Innholdsfortegnelse for Sunday, September 6, 2020 i Sunday Independent

CORRUPTION ‘My name was used to defraud’ Limpopo man says he neither submitted a PPE quotation nor received a R1.2m payment as claimed PIET MAHASHA RAMPEDI A LIMPOPO man, who has been listed as one of the beneficiaries of the R932 million personal protective equipment (PPE) contracts, says his name may have been used to defraud the government. Businessman Mpho Kenny Nesengani said he never received any R1.2m payment as claimed by the provincial department of health’s beneficiary list submitted to the National Treasury. This came as Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu’s preliminary Covid-19 audit outcomes confirmed this week that R11 billion worth of PPE contracts were marred by possible fraud, irregularities and inflated prices. “I have never submitted any quotation”Mpho Kenny Nesengani BUSINESSMAN He added that many transactions, including over payments…

POWER Auditor-general takes aim at Covid-19 funding looters BALDWIN NDABA and SIYABONGA MKHWANAZI THE Auditor-general is gunning for the suppliers and individuals who have illegally benefited from the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE), the looting of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the theft of the R350 unemployment grant from people who did not qualify for it. The standing committee on the auditor-general yesterday came out in support of the investigation conducted by the AG Kimi Makwetu on the billions of rand allocated to fight Covid-19. Chairperson of the committee, Sakhumzi Somyo, said they noted that the first report by Makwetu covered R230 billion of the R500bn allocated by government. He said other amounts have been given to the UIF, the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) and the…

LEGEND Kobe Bryant’s epic life GEORGE LAND MARCH 30, 1996, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a city in the Midwest United States. That was the date and place where I met Kobe Bryant for the first time. I was a producer for the NBA documenting the 19th McDonald’s High School All-American Game; he was a 17-year-old kid starring in it. From there began a friendly, 24-year professional relationship that became more personal during Kobe’s later years. He impacted me in so many ways, but most notably in three areas that spoke directly to his unique personality. The lessons I gleaned from watching him through the years are classic Kobe trademarks, and this young man, 15 years my junior, instilled in me life lessons that remain etched in my soul. One thing that amazes…

AIRLINES Ethiopia to help SAA take off? SIYABONGA MKHWANAZI and SAMKEKO MTSHALI THE government remained tight-lipped on indications that there were rescue talks for the purchase of a stake in SAA by Ethiopian Airlines. This was after Ethiopian Airlines head Tewolde Gabremariam said the discussions were under way with the government for embattled SAA. The national carrier needs R10 billion to start operating again and is in business rescue. The Department of Public Enterprises and business rescue practitioner Siviwe Dongwana could not be reached for comment yesterday. But in a statement released by the department last month it said the government has “received more unsolicited interests from private sector funders, private equity investors and investors” for a stake in SAA. It said the government had received up to 10 unsolicited interests…

CRIME Mother’s plea for justice Strong call for police training on gender-based violence matters amid rising numbers MANYANE MANYANE manyane.manyane@inl.co.za ELIZABETH Mine can’t find peace and closure ever since her daughter’s death because her murder has “never been investigated” by the police, the 55-year-old has alleged, saying she always asks herself what happened to her daughter’s case. “I can’t find closure and sleep in the evenings. I am always hurt because there’s still no justice for my child,” she cried. Mumsie Mine’s body was found in the bushveld last year near an informal settlement in Brakpan after she was reported missing. “This happened last year in June. I remember receiving a call from her colleagues asking why she was not at work. It was on a Sunday morning. On Monday…

'WRONGFUL' Fakude fights incarceration EDWIN NAIDU AMY Fakude said that more than four years after her husband’s death on November 9, 1995 at midnight, members of his family arrived at her home accompanied by police officers. “They had presented the SAPS with evidence that had been connived against me. I was arrested, kept in police cells, denied bail and put on trial for the murder of my husband. “Upon my arrest and trial, the file containing the original case docket and all the information collated at the time my husband was found dead went missing from police records and was never recovered. “The initial investigating officer appointed to the case disappeared and was never traced. The evidence in my defence disappeared when my file disappeared from police records. I stood…

INITIATIVE BRICS IS ON THE BALL Brazil, Russia, India, China and SA are set to co-operate in the field of sports SIPHO MABASO On AUGUST 25 a major international development unfolded much under the radar of the media glare. BRICS countries, through their respective sports ministries, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which has far-reaching co-operative implications. This is great news indeed. For far too long members of the exclusive group of emerging national economies of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), have promised much but delivered little. Formed as a strategic partnership to influence the path of the rapidly-changing international world order BRICS, with a little bit more drive and resolve to co-operate around global and geopolitical issues, is yet to truly take advantage of its strength.…

