Innholdsfortegnelse for Sunday, October 11, 2020 i Sunday Independent

NATION Angry protesters warn white farmers They threaten to give violent Senekal rioters “war” if they want it AMANDA MALIBA and MANYANE MANYANE In what has the potential to turn into a full-blown racial clash, angry protesters have warned white farmers who stormed a court building and set alight a police vehicle in the Free State that they would be ‘given war if they wanted it’. The protesters at a march organised by the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) in the eastern Free State town of Senekal – where hundreds of people marched and gave the police 48 hours to arrest the culprits – accused the farmers of using crime as an excuse to undermine a democratically elected government. Speaking outside the Senekal police station, Free State ANCYL activist Sizophila Mkhize…

PPE Dead man’s sister claims PPE tender THE Sunday Independent reported last month how a company called Thulatshepo General Trading was awarded personal protective equipment (PPE) tenders by the Mpumalanga government after its sole director Tshepo Ngwenyama died in October last year. Ngwenyama’s father, Pilatu, told the Sunday Independent that his son passed away last year and that he knew nothing about the tenders that were awarded to his company. “My son owned this company alone and he was single. “He left behind children who are still very young to run a company. As his father, I know nothing about these contracts,” he said. Now Ngwenyama’s younger sister, Palesa Ngwenyama, through her lawyers, claims she took ownership of the company in March just before the country went into lock-down and…

APOLOGY TO MR JUSTICE NEPFUMBADA LAST week under the headline – PPE fraud accused “dishonest” – we wrongly published a picture of Justice Nepfumbada, above, together with a story that said he was found guilty of “gross dishonesty” and disciplined in 2016. This was an unfortunate error in that the gentleman above shares a name and surname with the Limpopo government employee also named Justice Nepfumbada, who was the subject of our story and investigations. The Sunday Independent wishes to apologise unreservedly to Mr Nepfumbada for any embarrassment and inconvenience this error might have caused him. Editor…

JOBURG Unions want answers over City Power CEO LOYISO SIDIMBA TWO of the City of Joburg’s utilities have been rocked by troubles, with one chief executive approaching the Labour Court to overturn her suspension from her R2 million-a-year job. City Power this week saw unions demanding explanations over the suspension of chief executive Lerato Setshedi. Cosatu affiliate, the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu), asked the company about the qualifications of acting chief executive Malope Rama-gaga, who replaced Setshedi after his suspensions this year. This week, the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu) demanded to know why the electricity utility appointed Ramagaga when he allegedly did not have the required qualifications. Imatu told City Power’s board that Ramagaga did not have the qualifications required for the position. Samwu also demanded…

EDUCATION Bullying ‘rife’ at tertiary level Study participants say perpetrators range from supervisors to students, colleagues and administrators BULLYING is rife at tertiary education institutions throughout South Africa and does not only affect women, according to Brightness Mangolothi, the director of Higher Education Resource Services South Africa (Hers-SA). She said bullying was a global higher education challenge, yet few institutions had policies in place to deal with workplace bullying. She told University World News that as part of her doctoral study she focused on women academics’ experiences of workplace bullying. Three universities were sampled, and there were cases of bullying in all. Workplace bullying entails repeated, ongoing, less favourable treatment of one or more individuals. One or more than one bully can focus on one target. “I presented a paper…

COMMENT BANKS, UJ, ESTABLISH RESEARCH CHAIR CIKO THOMAS BUILDING on a long-standing relationship focused on strengthening the link between academia and industry, Nedbank and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) have collaborated to establish a research chair. The new Nedbank Research Chair is headed by Professor Terence van Zyl, a leading figure in data science, artificial intelligence (AI) and big-data research and recipient of the Meraka Institute Innovation Award and CSIR Research and Innovation Einstein Award. The chair is housed within the Institute for Intelligent Systems at UJ and is tasked with undertaking novel research projects in banking-related machine learning, AI, data-driven meta-heuristic optimisation and data science. As managing executive of retail and business banking, it is my view that, the chair appointment was a natural extension of the ongoing partnership…

COMMENT The US in uncharted territory Lack of etiquette between two political rivals is a microcosm of ideological divisions ravaging the country IT IS high noon for America’s hegemony as the world’s leading latter-day super power. Watching the polarised society that is America today, it is not difficult to conclude that, come hell or high water, the end is nigh for the once-mighty country. Next month, the Americans go to the polls to elect Democrat Joe Biden as the successor to President Donald Trump, or, in fact, elect to return to the Oval Office a man seen by many of his citizens as one of the most divisive in their illustrious history. It’s hard to tell which way the scale will tilt in search of the country’s 46th president next…

