Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-03-27 i Pretoria News

NEWLY-appointed Minister of Electricity Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has assured South Africans they will not have to suffer power cuts higher than stage 6 load shedding. This comes as Ramokgopa continued with his visits to all 14 Eskom power stations across the country to engage with the management, workers and unions on solutions to the ongoing energy crisis. The minister on Friday and Saturday visited the Ankerlig open-cycle gas turbines, the Koeberg Nuclear Power station, and the Palmiet pump station in the Western Cape. The Palmiet storage is a hydro-electric pump storage scheme which contributes 400MW to the national grid. “I want to give the South African public the assurance that I don’t foresee us moving to higher stages of load shedding,” Ramokgopa said. “When I say higher I mean…

SOUTH Africa’s agriculture is currently faced with an array of challenges ranging from the high cost of production as inputs costs are high, lower output prices for many horticultural commodities, failing local infrastructure, high shipping and freight costs and recently continued accelerated load shedding. Land Bank, the agricultural industry and key stakeholders are particularly concerned about the extent to which the country has been experiencing power cuts recently. Productivity is negatively affected across the value chain. There is, however, an opportunity for farmers who may not have alternative energy sources such as solar energy to consider the financing of these alternative energy solutions to mitigate the risks and keep businesses running. The recently launched Blended Finance Programme by Land Bank in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and…

In the fight against tuberculosis globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has created a Flagship Initiative on TB to fast-track treatment of the sickness between 2023 and 2027. The WHO said that in September, the UN General Assembly would convene three High-Level Meetings focusing on pandemic preparedness and response and ending TB. Dr Norbet Ndjeka, chief director for TB Control Management in South Africa, was part of a press briefing with WHO regarding the end process of TB this week. He said they found tracking and confirming cases a challenge and were using a text message system in combating it. He explained that patients who had been confirmed to be suffering from TB would receive text messages about their treatment, and a system was being worked on for medication to…

At least 25 people were killed by devastating tornadoes that ripped across the southern US state of Mississippi yesterday, tearing off roofs, smashing cars and flattening entire neighbourhoods, with the region readying for more severe weather. The powerful weather system, accompanied by thunderstorms and driving rain, cut a path of more than 60km across the state late Friday, slamming several towns along the way. Mississippi’s emergency management agency put the death toll at 25 and said dozens more were injured. Four people reported missing “have been found”, it added. And in Alabama, one man died after being trapped when a trailer overturned in the severe weather, the sheriff’s office in Morgan County said on Twitter. In Rolling Fork, home to fewer than 2 000 people, an entire row of…

Hong Kong police yesterday permitted a small protest march under tight restrictions in one of the first demonstrations to be approved since the enactment of a sweeping national security law in 2020. Several dozen demonstrators were required to wear numbered lanyards and were barred from wearing masks as police monitored their march against a proposed land reclamation and rubbish processing project. Participants chanted slogans against the reclamation project as they marched in the rain with banners in the eastern district of Tseung Kwan O, where the project is slated to be built. Some also criticised the restrictions on their protest, which included a maximum of 100 participants, according to a seven-page letter from police to organisers. Responding to the protest, the city’s Development Bureau said the project was intended to…

Washington: Kanye West renounced anti-Semitism in a new Instagram post, writing that watching actor Jonah Hill in the film 21 Jump Street made him “like Jewish people again”. The rapper – known formally as Ye – has shocked and alarmed former supporters in recent months with a series of threats against Jewish people that drove sportswear giant Adidas and other fashion houses to dump him, and saw him locked out of most social media platforms. His latest Instagram post appeared to be an attempt to reverse his earlier declarations of “love” for Nazis and admiration for Adolf Hitler. “No one should take anger against one or two individuals and transform that into hatred towards millions of innocent people,” he continued. “No Christian can be labelled antisemite knowing Jesus is a…

A group of 380 rebels handed life sentences over the 2021 death of former Chad ruler Idriss Deby Itno have been pardoned. This was according to a statement from the president’s office. More than 400 rebels had been sentenced on Tuesday following a mass trial for “acts of terrorism, mercenarism, recruitment of child soldiers and assaulting the head of state”. The trial started last month. It took place behind closed doors at Klessoum prison, 20 kilometres southeast of the capital. But a statement from the office of transitional president General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, one of the former ruler’s sons, said 380 had received a presidential pardon. | AFP…

