Innholdsfortegnelse for Sunday, December 6, 2020 i Sunday Independent

CAPTURE Pabasa slams attacks on lawyers Bar association says personal attacks on Sikhakhane and Ngcukaitobi are based on identity of their clients MANYANE MANYANE THE Pan African Bar Association of South Africa (Pabasa) has raised concern about the “personal attacks” on two prominent lawyers for their roles in the Zondo Commission, saying the criticism was based on nothing but the identity of their clients. In a statement released yesterday, Pabasa chairperson Nasreen Rajab-Budlender said the “virulent attacks” on advocates Muzi Sikhakhane and Tembeka Ngcukaitobi were an affront on their integrity as legal practitioners, based on how the critics feel about the two lawyers’ clients. Sikhakhane and Ngcukaitobi came under fire from sections of the media and society in recent weeks for different but related reasons. Sikhakhane and other members of…

The Brief EGYPTIAN RIGHTS GROUP HEAD HOPES RELEASE WILL HELP OTHER PRISONERS THE head of a leading Egyptian human rights group who was held for two weeks on terrorism charges said on Saturday he hoped that the campaign to secure his release would help others still jailed on similar allegations. Activists saw the detention last month of Gasser Abdel Razek, executive director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), and two of the group’s other staff, as the latest escalation of a broad crackdown on political dissent under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Abdel Razek said he was unclear why he had been held beyond the officially stated charges of belonging to a terrorist group and spreading false news. Abdel Razek said: “I’m hoping that our speedy release would have…

MEDIA Thuma Mina row spirals as AmaBhungane lashed MANYANE MANYANE manyane.manyane@inl.co.za YOUTUBE SCREENGRAB THE South African Media Personnel Organisation (Sampo) has laid into AmaBhungane, accusing the investigative journalism media group of being a “rented mob” used to intimidate Sunday World from probing the involvement of its journalist in a controversial social media group named after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s political campaign slogan, Thuma Mina. This comes after AmaBhungane this week launched an investigation into a multimillion rand government contract awarded to one of the companies owned by Sunday World publisher David Mabilu nearly five years ago – days after the paper announced it was probing the involvement of its political editor, George Matlala, in the Thuma Mina media group. Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan’s former spokesperson, Sam Mkokeli, lifted the lid…

OPINION Let us all fight GBV scourge SELLO MOKOENA EXPERTS concur that South Africa has excellent anti-gender-based violence laws and a national plan and strategies to prevent, and respond to violence against women and children. These saw the emergence of a groundswell of men’s grassroots movements that are able to harness their collective power and abilities as young and old men unite in order to serve as agents of positive social change in their communities. Despite these efforts by various government institutions that are mandated to provide quality services and protection to women and children, and private organisations working in creative ways to promote the well-being of children and women throughout South Africa, the Optimus Study and allied evidence-based evaluation studies show that there is much work to be done…

NORTH WEST Human Settlements cleans up supply chain KARABO NGOEPE THE North West Department of Human Settlements is set for a massive clean-up in a bid to end the problems that have besieged it. The move comes as the provincial legislature portfolio committee on the premier, finance, co-operative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs seeks answers on the department’s dealings, a “cartel” of construction companies and allegations of lack of qualifications by senior managers. At the top of the list is said to be the alleged “cartel” of construction companies that are alleged to be led by Tigane Developers, Barzani and RS Rekopane. Chairperson of the portfolio committee Aaron Motswana said they wanted to know why the companies always got contracts and what criteria were used to select them. “This…

BANKING Mom fears losing home after being axed DON MAKATILE don.makatile@inl.co.za AFTER three years at a new bank where she helped it achieve its target to attract two million new customers, a Joburg single mother is out of a job and faces the threat of losing her home and car after she was fired in September. Shireen Japhta was employed as senior marketing manager at TymeBank where she was “the most senior person in the team” in a portfolio where, as part of her job, she was responsible for much of the company’s interaction with the media. At a disciplinary enquiry in Rosebank, Joburg, to deal with her matter, it was acknowledged that in her interactions with the media, she “understands the nuances of exploring the media and the importance…

EDUCATION UNISA’s first woman vice-chancellor has a mindful of task ahead EDWIN NAIDU THE new principal and vice-chancellor of the University of South Africa (Unisa) wants the institution to reclaim its space as an innovative leader in distance and open education, and ensure it contributes to South African and Africa-wide goals on sustainable development. She, importantly, aims to ensure the university is receptive to gender transformation for all women of colour marginalised in the past. Professor Puleng LenkaBula said in the first interview since her appointment in November as the only woman in 148 years to head one of Africa’s largest universities and the institution that in 1946 pioneered tertiary distance learning. “When I was called by the chair and deputy chair of council after they decided to check with me…