EDITORIAL Corruption is finally being tackled THE latest multiple arrests by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, better known as Hawks, has given some hope that the law enforcement agency is finally giving the issue of fraud and corruption the priority it deserves. It is not a victory of any sort as arrests and convictions are completely two different things. The arrests have come with accusations that Hawks are once again being used as a tool to deal with political opponents. Such accusations were levelled against then presidents Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma and now President Cyril Ramaphosa. It’s not a far-fetched theory, but neither does it warrant any demonstrations from supporters of political leaders to demand that Hawks must get “their hands off” them. If the Hawks are being used…

UNITED STATES Trump plans White House mass event Restarts campaign before heading to Florida LOOKING to shove his campaign back on track, US President Donald Trump and his team laid out an aggressive return to political activities, including a big White House event yesterday and a rally in Florida tomorrow, a week after his hospitalisation for Covid-19 that has killed more than 210000 Americans. Trump planned to address several hundred supporters from the White House balcony yesterday. All those attending were encouraged to follow the Centers for Disease Control guidelines, which include wearing masks and observing social distancing. District of Columbia virus restrictions prohibit outdoor gatherings larger than 50 people, although that rule has not been strictly enforced. Masks are mandatory outdoors for most people, but the regulations don’t apply…

NORTH KOREA Show of force as weapons unveiled at military parade NORTH Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned yesterday his country would “fully mobilise” its nuclear force if threatened as he took centre stage at a military parade in which the country unveiled what appeared to be a new intercontinental ballistic missile and other additions to its growing weapons arsenal. Kim, however, avoided direct criticism of Washington during the event, which celebrated the 75th anniversary of the country’s ruling party and took place less than four weeks before the US presidential election. Instead, he focused on a domestic message urging his people to remain firm in the face of “tremendous challenges” posed by the coronavirus pandemic and crippling US-led sanctions over his nuclear programme. Kim described the North’s continuing efforts…

Pro-Taiwan messages for National Day TAIPEI: Taiwan wants to have “meaningful dialogue” with China on an equal basis, President Tsai Ing-wen said yesterday, extending an olive branch at a time of heightened military tension with Beijing, which claims the island as sovereign Chinese territory. Tsai was speaking at National Day celebrations yesterday. Meanwhile, an online spat has broken out between India and China over media coverage of Taiwanese affairs. The row, played out over social media, began earlier last week when the Chinese embassy in New Delhi sent out a letter instructing Indian journalists on how to “properly” report on Taiwan’s National Day yesterday. The letter provoked annoyance among Indians, already riled by tensions with China on the two countries’ shared border. It also drew a sharp response from the…

Nurses suffering distress in pandemic GENEVA: Many nurses caring for Covid-19 patients are suffering burn-out or psychological distress, and many have faced abuse or discrimination, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) said, marking World Mental Health Day yesterday. “We are extremely concerned about the mental health impact on nurses,” Howard Catton, the ICN’s chief executive, told Reuters Television in Geneva. “A survey of national nurses’ associations shows that more than 70% of them (the associations) were saying that nurses have been subject to violence or discrimination,” he said. The figure was based on responses from roughly a quarter of its national nurses’ associations in more than 130 countries. Reuters…

AFRICA THIS WEEK FOREIGNERS STILL STEALING AFRICA’S LUNCH VICTOR KGOMOESWANA @VictorAfrica WHILE we – in South Africa – are focusing on Africa’s wars, coups, corruption and Covid-19 stats or are torching police vans and storming courtrooms, non-Africans are stealing our lunch. They are continuing to exploit resources in countries that are not even on our radar – like South Sudan. In his last week as Energy Minister, Jeff Radebe visited Africa’s youngest state because it is “a significant oil producer with estimated reserves of 3.5 billion barrels of crude oil”. He cited its abundant reserves, “3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in its estimated reserves”, placing it among the top five African giants in oil Nigeria, Libya and Angola. The visit was eyebrow-raising to me because of its timing;…

REAL NUMBERS REMEMBERING GREAT TEACHERS – ESPECIALLY OF MATHEMATICS OCTOBER 5 was World Teachers’ Day and was established at the dawn of South Africa’s democracy to continuously address the status of teachers. In 1998, while launching the results of census 1996, late president Nelson Mandela veered from his prepared speech and focused on education. Madiba said he wanted schools that were properly equipped so our children could be able to grasp sophisticated concepts. “I am 81, but I don’t know what internet means. I can see people pressing a button, what happens after that I do not know. Now, we want to change that situation and the response of business is marvellous,” he said. As a son of teachers who dedicated their life to the profession, I benefited for being…

TV HIGHLIGHTS BRITAIN’S GOT TALENT WEEKDAYS AT 5.45PM ON M-NET Now in its 14th season, the talent extravaganza is back with even more amazing, surprising and jaw-dropping acts, all vying to impress the judges and secure their place in the live semi-finals. Once again, all the judges and Ant and Dec will have the chance to put one contestant straight through to the live semi-finals, taking them one step closer to achieving their dream. AMERICAN SOUL SATURDAYS AT 8.30PM ON SABC 2 The story of entrepreneur Don Cornelius, who developed the Soul Train show, which rose to prominence in the 1970s. In the first episode, Don is searching for an investor for his new music and dance TV series to star and be produced by African-Americans, to make…