SECOND T20 INTERNATIONAL West Indies 258/5 Charles 118, Mayers 51, Shepherd 41*; Jansen 3/52, Parnell 2/43 South Africa 259/4 De Kock 100, Hendricks 68, Markram 38; Reifer 1/42, Holder 1/48, SA won by six wickets to level three-match series 1-1 Quinton de Kock and Johnson Charles scored magnificent centuries in the record-breaking second T20 international between South Africa and the West Indies at Centurion yesterday. Over 500 runs were scored at Centurion as SA and the West Indies put on a performance the world and both teams will remember for many years to come. Aiden Markram won his first toss as Proteas T20 captain and sent the West Indies in to bat first. West Indies batter Charles then set Centurion alight with a superb maiden T20 international century as…

Despite having a five-year contract in place, Hugo Broos' tenure as Bafana Bafana coach hangs by a thread after the team's disastrous Africa Cup of Nation qualifying outing at Orlando Stadium on Friday. The 2-2 stalemate against Liberia was a hammer blow for the 70-year-old Belgian and for several moments after Friday's match, the media thought he had resigned his post when he did not pitch for the post-match interview with the SABC. Broos was an emotional mess and only after he was told by the Safa's hierarchy to face the media rather than his assistant Helman Mkhalele, he shared his feelings. His behaviour on Friday is a pointer to what will happen if Bafana loses in Monrovia tomorrow. Broos will surely resign on the spot and will return to…

Amid turmoil, coalition partners submit motion to oust Ndzwanana THE fate of Tshwane’s new council Speaker Mncedi Ndzwanana hangs in the balance, with a special council sitting scheduled for today to deliberate on a motion to oust him. City manager Johann Mettler undertook to convene the sitting after Ndzwanana refused to accede to demands by multiparty coalition partners to convene a meeting to hear a motion of no confidence against him. The coalition is heading into today’s meeting with confidence that it has the numbers to remove Ndzwanana as council speaker. This comes as the coalition partners had seemingly put their house in order, with ActionSA firing four of its councillors suspected of having voted with the ANC and EFF against the party mandate. Previous voting for the positions of…

The EFF national shutdown dominated the general political discussions on all social and media platforms by many political commentators and analysts throughout the week, as expected. Even though Section 17 of the Constitution guarantees Malema and the EFF the right to assemble, demonstrate, picket and present petitions peacefully and unarmed, they have never presented themselves as political leaders who can be easily and safely associated with peace. Malema has over the years developed the ability to talk peace and war in the same sentence; if this is a strategy or a tactic to maintain media presence, it will certainly backfire in the long run. For me, whether the EFF national shutdown was successful or not is neither here nor there; I am just happy that there was general calmness and…

A top security adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said yesterday that Russian plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus would destabilise that country, which had been taken “hostage” by Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the decision on Saturday, sending a warning to Nato over its military support for Ukraine and escalating a standoff with the West. The move was not unexpected and Putin said it would not violate nuclear non-proliferation promises, but it is one of Russia’s most pronounced nuclear signals since the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine 13 months ago. Oleksiy Danilov, head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, called it “a step towards internal destabilisation of Belarus”. “The Kremlin took Belarus as a nuclear hostage,” he tweeted. Putin likened his plans to…

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz battled yesterday to put out the fires threatening his government as the three-way coalition met for crisis talks on a growing series of disputes. A little more than a year after taking office, the relationship between Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) and his governing partners, the Greens and the pro-business FDP, looks more strained than ever. Vice-Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck of the Greens has accused the FDP of blocking progress, while the FDP’s deputy chief Wolfgang Kubicki compared the Green politician to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kubicki later apologised but the damaging row underlines the state of the three-way coalition. The alliance got off to a good start in December 2021 but was put to a tough test when Russia invaded Ukraine just two months…

Sudan’s leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said yesterday that the country’s army would be brought under the leadership of a new civilian government. Speaking before a session for security and army reforms in Khartoum, Burhan said his country would build a military force that would not intervene in politics and would be trusted by the Sudanese people in building a modern and democratic state. More than a year after the military took power in a coup, the military and its former civilian partners and other political forces have agreed on a framework to form a new transitional government and write a new constituation to be announced next month. | Reuters…

Nairobi: The police chief yesterday announced a ban on fresh opposition demonstrations called for today, after protests last week degenerated into riots. “We will not allow illegal violent demonstrations where hooligans loot and destroy people’s property and businesses,” said Inspector-General of Police, Japhet Koome. Opposition leader Raila Odinga urged people to take to the streets today and on Thursday for further protests against the surging cost of living in Kenya. Last Monday’s demonstrations – not authorised by police – descended into violence. A student was killed by police fire and 31 officers injured in running battles. More than 200 people were arrested. | AFP…

