Innholdsfortegnelse for Sunday, December 20, 2020 i Sunday Independent

CONSPIRACY Hoffman denies targeting Mkhwebane Public Protector says advocate’s letter to the president is part of a campaign to remove her MANYANE MANYANE manyane.manyane@inl.co.za THE man who laid criminal charges of perjury against Public Protector (PP) Busisiwe Mkhwebane and subsequently wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa asking him to suspend her, has denied that he is furthering a political agenda against her. Advocate Paul Hoffman, who has a history of laying complaints against Mkhwebane, has also poured cold water on suggestions that he implored the president to push out Mkhwebane as a pre-emptive strike aimed at paving the way for her removal by Parliament, which is scheduled to hold an inquiry into her fitness for office in the new year. This came as Mkhwebane confirmed on Friday that she would co-operate…

ESCAPE No charges for ex-Hawks top cop LOYISO SIDIMBA A FORMER Hawks boss appears to be off the hook after attempting to prevent the arrest of rape and human trafficking accused Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso and escorting him using police blue lights. Retired KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Major-General Jabulani Zikhali was reported to Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) Judge Frans Diale Kgomo by the team investigating Omotoso. Zikhali who apparently refers to Omotoso as “daddy”, is accused of placing a number of obstacles in the way, which initially prevented his arrest. Omotoso was eventually nabbed in April 2017 at the Port Elizabeth International Airport and remains behind bars despite Zikhali’s efforts. According to evidence submitted to Judge Kgomo, Zikhali is a member of the Omotoso’s Jesus Dominion International Church. Although…

MATRIC Integrity of 2020 certificates in question MANYANE MANYANE manyane.manyane@inl.co.za THE integrity of this year’s matric certificates remains questionable and will have a negative impact in the future of many matriculants, according to the experts. This follows the leaking of maths paper 2 and physical science paper 2 question papers that led to Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga demanding that both papers be rewritten last week. However, the North Gauteng High Court ruled that Motshekga’s decision was unlawful and should be reviewed and set aside. Professor Felix Maringe said this year’s matriculants will carry the burden of stigma which might not bode well for the futures of the class of 2020. “The court misdirected itself in this ruling. They were driven towards a popular rather than an integrity decision.…

JUSTICE Judge spearheads bid for meaningful oversight of prisons EDWIN NAIDU WHAT happens behind bars shall no longer remain behind bars! That is the mantra from Judge Edwin Cameron, Inspecting Judge at the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS), the oversight body for prisons in South Africa. Discussing the matter with the Wits Justice Project, Judge Cameron said prisons remained highly insulated spaces, functioning largely beyond the public eye. “It is precisely this that makes effective oversight crucial. However, an oversight body that does not have the power to make binding recommendations cannot, in my opinion, offer a meaningful challenge to authoritarianism,” he said. “No prison can operate without effective authority, which may sometimes demand a measure of authoritarianism,” the judge said. But the root of the problem, he said,…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA STEINHOFF INVESTMENTS SHOW A FULL-YEAR LOSS On average, drug prisoners spend more time in federal prison than rapists, who often get out on early release because of the overcrowding in prison caused by the Drug War.MICHAEL BADNARIKAmerican software engineer Steinhoff Investment Holdings, on Friday swung into a full-year loss of R13.68 billion for the year to end September, negatively impacted by impairments and Covid-19 outbreak in its operations. The group reversed a profit of R3.94bn it reported last year. | IOL…

ENTERTAINMENT Musicians hit hard by Covid-19 AMANDA MALIBA THE Covid-19 pandemic has not only threatened millions of lives globally, many people also lost their income. However, the entertainment industry is among those that are hit the hardest by the pandemic. So dire was the situation that in September, frustrated musicians in KwaZulu-Natal embarked on a protest. They were calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to ease the lockdown regulations and allow them to perform. This week the artists shared their money journeys during lockdown. For Kelly Khumalo the biggest lesson for 2020 is the importance of saving money and cutting down on spending on things that you don’t need: “I think 2020 was all about prioritising necessities and compromising. “As a business, we had to restructure altogether and review how we…