EDITORIAL We need a solid plan of action to save Eskom EMBATTLED Eskom plunged South Africans into hours of darkness as stage 4 load shedding was implemented this week. This time, the outages were blamed on management and resulted in the suspension of two managers at the Tukuta and Kendal power stations in Mpumalanga. They stand accused of being “unresponsive”. Eskom’s timing couldn’t be worse. South Africa was in a recession before the full force of the pandemic economic shock and lockdown exacted a hefty blow to the country’s unemployment rate. The utility has come up with a wide range of explanations for electricity rationing over the years. Excuses have included the weather – both rain and sunshine – strikes, “unforeseen technical problems” at new power stations and, lest we…

UNITED STATES ‘Trump unfit to be president’ US president denies mocking dead soldiers DEMOCRATIC presidential nominee Joe Biden has declared US President Donald Trump “unfit” for the presidency, delivering an impassioned reaction to a report that Trump – who never served in uniform – allegedly mocked American war dead. Trump and his allies have dismissed the report in The Atlantic as false. The allegations, sourced anonymously, describe multiple offensive comments by the president toward fallen and captured US service members, including calling World War I dead at an American military cemetery in France “losers” and “suckers” in 2018. The reported comments, many of which were confirmed independently by The Associated Press, are shining a fresh light on Trump’s previous public disparagement of American troops and military families. That opens a…

Seaside theraphy for Covid-19 patients BARCELONA: After nearly two months of being sedated in a hospital’s intensive care unit, Francisco Espana, pictured, took a moment to fill his ailing lungs with fresh air at a Barcelona beachfront. Lying on a hospital bed at the beach promenade and surrounded by a doctor and three nurses who monitored his vital signs, Espana briefly closed his eyes and absorbed as much sunshine as possible. A medical team at the Hospital del Mar — the Hospital of the Seas — is seeing if short trips to the beach across the street can help Covid-19 patients after traumatic ICU stays. Dr Judith Marín says it is part of a programme to “humanise” ICUs that the group had been experimenting with for two years before the…

DYING WISH ALAIN Cocq, a Frenchman suffering from a rare and incurable condition is livestreaming his death on Facebook as he refuses to take food, drink or medicine after President Emmanuel Macron turned down his request for euthanasia. Cocq, 57, who has been suffering from a degenerative disease for 34 years, said he would livestream his death on Facebook from yesterday morning. ‘I have made up my mind and I am at peace,’ Cocq said in a video posted on Friday night and shot from his medicalised bed at his home in Dijon, eastern France. Reuters…

84 000 warned to evacuate in Japan TOKYO: Japan’s meteorological agency warned yesterday that Typhoon Haishen, which is expected to hit the country’s southwestern prefectures today or early tomorrow, may cause strong waves comparable to tsunamis in height. “The likelihood of significant damage due to the typhoon has increased. “Sea waves can overcome protective dams and be, if not the same as tsunamis, then very similar to them,” an agency spokesperson said.According to broadcaster NHK, approximately 84000 people in south-western Japan had been told to either evacuate or be ready to do so. Domestic flights had also been cancelled. Sputnik…

AFRICA THIS WEEK LESSONS FROM KAGAME’S LEADERSHIP VICTOR KGOMOESWANA @VictorAfrica RWANDA will remember the Covid-19 lockdown for many things, but none more nabbing two fugitives in the space of three months. Paul Rusesabagina was bagged in Dubai after being on the run since 1996. Mr Hotel Rwanda joins Félicien Kabuga, who was arrested in Paris on May 16. Rusesabagina, former manager of Hotel des Mille Collines in Kigali, has lived in Belgium and the US. His story in the 2004 Hollywood motion picture starring Don Cheadle, Desmond Dube, Fana Mokoena, Tony Kgoroge and Noxolo Maqashala portrays Rusesabagina as the Samaritan who begged, cajoled and bribed the genocidaires to save lives. This earned him international praise and many human rights awards, including the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. He…

REAL NUMBERS If only we’d learnt from past mobilisations PALI LEHOHLA ONE THING the government has is abundant experience in the university of life. Yet these lessons often wither like history. Nothing measures up to the corruption the Covid-19 pandemic has spawned. This week, I had a discussion with fellow former Statistics SA employee Vusile Mathebula. Before joining Stats SA, Mathebula had a serious NGO experience. He was reluctant about working in a government bureaucracy. Here is his story in his own words. “After three days of being persuaded otherwise I finally joined Stats SA. “I then went for an orientation programme for newly appointed provincial staff members. This was on the third day. Three days before the big day, I was introduced to the bank as a key signatory…