UNITED NATIONS Unesco sets sights on tricky US return FOUR years after the US quit Unesco, the UN’s cultural agency, over accusations of anti-Israel bias, diplomats say the Paris-based body has managed to put its house in order, potentially easing the way for Washington’s return. Unesco – the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – is best-known for designating and protecting archaeological and heritage sites, from the Galapagos Islands to the tombs of Timbuktu. The agency, founded in the ashes of World War II to protect the common cultural inheritance of humanity, was thrown into turmoil after the US, which provided a fifth of its funding, pulled out. It underscored the scepticism expressed by Republican President Donald Trump about the need for the US to remain engaged in multilateral bodies…

JAPAN Hayabusa2 capsule bringing asteroid sample to Earth A JAPANESE capsule is on its way to bring a precious sample from asteroid Ryugu which is expected to help in better understanding of the origin and evolution of the solar system. It was confirmed from telemetry and Doppler data that Hayabusa2 re-entry capsule separated from the Hayabusa2 spacecraft as planned at 14.35 local time on Saturday, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (Jaxa) said. The landing of the capsule in Woomera in southern Australia is scheduled for todaye. As the sample container may contain a small amount of gas emitted from the Ryugu sample, a simple analysis will be conducted on-site before it is contaminated by the Earth’s atmosphere, Jaxa said. If the sample itself is able to be collected before it…

INDIA Farmers’ plan if demands not met NEW DELHI: Even as the fifth round of talks between the farmers leaders and the central government is still going on, farmers at the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh Ghazipur border vowed to celebrate Republic Day there on January 26 if the government does not accept their demand to repeal the three agri laws and guarantee the minimum support price. Yoginder Singh, a farmer from Bulandshahr in UP, who has been protesting for the last eight days said, “My son Oawan is set to get married tomorrow on December 6. And I am here and will not go home to attend the ceremony as this protest is meant for our future.” He will stay in Delhi if the government does not accept the demands of the…

MUSIC Boy band fans surprise Swartland charity in WP AMBER COURT WHEN a member of the South Korean boy band BTS celebrated his birthday on Friday, a small organisation in the Swartland in the Western Cape had much to celebrate, too. BTS fans, known as the Army, made a donation to the Swartland community organisation Goedgedacht Trust in honour of vocalist Seokjin Kim’s birthday on Friday, December 4. Global fan base One In An Army (OIAA) do good deeds to spread the boy band’s message of collective power for good. The network makes micro-donations every month. Goedgedacht Trust was established in 1993 to help the poor. The campaign #BElongwithJin started on November 30 with the slogan “Supporting children to break out of generational poverty” and R303437 was raised on the…

EXPRESSIONS Visual artist inspired by the greatness of women in the world Sometimes an artist’s creative journey takes them down many avenues and detours, but Chepape Makgato has always had the unheard voices of women guiding him on his path, writes Sipho Mabaso VISUAL artist Chepape Makgato is inspired by the greatness of women in the world. It is a journey. One destiny is yet another genesis of the next expedition toward higher accomplishment. Visual artist, Khehla Chapape Makgato, 32, since the first in 2013 of his 11 solo exhibitions, the latest concluded last month, set forth on an odyssey of 11 chapters in the milieu of creative achievement. While he was a start-out artist in his early days in the mid-2000s, the Joburg-born and Limpopo-raised Makgato staged his initial…

Take care of rent blues at the collective GIVEN MAJOLA A FOURTY year old Pietermaritzburg businesswoman has targetted the missing link in the country’s residential property markets. Wendy Dlomo-Nwankwo founded The Living Collective (TLC) in 2018 to address the problems that many South Africans face in the property market where they either earn too much or low to qualify for government subsidies. Dlomo-Nwankwo says their housing model offer a full service self-catering accommodation rental company to guests with an option of short-stay of less than 12 months or long-term accommodation. She says TLC offers both furnished or unfurnished apartments and boasts the added value of an in-house car rental service. Dlommo-Nwankwo says the business started out of their own experience after they needed temporary accommodation while waiting for their house…