STARS Aries (March 21 – April 20) What the world needs is love, sweet love, and Ariens everywhere are first in line. Where to find that perfect mate? Think foreign and exotic. Choose to experiment. Perhaps you’re drawn to an irresistible out-of-towner, or possibly someone older? Couples should use this time to rekindle tepid passions. Taurus (April 21 – May 20) A relationship or friendship may be up for negotiation. Few partnerships continue as they first began. People change. It seems that important issues could need your attention. Perhaps someone’s throwing problems your way, instead of trying to resolve their own issues. Gemini (May 21 – June 21) Find yourself an extra pair of hands. You’re probably needed in more than one place. Sure, it’s great to feel wanted. But…

MOTOGP Quartararo eyes home win HOME favourite Fabio Quartararo edged out Pramac Ducati’s Jack Miller to claim his third MotoGP pole position of the season at the French Grand Prix in Le Mans yesterday. Championship leader Quartararo powered through the final sector at the Bugatti Circuit to produce a near-faultless lap of one minute 31.315 seconds, finishing 0.222 clear of Miller. Petronas Yamaha’s Quartararo will be starting at the front of the grid for the first time since the second round in Jerez in July. “It feels special because the conditions were really tricky,” the 21-year-old said. “I was very confident after yesterday’s practice sessions. I knew where we had to improve and where we could take the risk. “I think we have the pace to fight for victory tomorrow.”…

TENNIS ‘Polished’ Swiatek shines to win trophy SECURING a first Grand Slam title is supposed to be an arduous task but 19-year-old Iga Swiatek crowned an extraordinary fortnight to win the French Open in a blaze of winners yesterday, crushing Sofia Kenin 6-4 6-1. Swiatek, who had dropped only 23 games en route to the final, produced another audacious display as she became the first Polish player to win a Grand Slam singles title. Only briefly in the first set did Swiatek show any weakness, letting slip a 3-0 lead, but having edged a tightly-contested opening set she romped to victory, although fourth seed Kenin’s challenge appeared to be hampered by a thigh injury. Australian Open champion Kenin, herself only 21, needed treatment at 1-2 in the second set and…

TODAY TV Cricket: Indian Premier League T20: Sunrisers Hyderabad v Rajasthan Royals, 11.50am, CRI; Mumbai Indians v Delhi Capitals, 3.50pm, CRI Cycling: Paris Tours, 114th Edition, 1.20pm, VR4; UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, DHI Women & Men Junior, 9.25am, VR1; UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, DHI Women Elite, 12.45pm, VR2; UCI Mountain Bike World Championships, DHI Men Elite, 2.05pm, VR2; Giro d’Italia, Stage 9: San Salvo-Roccaraso (Aremogna) (207km), 12.20pm, VR1; Gent-Wevelgem, Women’s Elite Race, 4pm, VR2 Golf: European Tour: BMW PGA Championship, Day 4, 12 noon, GOL; LPGA Tour: KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Day 4, 4pm, VR3, GOL, 5.30pm; PGA Tour: Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Day 4, 11pm, GOL Motorsport: MotoGP: Grand Prix of France, Moto3, 11am, ACT; MotoGP, 12.30pm, ACT; Moto2, 2.15pm, ACT; DTM: Zolder Qualifying 2, 10.40am,…

SOCCER Fit-again Dolly excited to lace up for Bafana Friendly against Zambia is final outing before Afcon qualifiers resume next month MIHLALI BALEKA BackpagePix INJURY-FREE Keagan Dolly says he’s grateful for linking up with his Bafana Bafana teammates and representing the national team once again, after struggling with injuries that kept him in France for more than 15 months. Dolly spent the last two seasons more in the medical room than on the field of play. Between September 2018 and March 2019, he suffered two injuries – a shin fracture and hamstring – that ruled him out of action for several weeks. Dolly’s injury woes followed him through the year as he missed the Africa Cup of Nations after injuring himself while in camp with Bafana. As if…

WELL-BEING Struggle of living with depression One in three adults will experience mental illness AMANDA MALIBA amanda.maliba@inl.co.za MASEGO Panyane, a 28-year-old communications specialist from Joburg, has been living and dealing with depression for the past two years after she sought help in March 2018 when she felt overwhelmed by everything and found even the most mundane tasks very difficult to execute. “It got to a point where I couldn’t even sit and laugh with my friends because a day would not pass without me wanting to sit and bawl my eyes out.” And while she’s been in and out of therapy, she says the fact that she is where she is now is largely due to the help of her family – especially her mother, who has provided her with…

