Innholdsfortegnelse for Sunday, August 2, 2020 i Sunday Independent

TENDER Diko’s R8Om PPE Payment Royal Bhaca paid through front company Ledla Structural Development PIET MAHASHA RAMPEDI Piet Mahasha Rampedi THE Gauteng Department of Health has paid Royal Bhaca Projects at least R80m for its personal protective equipment (PEE) services over the past week alone through a front company known as Ledla Structural Development, Sunday Independent can reveal. The money was channelled through Ledla in 12 tranches of between R120000 and R38m after the company invoiced for items that bear a striking resemblance in value, quantity and pricing to the ones supplied by Royal Bhaca, according to payment records, official documents and sources. It’s unclear whether the R80m payment was the balance or a portion of the R125m contract controversially awarded to Madzikane ll Thandisizwe Diko, the husband of President…

DRAMA Gigaba’s wife arrested Noma Gigaba facing charges of assault and malicious damage to property STAFF REPORTER CINDY WAXA A FORMER cabinet minister’s wife, Noma Gigaba, spent the weekend behind bars for allegedly assaulting her husband and for destroying a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon worth more than R3 million. Noma, who is married to Malusi Gigaba, will appear before a magistrate tomorrow to face charges of malicious damage to property, domestic violence, crimen injuria and assault. The couple are no strangers to controversy. Over the years, their union has been marred by cheating scandals. Gigaba, the former finance and home affairs minister, was accused of being in a relationship with Noma while married to his first wife. It is alleged that he now has a girlfriend, who is currently pregnant with twins.…

ZIMBABWE Emigrants slam ‘desperate’ government ROLAND MPOFU ZIMBABWEAN emigrants in South Africa have slammed their government’s systematic targeting of activists and dissenting citizens and labelled it as a “sign of desperation”. The protest, organised by Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance and other human rights activists, saw businesses and streets shut in Harare and in all major cities after the Zanu PF government outlawed the demonstrations and deployed the army and the police on the streets. The organisers were protesting against multiple accusations of violations of human rights and destruction of the economy by the ruling Zanu-PF. On Friday, across the country, there were a myriad of other unlawful arrests, including that of award-winning novelist Tsitsi Dangarembwa and ZimLive editor Mduduzi Mathuthu’s family members. Busani Ndlovu who stays in the…

ACCOUNTABILITY Refusing to hide sexual harassment Radio station owner immediately reported allegation to Commission for Gender Equality EDWIN NAIDU WHEN revolutionary radio boss Tebogo Pooe received a sexual harassment complaint from a member of staff, his approach was contrary to what one would find in corporate South Africa – instead of hushing it up, or subjecting the complaint to in-house rigour, he took the unprecedented step of asking the Commission for Gender Equality to investigate. Even they were surprised, as his response is not the norm in South Africa where companies in the private sector usually handle their own disciplinary processes around sexual harassment claims, or in instances, cover it up. The former Soweto Radio broadcaster Pooe, founder and chairperson of Motswako Media Group, which owns You FM in Rustenburg,…

SCIENCE Building bricks of success AMANDA MALIBA amanda.maliba@inl.co.za SISTERS Kedibone and Kekeletso Tsiloane, aged 30 and 27, are among the few innovators in the construction industry to tap into the science of manufacturing building material using plastic by coming up with their own bricks aptly named PlastiBrick. The sisters added the plastic bricks onto their already impressive résumé that includes the ownership of a successful construction company – Ramtsilo Manufacturing & Construction. They then sought out other female manufacturers to add to their line-up but were confronted with the reality that the construction industry is still male dominated. The duo hail from the Free State’s Sasolburg and have grown their business to now operate both in the Free State and Benoni, where they are currently based. Their product has also…

PANDEMIC Call for hard lockdown slammed ROLAND MPOFU HEALTH experts have slammed the call made by the embattled Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku to reintroduce hard lockdown regulations, especially targeting Gauteng, saying that it lacked “science” and has caused economic hardships to the ordinary citizens. Masuku said the call was an attempt to curb soaring Covid-19 numbers. He said lockdown measures – including a ban on alcohol and the curfew – would help stem the spread of the virus he said was threatening to overwhelm the health system. In March, Masuku said the province was ready for a projected increase in Covid-19 cases, citing the conversion of the Nasrec exhibition centre into a field hospital. Yet when it was clear that the numbers were rising, he rushed to the national…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA RHINO POACHING PLUNGES DURING PANDEMIC In the days and weeks ahead, we expect to see the number of cases, the number of deaths, and the number of affected countries climb even higherTEDROS ADHANOM Director general of the World Health Organization South Africa said the number of rhinos killed by poachers fell by 53% in the first half of the year as the coronavirus outbreak limited the movement of people. In the six months, 166 of the animals were poached, the environment department said in a statement on Friday. IOL…