TV HIGHLIGHTS UNCOVERED TONIGHT, 9PM, SABC1 A businesswoman decides to continue her murdered sister’s investigation into a mining conspiracy that her own boss may be a part of. Stars Nqobile Khumalo, Fezile Makhanya, Robert Hobbs, S’thandiwe Kgoroge, Thandeka Nodada (Malinga) and Dumisani Mbebe. SUPERMARKET STAKEOUT 2 TUESDAYS, 7.55PM, FOOD NETWORK (DSTV 175) Hosted by Iron Chef and Chopped judge Alex Guarnaschelli and shot on-location at supermarkets around the US, each episode features four talented chefs who must ambush shoppers as they exit the store and blindly bid on their grocery bags without knowing what’s inside.…

TODAY’S TV GUIDE SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER Cricket: T20 International: England v Australia, Second T20, 2.45pm, CRI; Caribbean Premier League: Trinbago Knight Riders v St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, 3.30pm, VR2; Jamaica Tallawahs v St Lucia Zouks, 8pm, CRI Cycling: Tour De France, Stage 9: Pau-Laruns, 154km, 12.05pm, VR1, GSD (12.20pm) Golf: European Tour: Estrella Damm NA Andalucia Masters hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation, Day 4, 1.30pm, GOL; PGA Tour: Tour Championship, Day 3, 7pm, GOL Motorsport: FIM Superbike World Championship, Teruel SBK Superpole Race, 10.45am, ACT; FIM Superbike World Championship, Teruel SBK Superpole Race, 11am, GSD; FIM Superbike World Championship, Teruel SSP Race 2, 12.15pm, ACT; FIM Superbike World Championship, Teruel Race 2, 1.30pm, ACT; FIM Superbike World Championship, Teruel SSP300 Race 2, 3.10pm, ACT; Supercars Championship, Townsville, SuperSprint…

COURTS R6.7m PPE contract ‘missed deadline by an hour’ PIET MAHASHA RAMPEDI A BUSINESSMAN has taken the Limpopo Department of Education to court after it cancelled his R6.7m personal protective equipment (PPE) contract, allegedly because MEC Polly Boshielo was “angry” over the one-hour delivery deadline miss. Delton Makubane said the department terminated the contract awarded to his company, Mhlekazi Group of Companies, even though he had informed relevant officials about possible late delivery every step of the way. Makubane said his company was initially given 24 hours to supply more than 7 000 digital thermometers before the LDOE withdrew the appointment letter long after the PPE had arrived at the warehouse in Seshego near Polokwane. Mhlekazi was awarded a R6 702 059.50 contract to supply 7 750 infrared thermometers at…

Tail Piece CAPE TOWN NOW SEEKS TO ATTRACT MORE DOMESTIC TRAVELLERS SEPTEMBER is usually marked as Tourism Month in Cape Town, but amid the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s a very different business for the sector. Cape Town’s popular tourist attractions such as the Two Oceans Aquarium and Table Mountain Cableway have reopened, but with the country’s borders still closed to international visitors, many businesses in the tourism sector are worried it’s not going to be a profitable festive season. Lisa Goosen, Chief Executive of Tintswalo, which operates high-end hotels across the country said: “The closing of our borders has impacted us because 70% of our tourists are international, especially at the safari lodge properties. So at this point those properties are not being booked at all.” With South Africans now permitted…

FUND-RAISING Help keep Mnisi’s dream alive Friends rally to sponsor US study plans EDWIN NAIDU FORMER professional banker and once homeless Soweto superwoman, Nonhlanhla Mnisi, is the talented TV scriptwriter formerly with Isibaya, creating waves with popular soapie Gomora on Mzansi Magic but she really is dreaming of studying in California. But her own journey resembles a tough soapie on the streets of Joburg where she survived by sleeping in security guard dwellings or car parks. But she has an exciting opportunity and many of her celebrity friends are rallying to make it work. Mnisi has embarked on an innovative book drive selling as a bundle her own collection of published books to help fund her studies for a Master’s degree in Burbank, California where she has been accepted with…