EDITORIAL Stay safe, here’s to a better 2021 THE Covid-19 pandemic has upended lives, robbed us of loved ones, shuttered businesses, disrupted education, and led to widespread unemployment. We are in the midst of a second wave and numbers continue to rise unabated. Images and videos continue to circulate, showing South Africans failing to adhere to social distancing and flouting masks rules. Traditional holiday hot spots have seen a rise in infections and Christmas just won’t be the same for many around the country this year. Talk of vaccines provides hope but it has also led to fierce debate, some rational, some downright perplexing. While South Africa, along with the rest of the world, comes to terms with this outbreak, we have also seen allegations of widespread personal protective equipment…

PANDEMIC New virus strain ‘spreading rapid ly’ CHIEF Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty yesterday called on the nation to remain vigilant as a recently discovered variant of coronavirus was rapidly spreading. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced yesterday that London and southeast England would be placed into a new higher tier of Covid-19 restrictions because of the spread of a more infectious variant of the virus. On Monday, UK Secretary of State for Health and Social care Matt Hancock announced the discovery of the new strain of the disease, which was reported in roughly 1000 individuals in southern England. “As a result of the rapid spread of the new variant, preliminary modelling data and rapidly rising incidence rates in the South East, the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats…

CAR Hundreds of vulnerable migrant maids flown home as many more wait HUNDREDS of Lebanon’s most vulnerable migrant maids have been repatriated with funds raised by local charities, but thousands more remain stuck and destitute due to a deep economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic, according to campaigners. Their top priority has been aiding women with health problems or young children and those who have lost jobs and accommodation during the crisis, which has worsened the plight of workers trapped in a system long compared to modern slavery. “They have medical issues, some of them have kids, some of them are pregnant, some of them face domestic violence and want to get out of the country,” said Banchi Yimer, founder of Egna Legna Besidet workers’ group. Community-raised funds have mostly…

Somalia blast death toll climbs to 17 MOSCOW: The number of people killed in a suicide bombing in the city of Galkayo in Somalia has grown to 17, Somalian news outlet Garowe Online reported. The explosion took place on Friday at a stadium in Galkayo where numerous people gathered to hear an address by Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble. According to the report, the 17 casualties included two senior military officials – General Abdiaziz Abdullahi Qoje, the commander of the Somalian army’s 21st Division, and Major Mukhtaar Abdi Aden, commander of the Danab Special Forces’ 10th Brigade. Abdi Aden was reportedly a key figure behind the army operations against al-Shabaab militants in central Somalia. The news portal said the perpetrator of the Galkayo attack was an al-Shabaab affiliate Sputnik…

Spaniards bet on Christmas lottery MADRID: Hundreds of people queued for two-and-a-half hours in Madrid yesterday to buy Christmas lottery tickets at a vendor considered the luckiest in Spain. Security guards ensured people respected social-distancing rules in the long queue outside Dona Manolita, a central Madrid kiosk that has been selling lottery tickets for more than 100 years. It last struck lucky last year. Spain’s Christmas lottery, known as El Gordo (the Fat One), dates back to 1812 and is a major event in the festive calendar. The rules allow for the same number to be sold multiple times, leading to the winning ticket often being sold across several different towns or cities. This year, the popular tradition is bringing some much-needed hope to many Spaniards, who have endured some…

REAL NUMBERS SA at a crossroads PALI LEHOHLA PROCEED as though nothing has happened and endure an unsatisfactory pre-corona state. Take a turn left and fall into a worse position. Take a turn to the right and undertake a crucifying journey towards social and economic redemption. Cas Coovadia of Business Unity South Africa prefers to call it a T-Junction. He thereby reduces the options to only a right or wrong turn. What this article is about is to take a slice on the recovery plan and immerse the critique on demographic determinism. I take a leaf out of China’s experience. In 2013 I was part of a global team invited to China. Up for consideration was what were the economic implications on the population of China as evidenced from Census…