INJURY TIME STUART HESS stuart.hess@inl.co.za DUE PROCESS It was inevitable that those that once ran Cricket South Africa would not go quietly. When you can have that much fun with the company credit card at Cubana and the Saint Champagne Bar then it’s likely you’ll not take too kindly to being tossed out. And so the nitpicking begins, and unsurprisingly, given how CSA flipped from being an organisation less inclined to worry about cricket (other than spending the money on the company credit card that cricket had made) and more about legalities. So stories emerge about a lack of due process and improper conduct from the interim board. The clean up at Cricket SA will be a long and drawn out process unfortunately, and those that enjoyed so many hours…

RUGBY Bulls made to sweat by gutsy Cheetahs ASHFAK MOHAMED THE Cheetahs were typically gutsy, but the Bulls’ class shone through in the second half to ground down their opponents and claim a well deserved 40-13 Currie Cup triumph at Loftus Versfeld yesterday. It was sweet revenge for Jake White’s side, who had gone down 19-17 in Super Rugby Unlocked in Bloemfontein a few months ago. But they were made to work much harder than may have been expected, considering the depleted Cheetahs side that coach Hawies Fourie had to field after a number of players moved to Europe and the Bulls recently. The Free Staters got stuck into their more illustrious opponents, and troubled the Bulls scrum in particular. Loosehead prop Boan Venter won a few penalties against Marcel…

RUGBY Untidy but full points to the Lions MORGAN BOLTON Xerox Lions (6) 22 Try: Pienaar; Conversion: Swanepoel; Penalties: Swanepoel (5) Western Province (9) 19 Try: Senatla; Conversion: Swiel; Penalties: Swiel (4) THE Xerox Lions played to the last moment, to the last minute and to the last man to secure an important victory against the Western Province at Emirates Airline Park yesterday. Forget an under-par first half, a thrilling end made it all worth it for coach Ivan van Rooyen, captain Elton Jantjies and his charges, and the four points snatched by a Tiaan Swanepoel penalty in the 80th minute will foster much belief in the side. Despite heavy rain the morning before the encounter, bad conditions could not account for the poorness of the first half, with both…

DISPUTE Road Accident Fund unable to cough up MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA THE Road Accident Fund (RAF) is saddled with about 45000 claims that await settlement for a period that ranged between five and 10 years as at last October. The cash-strapped RAF will now need a whopping R49.9 billion to settle all the outstanding claims. This is according to Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula who was responding in writing to parliamentary questions from EFF MP Nontando Nolutshungu. Nolutshungu asked Mbalula how many road accident claims lodged with the RAF had been awaiting settlement for five to 10 years. She also asked when the outstanding claims finally would be settled and what total amount it would take to settle all the claims. In his written response, Mbalula said the total number of road…

MEMOIR Moseneke blasts 12-year delay ‘This was by no means a difficult issue to decide’ says former deputy chief justice LOYISO SIDIMBA loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za RETIRED Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke has described the 12-year delay in dealing with the complaint against Western Cape High Court Judge President John Hlophe as unacceptable. In his recently published judicial memoir, All Rise, Moseneke writes that all the complainant judges but Justice Chris Jafta, had either died or retired. “Whatever the reasons might be for this prolonged delay of deciding the complaint, this is unacceptable,” Moseneke writes. The former Robben Island political prisoner continues: “And yet in the 12 years since the complaint, no less than 14 cases related to our original complaints we decided.” According to Moseneke, the ferocious court battles were about everything…

CORRUPTION NPA is not ready for trial – Zuma’s son SAMKELO MTSHALI AS former president Jacob Zuma heads back to the Pietermaritzburg High Court for his corruption case on Tuesday, his son Edward Zuma has slammed the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) saying it was wasting their time as it has never been prepared for the trial. Zuma’s legal battle is set to continue when he returns to the court for his long drawn out trial, related to the multibillion-rand arms deal of the late 1990s, which has spanned close to two decades. Edward Zuma did not mince his words yesterday when speaking of the NPA’s state of readiness to proceed with the case. “We are clear, we will adhere to what the law says because Zuma was told to appear…

POLITICS Another damaging DA fight SAMKELO MTSHALI AND NATHAN CRAIG THE battle lines have been drawn between DA leader John Steenhuisen and the party’s now former spokesperson on communications and digital technologies Phumzile van Damme after the party’s leader gave Van Damme a sabbatical against her wishes. Steenhuisen said the sabbatical that Van Damme was being sent on was as a result of her health, although this coincidentally comes as Steenhuisen has reshuffled his party’s shadow cabinet and replaced Van Damme as spokesperson on communications with Zakhele Mbhele. But Steenhuisen, who was on a campaign trail in Durban yesterday, defended his decision to axe Van Damme and put her on a sabbatical. He said the decision was not made with malice, and only with her health as a priority. “It…