COMMENT THE AFRIKANER IS A MISNOMER AND NEEDS A NAME CHANGE A HERALDED tradition of critical intellectuals among whites who have objected conscientiously to the theory and practice of apartheid appear to have never in the development of their own thought leadership questioned the ethnic identity of the Afrikaner as a misnomer and a complete falsehood. Afrikaner is a Dutch etymology that means African. Yet they have misappropriated the identity of the indigenous peoples of Africa, assuming their collective name, and instead giving them the hot end of the stick until their policies were deemed heretic and a crime against humanity. The Boers are a hodge-podge of the Dutch who arrived in 1652 with Jan van Riebeeck and in time adopted the Huguenot into their ranks to make a tribe…

LETTERS Do lockdown rules apply only to some? DURING the early days of lockdown law when the funeral restriction notice was put out, I wrote that “just wait for some government minister or ANC bigwig to die and watch the flouting of the laws”. And as sure as the sun rises, it has happened. At Zindzi Mandela’s funeral, there were more than 50 people. Social distancing and the wearing of masks was non-existent among some mourners. Struggle stalwart, Andrew Mlangeni’s funeral was a bit humbler but full of big league politicians with sombre faces and deep pockets. Once again there was total disregard for the laws. Even the SA Council of Churches lashed out at the ANC for their hypocrisy. There was no social distancing and the crowd exceeded 50…

HONG KONG Extradition deals suspended CHINA’S embassy in Berlin yesterday rebuked Germany’s decision to suspend its extradition agreement with Hong Kong, calling the move a “serious breach of international law” and interference in China’s affairs. Germany on Friday followed Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Australia in its decision to suspend its extradition agreement Hong Kong. Germany’s foreign minister Heiko Maas cited Hong Kong’s decision to delay its legislative election until next year and ban a dozen pro-democracy candidates from participating. He said Germany was concern over the new security law imposed by Beijing, which was used this week to arrest four activists for online activity. Hong Kong has also called for the arrest of six activists residing overseas, one of whom is in exile in Germany. China’s embassy in Germany…

UNITED STATES James Murdoch quits News Corp MEDIA mogul Rupert Murdoch’s son James resigned from the board of News Corporation on Friday, citing “disagreements over certain editorial content” published by the company’s news outlets. According to documents filed to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the youngest of the Murdochs informed the company that his resignation would be effective immediately, also citing his dissent over “strategic decisions.” Founded and owned by 89-year-old billionaire Rupert, News Corp covers an extensive list of major news titles across the globe. The family media empire owns the Sunday Times, the Sun, and the Times newspapers in Britain, as well as Australia’s tabloids the Daily Telegraph, the Herald Sun, and the broadsheet newspaper the Australian. In the US, the Murdochs own Dow Jones, which is…

ZIMBABWE Call for government to end the ‘witch-hunt’ of activists AMNESTY International has called on the Zimbabwean government to allow citizens to exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and to stop harassing, intimidating, and arresting people who have done “nothing more than peacefully express their opinions”. Zimbabwean authorities thwarted an anti-corruption protest on Friday and launched a search for political and human rights activists suspected of being behind the planned demonstration, Amnesty International said. A number of activists had gone into hiding after police published a list of names of human rights defenders wanted for questioning in connection with the planned protests. Six activists had been arrested, Amnesty International deputy director for Southern Africa Muleya Mwananyanda said. “The brutal assault on political activists and human rights…

Africans shortlisted for UN’s Earth award CAPE TOWN: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced the 35 finalists for the UN’s Young Champions of the Earth award, and five Africans have made the cut. They presented groundbreaking and scalable solutions to pressing environmental problems. Fernanda Samuel, Ghislain Irakoze, Joy Egbe, Nzambi Matee and Richard Kakunga Wambua are the five African entrepreneurs who are vying for the title of Young Champions of the Earth 2020. According to environmental news outlet Afrik21, they represent Angola, Rwanda, Nigeria and Kenya. ANA…

Microsoft considers buying TikTok MICROSOFT is in talks to buy TikTok, the Chinese-owned video app, as the US weighs steps to effect a ban on it over security concerns. It’s unclear how advanced the talks between Microsoft and TikTok are, but any deal could help alter TikTok’s ownership, said a person with knowledge of the talks, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. US president Donald Trump said he would take action by yesterday to ban TikTok. “As far as TikTok is concerned, we’re banning them from the United States,” Trump told reporters on Friday on Air Force One as he returned from Florida. New York Times and AP…

AFRICA THIS WEEK GET TROOPS IN LINE BEFORE THERE’S MUTINY VICTOR KGOMOESWANA @VictorAfrica PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa is the commander in chief of a contaminated army. His colonels and lieutenants are too busy stealing ammunition, food and other supplies to help him defeat the enemy – the coronavirus. When the blatant sabotage is reported to him and the public, he institutes long and costly investigations instead of court martialling the traitors. Then he goes back to the multilateral organisations to borrow more money. Any commander in chief who fails to make an example of his officials might as well turn the guns on his own soldiers. He loses an opportunity to send a clear message that corruption will not be tolerated. Instead, he announces one investigation after another. He then follows…