3 THINGS TO WATCH THIS WEEK TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22 Truth About Cosmetic Treatments: BBC Earth at 7pm Never before have women – and men – spent more on cosmetic treatments. Science has advanced so that knife-free “tweakments” are available at a fraction of the cost of traditional surgery. This film unearths the modern reality of self-enhancement. MONDAY, DECEMBER 21 Father Brown Christmas Special S6: BBC Brit at 8pm It’s December, and Father Brown, Mrs McCarthy and Bunty are visited by an old friend as they make mince pies and decorate the presbytery. Sid has returned for Christmas, bearing gifts from Lady Felicia. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22 Manhunt: Deadly Games S2: M-Net at 9.30pm The miniseries based on a crime drama on real events, sees security guard Richard Jewell save hundreds of…

STARS TANYA OBREzA Aries (March 21 - April 20) You’re blessed with a fabulous festive season. Work duties don’t disappear, but this week they’re mixed with plenty of time to mingle. Many zodiac neighbours are still struggling with money but, mostly, you’re spared this. Quite rightly, too. You’ve been through enough financial hardship during what’s been a very difficult year. Taurus (April 21 - May 20) Many Taureans have been craving some time out – to leave work out of sight, and mind. Finally, the cosmos grants you permission to do just that. Even if it’s just for this final festive fortnight, see to your own wish list. Go ahead, Taurus – gather together all your friends and family and simply, play. Gemini (May 21 - June 21) Work goes…

tv guide SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER Boxing: WBC Bantamweight Title: Nonito Donaire v Emmanuel Rodriguez (12 Rounds), 4am, SSM, VR1, GSD (5pm); IBF World Flyweight Title: Moruti Mthalane v Jayson Mama (12 Rounds), 2pm, ACT Cricket: ANZ Bank Twenty20 International: New Zealand v Pakistan, Second T20, 7.30am, ACT; Big Bash Twenty20: Sydney Sixers v Adelaide Strikers, 2.05am, CRI; Test Series: Australia v India, First Test, Day 4, 5.50am, CRI Cycling: UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup, Women Elite, Belgium, 2.30pm, VR1; UCI Cyclo-Cross World Cup, Men Elite, Belgium, 3.55pm, VR1 Golf: LPGA Tour: CME Group Tour Championship, Day 4, 7pm, GOL Rugby: Heineken Champions Cup: Harlequins v Racing 92, 2.55pm, RUG; The Final Whistle, 6pm, RUG Soccer: Premier League: Brighton & Hove Albion v Sheffield United, 1pm, EPL, SSM (1.45pm); Tottenham v Leicester…

PREMIER LEAGUE Reds paint Palace red in massacre LIVERPOOL are set to kick on over the festive period according to captain Jordan Henderson after their best performance of the season in a 7-0 demolition of Crystal Palace yesterday. Henderson was among the scorers as the Reds netted seven goals from eight shots on target to secure an away top-flight win by that margin for the first time in their history. Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah each netted twice in a scoring masterclass as the visitors embarassed Palace to record their first away win in the Premier League since September. It was their biggest league victory since they hammered Palace 9-0 at Anfield in 1989 when they won the old top-flight First Division title. On Wednesday, Liverpool moved top of the…

SOCCER Jose cooks up storm over possession statistics TOTTENHAM Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho has brushed off criticism of his side's conservative playing style in the aftermath of Wednesday's 2-1 defeat by Liverpool, saying there is too much emphasis on meaningless possession statistics. Spurs had just 24% of the ball and 19 passes in the final third compared to Liverpool's 200 but Mourinho insisted the better team had lost after a 90th-minute header from Roberto Firmino denied the north London club a hard-fought point. "I like everything in football," Mourinho said ahead of today's Premier League game at home to Leicester City. "I like organised attack, I like football with more transitions, I like to defend with a high block or with a low block. "The media love the word possession…