BELIEFS Sidelined: spiritual healers’ outcry Prevented by security from meditating at Klipriviersberg Reserve LESEGO MAKGATHO lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za WHEN traditional healer Kgora Mataboge made his way up to the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve in Joburg on Thursday morning, he wanted to spend time in the tranquillity of the hilltop to pray and meditate. Little did he know that he would be turned away by the security guards at the gate. “I practise as a traditional healer and in my practising I am forever connected with nature. I was assisting a troubled young lady in prayer at the Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve on Thursday morning. We walked to the top of the mountain, and as I began praying for her, the security guards told us we had to leave as the park is only for…

ABUSE Woman alleges boss abused her DON MAKATILE don.makatile@inl.co.za A 40-YEAR-old departmental co-ordinator at the head office of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) who has laid charges of sexual harassment and assault against her senior, fears the matter is being dragged, so that, the man can eventually get off scot-free and go on pension. Zandile Ntuli* took up employment at Sassa in September 2012 – without incident – and four years later when she started reporting to Sonwabo Koliti, 59, she says problems started. In an affidavit, Ntuli says: “Barely three weeks after I started working under Mr Koliti, he started touching my bums when I am in (sic) his office”. “I had always told him to stop, but he would intimidate me and continue to harass me.”…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA RETAIL BOUNCES BACK Extreme poverty anywhere is a threat to human security everywhere.KOFI ANNANSeventh Secretary-General of the United Nations RETAIL trade in South Africa bounced back in the fourth quarter after crashing to a 29-year low during the hard lockdown in the second quarter. The Bureau for Economic Research (BER) said that retailer confidence soared remarkably from what seemed to be an upbeat 36 points in the third quarter to 50 points in the fourth quarter. | IOL…

EDITORIAL Covid-19: make-or-break time THE further restrictions imposed on the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality in the Eastern Cape are a harbinger of what lies in store for the rest of the country if our behaviour remains unchanged towards Covid-19. We seem to have let our guard down at a crucial time in our social calendar with many industries preparing for year-end shutdowns, school closures, families putting final touches on their travel plans, weddings and other ceremonies. From President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address, it’s clear that the numbers are rising again and we all need to be cautious, coming as we do, from strict lockdowns that resulted in business closures, job losses and salary cuts. We have lost around 22000 lives, and we need to ensure that we protect as many people…

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. Ramaphosa, the smooth talker I AM truly ashamed to say that of all the presidents of the ANC since 1994, Cyril Ramaphosa is so far, proving to be, the smoothest talker and the worst performer. US president Trump, despite all the ridicule heaped on him and the ignorance of any of his achievements, still trumps Ramaphosa hands-down regarding fulfilling his promises. Not only was Ramaphosa the deputy to president Jacob Zuma, but he was also parachuted to the presidency even before being democratically elected. So he has had ample time to execute all his plans, in light of the promises he made to the voters before being elected as…

RUSSIA Moscow starts mass vaccinations MOSCOW began distributing the Sputnik V Covid-19 shot at 70 clinics yesterday, marking Russia’s first mass vaccination against the disease, the city’s coronavirus task force said. The task force said the Russian-made vaccine would first be made available to doctors and other medical workers, teachers and social workers because they ran the highest risk of exposure to the disease. “You are working at an educational institution and have top-priority for the Covid-19 vaccine, free of charge,” read a phone text message received by one Muscovite, an elementary school teacher, yesterday and seen by Reuters. Moscow, the epicentre of Russia’s coronavirus outbreak, registered 7993 new cases overnight, up from 6868 a day before and well above the daily tallies of around 700 seen in early September.…

SOMALIA Dismay over withdrawal of US troops PRESIDENT Donald Trump's decision to pull US troops out of Somalia in the waning days of his presidency triggered dismay yesterday from some Somalis, who appealed to the incoming US president to reverse the decision. “The US decision to pull troops out of Somalia at this critical stage in the successful fight against al-Shabaab and their global terrorist network is extremely regrettable," Senator Ayub Ismail Yusuf told Reuters in a statement, referring to the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab insurgency. “US troops have made a huge contribution and had great impact on the training and operational effectiveness of Somali soldiers,” said Yusuf, a member of Somalia's Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. He tagged US President-elect Joe Biden in a tweet criticising the decision. The Somali…