Natal Sharks (13) 20 Tries: Penxe (2), Sobahle; Penalty: Zeilinga; Conversion: Zeilinga Western Province (7) 7 Try: Robertson; Conversions: Wolhuter It was like enduring root canal treatment for long periods, but the Sharks eventually prevailed over both Western Province and the gusty wind conditions in Durban to win this Currie Cup game 20-7 yesterday. The Sharks started well enough when fullback Yaw Penxe scored from a play set up by a very good tactical kick by scrumhalf Bradley Davids. Veteran flyhalf Fred Zeilinga missed the conversion, but added a penalty from directly in front of the posts for an 8-0 lead. Then came a special moment for Sharks right wing Phikolomzi Sobahle, who was plucked out of club rugby to make his Currie Cup debut. Just…

THE BATTLE between the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) and AYO Technology Solutions Limited (AYO) has come to an end, after the companies announced on Friday that they have reached a settlement. This follows the PIC heading to court, looking to dissolve and recoup its R4.3 billion investment in AYO. The PIC is the custodian of more than 80% of the Government Employees Pension Fund’s (GEPF’s) portfolio. The GEPF describes itself as Africa’s largest pension fund, with more than 1.2 million active members, more than 450 000 pensioners and beneficiaries, and assets valued at more than R1.61 trillion. On Friday, in a joint statement, AYO and the PIC said they settled the proceedings instituted by the PIC against AYO in the Western Cape Division of the High…

ALMOST all people experienced a time in their lives when they wished they could turn back the clock. Sometimes it is to change certain poor decisions that have been made, fix a mistake in the past, to relive special moments of joy, or to properly say goodbye to a loved one. Although the ability to turn back the clock has long been embraced by science fiction and debated by theoretical physicists, it is impossible in the classical physical world. We are all too familiar with the directionality of time and that all events follow a unidirectional path. Once an event has occurred, it cannot be reversed because we are not able to manipulate time as an entity. However, an international team of scientists claim that they have succeeded in speeding…

Trauma and the whole concept are sometimes so overwhelmingly controversial and usually misunderstood. According to a peer-reviewed study on trauma and public mental health, approximately 70 000 adults from 24 countries with a range of economic statuses, from poor to high, participated in the Global Mental Health Surveys of adults. According to the findings, 70.4% of the respondents had at least one form of traumatic event happen to them at some point in their lives. 14% had experienced intimate partner or sexual violence, 34.3% had accidents or injuries, and 22.9% experienced physical violence. What exactly is trauma? Trauma is defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration as an experience that you perceive as detrimental or life-threatening. It has long-lasting, negative impacts on your mental, physical, emotional,…

ONE of the siblings of a mineworker – who suspected that the victim’s wife may have a hand in his death after an autopsy report revealed that he had died an unnatural death – has asked the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg for an urgent order halting his pension payout to his widow. The woman, only identified as NM in the judgment, said she was lodging the application on behalf of the deceased’s three children. They are not related to his widow, identified as ZM. NM asked for an urgent order directing the Mineworkers Provident Fund to freeze and preserve the man’s pension fund death benefit, pending the outcome of a police investigation into his death. She also asked for an order restraining the widow from attempting to access his…

THE Gauteng provincial government must take over the administration of the City of Tshwane due to failure by council to elect a mayor and ongoing political strife negatively affecting service delivery. This was a view expressed by United Africans Transformation leader Abel Tau, who called for the provincial executive to invoke Section 139 of the Constitution and place Tshwane under provincial administration. Tau said: “We have written to the Gauteng premier, Panyaza Lesufi and MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Mzi Khumalo requesting that they invoke Section 139 of the Constitution and place the City of Tshwane under provincial administration,” he said. He said recent developments in the city had a negative impact on service delivery and affected Tshwane residents, who were also ratepayers. “There are enough grounds…

Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba has added her voice to the campaign for the installation of generators in hospitals across the country. While Ramathuba is part of the governing party engaged in a legal battle with the main opposition parties and civil society organisations to force it to exempt hospitals from load shedding, she came out this week in support of the installation of generators amid increasing levels of load shedding. While the parties were battling it out in court, Ramathuba, an ANC Limpopo provincial executive committee member and deputy provincial chairperson of the SACP, expressed her views on Twitter. She wrote: “Hospitals can’t go on a second without power supply. We handed over 11 generators expecting 8 more capacity between 500KVAs and 800KVAs frequency of load shedding reduced…