TAZNE President’s promise to family of victim not fulfilled LOYISO SIDIMBA loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has dispatched one of his top advisers to deal with the shocking and embarrassing incident in which a brutally raped and murdered toddler’s family was built a wendy house after his visit. Ramaphosa told the ANC’s men’s dialogue aimed at taking concrete actions towards gender equality and the elimination of the gender-based violence and femicide scourge on Friday night that his social policy adviser, Professor Olive Shisana would be in touch with 8-year-old Tazne van Wyk’s family from Ravensmead in Cape Town. Tazne was raped and murdered in Worcester in the Western Cape in February, allegedly by 54-year-old Moehydien Pangaker. Ramaphosa and a delegation of his executive visited her family after the incident and made…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA SA MAY IMPLEMENT REGIONAL TRAVEL BUBBLE If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in government to the utmost.ARISTOTLE Greek philosopher Travellers may have the opportunity to travel within the African continent should the country fast-track the reopening of its regional borders. Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane shared the prospect of a regional travel bubble at a panel discussin on Friday. | IOL…

RELIGION Spirituality can be all embracing LESEGO MAKGATHO lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za HOW does having visions and speaking with the ancestors coexist with the Christian faith? Is it possible for ancestral worship and religion to coexist? Well, Tirelo Ole Makgeledisa explores this phenomenon in her new book Voices of Jesus and Ancestors. She believes that spirituality goes beyond the constructs of religion. The book is a personal story by the author about being caught between a calling to be a traditional healer or Sangoma and Christianity. Her battle between the two leads to depression as tradition dictates the two cannot co-exist. She hears voices, experiences visions and is haunted by nightmares and the thought of being labelled a witch if she chooses to become a traditional healer. In 31 chapters, Makgeledisa speaks about…

COMMENT RIGHTS OF WOMEN ON FARMS TRAMPLED SELLO MOKOENA THE Constitution states that “the Republic of South Africa is one sovereign, democratic state founded on the following values: human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms and non-racialism and non-sexism”, among others. Despite these profound founding provisions, what is not being debated vigorously is the ethos of some of the white farmers who still discriminate against black female farmworkers. To what extent has their philosophy changed in a society in which racism and discrimination were deeply and historically embedded? Thus as we bid farewell to Women’s Month, themed “Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights for an Equal Future”, it is critical to reflect on how the country has travelled in addressing the plight of rural…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA MINISTER URGED TO REOPEN SA’S BORDERS Instead of having a set of policies that are equipping people for the globalization of the economy, we have policies that are accelerating the most destructive trends of the global economy.BARACK OBAMA WHILE stakeholders in the tourism industry argue that there is no real evidence of a second wave of Covid-19 coming, and that international borders should be opened as soon as possible, the Tourism department is pushing domestic travel before it believes international travel can resume…

POLITICS Not all African leaders conform to stereotypes ISSIAKA KONATÉ REUTERS SINCE post-colonial times, Africa and its leaders have been typecast in a uniform mould. Africa will forever be a homogeneous continent that is afflicted with disease, hobbled by under-development, and riddled with internecine conflict. Its leaders have been characterised as incorrigibly corrupt and incompetent, self-serving dictators who will do anything to cling to power. While the conduct of some leaders may have earned African leaders such unflattering credentials, it will be amiss and ahistorical to argue that this blanket assessment is an accurate assessment of all the countries that constitute the continent. We need to continuously remind observers and ourselves that Africa is not one homogeneous country. Ivory Coast, a place that I am proud to call home, is…

AFRICA Church leaders grow impatient over restrictions THE Covid-19 pandemic is testing the patience of some religious leaders across Africa who worry they will lose followers, and funding, as restrictions on gatherings continue. Some evangelical Christian leaders in Uganda have launched a campaign with the now-universal phrase of protest: “I can’t breathe”. Their members vow to occasionally put on the burlap costumes they say resemble the sackcloth worn by biblical prophets. “Uganda is a God-fearing nation but, unfortunately, due to the lock-down, the citizens of our great country cannot gather to seek God’s intervention,” Betty Ochan, leader of the opposition in Uganda’s national assembly, recently wrote in the local Daily Monitor newspaper. From Nigeria to Zimbabwe, people are speaking out – or sneaking out to worship – as they argue…

BANGLADESH Death toll in mosque blast rises THE death toll from a suspected gas explosion and fire at a mosque outside the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka has risen to 16, police and doctors said yesterday. The explosion on Friday night hap-pended as worshippers were about to end their evening prayers at the Baitus Salat Jame mosque in Narayanganj district, nearly 25km south of Dhaka, police officer Zayedul Alam said. Thirty-seven victims with severe wounds were taken to Dhaka’s specialist burn and plastic surgery institute, he said. Overnight, 10 people died at the hospital, doctor Partha Sankar Paul told reporters. Five more people died during the day yesterday, he said, warning that the death toll could rise further. Most of the victims are reported to be in critical condition. Members of the…

