Innholdsfortegnelse for Sunday, October 18, 2020 i Sunday Independent

The Brief BANKSY CLAIMS HULA-HOOPING GIRL STREET ART The elusive British street artist Banksy confirmed on Saturday that a new artwork that appeared on a wall in Nottingham, central England, depicting a young girl using a bicycle tyre as a hula-hoop is his work. The work appeared on Tuesday on the red brick wall of a beauty salon, next to a bicycle that was locked to a metal signpost and missing its back wheel. Banksy is known for witty artworks that often make powerful references to world affairs. His works this year have alluded to the coronavirus crisis and Black Lives Matter movement. Reuters…

POETRY Reflecting on the past while looking forward LESEGO MAKGATHO lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za In the wake of racial tensions erupting in Senekal, Free State this week following the murder of 21-year-old farm manager Brendin Horner earlier this month, there has been much talk, once again, around the expropriation of land without compensation and achieving land reform. A picture of members of the Afrikaner survivalist group, the Kommandokorps (still active in South Africa) was seen on Twitter. The leader, Colonel Franz Jooste was quoted as saying that “the Free State was a Boer republic and will be again”. This couldn’t have been a better time for Lawrence Mduduzi Ndlovu’s body of work, Mayibuye (Come back): 25 Years of Democracy In South Africa, to be released in South Africa. “I started thinking about my…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA ASANDA SIZANI TO HOST FASHION MASTERCLASS There has been a level of listening, coordination and urgency in this period that I hope will be sustained as we look to recover from the long-term effects of this crisisSABRINA VOURVOULIASJournalist Former Glamour Magazine editor Asanda Sizani will be hosting a fashion masterclass in partnership with Dove. The masterclass, set to take place via Instagram on Saturday, October 24, will be Dove’s first-ever fashion masterclass since they collaborated with fashion and lifestyle brand Ri.Ch Factory.…

The People New shortest-ever time span recorded FRANKFURT: German physicists have set a new world record by recording the shortest time span ever measured, Frankfurt’s Goethe University said on Friday. The researchers measured how long it takes for a photon to cross a hydrogen molecule, and concluded that it took 247 zeptoseconds. A zeptosecond is a trillionth of a billionth of a second. The last time a record was set for the shortest time span was in 1999, when the Egyptian chemist Ahmed Zewail measured the speed at which molecules change their shape. | dpa Man charged with killing actor Byrd NEW YORK: A man has been charged in the death of actor Thomas Jefferson Byrd, pictured, who was gunned down near his home in Atlanta earlier this month. The…

NEW ZEALAND Ardern wins second term NEW Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won a second term in office yesterday in an election landslide of historic proportions. With most votes counted, Ardern’s liberal Labour Party was winning 49% of the vote compared to 27% for its main challenger, the conservative National Party. Labour was on target to win an outright majority of the seats in Parliament, something that hasn’t happened since New Zealand implemented a proportional voting system 24 years ago. Typically, parties must form alliances to govern, but this time Ardern and Labour can go it alone. In a victory speech in Auckland, Ardern said her party had received more support from New Zealanders that at any time in at least 50 years. “We are living in an increasingly polarised…

Germans urged to curb contact, travel BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans yesterday to curb social contacts and keep travel to a minimum after federal and state governments struggled to agree on how to contain a second wave of coronavirus infections. “We have to do everything to prevent the virus from spreading out of control. Every day counts,” Merkel said in a weekly video podcast. Germany’s infection rates have been accelerating and hit a daily record of 7830 yesterday, according to the Robert Koch Institute for infections diseases. The death toll rose by 33 to 9767. “I appeal to you: meet with fewer people … Please forsake any journey that is not absolutely essential, every party that is not absolutely essential. Stay at home.” Her appeal came as President Frank-Walter…