BIZ 101 How to stay positive and adjust to the new normal WORKING from home has become a new reality for many office workers. While this is a necessary measure to combat the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace, it can impact a company culture. A recent survey by one of South Africa’s largest workplace consultancies showed that 70 percent of people missed the general social interactions of the office, with 85 percent saying that they missed the “colleague interaction”. Businesses therefore need to work on creating a positive culture that employees can revel in remotely. This can be done by: Communication It is important to keep every employee in the loop by providing regular updates in as much a transparent way as possible given the high levels of uncertainty…

STARS Aries (March 21 - April 20) Mars rattles your already unsettled cage, triggering even more impulsive behaviour. Just take care, as rebellious acts are more likely to increase tension rather than reduce it. Instead, try discharging all that nervous tension with full-on physical or creative activity. Taurus (April 21 - May 20) This week brings more change and upheaval. It is time to re-evaluate. Sometimes, as difficult as the disappointments have been to take, change can create new possibilities you never dreamed of. There could be problems relating to your property. Gemini (May 21 - June 21) Your head spins with the number of activities this week, as this is a fast-paced time. Team efforts also get a real boost, even if the collective decision-making process can be a…

ESKOM Black woman snubbed for post MZILIKAZI WA AFRIKA and KARABO NGOEPE PUBLIC Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has done it again – he revoked the appointment of the first black woman to be the chairperson of Eskom pension and provident fund and instead appointed Caroline Henry to the position. Sunday Independent canreveal that Mantuka Maisela received an official letter signed by Eskom chief financial officer Calib Cassim informing her of her “appointment as Eskom pension and provident fund chairperson” on May 29. Cassim stated in his letter that Maisela’s appointment was subject to the “finalisation of the governance process” by Gordhan. Two-weeks later, on June 12, Cassim wrote another letter announcing Maisela’s removal from the position, also replacing her as a trustee. Black Securities and Investment Professionals president and…

HEALTH Trauma of living with Covid-19 stigma Patients ostracised as ignorance fuels fear in communities AMANDA MALIBA THE Covid-19 recovery rate in South Africa is one of the highest in the world and stands at 60%, yet many who have recovered and beat the virus are still battling to shake off not only the trauma but the stigma associated with it. Last month, a Mpumalanga teacher reportedly set herself alight after people started gossiping about her when she went into self isolation after testing positive for Covid-19. In the Western Cape’s Langa township, Nosisi Jacobs told the Sunday Independent about her harrowing experience at the hands of her neighbours after they heard she had been infected with Covid-19. “When I tested positive two months ago, it was difficult. I felt…

POLITICS ANC warned to deal with its problems LOYISO SIDIMBA THE ANC’s integrity commission has warned the governing party that it faces an existential crisis and that should it fail to tackle its very deep problems, it will collapse. The 11-member commission warned that time was not on the ANC’s side and it should not ignore its very deep problems as is currently the case. “The integrity commission has not had, as yet, an opportunity to put forward to the national executive committee (NEC) the fact that the divisions and corruption within the ANC – as expressed in the past by office bearers and by the resolutions of conference – is not in itself the problem,” the commission stated. According to the commission, this behaviour is in fact an expression…

TRANSFORMATION Realising the value of investing in human capital AMANDA MALIBA A LOT of white businesses shy away from implementing affirmative action, while others even go to the extent of challenging it in court, calling it reverse racism. But there is a pocket of entrepreneurs like Pepe Marais, who believe in investing in the development of their black staff, among other interventions, as opposed to focusing on the bottom line. Marais, who runs leading advertising, brand and communications group, Joe Public United, calls his strategy a disruptive business wave and the aim is to centre its operations on the development of its personnel. He seems to be succeeding immensely. He recently gave 60% of the company to black shareholders, which resulted in the company becoming the largest majority black-owned, independent…

BOOK Tea and sympathy required Former journalist highlights hardship and rejection of single moms – and pours out hope AMANDA MALIBA SINGLE mothers are not superwomen and need help and support when raising their children, admits former journalist-turned-author Mantombi Makhubele, in her debut book Let’s Have Some Tea: A Single Mom’s Conversation. This, according to Makhubele, goes against the pervading narrative that single mothers have it all figured out when in essence they are in pain. Makhubele says beneath the hard work lies a deep-seated pain. This is the pain that most single mothers don’t know how to navigate and that sometimes shows up in the decisions they make even in the dating game, says Makhubele, who until recently was also a single mother of two daughters. A study by…