RWANDA Arrested ‘hero’ denied lawyer JOHANNESBURG: Supporters of the man portrayed in the movie Hotel Rwanda say Rwandan authorities have denied a lawyer access to Paul Rusesabagina nearly a week after the outspoken government critic was paraded in handcuffs and accused of terrorism. The Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation said Rusesabagina, a US resident and Belgian citizen, has had no consular visits, and it rejected the Rwandan government’s claim that it had talked to his sons about a visit as “not true”. The family has said they believe he was “kidnapped” during a visit to Dubai and that he would never knowingly have boarded a plane for Rwanda’s capital, Kigali. He has lived outside the East African nation since 1996. Rusesabagina saved the lives of more than 1200 people as a…

POLL Youth worried about Covid-19, survey finds AMBER COURT AP Supplied African News Agency (ANA) MOST South African youngsters are worried about Covid-19 and continue to exercise caution to avoid contracting the virus. This emerged as South African youth voiced their concerns in a recent Youth Covid-19 Quick Poll, the results of which were released this week. The poll was conducted to understand how young people had been impacted by the coronavirus, lock-down and how they felt about the future. Young people are an integral part of any country, this is why NGO, youth development lab Lucha Lunako, conducted the poll to get diverse opinions of the pandemic. The poll indicated that from inception, 87% of South African youth were worried about Covid-19 and continued to exercise caution to avoid…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA BIRTH CRISIS SHAPES WINNING APP I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick assMAYA ANGELOU BONISWA Mayeza’s vision for a South Africa taken to a new level by developing technology has its roots in her birth. The 25-year-old is one of nine finalists in this year’s Santam Women of the Future Awards for an app she has designed that allows people to request any emergency service and provide a precise location.…

Truworths seeks successor to man who built it up DINEO FAKU dineo.faku@inl.co.za TRUWORTHS is embarking on a succession process in preparation for chief executive Michael Mark’s retirement after almost 30 years at the helm. The clothing retailer said it would seek a suitable candidate to take over from Mark, who successfully led the business to world-class levels of performance after being an employee since 1988 and serving as chief executive since 1991. “The company will now be entering a phase of a planned succession process approved and motivated by the nomination committee and then hand over to a highly accomplished team, after which (Mark) will retire as chief executive,” said the group. It added that the phased approach would ensure that the business was appropriately structured to emerge from the…

Apple preparing 75 million 5G iPhones with extras Demand for company’s premier product persists despite pandemic and recession APPLE has asked suppliers to build at least 75 million 5G iPhones for later this year, roughly in line with last year’s launch, in a sign that demand for the company’s most important product is holding up in the midst of the global pandemic and recession. The California-based technology giant anticipates shipments of these next-generation iPhones may reach as high as 80 million units in 2020, according to people familiar with the situation. Apple plans to launch four new models in October with fifth-generation wireless speeds, a different design and a wider choice of screen sizes, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing unannounced products. Amid a comprehensive product…

FORMULA ONE ‘Speed of light’ Lewis’ lap in a million SIX times world champion Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the Italian Grand Prix yesterday with the fastest lap in Formula One history. The Mercedes driver smashed the Monza track record with a sensational lap of one minute 18.887 seconds to lead team mate Valtteri Bottas in another front row lockout. It was the 94th pole of Hamilton’s career. McLaren’s Carlos Sainz qualified third, with Racing Point’s Sergio Perez fourth. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel will line up 13th and 17th respectively for their team’s home race. During practice ahead of the qualifying earlier in the day, the Briton ended had ended the session alarmingly, and messily, as he swerved dramatically at speed onto the grass to avoid cars…

INJURY TIME STUART HESS FAREWELL WITS Farewell then to Bidvest Wits, which fell victim to expediency and greed. Nearly 100 years of history thrown down a money pit. In the modern era the club won three cups and in 2017 it was crowned Premier Soccer League champions. But that’s not going to matter anymore. Some rich guy and his mates came in and bought it, will move it and give it a new name. Sports romance is truly dead. WTF? “Bowing the knee for BLM … is actively engaging in the worship of this god and idol … Anubis … the god of death … satan himself … taking a knee is active satan worship … the god of death! Do not take a knee in favour of BLM ……