AFRICA THIS WEEK ILLEGAL PLUNDER OF FISH IS HIKING PIRACY RISK VICTOR KGOMOESWANA @VictorAfrica NOT everyone is hiding from Covid-19, especially those fishing illegally. During the pandemic, Greenpeace International is reporting that the plundering of fishing stocks in West African waters at the expense of local artisanal fishing communities of Mauritania, Senegal and The Gambia is continuing unabated. Dr Aliou Ba, political adviser for Ocean Campaign at Greenpeace Africa, paints a very scary picture: “The world economy is in recession and the West African region is not spared. At the same time, the fishmeal and fish oil industry is thriving, using local fish stocks to produce food for pets, pigs and fish in the aquaculture industry around Europe and Asia at the expense of vulnerable populations in West Africa.” This…

REAL NUMBERS TRIBUTE TO MAHLATI, TRUE ‘CONSUMMATE INTELLECTUAL’ PALI LEHOHLA THE passing of Dr Vuyo Mahlati is a tragic loss that has amplified the magnitude of the deep crisis the country faces on multiple fronts. Mahlati’s life was wholesome. It spanned struggles in education, gender, children, art, economy, politics, tradition, land, fashion, identities, ethics and pan-humanism. She was a consummate intellectual. In 2008, I met Mahlati in Limpopo at a post office function where Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) was showcasing the programme for assigning addresses for communities who did not have them. We were so animated in our discussions on how these physical addresses would eliminate the scandal of invisibility for the marginalised. Eight years later in June 2016 Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng passed a scathing judgment on how…

TV HIGHLIGHTS SHAPES IN THE CITY. SATURDAY AT 1.30PM, SABC 1 (DSTV 191) Imagine taking a journey through Cape Town’s top architectural landmarks and locations. And now weave in the most entertaining and mind-bending BMX tricks with one of South Africa’s most innovative riders, Murray Loubser. ON BECOMING A GOD IN CENTRAL FLORIDA SHOWMAX In 1992 Central Florida, a minimum-wage water park employee lies, schemes, and cons her way up the ranks of the cultish, multibillion-dollar pyramid scheme that drove her family to ruin.…

MTN8 SuperSport still standing after late TTM fightback HERMAN GIBBS SAMUEL SHIVAMBU BackpagePix BackpagePix TWO-TIME winners SuperSport United welcomed newcomers Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) with a baptism of fire in the PSL’s elite league as they ran out 3-2 winners in their MTN8 quarter-final clash in Thohoyandou Stadium yesterday afternoon. It seemed the match was virtually over as a contest by the half-time break when SuperSport ran up a 3-1 lead. The score could easily have been doubled, considering the chances that Super-Sport spurned in the opening stanza. However, SuperSport fell away badly in the second half and TTM, who purchased Bidvest Wits’ franchise in the PSL, produced a strong finish to the match. With a bit of luck on their side, they might have clinched a win in what…

COURT Court liquidates Mkhize’s company SIBONISO MNGADI sibosiso.mngadi@inl.co.za DURBAN celebrity businesswoman, Shauwn Mkhize’s long battle with the taxman ended in the liquidation of her company, Zikhulise Cleaning Maintenance and Transport (ZCMT). In a precedent-setting judgment, the Gauteng High Court ordered that the company be liquidated and placed under final winding-up for failing to settle tax matters with the SA Revenue Service (Sars). While judgment was handed on Thursday, the matter dates back to 2016, when Sars launched an urgent application for the winding up of ZCMT. In its founding affidavit, Sars sets out that as at February 1, 2016, ZCMT was indebted to Sars in an amount in excess of R122 million of which about R50m was disputed by the company. Subsequently, Mkhize brought an application to place her company…