BUDGET CUTS COMMENT Bleak outlook for higher education: varsity boss BUDGET cuts due to the effects of Covid-19 have severely impacted on higher education and science programmes, placing in doubt the ability to meet postgraduate and doctoral targets, and sparking fears of staff reduction further down the line as the pandemic continues to bring the economy to a standstill. As many as 5 000 postgraduate and doctoral students may lose out on funding while resources amounting to R3.8 billion are being diverted by the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation to save the academic year and address the effects of the pandemic. The outlook is bleak, according to Professor Ahmed Bawa, the chief executive of the country’s tertiary representative body, Universities South Africa. “The post-Covid-19 sustainability of…

PANDEMIC New thinking is needed Could lessons from China strengthen the state and help South Africa negotiate the ‘new normal’? The COVID-19 pandemic and virus has not only necessitated physical change in how we interact and do business with each other, but provided interesting new ways to engage with knowledge from other parts of the world. Over the last two weeks one has been attending a virtual “China-Africa Governance Capacity Building Programme” hosted by the National School of Government (NSG) in conjunction with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (Cass). It struck me that new thinking around this Covid-19 pandemic is needed for our State and political environment. Key to not only surviving this “new normal” but thriving in it, is going to rest on how the government and political…

CORRUPTION A time to weep for our country Worrying rise in misappropriation of funds IN JUNE 2004, the Kenyan anti-corruption head who later fled his country as a whistle-blower, John Githongo, uttered words whose foul smell would linger for years in the corridors of the mind of British journalist and author Michela Wrong: “I knew of at least one other minister who was a complete crook, but I was Kikuyu, in a Kikuyu government, and people around me were saying: “It’s our turn to eat.” When it comes to vukungundwani, bonweenwee, inkohlakalo no rhwaphilizo (corruption), democratic South Africa may have long overtaken the Kenya of Daniel Arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki. Unbeknown to our founding negotiators, the air inside the hallowed chambers of the World Trade Centre was thick with…

EDITORIAL Diko deal rotten from the get go IT WILL be triumphalist to scream: we told you so. You will remember that over the past two weeks we pointed out the stink from the R125-million PPE tender granted by the Gauteng government to Royal Bhaca, a company owned by the husband of Khusela Diko, spokesperson of President Cyril Ramaphosa. We did our reports by the book, granting Ms Diko ample time to either respond to our questions to her or refute them. That she resorted to playing dirty by posting our correspondence to her on Facebook is a matter between herself and her conscience. But our kind of journalism holds that it could not have been above board for Royal Bhaca, owned by AmaBhaca King Madzikane II Thandisizwe, to enter…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA NEHAWU TAKES ON HEALTH MINISTER OVER PPEs Some of our political leaders have become absolutely corrupt – they are no longer interested in improving the lives of our people. They are busy lining their pockets with the money that is meant to help the poor people. What a disgrace! .ANDREW MLANGENI ANC stalwart speaking at Rhodes University in 2018 The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union and the Department of Health are at loggerheads on the protection of health-care workers, who are alleged to be subjected to Covid-19 infection.…

ThePeople Boston bomber wins death penalty appeal BOSTON: A federal appeals court on Friday overturned Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s death penalty sentence for helping carry out the 2013 attack, which killed three people and wounded more than 260 others. The 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston upheld much of Tsarnaev’s conviction but ordered a lower-court judge to hold a new trial strictly over what penalty Tsarnaev should receive for the death-penalty-eligible crimes he was convicted of. Reuters…

INDIA Country on high alert for a terror attack INDIAN security agencies along with its ministry of home affairs are co-ordinating with state police to thwart a possible terror attack before Independence Day celebrations and a foundation stone laying at the Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya, and the first anniversary of converting Jammu and Kashmir into a federal territory. India’s security agencies have been put on high alert ahead of the 74th Independence Day on August15. According to security sources, terrorists from Pakistan have plans to infiltrate India and could launch an attack on independence day celebrations. Given the possibility of an aerial attack, police in Delhi have banned all forms of aircraft from flying over the city. “There have been reports that certain criminal or anti-social elements or terrorists…

HURRICANE Florida declares an emergency HURRICANE Isaias strengthened as it lashed the Bahamas yesterday, bearing down on Florida and was expected to approach the southeast of the state later in the day before travelling up the eastern US seaboard. Isaias was carrying top sustained winds of 140km/h, the US National Hurricane Center said. Its centre was approaching Andros Island in the Bahamas and was due to pass over or near islands in the central and northwest Bahamas bringing a danger of damaging storm surges of up to 1.52m over normal tide levels. The storm prompted authorities in parts of Florida to close Covid-19 testing sites and people to stock up on essentials. The state is already grappling with one of the country’s worst outbreaks of the novel coronavirus, reporting hundreds…

UAE starts up its first nuclear energy plant CAIRO: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said yesterday it had successfully operated its first nuclear power plant, becoming the first Arab country to do so. The UAE is aiming to operate four nuclear power plants, Mohammed bin Rashid, the vice president and ruler of Dubai, tweeted. “The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant will deliver 25% of the UAE’s electricity with zero carbon emissions,” Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation chief executive Mohammed al-Hammadi said. dpa…