GBV Plan to speed up violence bills SIYABONGA MKHWANAZI MPs want to expedite the processing and adoption of gender-based violence (GBV) bills. The deadline for the process is set down for December, following a meeting of the programming committee this past week, chaired by Speaker Thandi Modise. The justice portfolio committee said it wants to conclude these bills by the end of the year. Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola recently tabled the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Bill, the Domestic Violence Act and the Criminal Matters Bill. The government has been under pressure to clamp down on gender-based violence. Police crime statistics show that in the last financial year, more than 2000 women were killed in the country. In a bid to ramp up efforts to…

PANDEMIC What artists have learnt... ROLAND MPOFU SPEAKING during the ninth episode of AMPD Studios’ virtual live series, artists including Pops Mahomed, Abigail Kubeka, Amanda Black, Sipho Hostix Mabuse, Tresor, Heavy K, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Kwesta said as much as Covid-19 may have impacted their income, it had also provided valuable lessons to plan for a sustainable career and future. Veteran musician Kubeka, while speaking to artist Zoe Modiga, said sometimes it feels like “I am dreaming, but remember if you are a spiritual person, you are not a master of your life. It’s like wearing blinkers all the time thinking that this is the way to go and nothing else and someone came and said (take) off those blinkers. “It has been hard, especially for other people who…

POLITICS What will Biden do differently? THEMBA MONARE THE US presidential election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3. It’s all fanfare as politicians are already criss-crossing 50 states, presenting the same ideas couched in seemingly different doublespeak. It is likely to be a litmus test on whether the Cold War that Donald Trump’s administration is currently waging against nations such as China and Russia will persist, or the presidential election may well put a stop to it all. So much is at stake. Trump knows this all too well. At the virtual 3-day Republican Convention recently in North Carolina, he expressed concern that, should the Biden-Harris duo emerge victorious in the election, the US would go left and his running mate and US vice-president Mike Pence, even instilled more fears…

The People Norway’s king doing well after heart surgery STOCKHOLM: Norway’s King HaraldV was doing well a day after a surgery to replace a heart valve, the royal palace said yesterday. Its statement said the monarch did not need to have open-heart surgery at Oslo University Hospital. Crown Prince Haakon is serving as regent while the eighty-three-year-old Harald is on sick leave for the rest of the month. | dpa Lennon remix released on anniversary NEW YORK: Sean Ono Lennon, pictured, said his first experience re-working his father’s catalogue was terrifying and intimidating, but he had two main goals in mind to keep him on track: Preserve his father’s message in the songs and help the late icon’s music reach a younger audience. On Friday, which would have been John…

COVID-19 Europe unprepared for second wave EUROPE’S second wave of coronavirus infections has struck well before flu season even started, with intensive care wards filling up again and bars shutting down. Making matters worse, authorities say, is a widespread case of “Covid-fatigue”. Record high daily infections in several eastern European countries and sharp rebounds in the hard-hit west have made clear that Europe did not crush the Covid-19 curve as hoped. Spain declared a state of emergency for Madrid. Germany offered soldiers to help with contact tracing in newly flaring hotspots while Berlin introduced stricter restrictions. Italy mandated masks outdoors. Experts say Europe’s high infection rate is due in large part to expanded testing. But the trend is alarming, given the flu season hasn’t even begun, schools are open for…

Armenia, Azerbaijan say truce fails to hold MOSCOW: Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to a Russia-brokered ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh starting today, but immediately accused one another of derailing the deal intended to end the worst outbreak of hostilities in the separatist region in more than a quarter-century. The two sides traded blame for breaking the truce with new attacks, and Azerbaijan’s top diplomat said the truce never entered force. The cease-fire announcement came overnight after 10 hours of talks in Moscow sponsored by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday. The deal stipulated that the ceasefire should pave the way for talks on settling the conflict. If the truce holds, it would mark a major diplomatic coup for Russia, which has a security pact with Armenia but also cultivated warm ties…

FILM Winners of Adventure Challenge SAM SPILLER sam.spiller@inl.co.za THE CAPE’S majestic peaks, cool streams in wooded and floral valleys will be on full display at the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival. The Adventure Film Challenge, which allowed filmmakers to submit their work to be shown at the festival and win additional prizes, announced their two winners from Pretoria. Katie Levick, winner in the Aspiring Filmmakers category, said she felt “super overwhelmed.” She didn’t expect to win. The Adventure Film Challenge serves as a way for South African filmmakers to submit their work to be showcased at the local event of the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival, an international film festival held in Canada, and which takes place from October 31 to November 8. The Banff Centre in Canada is…