She is only 6 years old, but little Hailey Lindemann is already a force to be reckoned with. She has her own business called Hailey’s Handmade Goodies. This little entrepreneur’s fingers do the talking when she makes her range of beaded jewellery fit for a princess. Hailey, who lives in Theresa Park, north of Pretoria, is probably one of the country’s youngest entrepreneurs. She is assisted in her business by her mother, Martie Lindemann. The talented girl told the Pretoria News that her love for beadwork also affords her the opportunity to earn her own money. “I love working for my own pocket money. In doing so, I don't have to worry about asking my mother for money. In having my own money, I know that what I buy with…

Nothing is valued by politicians as much as that little mark we make on our ballot papers Over the years I have learnt that there is no such a thing as a free lunch. Whenever someone offers you a free lunch, you must know that you have something valuable that your host wants from you, something whose worth is far higher than the cost of the lunch. I will use this analogy in relation to our gullibility as an electorate, in the context of the periodic elections that take place. By the way, it is not a South African phenomenon but something universal all over the world. Nothing is valued by politicians as much as that little mark we make on the ballot paper on election day, for it is…

China and Honduras began formal diplomatic relations yesterday, with Taiwan accusing Beijing of using “coercion and intimidation” to lure away its few remaining allies. China announced the move soon after Tegucigalpa said it had officially severed ties with Taipei. “The two governments have decided to establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level”, effective immediately, China’s foreign ministry said. The switch cuts to 13 the number of countries that still diplomatically recognise Taiwan, which has lost several Latin American allies in recent years. China considers the self-ruled, democratic island a part of its territory, to be retaken one day – by force, if necessary. Under its “One China” policy, it does not allow countries to recognise both Beijing and Taipei. Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina said, “The government of the People’s Republic…

JERUSALEM: A top lawmaker from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party yesterday echoed a call by the defence chief to pause a contested judicial overhaul. Dissent from the premier’s own party and cabinet follows mass protests by Israelis who fear the reforms could endanger court independence. A key bill giving Netanyahu’s coalition more control over the appointment of judges is expected to be ratified this week in the Knesset. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, a Likud MP, broke ranks on Saturday, urging Netanyahu to suspend the legislation. He said the protests were undermining national security. | Reuters…

Tehran has condemned US airstrikes on Iran-linked forces in Syria that reportedly killed 19 people, which Washington said it carried out following a deadly drone attack on US forces. The Iranian foreign ministry late Saturday condemned “the belligerent and terrorist attack of the American army on civilian targets” in the eastern Syrian region of Deir Ezzor. Washington said it launched the retaliatory raids after a US contractor was killed – and another contractor and five military personnel wounded – by a drone “of Iranian origin” that struck a US-led coalition base in Syria on Thursday. The US strikes triggered further rocket attacks by Iran-backed militias, the Syrian Observatory said. | AFP…

TUNIS: At least 29 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa died when their two boats sank off the coast of Tunisia as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, the Tunisian coast guard said yesterday. Separately, in the past four days, five migrant boats have sunk off the coast of the southern city of Sfax, leaving 67 missing and nine dead, after a significant increase in boats heading towards Italy. Tunisia has taken over from Libya as a main departure point for people fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East in the hope of a better life. The coast guard said it had stopped about 80 boats heading for Italy in the past four days. | AFP…

The Mamelodi Sundowns faithful were sent into a frenzy on Saturday night as club duo Themba Zwane and Andile Dlamini won big at the South African Sports Awards. The ceremony was held at the Sun City Superbowl. Zwane walked away with the prominent Peoples’ Choice Award, while Banyana goalkeeper Dlamini was named the SA Sport Star of the Year. Dlamini had to beat off swimming sensation Mathew Sates and golf star Ashleigh Buhai for the biggest award of the night. The 30-year-old goal minder had an unbelievably successful 2022, helping Banyana Banyana win their first ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title, where she also won goalkeeper of the tournament. Dlamini also enjoyed victories on the domestic front as she helped Sundowns Ladies to their third consecutive league title and…

Former South African women’s national team captain Janine Van Wyk has expressed her views following her recent snubbing from the set-up. Van Wyk, now 35, is the highest-capped player in South Africa with over 180 appearances and is also the highest-capped female in African football. Following her brief but successful stint in Scotland with Glasgow City, Van Wyk is now playing for Greek club Ergotelis Women FC. Nevertheless, she has found it hard to reclaim her place in the national squad. The Alberton-born defender was an integral part of Banyana’s remarkable 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations success but has since been left out in the cold as the team prepares for this year’s World Cup. Van Wyk has, on her social media, expressed her displeasure at not being part…