STAND-OFF ‘Kill the Boer’ song angers FF+ SAMKELO MTSHALI and MANYANE MANYANE THE stand-off between the EFF, Afri-Forum and farmers in Senekal has culminated in the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) hauling the EFF before the SA Human Rights Commission after supporters sang Kill the Boer during the protest. The groups had gathered for the court appearances of Sekola Matlaletsa, 44, and Sekwetje Mahlamba, 32, on charges of murdering Paul Roux farm manager Brendin Horner, 21, on October 1. The FF+ condemned the EFF for allowing its supporters to sing the song as the red berets descended on the Free State town to “protect” the court after a group of farmers last week stormed it, damaging property and burning a police van. The trial is expected to resume on Tuesday. A…

PHOTOGRAPHY How artist, activist sees herself New exhibition at Norval Foundation after months of lockdown SAM SPILLER sam.spiller@inl.co.za SIBONELO NGCOBO ANA RACIAL identities and self-portraiture are front-and-centre topics of artist Zanele Muholi’s newest exhibition. Titled And then you see yourself, the exhibition is the latest collection of art at the Norval Foundation in Cape Town, which reopened its doors last month following months of lockdown. For Muholi, a physical exhibition allows for greater accessibility. “These platforms are a wonderful way to expand and share knowledge but we have to remember that not everybody has access to the internet, data or high-speed connections,” she said. “So, for those who are able to move, let them move. For those who must stay at home, let them stay. But exhibitions are needed at…

ESKOM No load shedd ing … for now Power utility is not expecting any outages for the rest of the year TSHEGO LEPULE tshego.lepule@inl.co.za ESKOM said it is not anticipating any load shedding until the end of the festive season as President Cyril Ramaphosa promises a more reliable energy mix to stabilise the national grid. Earlier this week, in presenting his economic recovery plan to Parliament, Ramaphosa said the implementation of the Integrated Resource Plan would be accelerated in order to increase the contribution of renewable energy sources, battery storage and gas technology to the energy mix. This was expected to bring around 11 800 megawatts (MW) to the system by 2022. This pronouncement was welcomed by Western Cape Premier Alan Winde who said it would be marking the date…

North West’s Bidi likely to go QUALIFICATIONS NORTH West’s Department of Human Settlements is set for changes following the discovery of a lack of qualifications of one of its senior managers. The Sunday Independent has learnt that the department’s director of housing, Vusi Bidi, who signs off on multimillion-rand contracts, is unqualified. Bidi has been in the position since 2017, despite the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) and the auditor-general having flagged his appointment.The position requires one to be in possession of a degree or NQF Level 7 qualification but Bidi only has a national diploma in surveying. The AG raised questions regarding the appointment, indicating that Bidi was among a group appointed after a directive was issued by the DPSA that people without proper qualification requirements should…

HEAVY FOR POLICE BAIL HEARING PRESENCE THE two accused in the murder of 21-year-old farm manager Brendin Horner, Sekwetje Isaiah Mahlamba, 32, and Sekola Piet Matlaletsa, 44, appeared in court for their bail hearing on Friday. This is their second appearance after their first brief one last week was postponed, which subsequently led to a group of farm owners barging into the courthouse seeking revenge and ending up firing guns and setting a police van alight. Andre Pienaar, 52, has since been arrested and charged with attempted murder, malicious damage to property and public violence. From Thursday evening, police were on high alert in and outside the town of Senekal, in the Free State, with reinforcements from as far as Gauteng. When coming into the town, cars were stopped and…

COMMENT GOVERNMENT WRONG TO PUT SA IN LOCKDOWN JO-MANGALISO MDHLELA WHAT can the idea of a national lockdown do to the psyche of a nation in which industry and businesses of all sorts close in the midst of great economic depression, compounded by Covid-19? Should not the South Africa government, a fledgling constitutional democracy, ask itself: Is it prudent to shut down the economy without having done a cost-benefit analysis to fully understand the intricate scenarios that may unfold should the country embark on a level 5 lockdown, as we did in March? Can I as the leader of a constitutional democracy embark on such a cause, perceived perhaps by others as draconian, without consulting my constituency and all other stakeholders? National lockdowns are by their very nature not desirable,…