ADHERENCE Ignoring call to wear masks LETHU NXUMALO AND REESHNI CHETTY WITH the rate of Covid-19 infections and deaths growing exponentially, daily, in South Africa, there are still people who refuse to adhere to various safety protocols. Government officials, community leaders and others have made repeated calls for adherence to the protocols in place, but some individuals still venture out of their homes without wearing masks, which is a criminal offence. This week, King Goodwill Zwelithini also emphasised the importance of adherence to regulations and called on all South Africans to unify in the fight against the coronavirus. During his virtual birthday message on Monday, King Zwelithini said the virus had also affected the royal family, and he believed his ancestors had never contended with such an enemy as Covid-19,…

EVENT All the news from Wits Hospice: Night with the Stars 2020 AMANDA MALIBA THE COVID-19 pandemic has forced many brands and events to reimagine new ways to continue to exist amid the lockdown regulations. While some have sunk many have fought to stay afloat. One such key annual event is the Wits Hospice: Night with the Stars (NWTS) fundraiser that is in its 7th year of raising donations for the Wits hospice that provides care, comfort and support to patients and families affected by life-threatening illnesses, such as cancer, HIV /Aids and organ failure. This year, instead of having a fashion runway, the Night With The Stars 2020 – The Lounge Edition was illuminating the social media stratosphere with Mzansi’s finest celebrities, creatives and fashion designers supporting the event…

UPRISING Mozambican politics, arms and drug trade fan flames SADC and SA as a member state have a duty to intervene in the crisis, writes Prof André Thomashausen with SHANNON EBRAHIM CABO Delgado is about the size of KwaZulu-Natal and has a population estimated at 2.4 million with one of lowest human development indexes in the world. Since the particularly violent insurgent attacks in May this year, the province and its population have been abandoned. The urbanised population has fled to the provincial capital, Pemba, causing a refugee crisis. The insurgency in Cabo Delgado has its antecedents. The Portuguese colonial power was for the first time challenged in an attack on September 25, 1964 in Chai, in Mueda District. These first shots were fired by Makonde General Alberto Chipande who…

REAL NUMBERS Coronavirus Spells the End of the Neoliberal Era THE SAND is shifting under the long held notion of good macro-economic pillars of South Africa. Former trade and industry minister Rob Davies once argued that unless we disabuse ourselves of that notion, the microeconomic and trade policies are going to be suffocated by the macroeconomic rigidities. Key macro-economic measures are mostly about the relationship between growth, prices, employment, aggregate demand and the productive capacity of the economy. Governments use such tools to manage the interactions of these variables while national treasuries and central banks are primary rights holders for the governance of their healthy equilibrium. The Overton window of political possibilities is based on a theory that what is remotely possible, seen as not achievable in policy, often becomes…

TV HIGHLIGHTS CELEBRITY GAME FACE SUNDAYS AT 8PM, E! (DSTV 124) Kevin Hart hosts this virtual show with his wife Eniko. They lead the celebrity couple teams through a game night full of fun, fresh and wildly unexpected moments, as they engage in a range of ridiculous physical challenges that viewers can play with along at home. At the end of the night, the couples are awarded money for their charity of choice. PERRY MASON TUESDAYS AT 10PM, M-NET (DSTV 101/SHOWMAX) Starring Matthew Rhys, Perry Mason is based on characters created by author Erle Stanley Gardner. The series follows the origins of American fiction’s most legendary criminal defence lawyer, Perry Mason. When the case of the decade breaks down his door, Mason’s relentless pursuit of the truth reveals a fractured…

INJURY TIME STUART HESS stuart.hess@inl.co.za MISCOMMUNICATION WHEN does a communications department not communicate? In the case of the Cricket SA communications department, it doesn’t communicate when CSA’s Board doesn’t want it to communicate. Instead the Board, with five of its 12 members having been in position for less than a year, will draw up its own statement and release it without the communications department having sight of said statement. There’s many problems at Cricket SA, and the communications department which the board doesn’t want to see communicate is just another in the wonderful working of a dysfunctional company. FORENSIC REPORT STILL IN HIDING OH, if you’re wondering where that forensic report is … still on a flash drive or gathering dust in a cupboard. Cricket SA’s president Chris Nenzani told…

RUGBY Rugby in catch-22 over match 23 substitutes rules MARK KEOHANE TALK of a law change to reduce the number of substitutes is not a World Rugby conspiracy aimed at weakening the Springboks, who based so much of their 2019 World Cup success on six forwards and two backs replacement bench, instead of the more traditional four and three split. The world is not out to get South Africa or the Springboks. World Cup winning coach Rassie Erasmus’s use of the bench at the World Cup was a tactical masterclass. He appreciated the versatility of his replacements to cover more than one position and he based his forward onslaught on what was available to him in a player context. Two years from now, a match 23 for the Springboks may…