CRIME Lawmakers debate the death penalty EDWIN NAIDU SOUTH African lawmakers have no appetite to restore the death penalty, despite growing calls globally for the reinstatement of capital punishment, as a crime deterrent. According to joint Constitutional Review Committee Chairperson, Enock Mthethwa, this was not a straightforward matter, since no research had been conducted to prove that the death penalty was an effective deterrent that may curb crime rates. Mthethwa made the comment during a virtual meeting of the Review Committee comprised in the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces, which annually reviews the Constitution. The committee which met on November 27, 2020, was responding to a call from a member of the public Waseela Jardine, who asked the committee review section 11 of the Constitution in order to…

FRAUD SABC buys bulletproof vests for R1.2m LOYISO SIDIMBA THE SABC spent nearly R1.2 million on 100 bulletproof vests for its journalists and Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has defended the purchase as necessary. Ndabeni-Abrahams was responding to parliamentary questions from IFP MP Liezl van der Merwe, who asked why the vests were deemed necessary equipment for the SABC staff. “The signed business case was received by supply chain management on the 9 March 2018. This is a date on which vests were deemed necessary equipment for staff in the SABC news division,” Ndabeni-Abrahams responded. She said the vests are to be distributed equitably to news offices and not assigned to individual reporters. The 100 vests were of various sizes and cost between R9 300 and R11 000…

SA DESIGNER ON BRINK OF GLOBAL RECOGNITION Coetzee celebrates 10 years AMANDA MALIBA PRINCE BROWN THIS week Gert-Johan Coetzee celebrates his 10th anniversary as a designer with news that he is the designer of Grammy-winning rapper Cardi B’s outfit, she wore to her husband’s birthday party in Atlanta, US. Cardi B wore a beaded gown and corset on Tuesday. “This Cardi B collaboration, being an exclamation mark to round up the 10-year celebration, is really just the cherry on top. So we are really excited about that and seeing the brand grow,” said the excited designer. “The skirt is a mixture of African couture meets modern art. I love showcasing the beauty of the craftsmanship that Africa holds, mixing that with a bit of a modern twist by adding crystals…

IN THIS TIME OF COVID-19, GRIEVING HAS NEVER BEEN SUCH A SOLITARY JOURNEY, WRITES PROFESSOR TINYIKO MALULEKE Mourning my beloved sister IF AT ONE stage South African society was so obsessed with ways of dying, so that Zakes Mda made it the subject of one of his most captivating novels, we must now pause and ponder the emerging ways of mourning, instead. Behind the narrow lives-versus-livelihoods ideologies being peddled by governments the world over, the Covid-19 pandemic has been grooming us in new ways of coping with illness and the deaths of loved ones. For our generation at least, illness has never been this lonely. The dying have never felt this forsaken. Empathy and compassion have never been this impersonal. Grieving has never been such a solitary journey. Not since…

PRISONS More countries consider bringing back death penalty EDWIN NAIDU ARMAND HOUGH African News Agency (ANA) DESPITE a global move seeking alternatives to prison sentences, an increasing number of countries are calling for the reinstatement of capital punishment as a crime deterrent, according to the 2020 Global Prison Trends report. More than 20000 people are detained on death row worldwide, living in inhumane detention conditions and often following unfair trials, said the report, published by Penal Reform International (PRI) and the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ). The report said that while some initiatives have emerged in recent years to address the lack of comparative data on the number of people serving non-custodial sentences, as well as on their use by type of measure, more nations were considering bringing back the…

CHAOS Fear and loathing dogs sprawling De Paarl farm MADALA THEPA DE PAArl Communal Property Association (CPA) is a farm out there. Not far from lichtenburg, not close to Mafikeng either, in the North West province. The farm is on the r503, a transition road between rural areas and small towns. The land is a sprawling piece of geography accounting for 4582 hectares and large wedges of red soil with handsome yields – soya and sugar beans, sunflowers, nuts and maize and other commercial farming activities. A real high-end estate, it forms part of the maize triangle – in the same agricultural network as Mpumalanga and Free State provinces. This piece of land is shared between 37 household beneficiaries, based on socialist economics. The beneficiaries get dividends at…