ANNUAL REPORT STATS ACCORDING to the SAPS Annual Report from National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole there were 2 246 disciplinary cases, of which 1 919 cases were finalised within 60 days, an achievement of 91.73% against the set target of 90%, within 60 days. “A total of 134 cases were finalised beyond the 60 calendar days’ targets. There were 193 cases still pending, at the end of March 2019, including 154 pending within the 60 calendar days,” he says. At the end of the 2018/2019 financial year, the establishment of the department was 192 277, including 150 855 SAPS Act members and 41 422 Public Service Act employees, compared to 193 297 personnel, at the end of the previous financial year. Sitole adds that the trial-ready case docket rate…

COMMENT A DIFFERENT KIND OF MEDIA TRANSFORMATION MANDLA J RADEBE THIS year’s Black Wednesday commemorations will largely take place through mediated platforms. The novel Covid-19 pandemic has expedited what many perceived as the inevitable transformation of the media industry through digitalisation. But the South African media must still grapple with a different kind of transformation – that of ownership and control. During the month of October, the media fraternity recalls the events of October 19, 1977, where the racist apartheid regime shut down independent media in a desperate attempt to censor dissenting voices. Progressive journalists and editors were at the receiving end, with many thrown in jail and progressive publications like the World, Weekend World and Daily Dispatch, muzzled and banned. Perhaps latent to the struggle of media leaders like…

LETTERS Email: scribe@inl.co.za (no attachments). All letters must contain the writer’s full name, physical address and telephone number. No pen names. Extension of State of Disaster unnecessary THE Co-orperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma had already asked Cabinet for the extension of the National State of Disaster by another month until November 15 before the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on October 15 or 16. Cabinet granted her approval, no questions asked. These Cabinet ministers and Dlamini Zuma are obviously oblivious to a major legal action taken against some Western governments and the World Health Organization (WHO). I shared a video containing that information with President Ramaphosa and Health Minister Zweli Mkhize titled Covid: Crimes against Humanity. MajorLegal Action Exposing Gov & WHO Lies. Four lawyers representing…

AFRICA Massive museum to capture splendour of ancient Egypt THE Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) under construction is set to become the world’s largest archaeological museum dedicated to a single civilisation when it opens in 2021. The GEM, which is located west of Cairo against the backdrop of the pyramids of Giza, was meant to open this year, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic the opening date was pushed back by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. According to local media, the completed construction works at the GEM has reached 97%. The installation of 55 pieces on the Great Staircase has been completed. The staircase will house approximately 72 of the most important and largest monuments of the kings of Egypt, writes Egypt Today. Meanwhile, the state is working on linking the…

JAPAN PM Suga pushes Abe’s vision JAPAN’S new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga leaves today on his first overseas foray since taking over from Shinzo Abe last month, heading to Vietnam and Indonesia. The choice to visit Southeast Asia underscores Japan’s efforts to counter Chinese influence and build stronger economic and defence ties in the region, much in line with Abe’s vision. It also reflects pandemic realities. With the US tied up with domestic politics ahead of the November 3 election, Suga was unable to head to Washington straight away for talks with Japan’s most important ally after he rose to power, replacing Abe, who resigned for health reasons. Abe had vowed to restore Japan’s waning diplomatic stature and national pride by promoting ultra-nationalistic policies such as traditional family values and…

Pressure for national lockdown in the UK LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was under increasing pressure to implement a “circuit-breaker” national lockdown yesterday as coronavirus case numbers are rising. Many British hospitals have been overwhelmed by the pandemic and may soon no longer be able to handle an influx of Covid-19 patients. There were nearly 16000 new virus infections recorded within 24 hours on Friday, according to government figures. However, it is believed that the real number is higher, with the ONS statistical office estimating nearly 28000 daily infections in England alone. Almost 28 million people are living under heightened restrictions as of yesterday – more than half the population. dpa…