HARASSMENT Sex abuse survivors shunned BULELWA PAYI bulelwa.payi@inl.co.za A TOP South African film and TV director who has repeatedly been accused of sexual misconduct continues to work in the industry while the survivors of the abuse battle trauma. Several actors broke the silence surrounding sexual harassment, abuse and violations in the film and television industry in April 2018 – the first high-profile case in the country in the wake of the global #MeToo movement. At least six women came forward with sexual misconduct allegations against the director in 2018. Two of them accused him of rape. He denied all the allegations and instituted legal proceedings against one of his accusers. Speaking with a trembling voice this week, documentary maker Ingeborg Lichtenberg recounted the details of her experience which left her…

HEALTH Nurses now playing a bigger role than ever in fight against HIV JERRY JOHN NUTOR THE first cases of HIV were reported in 1981. Since then, nurses over the world have been at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic. They have stepped up to provide skilled care for those infected and affected by the virus. The World Health Organization marked 2020 as the year of the nurse and the midwife. As this challenging year comes to a close, it is imperative to reflect on the resilience and impact of nurses in the fight against the HIV epidemic. An inspirational documentary film, 5B, testifies to the compassionate, committed responses of a nurse-led community in the early days of the HIV pandemic. In the film, nurses and other health-care providers…

to Moves solve SAA woes ’s of workers unpaid DINEO FAKU dineo.faku@inl.co.za THE DEPARTMENT of Public Enterprises (DPE) on Friday said it was working with stakeholders to find solutions for national carrier SAA as agitated employees who have not been paid in eight months demanded salaries. The department said that it was sympathetic to the worker’s plight and called on them to be patient adding the government believed the key to solving the difficulties facing the beleaguered national carrier was the finalisation of the business “That is why the department is working with Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) to find the best restructuring solutions for the airlines, including payment of salaries. Any updates of the finalisation of the BRP process will be communicated as and when details are available,”said the DPE.…

BIZ 101 Keeping fingers firmly on the pulse of absenteeism BEN BIERMAN AN UNFORTUNATE commercial by-product of Covid-19 is a marked increase in absenteeism in employee’s absence from the workplace. While completely understandable, the impact small businesses can still be detrimental, given that many employ less than ten employees. Small businesses are key to South Africa’s economic recovery and it is vital that their owners get a grip on challenges like absenteeism before it spirals out of control. After all, each employee is likely to play a major role in a relatively small team, hence the continued absence can have a significant effect on productivity. Here are some helpful tips to mitigate against it: Policies The most efficient way to handle absenteeism is by developing,implementing and enforcing strict policies and…

Celebs jumping on podcast bandwagon BUHLE MBONAMBI buhle.mbonambi@inl.co.za IT'S RAINING podcasts! It seems like Oprah Winfrey gathered many celebrities and announced: “You get a podcast! You get a podcast! Everybody gets a podcast!” It's a great idea, especially since the podcasts see celebrities interview other celebrities and you know when that happens, it means secrets will be revealed, right? We have put celeb podcasts into categories of why they might be of interest to you. You can listen to any of these on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple or Google Podcasts. FOR THE CELEBRITY FOODIE Table Manners by Jessie Ware and Lennie Ware This is possibly my find of the lockdown. Pop star Jessie and her mother Lennie host Table Manners, where they interview newsmakers about all sorts of things,…

RUGBY Hodge missing in action as Aussies draw with Pumas AUSTRALIA and Argentina drew on Saturday for the second time in two Tri-Nations tests, finishing deadlocked at 16-16 after Wallabies fullback Reece Hodge missed a potential match-winning penalty for the third time this season. As he did in the 15-15 draw between the sides earlier in the competition, Hodge sent his kick wide to deprive Australia of what would have been a remarkable comeback victory after losing replacement Lukhan Salakaia-Loto to a red card on the hour mark. A hard-fought battle played out on a rain-sodden pitch featured three yellow cards as well as the red with Australia's attempts to convert territorial dominance into points foundering on the steel curtain of the Pumas defence. With neither side able to secure…