MUSIC Her ‘vocal highness’ drops work of Africa AMANDA MALIBA KELLY Khumalo’s much-anticipated eighth album finally dropped this week after an intimate launch on Thursday. Titled The Voice of Africa, Khumalo says the eight songs on the collection retell African stories. And although she did not write the songs on the album, the experiences told on various tracks were easy to relate to due to her life story. Through songs like Kuyenyukela, Esphambanweni, Hlengiwe Mhlaba, Awazi Lutho and Empini, she tackles her experiences, which she shared with her audience. “Being the voice of Africa is not just based on my vocal ability but is also about narrating African stories. Through the sound and the lyrical content, everything we have gone through as a continent, are proud of and defines us,…

Philanthropists stepped up to the plate during pandemic EDWARD WEST edward.west@inl.co.za SOUTH Africans are known internationally as generous givers, but 2020 will go down as a record year after Covid-19 galvanised philanthropists into action. Independent Philanthropy Association SA (Ipasa) chairperson Sarah Rennie said in an interview that the pandemic saw philanthropists pulling together swiftly to address societal and government service gaps through the crisis, in a diverse range of project funding that included funding to small businesses, education, food aid, crèches, the provision of data-free platforms and in early childhood development. Rennie said the pandemic had starkly accentuated the gaps in social service delivery and inequality in South Africa, and these had provided opportunities for philanthropists to act swiftly, in a targeted and accountable manner to deliver assistance in these…

Building narrative shifts in industry Celeste le Roux, founder of React24, makes it her mission to hire previously disadvantaged women. By Philippa Larkin Celeste le Roux CELESTE le Roux sees herself as an ambassador for transformation. Le Roux, the co-founder and chief executive of React24, says changing the narrative in the building, environment and construction industries is important. The 42-year-old says she noticed a gap in the market where companies were looking to deal with a site services business, where they could log the entire call. React24’s revenue is now between R10 million and R50m - making it a qualifying small enterprise. She is not unaware of the struggles ahead. “The mere fact that I am a woman is a challenge within this industry,” she says. “As a woman, your…

ENTERTAINMENT iFani Haymani cooks up success After a self-imposed exile, iFani is back with a TV show and new music. Buhle Mbonambi caught up with him IT’S RARE for someone to admit that the toxic nature of the entertainment industry made them decide to take a step back rather leave it all behind. But that’s what happened with award-winning rapper, iFani Haymani. In April 2015, iFani made South African hip-hop history with his album going gold on the day of its release. His I Believes In Me: 2nd Quadrant album sold 20 000 copies, which had been his target before launching the album. He spent weeks urging his fans to help reach the target and when he did it, he was elated. However, it was short-lived. The ugly side of…

INJURY TIME STUART HESS SILENCE IS GOLDEN Dr. Eugenia Kula-Ameyaw was told in no uncertain terms where she could jump off on Tuesday. Sometimes you’ve got to know when to shut up. Cricket SA, where Kula-Ameyaw is an independent director, had taken a hammering from the portfolio committee for sport, art and culture. Thanks to Kula-Ameyaw’s colleagues Marius Schoeman and Dheven Dharmalingam, CSA had just gotten some respite when both had declared they were happy for the committee to see the full forensic report. Then Kula-Ameyaw asked to speak. “I want to request, make a humble plea,” went Kula-Ameyaw, “that we be allowed to go back to Sascoc.” Huh? Hmm? What? Sascoc, which CSA had claimed to be engaging with but which it was actually ignoring. Sascoc which wrote a…

SOCCER It’s Wafa Wafa time for Hunt, Mngqithi and Mokwena MIHLALI BALEKA KAIZER Chiefs will have to hit the ground running in the MTN8 competition when they clash with bogey side Maritzburg United in the quarter-finals next Sunday. Amakhosi have their backs against wall following a turbulent finish in the last campaign. They lost out on the Premiership title on the last day of the season – having been pipped by Mamelodi Sundowns – as they stretched their trophy-less run to five seasons. Chiefs made swift strides in a bid to return to the glory days next season. They sacked coach Ernst Middendorp and his assistant Shaun Bartlett after that disappointing ending. Enter Gavin Hunt and his assistants Dillon Sheppard and Arthur Zwane. Hunt is a multiple championship winning coach,…

BATTLE SIU probe a ‘vendetta’ – Hlaudi MZILIKAZI WA AFRIKA THE Special Investigation Unit (SIU) is gunning for former SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng to recoup all the monies the national broadcaster spent on his legal fees when he was still employed at Auckland Park. The Sunday Independent has established that Motsoeneng and the SIU are heading for a titanic court battle in an effort to recoup legal fees as well as the commission he received from the controversial Multi-Choice deal. Motsoeneng yesterday said the SIU’s investigation was motivated by something else and is politically orchestrated more than criminal. “They have taken a view that they must deal with certain people like myself to settle political scores. This is a vendetta,” said Motsoeneng. He confirmed that he was served…