SOCCER Urban Warriors still in PSL fight MIHLALI BALEKA Twitter THERE was a time when Ajax Cape Town looked like they’d wrap up the GladAfrica Championship title and gain automatic promotion with a handful of matches left to play. But such was their recent inconsistent run of form that they completely squandered that. A fortnight ago, the Urban Warriors were left scratching their hands as they disappointedly watched Swallows FC return to the elite division, at their expense, after finishing as champions of the Championship and scooped all the honours that came with that. But not all is lost for Ajax who had a seven-point lead before the restart. The Capetonian-based side will get a chance to fight for a spot in the Premiership next season via the relegation/promotion play-offs.…

Tail Piece SHEPHERD-TURNED-SINGER MIXES FOLK, TECHNO, RAP MASERU: He looks every bit the traditional Lesotho sheep herder, wrapped in a blanket to ward off the mountain kingdom’s cold and swinging an ornate walking stick while he sings in the local Sotho language. But since establishing himself in 2015, singer and rapper Teboho Mochaoa has gone beyond his home country’s folk “Famo” music – with its trademark accordion and single drum – to produce an eclectic sound mixing electronic dance music, dub reggae and rap. “Performing on world stages, playing big festivals in France, in London, and other places – it’s really interesting to see that whole… concoction materialising,” Mochaoa said. Reuters…

EXPENDITURE W Cape paid R47m for quarantine Political parties call for probe on spending TSHEGO LEPULE CALLS have been made to probe the Western Cape government’s spending on quarantine sites after R47 million was spent on a luxury hotel. The provincial department of public works spent R69m for quarantine facilities. This comes after the Western Cape government released its second procurement report and the Auditor-General, Kimi Makwetu, publicised its special Covid-19 expenditure reports this week that raised questions on government expenditure. One of the aspects in Makwetu’s report is how provinces handled procuring private facilities to house people who required quarantine and isolation sites. The provincial government’s latest report details how the departments of transport and public works, from April 1 to July 31 spent just over R60m on 26…

CRIME A child goes missing every five hours in SA – stats AMANDA MALIBA amanda.maliba@inl.co.za STATISTICS show that a child goes missing in South Africa every five hours. And just last Tuesday Boipelo was abducted outside her home in Constantia Park, Kroonstad while she was playing with her two friends a few streets away from her home. According to Mesi’s mother Pena Sesele, the 9-year-old was last seen playing in the next street from their home with two of her friends. A 6-year-old claimed that a man wearing blue work overalls took her to go look for some change. “I went looking for her before 3pm that afternoon and when I was told she had left with an unknown man, we then proceeded to search for her within the location,…

CONVICTION Free but still a woman in chains Amid claims that she was wrongfully convicted for the murder of her husband and having served her sentence, Amy Fakude, a social justice activist, wants to clear her name EDWIN NAIDU SOFT-SPOKEN teacher Mu-Aalima Amyna (Amy) Fakude is finally free but forever in chains – until she clears her name for what she asserts was a wrongful conviction and incarceration for the murder of her husband 29 years ago. Her parole ended on August 13, but freedom means little because she believes there has been an injustice. “I am the victim of a grave miscarriage of justice, was falsely accused, arrested on the 9 November 1995, denied bail, then tried and convicted for the murder of my husband, Mandla Anthony Aarif Fakude,”…

MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAL CONVICTION THERE are no prospects of success for Amy Fakude, says a member of the Johannesburg Bar who has extensive criminal law experience, having worked as a prosecutor for many years before joining the Bar. “Ms Fakude’s remedy would have been to appeal her conviction, which she did not do. “Even if it were overturned on appeal, there would almost certainly be no case against the National Prosecuting Authority. The fact that there was a guilty verdict indicates that there must have been a prima facie case against her, which is ultimately the standard that will be applied to the NPA. “Her legal recourse was to appeal the judgment of the trial court. Given that she was represented by the LAB, I have no doubt that…

COMMENT MNGQIBISA’S STANCE ON CITIZENSHIP CHALLENGED THEMBA SONO THE entirety of Kwazi Mngqibisa’s argument is based on the preamble to Act 108 of 1996 (ie the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996). But the Constitution is composed only of the 14 chapters and its six schedules. The preamble is not enforceable, precisely because it does not constitute the constituent element of the Constitution. He refers to the Constitution repeatedly in his article without citing any chapter or verse, let alone a single section of the Constitution. Mngqibisa’s flaws are even more egregious when he says, with reference to the preamble, “these words were committed as the supreme law of the land”. Not so. The preamble, as the word states, is the preamble and nothing else. The Constitution stands…

