the bank account of the Emfuleni Local Municipality through a court order. It raised the alarm that the decision could result in workers not being paid their December salaries, over the municipality owing Eskom at least R5 billion for bulk electricity supply. The power utility secured two…

Load shedding put a damper on the festive spirit across communities as they tried to enjoy their holidays after months of blackouts and inconvenience. People in and around Pretoria spoke to Pretoria News of their hope for a break during the holidays, but, they said, they were disappointed by continued blackouts, spoiling both their fun and food. Many explained that they had bought food in bulk, with the hope of having plenty to eat, “but we did not, as worrying about food poisoning and eating hot desserts became a norm”, a Pretoria North resident said. Tech founder Phiwa Nkambule took to social media to confront Eskom and ask if the company could just give South Africa one full week of load shedding and fix its generators properly because “patching with…

AS THE Department of Basic Education prepares for the start of the 2023 school year, it should seriously address the challenge of overcrowded classrooms by employing more teachers and school principals. It is crucial to deal decisively with the critical shortage of teachers in our schools. If this looming educational crisis is not addressed urgently, poor educational outcomes will be the order of the day. According to the findings of the Teacher Demographic Dividend project, a growing number of teachers have retired or are facing retirement by 2029. According to the study, in 2013 a total of 7 300 teachers retired compared with 12 500 in 2021, while 17 300 educators are due to retire in 2029, which will leave the education sector critically short of staff in…

About a dozen countries have slapped fresh travel regulations on travellers from China, as the world’s most populous nation faces a surge in Covid-19 cases following its decision to relax strict virus restrictions. As of Thursday, the US will require negative Covid-19 tests taken within two days of departure – or documentation proving passengers have recovered from the virus within the last 90 days – for all entries from China. Acceptable tests include “a PCR test or an antigen self-test administered and monitored by a telehealth service or a licensed provider”, according to the US Centers for Disease Control. The rules include those travelling from Hong Kong and Macau. Starting on Thursday, all those arriving in France from China must present a negative PCR test result, or a rapid antigen…

KAFR-DAN: Israeli forces killed a Hamas militant and another Palestinian during clashes near the occupied West Bank city of Jenin yesterday that were set off when the army came to demolish the homes of two slain gunmen, Palestinian sources said. The Israeli army confirmed carrying out the raid to raze the homes of two Palestinians who killed one of its commanders in the West Bank last year before they were shot dead. Troops shot at Palestinians in Kafr-Dan who attacked them with gunfire, rocks and firebombs, the army said. . Hamas has vowed to “pursue resistance and confront the terrorism and fascism of the new (Israeli) Occupation government”. | Reuters…

Hanoi: Hundreds of rescuers in Vietnam yesterday battled to free a 10-year-old boy who fell into a 35m-deep hole at a construction site two days ago. The boy, Thai Ly Hao Nam, fell into the shaft of a hollow concrete pillar just 25cm wide, sunk as part of a new bridge, apparently while looking for scrap metal. Rescuers had tried drilling and softening the surrounding soil to try to pull the pillar up. Authorities said the boy had stopped interacting with rescuers, though oxygen had been pumped into the hole. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked federal-level rescuers to join efforts by local authorities to save the boy. | AFP…

LONDON: Britain’s Prince Harry said his troubled relationship with the royal family “never needed to be this way” and he wants to get his father King Charles and his brother “back”, in an excerpt from an interview with broadcaster ITV released yesterday “It never needed to be this way,” he said. “They’ve shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile,” he said. “I would like to get my father back; I would like to have my brother back.” Harry and his wife, Meghan, officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, stepped down from royal duties in March 2020, saying they wanted to forge new lives in the US. They have since criticised how they were treated as members of the royal family, including an accusation by Harry that his brother…

Mamelodi Sundowns strengthened their lead at the top of the Premiership standings, extending their lead to five points, with a win on Friday as the DStv Premiership resumed. But it’s not only Sundowns that are set for a top three finish. Mihlali Baleka looks at the sides that could finish in the top three. Mamelodi Sundowns After a topsy-turvy start to the league, the Brazilians finally looked the part in the latter stages of the first half of the season, winning seven games on the trot. Sundowns’ purple patch didn’t come without changes. The technical team had to be restructured as Rhulani Mokwena became the sole head coach. Granted, Mokwena is in his infancy in the role but his side’s recent performances are of a team that'll do anything to…

VIRGIL van Dijk said he is using the pain of the Netherlands' World Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to eventual champions Argentina as fuel to get Liverpool's season back on track. Van Dijk was one of two Dutch players to miss in the shoot-out after an ill-tempered quarter-final ended 2-2. The Dutchman said his focus now is on guiding sixth-placed Liverpool back into the Premier League top four, though a title challenge looks unlikely as they sit 15 points behind leaders Arsenal. "It has ... motivated me here (at Liverpool). We are quite some points behind Arsenal but the season could be a very crazy one, a very strange one," he added. "We have to be realistic and we're not thinking about the title at the moment. We have to focus…

ERIK ten Hag is confident Luke Shaw can thrive at centre-back if the Manchester United left-back is asked to play out of position again. Shaw helped United to wins against Nottingham Forest and Wolves over the festive period after Ten Hag opted to deploy the England international in the centre of his defence. The 27-year-old could again start alongside Raphael Varane at centre-back when United face Bournemouth at Old Trafford in their first match of 2023 tonight. Argentina World Cup winner Lisandro Martinez has resumed training and may be available but if the centre-back needs more time to rest, Ten Hag has no hesitation about calling on Shaw again. That would be another blow to United centre-back Harry Maguire, who has struggled to hold down a place in Ten Hag's…