PROTEST Less toyi-toying, more nation building in 2021 LETEPE MAISELA AYANDA NDAMANE African News Agency (ANA) FRIENDS and colleagues recently asked me what would be my ideal wish for the New Year, especially in the post-Covid19 era. My mind initially swam in a whirlpool of wishes that normally cloud the mind during the festive season period, while simultaneously trying to imagine what is going to happen in our world in its quest to revert to “normality” in the pre-coronavirus era. I wish for our economy to be briskly moving out of the Intensive Care Unit where it has been on a ventilator since the advent of the virus out of Wuhan, China that hit our shores early in March. I wish to hear the hoofs of galloping bulls on our Johannesburg…

RUSSIA US halts work at two consulates over Covid-19 safety issues THE US is halting work at two consulates in Russia, the State Department said, citing safety and security issues at the facilities where operations had been curtailed over Covid-19. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in consultation with Ambassador John Sullivan decided to close the consulate in Vladivostok in the far east and suspend operations at the consulate in Yekaterinburg, a State Department representative said in a statement emailed to Reuters yesterday. The decision, part of “efforts to ensure the safe and secure operation of the US diplomatic mission in the Russian Federation”, did not affect Russian consulates in the US, the statement said. The US embassy in Moscow said it had suspended operations at the Vladivostok consulate and rolled…

French modelling agent who knew Epstein under investigation PARIS: Jean-Luc Brunel, a long-time French modelling agent who knew the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, was placed under investigation and remanded in custody, the office of the Paris prosecutor said yesterday. Brunel, 74, was detained on Wednesday as part of a probe opened last year into allegations of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment. Police arrested him at Paris’s Charles deGaulle airport before he boarded a plane to Senegal. The Paris prosecutor said Brunel was suspected of having raped, assaulted and harassed several minor and adult victims as well as having organised transport and hosting of young women for Epstein. Under French law, an investigation may or may not lead to a trial. A lawyer for Brunel did not reply to a…

Palestinians ready to work with Biden CAIRO: The Palestinian Authority’s top diplomat Riyad al-Maliki yesterday expressed hopes that Joe Biden’s coming administration would strive to rebuild relations with Palestine. “We are ready to co-operate with the new American administration and expect it to rebuild relations with Palestine as they were before,” al-Maliki said in Cairo at a joint press conference with the foreign ministers of Egypt and Jordan. He noted that in view of the “new conditions”, Palestine must open new channels of communication with Washington. Al-Maliki said Israel continues to take actions that complicate negotiations, including the construction of new settlements, calling on the international community to increase pressure on Israel. The foreign minister went on to reiterate Ramallah’s commitment to the two-state solution. Sputnik…

THE YEAR THAT WAS It has been a challenging year to say the least, we look back on moments that rocked our nation, writes Don Makatile AS 2020 comes to a close, many people will meet it with a huge sigh of relief as it had been truly annus horribilis, a bad year. The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated what was already a difficult economic outlook for the country, plunging the economy into deeper crisis. But while the focus was understandably on the coronavirus, the news cycle kept churning out a lot more – both good and bad – developments, from left to right, and somewhere in between. Ravishing beauty and university graduate Shdufhadzo Musida became the new Miss South Africa, from one end of the news cycle to the country losing…

When AI surpasses human intelligence LOUIS FOURIE EvERY year typically has its defining moments. The year 2020 is no different and contained several paradigm-shifting and world-changing developments. In fact, at the end of 2020 we are still fighting a deadly “pandemic” – the Merriam-Webster’s word of the year 2020. For many 2020 will be a lost year, remembered for the immense loss of precious human lives due to the pandemic and many unrealised personal, family and career goals. Countless important events, celebrations, and family get togethers were unceremoniously cancelled or forced onto a somewhat impersonal virtual platform. But 2020 will also be remembered for the swift action of proponents of artificial intelligence (AI) and many remarkable breakthroughs. Two weeks ago I reported in this column about the half-century-old challenge that…