NATION Ramaphosa is under pressure President needs to desperately save sinking economy SIYABONGA MKHWANAZI PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa is facing mounting pressure to fix the country’s ailing economy ahead of his special address to Parliament on Thursday where he will table the economic recovery plan. But economists and political parties yesterday warned the country does not need a new plan as it already has many policies in place which the government needs to implement. The Cabinet will meet on Wednesday to finalise the plan before Ramaphosa announces it in Parliament the next day. Mike Schussler, the chief economist at Economist.co.za, said there was no need for a new plan. He maintained that the government would have to cut spending and stop living beyond its means. “We don’t need any more plans.…

CHILDLINE Lockdown increased child abuse – report AMBER COURT amber.court@inl.co.za A FATHER who locked his child in a fridge for misbehaving is just one case of abuse social workers had to deal with during lockdown. Childline received more than 25 000 calls a month as the country saw an increase in violence, rape and murder of women and children during the period. And the easing on the ban on the sale of alcohol exacerbated the number of incidents, authorities said. The statistics are from the Covid-19 and lockdown in South Africa Impact On Children report. It showed that 3.8 million children are orphans, child hunger increased from 8% in 2018 to 15.2% this year, due to parents losing their jobs, among other circumstances. Child mental health risks are pinned at…

LITIGATION Court to hear application for RAF to be liquidated KARABO NGOEPE karabo.ngoepe@inl.co.za THE High Court in Pretoria will this week hear an application to have the Road Accident Fund wound up. The court proceedings were instituted by law firm Maponya Attorneys which says the RAF is insolvent and without any prospects of its financial troubles improving. According to the firm, the RAF was struggling to pay over R20 million in fees. But in his answering affidavit, RAF chief executive officer Collins Letsoalo said the entity can’t be wound up. He said the only way the entity could be disbanded was for the legislature to amend or repeal the RAF Act. “An entity created by the legislator can only be eliminated by the legislator,” he said. Letsoalo added that the…

SPORT Sewgolum’s life to hit screens Book on one of South Africa’s golfing greats to be turned into a Hollywood movie MERVYN NAIDOO HOLLYWOOD actors are being cued to feature in a multimillion-dollar movie that will delve into the afflictions and accomplishments of one of the country’s golfing greats, Papwa Sewgolum. When Barry Cohen, an author and seasoned leader with international experience in start-ups, welfare, and event organising, decided to pen Sewsunker “Papwa” Sewgolum’s story, which was released this month, he knew it would be a compelling story. In the book, Cohen credits Sewgolum with, inadvertently, landing significant blows in the fight against apartheid through the exquisite swish of his golf clubs, which brought him multiple local and international honours. Some of Sewgolum’s significant championship wins include three Dutch Open…

POLICIES Anti-bullying mechanisms at work at universities EDWIN NAIDU MORE than half the universities in South Africa have indicated that they have policies in place and are proactively dealing with complaints of bullying at their institutions. Of the 15 institutions University World News contacted in response to recent concerns raised by Brightness Mangolothi, the director of Higher Education Resource Services South Africa (Hers-SA) about bullying in the sector, only one did not have any existing policy in some form, but was busy with developing one. Increasingly institutions are also focusing on interventions to counter cyberbullying. Institutions say they approach bullying, discrimination and harassment with zero-tolerance. Africa’s largest distance and open education provider, Unisa, said a policy had been in place since November 2013. Last year 20 complaints related to bullying…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME WINS 2020 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE Life is never easy. There is work to be done and obligations to be met – obligations to truth, to justice, and to libertyJOHN F. KENNEDY 35th president of the United States The United Nations food agency, the World Food Programme (WFP), won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for its efforts to combat hunger and improve conditions for peace in areas affected by conflict. The Rome-based organisation says it helps about 97 million people. | IOL BRENDAN MCDERMID Reuters…

COMMENT NEED FOR NEW POLITICS IS MERITED OUPA NGWENYA FOR the record, I wish to associate myself with Dr Mamphela Ramphele and ambassador Thenjiwe Mtintso about the need for “new politics”. Mtintso’s call was made during the live broadcast of the 43rd anniversary of Steve Biko’s murder in police custody. Ramphele’s received airtime in Gauteng talk radio station PowerFM’s interview on Sunday, September 20. The reason why the call for new politics has not triggered as much curiosity is because the media itself has been embroiled in the roller-coaster coverage of politics, understandably focusing on the ANC because it is the governing party. But the media’s roller-coaster coverage of the ANC’s recurring internal fortunes and misfortunes has not been made any better in the climate where politics are partisan oriented,…

LETTERS We must ward off a Covid-19 second wave AS WE intensify our efforts to regain an aura of normality under level1, we run the grave risk of assisting the second wave, which will in all probability emerge in early 2021 with more lethal fangs. A major second spike is a scary nightmare for us as we would face more deaths and may have to shut our economy again. Infections could force authorities to reverse course and tighten restrictions on public activities. Covid fatigue could create a false sense of security resulting in laxity which we ignore at our peril. Many in the medical community have watched with horror and frustration as their projections of the pandemic’s evolution and its potential death toll have come to fruition. A progressive decline…