LETTERS Enforce rules to avoid new infections THE period of relative anxiety has eased off in communities compared to the start of the lockdown. Sadly, some folks found freedom to go about their business as if our fight against the Covid-19 pandemic has ended. With the festivities around the corner, such behaviour may increase cases of infection or reinfection for those who had recovered. The government must enforce regulations in communities and public places to ensure that it remains mandatory to wear a mask at all times. Otherwise, a lapse of compliance with health protocols would reverse the progress made thus far. Similarly, the Minister of Police General Bheki Cele needs to warn the police against a heavy-handed approach to law enforcement which violates the human rights of citizens. Cele…

BRITAIN Climate activists blockade newspaper printing plants POLICE arrested more than 70 environmental activists who blockaded two British printing plants, disrupting the distribution of several national newspapers yesterday. The group Extinction Rebellion said it targeted printworks at Broxbourne, north of London, and Knowsley in northwest England, that are owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. Dozens of protesters locked themselves to trucks and bamboo scaffolding to block the road outside the plants. The facilities print Murdoch-owned papers The Sun and The Times, as well as the Daily Telegraph, the Daily Mail and the Financial Times. The group said it was disrupting the newspapers “to expose the failure of these corporations to accurately report on the climate and ecological emergency, and their consistent manipulation of the truth to suit their own personal…

LEBANON Nation transfixed in hope of rescue RESCUE workers continued to dig through the rubble of a Beirut building for a third day yesterday, still hoping to find someone alive, more than a month after a massive port explosion shattered Lebanon’s capital, Beirut. About 50 rescue workers, including a specialist team from Chile, had yet to locate anyone after sensors on Thursday detected signs of breathing and heat. But they said they would continue while there was a chance of finding a survivor. Rescue efforts dominated the media, with Lebanese transfixed, desperate for some good news. Reuters…

MALI Transition talks off to chaotic start BAMAKO: Talks in Mali about a transition back to civilian rule after last month’s military coup got off to a chaotic start yesterday as opponents of the deposed president accused the ruling junta of excluding them from some of the negotiations. Hundreds of representatives from the junta (National Committee for the Salvation of the People), political parties and civil society groups attended the start of talks in the capital Bamako to chart a path forward after the August 18 coup that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. Less than an hour after the opening ceremony began, supporters of the M5-RFP coalition, which led mass demonstrations against Keita before the coup, began to protest, accusing the junta of excluding them from most working groups. The…

PARTY Compliant posh gathering Tastic celebrate Heritage pairing with Ngxokolo AMANDA MALIBA AFTER five months of no events or gatherings due the lockdown restrictions, the Tastic family broke the ice with a posh and intimate gathering of selected guests at the equally posh Ethos Restaurant in Sandton. The gathering was to celebrate the newly forged partnership between celebrated designer Laduma Ngxokolo, the owner of the revered Maxhosa brand, and the rice brand in creating a limited Heritage Month package collection under the themes “ubuntu and true generosity”. The design partnership follows many other collaborations that Tastic has entered into, including with the iconic South African artist Esther Mahlangu. The star-studded do on Thursday night was hosted by Somizi “Somgaga” Mhlongo-Motaung who came with his husband Mohale Motaung-Mhlongo in tow, and…

OPINION Judge in Isipingo madrasah case might have a case to answer ZIYAD MOTALA COURTNEY AFRICA African News Agency (ANA) AT TIMES, judges might make legal errors that are corrected on appeal. These errors do not present improper judicial conduct subject to judicial discipline. Otherwise, the independence of the judiciary will be undermined. In some instances, the legal error and conduct are so serious that they invite judicial misconduct proceedings. Comparative practice provides examples that when a judge commits legal errors that are egregious or motivated by bad faith, it constitutes misconduct and merits subjecting the judge to disciplinary proceedings. These disciplinary proceedings are put in place to ensure that judges are faithful to the law and show a professional competence in the law. A case that raises potential judicial misconduct…

Orion Minerals bosses set for salary increase DINEO FAKU dineo.faku@inl.co.za ORION Minerals this week approved a pay hike for its managing director and chief executive Errol Smart, following last month’s strongly supported share placement to bring the R5.4 billion Prieska Copper-Zinc Mine in the Northern Cape into production. The JSE-and Australian-listed diversified metals explorer and developer said its board approved an increase in Smart’s cash remuneration from $300 000 (R4.9 million) a year to $322 000 a year. “Following the successful capital raising, which was announced to the Australian Stock Exchange on 7 August 2020, and the positive progress made on the Prieska Copper-Zinc Project, including the grant of the water use licence, the board has approved the reinstatement of executives’ remuneration and director fees from the reduced amounts announced…