MUSIC Top 5 virtual lockdown parties ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER TO CHASE away the lockdown blues, many South Africans turned to music for solace and companionship. During the hard lockdown, when live events were banned and clubs were shut down for several months, artists found innovative ways of getting their music to the masses, while at the same time providing the much-needed entertainment. And the local musicians delivered, and fans dusted off their dancing shoes and partied from the comfort of their homes. It was during this time that streaming sessions and virtual parties became popular. With the year coming to a close, we look at the top five virtual parties that got Mzansi through the roller-coaster year that 2020 was. Legend Live by Oskido Music legend Oskido teamed up with MTV…

INJURY TIME STUART HESS stuart.hess@inl.co.za ‘AN EYE LIKE A DEAD FISH’ Kerry O’Keeffe, the Fox Sports commentator on the selection of Joe Burns for the first Test against India: “It’s Kieren Perkins in lane eight at Atlanta. This is Steven Bradbury (The Australian who won a speed-skating Olympic gold medal after all racers fell over). Biomechanically he’s not there as a Test opener, but he does stuff unconventionally. He has four Test centuries, his technique doesn’t look good against the opening ball. What could go wrong? But he has an eye like a dead fish and he hits boundaries.” MAKE IT STOP FOX Injury Times understands that Fox Sports in Australia, probably can’t have Isa Guha commentating all day, but we’ll struggle to stomach another two minutes, of “Warnie, Joon”…

PSL Middendorp in happy space with ‘Burg’s upward trend ESHLIN VEDAN MUZI NTOMBELA BackpagePix MARITZBURG United coach Ernst Middendorp felt that his side did relatively well in their 2-2 DStv Premiership draw against Stellenbosch FC at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Friday night in light of their injury troubles. “Considering that we were not able to use five or six important players like Jose Ali Meza, Thabiso Kutumela and Phumlani Ntshangase, it was a reduction for the squad in terms of quality. They will all be back within the next week and we will start preparing for the first game in 2021 against Bloemfontein Celtic. We worked hard, the players were committed and focused. We made mistakes here and there in attack and defence. There are still a…

LAW Family of slain official sues ANC MANYANE MANYANE mayane.manyane@inl.co.za THE family of a slain local ANC leader who was killed at a branch general meeting (BGM) in Mpumalanga is suing the governing party for R55 million for alleged negligence and failing to provide security. In the court papers filed at the South Gauteng High Court on December 11, Prince Manzini’s family said the former branch secretary was assaulted to death at a tense party meeting in full view of his fellow ANC comrades in March this year. The violent BGM took place at Gutshwa, near Nsikazi in the Ehlanzeni region to elect delegates to the 13th provincial ANC conference which was scheduled for April this year. According to the family’s founding affidavit, chairs flew at the meeting when rival…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA SAFETY TIPS TO REMEMBER Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.PRINCESS DIANAPrincess of Wales Don’t use ATMs where the card slot, keypad or screen has been tampered with. It could be an attempt to attain your card. Always avoid and be wary of people trying to “help” you. Don’t use an ATM that appears unusual looking or offers options with which you are not familiar with. | See more on IOL…

ABUSE Beware: naming and shaming can cost you STAFF REPORTER AS SOUTH Africa finally winds down the year and steps into the festive season, one thing remains starkly clear – our twin pandemics of Covid-19 and gender-based violence (GBV) are not on holiday. While the country applies more stringent lockdown regulations in a desperate bid to curb the rising infection numbers in what has been termed a second wave, some survivors of GBV have also been waging their own war by naming and shaming their alleged abusers on social media. This year saw the likes of supermodel Lerato Moloi and songbird Lady Zamar dominating the trends lists as they outed their alleged perpetrators, who also happen to be celebrities. But where does the law stand when it comes to naming…

OPINION Biko’s death was apartheid’s revenge MBUYISENI NDLOzI ON THE occasion of Steve Biko’s 74th birthday, let us reimagine his death with this question: why did the apartheid regime kill a central and leading figure of the Black Consciousness Movement? In fact, after long hours of torture, Biko’s naked and bruised body was driven for over 1000km at the back of a police van just to perfect his humiliation and devastating murder. There is absolutely no doubt that Biko and his generation had a great impact on the intellectual conduct of the anti-apartheid Struggle. The admirable fact is that this generation had little, if no relationship at all, with any of the established political parties, in particular the ANC. The system had not killed any key leading figures of existing…