SOCCER Pirates fail to sail past stubborn Leeuwenburgh HERMAN GIBBS RYAN WILKISKY BackpagePix LADY Luck smiled on hosts Cape Town City who held productive Orlando Pirates to a 2-all draw in their DStv Premiership match at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch yesterday afternoon. The result means that Pirates will retain their unbeaten record in the Premiership after six matches and will remain in third place on the standings. City find themselves in fourth position. The intense Winelands heat did little to deter the players from playing at pace for most of the first half which turned out to be an absorbing affair which yielded three well-taken goals. Hosts City held a 2-1 halftime lead, very much against the run after their Dutch-born keeper Peter Leeuwenburgh single-handedly denied Pirates at least…

ETHICS PSC boss guilty of nepotism MZILIKAZI WA AFRIKA IT IS the end of the road for disgraced Public Service Commission (PSC) director-general Dr Dovhani Mamphiswana, who appointed his mistress as a chief director for professional ethics. On Tuesday, retired judge Cynthia Pretorius, who chaired a disciplinary hearing into allegations of nepotism against Mamphiswana, recommended that President Cyril Ramaphosa fire Mamphiswana. The woman, who may not be named to protect the identity of their child, was appointed to the position of chief director for professional ethics in the PSC on December 1, 2019, earning R1.3 million a year. Pretorius found Mamphiswana guilty on all charges which included failure to disclose a relationship, alternatively a conflict of interest; failure to evaluate the position before it was advertised and nepotism. Pretorius’s report…

For the record ‘We never overcharged GEMS’ IN OUR story published in the Sunday Independent last week under the headline, “Plans afoot to charge Ace Magashule’s lawyer”, authored by Mzilikazi Wa Afrika, we reported that there were plans to charge Victor Nkhwashu after his law firm, Victor Nkhwashu Attorneys was allegedly paid double the R60000 retainer agreed upon by the Government Employees Pension Scheme (GEMS) in 2016. We further reported that Nkhwashu’s firm was also accused of invoicing the scheme another R292078.40 “without any specified hours worked and hourly rate”. Nkhwashu has complained that he was not afforded the right of reply because his answers, which were sent after our publishing deadline on Saturday night, were not included in the article. He also demanded that we retract the story in…

MASTERCLASS ‘The only way to have money is to keep the money’ ROLAND MPOFU “I NOW know my weaknesses. I know that it is better for me to have someone I trust helping to grow my money and invest it. You need people who can do that, and I am just not that person,” says iconic South African rapper and songwriter, Kwesta. Kwesta, whose real name is Senzo Vilakazi, was speaking during the Old Mutual-sponsored AMPD Masterclass series in which entertainment personalities discussed their careers, their dealings with money, and the lessons they have learned. The Katlehong township-born star shared insights into how to build a sustainable career and the role that responsible spending plays in setting you up for success in the music business. “I have tried investing many…

VIOLENCE Palesa Madiba’s family finds closure after loss LESEGO MAKGATHO lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za THE family of Palesa Madiba sighed with relief when the South Gauteng High Court convicted Dumisani Mkhwanazi for the August 2013 murder of the University of Johannesburg student who disappeared after spending a weekend at his home in Phiri, Soweto. Madiba who was a final-year accounting student visited Mkhwanazi's niece, Tshidi for a sleepover. Her body was found in a shallow grave in December 2015, after a neighbour saw a hand protruding from the ground. On Friday, shortly after Judge Prince Manyathi found Mkhwanazi guilty of Madiba’s murder, the court erupted into cheers. Outside court, Madiba’s mother Khosi Kgalisitwe could not contain her excitement. She joined the family members who sang religious songs, thanking God after Mkhwanazi was convicted.…

BRICS The biggest threat faced is poverty THEMBA MONARE JACQUES NAUDE African News Agency (ANA) AT THE 12th BRICS Summit on November 17 this year, India’s prime minister Narendra Modi pointed that in his view and that of his populous country, the biggest threat faced by the world today is terrorism. The summit, sometimes referred to as the 2020 BRICS Summit, was held virtually and chaired by the Russian president Vladimir Putin, whom Modi thanked graciously for Moscow’s assistance to BRICS’ counter-terrorism strategy. Now, Modi is a leader who has exhibited a desire and commitment to the success of BRICS, an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. His contribution to the thought leadership of BRICS as a bloc of influential regional powerhouses is immense. However, despite my…