BIZ 101 Optimising customer service through technology BEN BIERMAN DESPITE more businesses reopening since the reduction of Covid-19 national lockdown to level 2 last month, South Africa is still far from the pre-pandemic normals. People are still encouraged to stay at home and to continue working remotely. For many businesses resuming operations, this means navigating a completely new era of customer service, one with limited face-to-face access and an increasing reliance on digital tools. Herewith are tips for using technology to optimise customer service in the age of social distancing: Attention Social media has evolved from a means to maintain personal interaction to a valid channel through which consumers solicit and receive customer service. According to the Sprout Social research, 90 percent of consumers have used social media in some…

SERIES Riveting dramedy deals with darkness of GBV BUHLE MBONAMBI I DIDN’T know what to expect when I tuned into the Bafta winning actor, director and screenwriter Michaela Coel’s new show, I May Destroy You. Was it going to be fun, lighthearted comedy in the vein of her critically acclaimed sitcom, Chewing Gum? Or a drama on millennial angst? From the title it could have been about how we use social media to drag our nemesis to filth and discard their bones all over the internet. It’s none of these things. It’s so much better than what I had hoped for. But it’s also a difficult show to watch. After the first three episodes, I realised that there’s no way I could continue watching this show if I was feeling…

MEETING Sascoc make headway in election war THE SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee’s (Sascoc) members and affiliates will gather for a virtual Special General Meeting (SGM) on September 19, and it’s likely that the occasion could realise a long overdue election date. Sascoc’s Quadrennial General Meeting, which would have included elections for a new board, was scheduled for March 28, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Elections were stymied further when some members who eyed the Sascoc’s vacant president’s position, which was previously held by Gideon Sam, claimed they were blocked by Barry Hendricks. Hendricks, a vice-president, became Sascoc’s acting president in January after Sam’s retirement in November. Muditambi Ravele, a Tennis South Africa official, accused Hendricks of interfering with her nomination for the presidency. She complained…

SOCCER Polokwane City condemned to relegation, Leopards for playoffs HERMAN GIBBS TEN man Bidvest Wits condemned Polokwane City to the First Division with a well-taken 2-1 in their PSL Absa Premiership match at the FNB Stadium yesterday afternoon. Polokwane City’s relegation was just about confirmed even before the kick-off as they were rock bottom of the standings with 25 points in 16th place. Even a victory in their final game would not have mattered because the team in 15th place were four points adrift. Cameroonian Eva Nga opened the scoring for Wits in the 40th minute. Three minutes later, Lorenzo Gordinho was red-carded, and it left Wits a man short for the rest of the match. Mpho Mvelase scored the equaliser for Polokwane soon after the restart. Just past the…

TOP 8 Bucs score CAF hat-trick thanks to Mhango magic MINENHLE MKHIZE minenhle.mkhize@inl.co.za ORLANDO Pirates clinched their CAF Confederation Cup spot on the last day of the Absa Premiership yesterday. Their leading goalscorer Gabadinho Mhango netted the winner in the 48th minute and it proved to be the goal that will take them back to continental competition. The Buccaneers headed into their last clash against Stellenbosch FC with a slight chance of finishing third on the log. For the past two seasons, the Sea Robbers have been flying the South African flag in the CAF Confederation Cup after finishing second in consecutive seasons. Pirates will represent South Africa alongside the winners of the Nedbank Cup. The final will be contested on Tuesday at Dr Molemela Stadium between Bloemfontein Celtic and…

Peters gatecrashes Pinot’s chance of Tour party NANS Peters won the eighth stage of the Tour de France, a 141km mountainous trek from Cazeres-sur-Garonne yesterday as fellow Frenchman Thibaut Pinot effectively lost all hope of becoming the first local winner of the race since 1985. Pinot was dropped on the second ascent on a day that also saw Dutchman Tom Dumoulin crack, while defending champion Egan Bernal struggled. Briton Adam Yates hung on to the overall leader’s yellow jersey, managing to cross the line with the main contenders despite being dropped several times on the ascent of the Col de Peyresourde. He leads pre-race favourite Primoz Roglic by three seconds and France’s Guillaume Martin by nine. Roglic’s fellow Slovenian Tadej Pogacar was the most successful attacker of the day, regaining…