AWARENESS Pet obesity in the spotlight this month AMANDA MALIBA THIS October is Pet Obesity Month and local celebrities Ayanda Thabethe, Angel Campey, Janez Vermeiren, Darren Simpson and Msizi James are among those who are raising awareness about the dangers of pet obesity. Many South Africans grapple with obesity, with more than half of the adults in our country classified as medically overweight or obese, according to the most recent WHO data, and pets are also in running the risk of being obese too. Although there is no direct correlation between pet obesity and South Africans, pet behaviour experts from Hill’s Pet Nutrition Marycke Ackhurst said pet owners have found their pets to be a little heavier than they should be, coming out of the five months strict lockdown period.…

Job cuts at Telkom subsidiary BCX DINEO FAKU dineo.faku@inl.co.za TELKOM IT subsidiary BCX is contemplating the dismissal of about 300 employees as part of its new organisational structure. BCX claimed that lockdown regulations implemented to curb the spread of the pandemic added pressure on its margins and its ability to generate revenue. The group served Section 189 notices on Thursday, warning that 284 employees in various categories would be impacted. It said the newly designed operational structure, if implemented, would reduce the number of positions required to cut staff costs and associated general costs. Over the years the group implemented a variety of measures to avoid job cuts including creating a business model focused on propelling the company’s digital transformation capability, reducing costs and discretionary spend as well as insourcing…

MUSIC New album is therapy for Kelly Kelly Khumalo lets her voice shine through in her latest album, writes Buhle Mbonambi IN A departure from what she usually does, Kelly Khumalo relinquished control of the songwriting in her latest album, The Voice of Africa. She chose to let other artists write for her, which is not something she is used to. “It was like a therapy session,” she said during our IG Live interview ahead of the album’s release. “For the first time, I didn’t write anything on an album. There are a few suggestions I made here and there, but I just wanted to experience myself from a different perspective. The difference this time around is I am not in my feelings. I had to sing from someone else’s…

STARS Aries (March 21 - April 20) With Mercury in a mean mood for the next few weeks, beware of letting relationship upsets or misunderstandings get out of hand. This is a time when envy, jealousies or gossip could run rampant. Avoid becoming too caught up in other peoples’ dramas or you may end up taking the blame. Taurus (April 21 - May 20) Despite what your professional ambitions might be, life has a habit of occasionally turning priorities upside down. There are times when you simply have to delegate at work, and turn your interests towards having some fun. And this week that’s exactly what you should do. You can’t argue with such a hearty dose of planetary enthusiasm. Gemini (May 21 - June 21) Understandably, Geminis often grumble…

SUPER RUGBY Cheetahs revel in opportunity to play ASHFAK MOHAMED Gallo Images FIRST, the bad news for the Cheetahs – stalwart Ruan Pienaar is unlikely to feature in Super Rugby Unlocked again. But the real good vibes for the Cheetahs that came out of Friday night’s 19-17 victory at the Free State Stadium was the immense character shown by Hawies Fourie’s team. They have been kicked out of PRO Rugby, so they don’t know what their future looks like beyond the end of the Currie Cup in January. They also had a moment of silence on Friday for a former Cheetahs vice president, Cedric Carson, who died last week. And after just 15 minutes into the match in Bloemfontein, they lost captain Pienaar to a serious-looking knee injury that could…

Potgieter takes it to wire in first national victory CHRISTO Potgieter achieved a long-cherished ambition when he was crowned the Growth-point SA Nationals squash champion for the first time after a pulsating final against Ruan Olivier at the Brooklyn Mall in Pretoria yesterday. He was joined on the winner’s podium by Alex Fuller, who beat Lizelle Muller 3-0 in the women’s final. The 33-year-old Potgieter, now with Joburg Squash, was forced to dig deep by his 26-year-old opponent, who took the third game 11-2 for a 2-1 lead. “Initially I was a bit nervous and a little overwhelmed by the occasion, but eventually decided I needed to play the match on my terms,” said Potgieter, as he stormed back into the match by taking the fourth game 11-3. “I felt…