COLOMBIA Ex-president freed from house arrest POWERFUL ex-Colombia president Álvaro Uribe was ordered freed from house arrest yesterday while he is investigated for possible witness tampering. The Supreme Court had ordered Uribe detained in August during the probe, shocking Colombians and unleashing protests in favour and against the decision. He was the first president in Colombia’s recent history to be ordered placed on house arrest. Judge Clara Salcedo ruled yesterday during a virtual hearing that the prior ruling could not be upheld under a new legal framework under which Uribe is being investigated since resigning his Senate seat after his detention. The decision can be appealed but Uribe was immediately ordered released. He has vehemently denied the allegations. | AP…

BREXIT UK ‘inching towards a deal before deadline’ BRITAIN will explore every avenue for a trade deal with the EU but progress to bridge significant gaps needs to be made in the coming days, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday. Johnson has set a Thursday deadline for an EU summit for agreement on a deal, and the EU is seeking a few more concessions before entering the final phase of negotiations. “(Johnson) confirmed the UK’s commitment to exploring every avenue to reach an agreement,” Johnson’s Downing Street office said. “The Prime Minister emphasised that progress must be made in the coming days to bridge the significant gaps, notably in the areas of fisheries and the level playing field, through the process of intensive talks between…

Eritrean migrants escape locked truck FRANKFURT: A group of migrants locked inside a truck with little air to breathe managed to escape, German police reported yesterday. They were travelling on top of the merchandise inside with about 30cm of breathing space. As they ran out of air, one of them called police with a cellphone. Police said they found eight people, among them one minor, who said they came from Eritrea and were trying the reach Britain. Police questioned the driver under suspicion of people smuggling. He said the truck was loaded in his absence in the Netherlands and he later locked the doors to prevent theft while he was asleep. While he was refuelling the truck in Heiligenroth, Germany, he heard people knocking in the back and opened the…

MUSIC Things fall into place for Langa Album’s theme is a reflection of the pain he has endured AMANDA MALIBA AFTER three years of anticipation, Langa Mavuso has finally dropped his debut album aptly titled LANGA, a 12-track album featuring popular numbers such as Mvula and Intliziyo. To celebrate the launch of the album, the singer invited a handful of guests to Sandton’s luxurious restaurant AURUM for a private listening session, while the rest of his fans streamed live to share in the experience. And while technology has made it easy for us to keep abreast with the latest trends and developments, nothing beats being seated right across the talented Mavuso with his live performance in a setting overlooking the beautiful Sandton skyline. The guests and his stage where he…

OPINION Why human rights should guide responses to the pandemic SANDRA LIEBENBERG THE coronavirus pandemic has killed more than a million people globally and disrupted health-care and political systems, economies, social bonds and religious practices. What can South Africa’s Bill of Rights and international human rights treaties contribute to coronavirus responses and recovery strategies? Human rights provide tools to help states build fairer societies and economies. Such societies will be more resilient to future shocks. A human rights-based approach is based on values. It prioritises the most disadvantaged and vulnerable and it is holistic. It also highlights international assistance and co-operation. Value-based approach The values of human dignity, equality and freedom lie at the heart of human rights, and are the founding values of South Africa’s Constitution. The values require…

Pandemic’s negative impact on executive directors – FirstRand SANDILE MCHUNU sandile.mchunu@inl.co.za FIRSTRAND has said that the Covid-19 outbreak had a negative impact on its executive directors and caused a decline to their total remuneration package during the year. The banking group’s annual report on Friday showed that the pandemic sliced its bosses’ remuneration, with chief executive Alan Pullinger seeing his windfall decline 21 percent in 2020 to R39.11 million from R49.77m in 2019. The group said the biggest contributing factor was the 57 percent in short-term incentive (STI) award to R9.65m compared with the prior year. But Pullinger’s guaranteed package rose 6 percent to R9.41m. FirstRand said there would be no increase in the guaranteed package next year. The group’s remuneration committee (Remco) said it assessed Pullinger’s overall performance as…

BIZ 101 Marketing strategies to reposition your business COVID-19 and the subsequent nationwide lockdown imposed to contain its spread have impacted South Africa’s business landscape in a massive way, with many companies not surviving and others operating at reduced capacity. While businesses welcomed the recent move to lockdown level 1, they are now faced with the challenge of rebuilding their customer bases and starting the journey towards recovery under social distancing and safety procedures that are here to stay. Business will do well to take a hard look at their marketing strategies and ideas that have already emerged as a result of the pandemic. Herewith are tips to reposition your business. Strategy Acknowledge that the last few months have likely changed everything and new competitors have emerged. As such, some…