F 1 Hamilton in seventh heaven at Silverstone SIX times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton shattered the Silverstone track record with a blistering lap to put dominant Mercedes on pole position for his home British Grand Prix yesterday. The 35-year-old, who will be chasing a record seventh win at Silverstone today, was joined on the front row by Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen qualifying third. The pole was the 91st of Hamilton’s career and seventh at Silverstone and he made sure of it with a lap of one minute 24.303 seconds after Bottas had led the opening two sessions on a gusty afternoon. Hamilton had spun at Luffield at the start of the second phase of qualifying, without damaging his car but bringing out red…

PSL Sundowns captain targets more glory MINENHLE MKHIZE minenhle.mkhize@inl.co.za MAMELODI Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana has expressed his immense appetite for more success following a four-month break enforced by the coronavirus. The Brazilians are on the brink of winning a treble, having already registered the Telkom Knockout. They are in the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup and are in with a shout in the marathon league race. Football has been on pause in South Africa since March but the action resumes in seven days. Kekana has revealed his burning desire to lead Sundowns to a record number of league wins and to secure the end-of-season knockout cup competition. “This is going to be my seventh league title. It will be the third time in a row for us. This will also…

CRICKET Dishonourable agendas in CSA: Graeme Smith Call to flush out rotten elements within the cricket body STUART HESS stuart.hess@inl.co.za GRAEME Smith believes there are senior administrators within Cricket South Africa who have ‘dishonourable agendas’ and until those individuals are flushed out the organisation and the sport will not be able to improve. Speaking on a wide range of issues yesterday, Cricket SA’s Director of Cricket said there were “elements within the organisation,” who were pulling in different directions and “had ulterior motives,” that don’t include improving the sport. “You see some of things being attributed to people, or stuff that is getting leaked, and it has to be from a person or party in a senior position and you wonder, ‘what is the agenda?’,” Smith remarked. The Proteas’ most…

TENNIS Positive Covid-19 case hits Palermo Open A PLAYER set to participate in the Palermo Ladies Open starting in Italy on Monday has tested positive for Covid-19 but the event which marks the return of the professional tennis season will continue as planned, the WTA said yesterday. The WTA did not name the player but said she had pulled out and all those who may have been in close contact with her were being tested. “A player has tested positive for Covid-19 at the 31st Palermo Ladies Open and has subsequently withdrawn from the tournament. The player is asymptomatic,” the WTA said in a statement. “Following this information, the WTA, in coordination with the Tournament Infection Control Officer and along with its medical advisers and infectious disease specialist from the…

FINANCE Municipalities told to increase salaries LOYISO SIDIMBA THE country’s 257 municipalities have been told to ignore the National Treasury’s advice and implement the 6.25% salary increase for their employees that was due last month. The SA Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) on Thursday informed municipal managers and human resources directors that the 6.25% salary increase remains valid and binding unless a municipality has applied for and been granted an exemption. “Municipalities are advised that, on July 28, 2020, the SALGBC addressed a letter to the National Treasury advising that the SALGBC circular 2/2020 stands and remains unchanged and valid and binding and that municipalities shall implement the 6.25% wage increase for the 2020/21 financial year. “The National Treasury has also been informed that a number of municipalities have applied…

APPEAL Ban is ‘harmful’ to smokers BONGANI HANS THE Fair Trade Independent Tobacco Association (Fita) has warned in its latest court papers that smokers are at risk of suffering serious health conditions if the government continues with its ban on the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products. The warning is contained in papers which Fita filed on Friday at the Supreme Court of Appeal as an attempt to overturn the North Gauteng High Court’s ruling early this month that favoured the government’s ban of tobacco products. “Dependent smokers would be diagnosed as either mild, moderate or severe TUD (tobacco use disorder), according to standard criteria published in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, 5th edition),” read the court papers. “The DSM-5 states that tobacco withdrawal can…

Fallout over Lonmin deal KARABO NGOEPE AND MZILIKAZI WA AFRIKA University of Venda’s business arm ‘not honouring deal’ with mining company meant to benefit the community WHAT was meant to be a lucrative deal for a black-owned Limpopo mining consortium has turned into a nightmare as the partner, University of Venda’s business arm, is believed to be trying to take advantage of it. Duisend Mining and Univern Innovative Growth Company (UIGC) joined forces in 2018 when they were awarded a five-year mining deal by Lonmin. The deal, which is valued at between R5 million and R10m, was intended to benefit local communities and create job opportunities. But that has not happened and now the deal is on the brink of collapse due to the UIGC’s inability to keep its end…