POLITICS Gordhan-Mkokeli fallout a lesson MOLIFI TSHABALALA African News Agency (ANA) AS PREDICTED by Mark Gevisser in Thabo Mbeki: the Dream Deferred, a biography of former South African president Thabo Mbeki, Cyril Ramaphosa’s presidential campaign had been “aggressively promoted through a fawning media [sic]”. According to shared WhatsApp screenshots, Tasneem Carrim, a chief director at the Government Communication Information System (GCIS) who is responsible for policy and media analysis and research, created a Whatsapp media group named Thuma Mina (‘Send Me’) on October 31, 2017, just over two months before the 54th ANC National Conference, where Ramaphosa defeated Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma for an ANC presidency. Carrim has served in the Presidency under Nelson Mandela as communication researcher. During Mbeki’s first term, she served as deputy director media liaison. Before joining GCIS…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA ANC’S ‘STEP ASIDE’ RULING MUST ADHERE TO THE RULE OF LAW In matters of truth and justice, there is no difference between large and small problems, for issues concerning the treatment of people are all the same.ALBERT EINSTEINGerman-born theoretical physicist If the rule of law is to mean anything in the functioning of the Integrity Commission, it cannot be used as a backdoor to provide evidence to the NPA under the guise of examining integrity of its members. says a concerned member of the ANC in a letter. See https://bit.ly/ANCLetter…

UNITED KINGDOM Johnson seeks talks over stalled Brexit deal BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson planned to speak to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen yesterday to try to break an impasse in trade talks with time running out before Britain completes its departure from the bloc. British and EU negotiators paused trade talks on Friday to call in their leaders to try to narrow gaps and get an agreement after a week of negotiations failed to bridge “significant divergences” between the two sides. Britain left the EU on January 31 but rules governing trade, travel and business have remained unchanged during a transition period which ends on December 31, when a new relationship will be established – with or without a deal. “We keep calm, as always, and if…

Cruise ‘wants to shoot scenes in space’ LOS ANGELES: Tom Cruise, is eager to become the first Hollywood star to film a scene in space. The 58-year-old actor is reportedly exploring the possibility of shooting a scene beyond Earth’s atmosphere as part of the final two instalments of the Mission: Impossible franchise, and he is said to be willing to spend eye-watering amounts of money to achieve his ambition. A source told The Sun newspaper: “Tom is well-known for doing his own stunts and the Mission films have had some of the biggest and most elaborate movie moments ever shot. “He’s keen to push things further than anybody has ever done before – and, obviously, the big unknown is can you actually film in space. He’s pretty certain he can…

PAKISTAN Corrupt officials to be axed PAKISTAN Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that his government was introducing a new system of “reward and punishment” under which civil servants would not be transferred but sacked if found involved in corruption and irregularities. “We will not transfer a corrupt bureaucrat but will sack him,” Dawn news quoted Khan as saying on Friday said while addressing a ceremony held on completion of two years of Pakistan Citizen Portal at the Prime Minister House. The Prime Minister lauded Pakistan Citizen Portal for entertaining three million complaints in two years, urging people to use the forum for their empowerment as well as to hold officers accountable. “As a Prime minister, it is also easy for me to know which minister or department is working…

HEALTH Overcoming stigma of Aids Young South Africans share their journey of living with HIV in a book LESEGO MAKGATHO lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za NICOLAS Marks has been living with HIV for 14 years. The 25-year-old’s world was turned upside down when he started experiencing excessive diarrhoea. He was only 11 years old at the time. He was left in the care of his grandmother after his mother died of HIV in 2004 when he was only 9 years old. His excruciatingly long journey began when his grandmother decided to take him to a local clinic where he was tested for HIV. This changed his life forever. Because of his age, the nurses did not disclose his status to him. “She just told me I need to stick to my medication and the…

AFRICA THIS WEEK UN EFFORT TO DESTROY KAGAME’S NAME VICTOR KGOMOESWANA @VictorAfrica “IF the UN, government officials, the international media and other observers had paid more attention to the gathering signs of disaster, and taken timely action, it might have been averted.” Former Head of Peacekeeping Operations at the UN, Koffi Anan, speaking as UN Secretary-General on March 26, 2004, said this at the Memorial Conference on the Rwanda Genocide in New York. He was scathing and self-critical for having missed the warnings. He particularly said that the international community had failed Rwanda, “and that must leave us always with a sense of bitter regret and abiding sorrow”. He regretted not having “acted promptly and with determination” to stop the killing, but “the political will was not there, nor were…