Covid-19 curbs good and bad for country MANYANE MANYANE manyane.manyane@inl.co.za PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of more restrictions including the imposition of longer curfew hours, to combat the spread of Covid-19, has been met with mixed reactions. Some people say the restrictions will have a negative impact on the economy while others believe this could save them from contracting the virus. South Africa recorded nearly 8 000 confirmed cases in the last seven days, while the cumulative number stood at 866 127. As a result, Ramaphosa this week announced that the national curfew has been extended; from 11pm to 4am. He further announced that the sale of alcohol from the retail outlets would be permitted only between 10am to 6pm from Monday to Thursday. He said restaurants and bars would close…

PANDEMIC ‘Vaccine is nothing short of attempted murder’ TEBOGO BROWN IN one of his addresses to the nation President Cyril Ramaphosa summoned all his courage and gave a full sermon on the necessity of a Covid-19 vaccine. Ramaphosa said "an effective and safe vaccine is still our greatest defence against Covid-19”. “South Africa is collaborating with several multinational pharmaceutical companies to obtain a safe and effective vaccine for our people and we are contributing towards the availability of a vaccine in the rest of the continent." What is it to vaccinate or what is vaccination? GB Shaw said that "vaccination is nothing short of attempted murder“. In a preface of her well-written book titled The Poisoned Needle Suppressed Facts About Vaccination Eleanor McBean, an African-American woman, said: "For the past…

COMMENT Beware of drownings during the festive season SELLO MOKOENA GLOBALLY, there is a growing realisation that drowning is one of the key factors contributing to death. As Lukhanyo Mtuta, in an article titled “Focusing on preventing drowning ahead of the festive season”, states, “The World Health Organization (WHO) said drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths. Young people between the age of 1 and 20 are most likely to fall victim, as a WHO report showed that drowning is one of the top five causes of death for people aged 1-14 years”. A careful analysis of evidence-based research reveals that drowning trends are associated with a multiplicity of risk factors. South Africa is not immune from this problem.…

ENTERTAINMENT Disney to partner with African animation studio AMERICAN multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate Disney is set to partner with a Nigerian-Ugandan animation company, Kugali Media to produce a pioneering African sci-fi series. According to a report by international news outlet Quartz, Kugali’s science fiction series Iwájú will debut globally in 2022 on fast-growing streaming service Disney+. Kugali focuses on telling stories inspired by African culture, using comic books, art and augmented reality. The series Iwájú, a name that loosely translates to “the future” in Yoruba, a language spoken in West Africa, is set in Lagos and will explore a number of thematic concerns, from class and innocence to challenging the status quo, writes Quartz. Disney Animation Studios chief creative officer Jennifer Lee said Kugali’s talents blew them away.…

CAR Peackeepers on alert before vote THE UN’s peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic has deployed troops to disperse armed rebel groups that occupied roads and towns near the capital Bangui, and are threatening to disrupt the country’s December 27 general election. The mission, known as Minusca, said late on Friday that it had placed troops in the capital and other regions on high alert to protect civilians and secure the legislative and presidential election. Tensions have risen ahead of the vote after the candidacy of former President Francois Bozize was rejected by the country’s highest court. Bozize was ousted in 2013 mainly by Muslim rebels, prompting reprisals from mostly Christian militias and plunging the Central African Republic in to a civil war. The UN peacekeepers have been in…