DELICIOUS SCRUMPTIOUS SWEET & SOUR PORK BUNS (MAKES 20) We have the Chinese to thank for this recipe because the flavour of sweet and sour derives from Wuxi, in the Zhejiang province, in China. This recipe is guaranteed to transform the way you’ve been preparing pork and will become a weeknight dinner favourite. Filling Ingredients: INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Cut the meat into strips and, in a bowl, combine with the soy sauce, sesame oil, cornflour and egg white, mix well. 2. Set aside for 30 minutes. 3. Heat some oil in a wok or frying pan and fry the meat in batches until golden brown. 4. Drain on paper towel. 5. Cut the meat into smaller pieces. 6. Combine the tomato sauce, 180ml of the reserved pineapple juice, honey, soy sauce,…

CRICKET Shouldering arms continues CSA leadership’s deafening silence hurting players STUART HESS stuart.hess@inl.co.za BackpagePix BackpagePix Netwerk24 THE weakness of the current administrative leadership of Cricket South Africa was there for all to see last Tuesday. These people who claim to serve the game, care for it and apparently want the best for it. They have strong-armed their way to the top of CSA’s administrative tree but when asked to explain themselves, they remained silent, or in the case of wannabe president, Beresford Williams, threw the ball to someone else. Cricket SA’s appearance before parliament’s portfolio committee for sport, art and culture was a horror show for Williams, the acting CEO, Kugandrie Govender and the company secretary Welsh Gwaza. They came with an agenda, one part was related to governance. At…

FORMULA ONE Hulkenberg’s coffee heats up with late call-up NICO Hulkenberg was enjoying a leisurely coffee in Cologne yesterday when Racing Point Formula One team principal Otmar Szafnauer called and turned the German driver’s weekend upside down. Canadian Lance Stroll, the race regular and son of the team’s owner, had reported sick at the Nuerburgring and Szafnauer needed a quick replacement - literally. Hulkenberg had stood in for Stroll’s teammate Sergio Perez on two occasions in August after the Mexican tested positive for COVID-19, and was familiar with cars and circuit. Dropped by Renault last year, the 33-year-old had been due to drive to the Nuerburgring later anyway as part of his duties with broadcaster RTL. “It was even wilder and crazier than last time,” he told Sky Sports television…

TENNIS Nadal v Djok a battle for ‘GOAT’ title NOVAK Djokovic faces clay-court king Rafael Nadal in a dream French Open final today with more at stake for the world’s two top-ranked players than another Grand Slam title. In one of the sport’s greatest rivalries, Djokovic and Nadal have clashed 55 times with the Serbian leading 29-26. But when it comes to clay, there has never been anybody better than 12-times Roland Garros champion Nadal, who has defeated Djokovic in six of their seven clashes at the French major, including the 2012 and 2014 finals. Djokovic, however, won their last meeting at the French Open in 2015 when he beat the Spaniard in the quarter-finals, something he said gives him hope for today’s showdown. The winner in Paris will also…

RUGBY Sharks have ‘a lot of work to do’ after narrow escape against Lions MIKE GREENAWAY THE Sharks scrambled over the line against the Lions on Friday night but they will know that they won’t be as lucky in their next match, against the Bulls, should their performance be so error-strewn. The Sharks have a bye in next week’s second round of Super Rugby Unlocked before journeying to Loftus Versfeld, and coach Sean Everitt will be cracking the whip on the training pitch between now and then. It was the set piece that will mostly concern the coach, and watching the set scrums and line-outs creak might have given him déjà vu considering the Sharks had exactly the same issues at the start of Super Rugby in February before fixing…

RUGBY Cheetahs prove points by taking dismal Pumas apart ASHFAK MOHAMED Cheetahs 53 Pumas 31 TO BE brutally honest, the Pumas can be relieved that they did not concede a century as the Cheetahs ran them ragged in a 53-31 Super Rugby Unlocked extravaganza in Bloemfontein yesterday. The 41-3 halftime score, with six tries already chalked up by the home side, told the true story of what happened at the Free State Stadium as the Cheetahs made a point to SA Rugby officials following their axing from the imminent PRO Rugby expansion. A few years ago, the Pumas were campaigning for Super Rugby status, but now they can be grateful to compete in a tournament bearing that title – at least only in name. The Mpumalanga outfit were so far…

RUGBY Captain Jantjies gives his men a high five despite Kings Park defeat MIKE GREENAWAY Gallo AFTER the Lions’ narrow loss to the Sharks in Durban on Friday night, captain Elton Jantjies said the comfort was that his team has improved significantly from the sorry outfit of pre-lockdown Super Rugby. “We’re positive about the way we’re going. In certain areas at the beginning of the season, before lockdown, we were 3/10 and we’re now 7/10 or 8/10, so that’s a big positive,” Jantjies said after his team had come within a whisker of upsetting the home team. “To finish within three of the Sharks, who were top in Super Rugby, shows that we’re on the right track.” The match finished 19-16 in favour of the Sharks but it could have…