POLICING Little sanctions in wrongful arrest cases EDWIN NAIDU AN ESTIMATED R1.5 billion has been paid out by the South African Police Services in civil claims for wrongful arrests over the past five years, according to Gareth Newham, the head, justice and violence prevention programme at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria. “This money would have been better used holding the police accountable for their misdeeds, but the ability to prevent police misconduct has deteriorated over the past five to six years with on average 4500 disciplinary cases reported on a yearly basis,” he said. Last year, R535 million was paid out by SAPS in wrongful arrests claims, but on average, only 120 police officers were found guilty, and in most cases, fined for misconduct. “If they face sanction,…

LABOUR Diligence got me fired, says mom MANYANE MANYANE AND KARABO NGOEPE manyane.manyane@inl.co.za karabo.ngoepe@inl.co.za A 40-YEAR-old mother claims she has been pushed out of her job after putting in place systems to curb payments to ghost employees. Silungelo Mavundla said her diligence turned her into a target in an internal racial spat that saw her being unfairly fired after she was erroneously copied in emails not meant for her. One of her managers wrote an email saying: “With regards to Slu, we need to look for a back-up but not a black again. I need someone that I can train in industrial relations, HR and payroll. Maybe a young graduate white female. I deliberately want to stay away from the liberal element with political agendas.” Her dismissal came after she…

SIU TO HELP ESKOM IN R75M TENDER PROBE ESKOM is probing a tender that was initially for R75 million but ballooned to R12.5 billion and has roped in the Special Investigating Unit to dig up the rot in the irregularities. Eskom officials have told the Standing Committee on Public Accounts how the tender was increased over time with no minutes of meetings approving the increases and documents authorising this over the years. The SIU has said it wants to recover the money. In what Eskom officials described as modifications to Scopa this week, no proper processes were followed, there was no authorisation from tender committees and no senior leaders were informed about the increase, said forensic investigators. Chief Andre de Ruyter said Eskom was meeting the SIU. “It’s one of…

EFF in Senekal to protect land Malema calls on members to travel to the Free State to defend government property with lives AMANDA MALIBA amanda.maliba@inl.co.za THE violence in Senekal, and especially the storming of the police station and damage to property two weeks ago, prompted a call by EFF leader Julius Malema for party members to go to the Free State and defend government property with their lives. On Friday, EFF members descended on the streets of Senekal to “protect state property” while white farm owners, locals and anti-farm murder protesters armed with all sorts of guns and other weapons, came out to support murdered farm manager Brendin Horner. What started as a peaceful day then escalated into a stand-off between the EFF and farmers as early as 10am. This…

SENEKAL STAND-OFF ‘No one cares …we’re our own saviours’ Farmer’s bold move inspired others to follow suit farmers and black workers. So what was I doing tempting fate like that? Wanting to be an owner of a farm seemed crazy,” he laughs. The bet on his future was made, it cost him money to hire municipality trucks, various sacrifices, and a plan; a plan to be recognised as one of Free State’s most established farmers, no matter what that looked like. Challenges that he has faced on his farm hinge on the lack of basic service delivery in the entire Matwabeng area, and water disruptions that have become a norm in that small location. “We would go for weeks without water and that would result in either my crops dying…

LAW The price for wrongful arrest Mthatha man wins case against SAPS after he was arrested and detained without a charge during a police raid at a tavern EDWIN NAIDU NKULULEKO Msongelwa was arrested and detained on August 7, 2011, by members of the SAPS while in a local tavern in Mthatha with friends. He was detained for 158 days, until he was released, without being charged with any offence. The police arrived and ordered them to face the wall with their hands up. They were bodily searched and Msongelwa was told that he was under arrest but no reason for his incarceration was given. He resisted and he was shot on the ankle. He was handcuffed and thrown onto the back of a police van. He also sustained a…