Men, women to shop on different days PANAMA CITY: Panama will reimpose nationwide curbs on movement from tomorrow by requiring men and women to carry out festive shopping on different days, the health minister said on Friday, imposing drastic measures following a surge in coronavirus cases. The restrictions are similar to what the Central American nation imposed in worst-hit parts of the country in June. “As of Monday 21, with the aim of reducing mobility, purchases will be made by gender,” Luis Sucre, the minister of health, said in a televised message. On Christmas and New Year’s Day there will be total quarantine for everyone. On Thursday, Panamanian health authorities reported 3348 new cases and 42 deaths, a daily record for both new infections and deaths. Reuters…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA MATRICS TOOK ON THE EDUCATION MINISTER Don’t dwell too much on the past. The lessons are useful for the present and a preparation for the future.LAILAH GIFTY AKITAPearls of Wisdom: Great mind Matrics can relax: the Education Department’s plan for them to rewrite a maths and chemistry paper next week has been set aside. And they have to thank a number of applications to the High Court, but one name will go down in history: that of first applicant Lienke Spies whose name is on the judgment. | IOL…

Good fortune bolsters PGMs in this year DINEO FAKU dineo.faku@inl.co.za GOOD fortune smiled on mining companies as the gold price jumped sharply this year and platinum group metals (PGMs), particularly palladium and rhodium, strengthened significantly since the second half of last year. Cash flow surged and profits soared as the bullion price broke several records due to the Covid-19 pandemic, spooking the markets and investors dumping risky assets for gold which is considered a haven asset during times of uncertainty. In April, the gold price reached $1 720 (about R25 000) an ounce, bringing it to R1 million a kilogram. It smashed $2 000 an ounce in August. The strong gold price enabled gold miners to reward shareholders with bumper dividends and reduced debt on their balance sheets. S&P Global…

BIZ 101 SME guide to capitalising on the gig economy BEN BIERMAN RESEARCH by global advisory firm, Willis Towers Watson, has revealed that 72 percent of South African businesses are considering cost-saving measures around pay and recruitment, to survive the Covid-19 economic downturn. Businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), should consider using the growing pool of skilled freelancers partly due to widespread retrenchments and scarce employment opportunities in the private sector. The freelancers have also been behind the surge in the gig economy – a free market system in which increasingly more people are choosing to occupy temporary or freelance positions, enjoying the flexibility and variety it offers. For South Africa, which is facing record-high levels of unemployment, the growth of the gig economy is a win-win as it…

TELEVISION Impact of climate change on wildlife DEBASHINE THANGEVELO debashine.thangevelo@inl.co.za WHEN it comes to wildlife shows, BBC Earth has an incredible track record of delivering some of the best offerings. Waterhole: Africa’s Animal Oasis lives up to the channel’s rich legacy. As the title suggests, this series looks at waterholes, which are vital to the African ecosystem. Chris Packham, joined by biologist Ella Al-Shamahi, takes a closer look at how wildlife relies on this source over three dramatic periods: the middle of the dry season, the blisteringly hot time of the year, as well as the period during the first rainfalls. As for what he discovered during the shoot at Mwiba Wildlife Reserve in Tanzania, where they built the world’s first waterhole with a built-in specialist camera rig, Packham revealed:…

RUGBY No need to smell the coffee: Zim can make World Cup MARK KEOHANE DAVID DAVIES AP THE whimper of the past 30 years is turning into a growl. Zimbabwe, Africa’s first ever representative at a Rugby World Cup in 1987, is starting to wake up – and the ambition is a first World Cup appearance since 1991. Springbok tighthead prop Adrian Garvey, for me the best No 3 to play for the Springboks since 1992, was among those who played for Zimbabwe in the 1991 World Cup. He believes it is possible. Garvey scored a try at the 1991 World Cup in one of his 10 appearances for Zimbabwe before moving to KwaZulu-Natal and playing for the Sharks and then the Springboks. Garvey was in Zimbabwe a week ago…

2020 REVIEW Covid not offside for European soccer’s red card EUROPEAN football pulled together against the odds to complete a season delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but off the field unity was harder to find as threats of breakaways and superleagues caused rancour in the game. Competition across the continent came to a halt in March as the impact of the pandemic was felt, but by June domestic competitions were back under way across Europe – albeit without fans. Liverpool won the English league title for the first time in 30 years while Bayern Munich won an eighth straight Bundesliga crown. Real Madrid won their 34th Spanish league while Juventus won Serie A for the ninth year in a row. The backlog of fixtures saw European governing body UEFA…