REAL NUMBERS Tribute to a gracious queen PALI LEHOHLA MY EARLY days in Bophuthatswana in 1982 were dedicated to understanding the statistics office and desktop analysis of reports and methods, particularly focusing on the census reports. I was assigned to implementing a census in 1985. The system, given its rural populace, was largely run on chieftaincy. I spent time with Khosi Montshiwa in Mahikeng, Moiloloa in Linokana, Zibi in Khayakhulu, Mankuroane in and Mabe in Mabeskraal. But I first I visited Khosi Molotlegi of the Bafokeng in Phokeng. The territory of the Bakgatla is well endowed with mining resources. A classical place capturing this is Sifikile north of Saulspoort next to Sun City. This is a place dominated by Xhosa women from the Eastern Cape who came there to claim…

TV HIGHLIGHTS THE ESSENTIALS Sunday at 7.30pm on SABC 3 (DStv 193) The brand-new documentary follows the lockdown experiences of ordinary South Africans. The coronavirus pandemic has had devastating effects on humanity across the globe. Follow film-maker Dirk Smit's journey as he discovers glimmers of hope, creativity and resilience in South African people. THE UNDOING Mondays at 9.30pm on M-Net (DStv 101) & Showmax The six-part limited series follows Grace (Nicole Kidman) and Jonathan Fraser (Hugh Grant) who are living the only lives they wanted for themselves. Overnight, a chasm opens in their lives: a violent death and a chain of terrible revelations.…

STARS Aries (March 21 - April 20) Steady as she goes, Aries. You’re sailing into a week that requires tact and patience. For one thing, pushy behaviour won’t open doors as effectively as a courteous request. At worst, beg to differ and walk away with your integrity intact. Your absence will ensure that you won’t be taken for granted again. Taurus (April 21 - May 20) Networking is an excellent way to share your talents, and this week you might find yourself in the right place at the right time. Similarly, it’s knowledge that creates success, so impress others with your intellect. If love’s on your mind, it shouldn’t be too difficult to deliver a knockout sales pitch. After all, it’s a commodity you believe in. Gemini (May 21 -…

MOTORSPORT Verstappen denies Mercedes practice clean sweep MAX Verstappen set the pace for Red Bull yesterrday to deny Mercedes a clean sweep of Formula One practice for the Sakhir Grand Prix. The Dutchman lapped the shorter 3.5km outer layout of the floodlit Bahrain International Circuit in 54.064 seconds to go 0.206 seconds clear of Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas. The Finn appeared to have reasserted his authority as the lead driver at Mercedes after Lewis Hamilton's stand-in George Russell stole the spotlight by setting the fastest time in both practice sessions on Friday. The 22-year-old Briton, a substitute for Hamilton after the seven-times world champion tested positive for Covid-19, was only seventh in yesterday’s final hour of practice, 0.6 seconds off Verstappen’s time. The Sakhir Grand Prix is the first time Hamilton,…

TV GUIDE SUNDAY DECEMBER 6 Boxing World Welterweight Championship: Errol Spence Jr. v Danny Garcia (12 Rounds), 4am, VR1, SSM, GSD Cricket: ODI Series: South Africa v England, Second ODI, 9.30am, CRI; ANZ Bank Test Series: New Zealand v West Indies, First Test, Day 5, 11.30pm, CRI; Twenty20 International: Australia v India, Second T20, 10am, VR1 Golf Sunshine Tour: South African Open, Day 4, 12 noon, GOL; PGA Tour: Mayakoba Golf Classic, Day 4, 8pm, GOL; LPGA Tour: Volunteers of America Classic, Day 4, 8pm, VR1 Motorsport FIA Formula 2 Championship, Round 12: Race 2, 2.50pm, MSP; Formula 1: Sunday Grand Prix, Sakir, 5.30pm, MSP; Grand Prix, Main Race, 7.05pm, SSM, MSP; Chequered Flag, Sakir, 9pm, MSP; The Notebook, Sakir, 10pm, MSP Rugby Autumn Nations Cup: England v TBC, 3.50pm,…

CRICKET Heat on Proteas to take fight to England juggernaut ZAAHIER ADAMS MUZI NTOMBELA BackpagePix AFTER a tension-filled last couple of days South Africa and England will look to restart the One-Day International series in Paarl today. THERE were genuine concerns that the series would be cancelled altogether after a third South African player tested positive for Covid-19 this week, causing the first scheduled ODI at Newlands on Friday to be postponed. However, after a tense wait for the results of further testing done on the Proteas, the series can now commence after they were all recorded as negative. Somehow, the Proteas will need to put yet another sideshow to one side, and attempt to focus on finding a way to beat this juggernaut England white-ball outfit. It will certainly…