EDITORIAL ‘White genocide’ a phantom belief THE Senekal skirmish that saw police, EFF, AfriForum members and white farmers face-off in the small Free State town on Friday has been a slow-burn of developments fuelled by the belief of a phantom “white genocide”. White interest groups have given oxygen to this belief which has deepened racial tensions. Farmworkers are the most abused sector in the job market. Most are illiterate and toil the land with nothing to show for it and are overworked until their bodies can’t carry them anymore. Once they have aged, violent evictions without notice are the norm. Lobby groups like AfriForum ignore these issues. They also refuse to accept that our criminal justice system is beset with many shortcomings that make dealing with crime difficult, especially murder.…

FRANCE Shock over beheading of teacher Teen attacker asked pupils to point out victim A SUSPECT shot dead by police after the gruesome beheading of a history teacher in an attack near Paris was an 18-year-old Moscow-born Chechen refugee, officials said yesterday. France’s anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office said authorities investigating the killing of Samuel Paty in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine on Friday also arrested nine suspects, including the teenager’s grandfather, parents and 17-year-old brother. Paty had discussed caricatures of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad with his class, leading to threats and a complaint from a parent, police officials said. Islam prohibits images of the prophet, asserting that they lead to idolatry. The officials could not be named because they were not authorised to discuss ongoing investigations. The French anti-terrorism prosecutor Jean-Francois Ricard said an investigation for…

‘Divided world is failing Covid-19 test’ LISBON: A divided world has failed to rise to the challenge of fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said yesterday. The former Portuguese prime minister said far more could have been done if countries had worked together to combat the disease, which has killed more than 1 million people. “The Covid-19 pandemic is a major global challenge for the entire international community, for multilateralism and for me, as secretary-general of the United Nations,” Guterres told Portuguese news agency Lusa. “Unfortunately, it is a test that, so far, the international community is failing,” adding that if co-ordinated measures were not taken, “a microscopic virus could push millions of people into poverty and hunger, with devastating economic effects in the years to come”. Reuters…

Seychelles permits visitors from SA CAPE TOWN: South Africans and citizens of nine other African countries will be able to visit Seychelles as tourists from next week, according to the latest Seychelles Travel tourism advisory published on Friday. The list of category one countries from which visitors are permitted to enter Seychelles is effective from tomorrow. It has been updated to include Botswana, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Category one permitted countries are considered low and medium risk. Conditions of entry are outlined in the online travel advisory. ANA…

EDUCATION Quality research in Africa matters more than ever – for the whole world THOMAS KARIUKI AND ELIZABETH MARINCOLA WE are at a unique moment in history. Two particular ongoing events stand out. Covid-19 is one. The other is a long-overdue recognition of inequities among people in the US and worldwide, as exemplified by the Black Lives Matter movement. These issues provide a useful, timely lens through which to consider the role and value of African research. There are many levels on which the future of the world, not just Africa’s, rests on African research. First, Africa represents the youngest and fastest-growing population in the world. This makes intellectual investment an imperative, to harness talent that is a significant and growing share of the global population. Second, Africans represent the…

IDT faces potential litigation from its service providers GIVEN MAJOLA given.majola@inl.co.za THE INDEPENDENT Development Trust(IDT) has warned that it faced a rising potential for litigation from its service providers during the nationwide lockdown, which forced its client departments to reprioritise and redirect their infrastructure budgets to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on their operations. IDT spokesperson Phasha Makgolane said the lockdowns imposed to contain the spread of the pandemic brought the construction industry to a near standstill with immediate work stoppages, delayed payment to contractors and loss of income. Makgolane said the IDT was not able process the invoices that came in days before the commencement of the lockdown as it was not classified an essential service. “Payments could not be made during this period,” Makgolane said. “You may also…