GENDER VIOLENCE TWITTER GIVES WOMEN A FIGHTING CHANCE NKOSIYAZI KAN KANJIRI TWITTER activism in the form of hash-tag campaigns has gained momentum in giving a voice to women fighting gender-based violence (GBV). In South Africa, the phenomenon began in 2017 with the #MenAreTrash campaign sparked by the murder of 22-year-old Karabo Mokwena by her boyfriend, Sandile Mantsoe. That campaign gave rise to more campaigns such as #MeToo , #NameYourRapist and #AmINext. On July 19, South African twitter woke up to yet another movement against GBV: the #SueUsAll campaign, a response to DJ Fresh’s court order stopping Ntsiki Mazwai from levelling rape allegations against him on social media. The emergence of #SueUsAll is as alarming as it is confusing. Mazwai, the one the court order was sought against, is not the…

TECHNOLOGY Ntombela embraces CUT’s 4IR initiative EDWIN NAIDU UNLIKE her predecessor Ace Magashule, who was allegedly into dairy farming with the controversial Gupta brothers now hiding in Dubai, Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela is pinning her hopes on the Fourth Industrial Revolution. She’s determined to see the ground-breaking initiative between the Central University of Technology (CUT) with Microsoft SA would not only milk new skills but grow the economy and create jobs, leading the province to greener pastures. “As we move further into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we will see the value that artificial intelligence (AI) can bring to modern workplaces, therefore, empowering employees in providing a competitive edge. “These initiatives are more significant currently, as the country grapples with the coronavirus, which requires all of us to think out…

OUTCOMES Virus response highlights benefits of collaboration CHARLES Dickens famously wrote in his classic novel A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity”. As the world continues to reel from the effects of the outbreak of Covid-19, it is increasingly clear that we live in an age of radical opposites and contrasts. As the global pandemic unfolds, we are seeing pockets of wisdom prevailing and sometimes hints of foolishness abounding, where some of our communities are still not complying with the regulations. We have also seen uncertainty and fear grip the world. However, despite these fears and…

VISION COMMENT Effective public servants can restore confidence EULOGIES to Mkhulu, Seaparankwe, Isithwalwande Dr Andrew Mokete Mlangeni, affectionately called the “Backroom Boy” due to his “contribution to a people’s cause in a classically selfless fashion, without seeking the glory of limelight attendant to leadership positions”, have flooded. Mlangeni, who died on July 21, aged 95, came from humble beginnings and became a national hero of note who personified excellence and selfless service to humanity. He strove to serve others against the injustice of the oppressors even though as part of emerging black political leaders, and later an MP, he could have chosen to use his political credentials to acquire wealth at the expense of ordinary men and women, as the practice became fashionable. As he said in a…

GERMANY Mass protest against restrictions 17 0000 ignore Covid-19 safety regulations THOUSANDS protested Germany’s coronavirus restrictions yesterday in a Berlin demonstration that insisted “the end of the pandemic” has arrived — a declaration that comes just as authorities are voicing increasing concerns about an uptick in new infections. With few masks in sight, a dense crowd marched through downtown Berlin from the Brandenburg Gate. Protesters who came from across the country held up home-made signs with slogans like “Corona, false alarm,” “We are being forced to wear a muzzle,” “Natural defence instead of vaccination” and “We are the second wave”. They chanted, “We’re here and we’re loud, because we are being robbed of our freedom!” Police used bullhorns to chide participants to adhere to social distancing rules and to wear…

SPACE Astronauts hope to return today THE two Nasa astronauts who rode to the International Space Station aboard SpaceX’s new Crew Drago are due to return today after a nearly four-month voyage that marked Nasa’s first crewed mission from home soil in nine years. US astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, who launched to the space station in May, are expected to board Crew Dragon and splash down at one of seven landing sites in the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean after noon. Nasa and SpaceX are monitoring the path of Hurricane Isaias, a category 1 cyclone approaching Florida’s east coast that could force officials to postpone the homecoming into next week. “We have plenty of opportunities here in August and we’re in no hurry to come home,” Nasa’s…

Teen charged in massive Twitter hack, theft FLORIDA: A teenager hacked the Twitter accounts of politicians, celebrities and technology moguls to scam people across the world out of more than $100000 (R1708620) in bitcoin, authorities said. Graham Clark,17, pictured, was arrested on Friday in Tampa, Florida, where the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office will prosecute the case. He faces 30 felony charges, according to a news release. The hacks led to bogus tweets being sent out July 15 from the accounts of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Mike Bloomberg and a number of tech billionaires including Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Elon Musk (Tesla). Celebrities Kanye and Kim Kardashian West, were also hacked. The tweets offered to send $2 000 for every $1000 sent to an anonymous Bitcoin address.…

Team to probe blasphemy killing ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has formed a special team to investigate the killing of a Pakistani-American who was shot dead inside a courtroom during his controversial blasphemy trial. “A special team has been constituted to investigate the case,” the Foreign Ministry said yesterday after the US State Department called for justice for the American citizen. The intellectually disabled Pakistani-American man was shot on Wednesday in the city of Peshawar as a hearing on blasphemy charges against him was under way. The man identified as Tahir Naseem from Illinois was in a Pakistani jail since 2018 on blasphemy charges after he claimed to be a prophet. The alleged killer, a man in his early 20s, was arrested and remanded into police custody by an antiterrorism court on Thursday.…