BIZ 101 Tips to help entrepreneurs spot a scam BEN BIERMAN BUSINESSES are forever seeking new opportunities to expand – a characteristic key to entrepreneurial success. However, where there are opportunities, there are also fraudsters looking for a quick scam. While experience has taught veteran businesses how to steer clear of these scams, warning signs may not be as clear for first-time entrepreneurs. With this in mind, here are some of the most common signs that your opportunity might just be a scam. Returns A return much bigger than the market equivalents is one of the first signs that the opportunities may not be genuine. Another red flag is if you are required to invest and encouraged to draw in more investors to the scheme or opportunity. These are signs…

COOKING Special recipes for any, every occasion DEBASHINE THANGEVELO THE FESTIVE season is almost on us. With traditional family gatherings coming up, many of us have menus on our minds. Jan Kohler’s Pink Gin and Fairy Cakes might help solve those culinary dilemmas, especially when it comes to sweet-tooth treats In a recent chat with Kohler, she said: “For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved cooking. Even as a child I took great pleasure in laying a beautiful table, making a meal and harvesting veggies from our garden. “My recipes are simple because this is what I grew up with.” “I never intended to pursue a career in cooking so instead, I followed my creative dreams and went into graphic design. “My passion in the kitchen continued to…

CRICKET CSA facing sticky wicket Mthethwa plays hard ball STUART HESS WHILE internally, Cricket South Africa’s officials have attempted to paint a rosy picture of the organisation to players and the remaining sponsors, confirmation last week, that the Minister of Sport Nathi Mthethwa, is ready to intervene at the organisation, shows otherwise. High ranking officials at CSA, including the acting CEO Kugandrie Govender, met with the national players on Thursday where the players were told that CSA was a stable organisation. Govender confirmed yesterday that she told the players that from a financial perspective CSA was in a stable position. That may be the case for now. However CSA’s finances will feel the effects of the Covid-19 lockdown eventually, especially if it can’t sign any sponsors and the revised broadcast…

TV GUIDE TODAY Cricket: Indian Premier League T20: Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders, 11.50am, CRI; Mumbai Indians v Kings XI Punjab, 3.50pm, CRI Cycling: Giro d’Italia, Stage 15: Base Aerea Rivolto-Piancavallo (185km), 12.20pm, VR1 Golf: European Tour: Scottish Championship presented by AXA, Day 4, 1pm, GOL; PGA Tour: The CJ Cup @ Shadow Creek, Day 4, 11pm, GOL, GSD Motorsport: MotoGP: Grand Prix of Aragon, Moto3, 10.45am, MSP, GSD, SSM; Moto2, 12.05pm, MSP, GSD; MotoGP, 1.30pm, MSP, GSD; FIM Superbike World Championship: Estoril SBK Superpole Race, 11.45am, ACT; FIM Superbike World Championship: Estoril SSP Race, 1.15pm, ACT; FIM Superbike World Championship: Estoril SBK Race 2, 2.30pm, ACT; FIM Superbike World Championship: Estoril SSP300 Race, 4.10pm, ACT; Supercars Championship: Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, 1.30am, MSP; DTM: Zolder Sprint Qualifying 2,…

SOCCER Rookie breath of fresh air in nail-biter for Buccaneers Dream debut for Pirates’ Dzvukamanja, nightmare for Citizens’ Lakay ORLANDO Pirates’ new signing Terrence Dzvukamanja celebrated his debut with the solitary goal of a hard-fought MTN8 quarter-final clash against 10-man Cape Town City at Orlando Stadium last night. Dzvukamanja was part of six new Pirates players on the night, with coach Josef Zinnbauer looking for a fresh start in a tournament – and against a team – that previously had the better of the Buccaneers. The victory ensured it was the first time Pirates advanced past the quarter-final stage of the lucrative competition since 2014, and only the second time they had ever beaten their rivals from the Mother City. The challenge was made significantly easier when City were reduced…