Siberia fires rage with toxic smoke MOSCOW: Forest fires that have raged in Russia for weeks are posing a health risk, with the Siberian city of Yakutsk warning residents of the toxic smoke yesterday. Northerly winds are carrying the smoke into the city, which has a population of about 270000 and is about 4800km east of Moscow. Forestry authorities said there were 58 fires being fought covering more than 70000 hectares. More than 2700 firefighters were on duty. Siberia has experienced an unusual heat wave in the past few weeks. dpa…

DRIVE360 IS GOING DIGITAL! WE haven’t stopped the presses (and we don’t plan to stop), but we are making exciting changes to ensure our loyal readers get the best motoring news in South Africa in a new and exciting way. Added to our weekly print edition, which will continue to appear in the Thursday papers nationally (The Star, Pretoria News, Daily News, Mercury and Cape Times), you can expect a fresh, new monthly digital edition that covers all the latest car news, new model launches, concept cars, motorsport insights and more in bite-sized features. Drive360’s deep reach into the automotive sector enables us to bring you exclusive content and we hope that this digital edition will serve to supplement the work we do in print. The digital magazine also consumes…

OBLIGATION It’s up to every person to help build a world society at peace with itself John Lewis, the civil rights leader who died on July 17, wrote this essay shortly before his death and wished it to be published upon the day of his funeral on Thursday WHILE my time here has now come to an end, I want you to know that in the last days and hours of my life you inspired me. You filled me with hope about the next chapter of the great American story when you used your power to make a difference in our society. Millions of people motivated simply by human compassion laid down the burdens of division. Around the country and the world you set aside race, class, age, language and…

MUSIC No stopping Zakes on Earth, heaven Bantwini is preparing for the next phase of his life. And behind the decks. Buhle Mbonambi spoke to him I LAST spoke to Zakes Bantwini almost a decade ago. The bulk of our conversation was about his second album, Love, Light and Music, which was a commercial and critical success. Nine years later, that album is still almost perfect and no track is worth a skip. Recently turning 40 and with new goals, a new music business and a new style of performance, we spoke about the next phase of his career. This interview has been condensed and edited for context. Does 40 come with more pressure for you, or is this when you start to embrace the person you have become over…

CRICKET Chaos to more chaos? STUART HESS stuart.hess@inl.co.za THERE is a little more than a month to go to Cricket South Africa’s next Annual General Meeting and to say the organisation is in a state of chaos might be an understatement. Chris Nenzani is a lame-duck president. The next few weeks are his last in that position and the jockeying has started from those keen to replace him and the sniping has grown to a cacophony from those that were once his allies but are now using his errors as a way to deflect from their own misdeeds and possibly force their own candidate into the federation’s highest position. Last year at about this time, the now suspended chief executive Thabang Moroe, smiled and stated how he’d taken most of…

TV GUIDE TODAY Golf: PGA Tour: Barracuda Championship, Day 3, 1am, SS5, SS1. CSN; European Tour: Hero Open, Day 4, 1pm, SS1, CSN; WGC FedEx St Jude Invitational, Day 4, 7pm, CSN, SS!, SS5; LPGA Tour: DriveOn Championship, Day 3, 11pm, SS12 Motorsport: FIM Superbike World Championship: Spanish SBK Superpole Race, 10.45am, SS5; FIM Superbike World Championship: Spanish SSP Race 2, 12.15pm, SS5; FIM Superbike World Championship: Spanish SBK Race 2, 1.30pm, SS5; FIM Superbike World Championship: Spanish SSP300 Race 2, 3pm, SS5; FIA Formula 2 Championship, Round 4: Race 2, 11am, SS6; Formula 1: Sunday Grand Prix, Britain, 1,30pm, SS6; Formula 1: British Grand Prix, Main Race, 3.05pm, SS6; Chequered Flag, Britain, 5pm, SS6; The Notebook, Britain, 6pm, SS6; NASCAR Cup Series: Foxwoods Resort Casino 301, 9pm, SS6 Rugby:…

SOCCER Bubble intact as ‘project restart’ reboots MIHLALI BALEKA mihlali.baleka@inl.co.za BackpagePix THE South African Football Association (Safa) says that it will play its role in ensuring that health and safety protocols are carried out to the tee – during the resumption of football on Saturday. On Monday South African football made significant progress from the fruitless squabbling between Safa and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) as the league confirmed that “project restart” will get underway in a bio-bubble that will be housed in Gauteng on Saturday. The Nedbank Cup semi-finals will raise the curtain of the resumption of the domestic season with a double header at Orlando Stadium. Baroka FC will lock horns with Bloemfontein FC (kick-off at 4pm). Later, Mamelodi Sundowns - the Telkom Knockout champions - will be…