Innholdsfortegnelse for Sunday, February 21, 2021 i Sunday Independent

CORPORATE BRAWL Twists in Moti, Ngebulana Saga Business feud heading for the boardroom MANYANE MANYANE and KARABO NGOEPE AN ON-GOING battle between two powerful business partners is teetering on the brink of pushing the envelope for a hostile takeover. The back and forth communications between Sisa Ngebulana and Zunaid Moti, which include court papers, have detailed a partnership gone sour and under-handed tactics to assume control of the business. This week, the pair are set for a showdown at the annual general meeting (AGM) of Rebosis on Tuesday. At the centre of their battle is the voting rights which both parties believe they hold. According to Moti, their dispute started when he increased his shareholding in Rebosis over a period from April to August last year. He became the largest…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA GOING WILD IN THE WETLAND Corruption is a cancer: a cancer that eats away at a citizen’s faith in democracy, diminishes the instinct for innovation and creativity; already-tight national budgets, crowding out important national investments.JOE BIDEN President of the United States January has been a very wet month, with nearly 22 days of rain recorded. That’s great for us gardeners but the weeds are out of control. We are never satisfied: no rain and we complain, too much rain and we complain. I would rather have rain than no rain. | See more on IOL…

ZONDO Witness accuses Koko of misleading commission LESEGO MAKGATHO lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za CORRUPTION Watch was this week among several civic organistions that took the government and state-owned entities (SOEs) to task over their lack of accountability and rampant abuse of state resources, making recommendation on the best ways to ensure that state capture doesn’t happen. The Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture heard evidence from Professor Emeritus of Public Law at University of Cape Town, Professor Hugh Corder; Jennifer Rault-Smith of the Parliamentary Monitoring Group; and David Lewis, director of Corruption Watch. Giving his testimony, Lewis said the appointment of judges comes closest to the ideal manner in which key appointments at state institutions should be made. “The minister is involved in that process. There is also the Chief Justice, the…

CORRUPTION Government ’to blame’ for drug abuse hike among youth MANYANE MANYANE manyane.manyane@inl.co.za ORLANDO East resident and community builder Bhubhu Makana, who is also fighting the scourge of drugs in the Soweto community, has blamed the ANC for the rise in drug peddling and addictions in the area. He accused the government, under the ANC, of planning to destroy the youth through drugs. “They also want to engage in corruption freely, without anyone questioning them. They know youth will hold them accountable. Remember, the youth of this country in 1976. In fact they set us free. “The Umkhonto we Sizwe members and those who were in exile did not fight for this country. They found everything in order when they came from exile. Now that they are back, they are…

BOOK REVIEW Eyal build a house of cards LESEGO MAKGATHO lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za IF YOU thought tech entrepreneurs don’t lie about their start-ups if they know how to work the system, you couldn’t be more wrong. While it may not be all of them, some do and among those is South African tech entrepreneur Eran Eyal. Eyal had it all: a trendy New York apartment, a jet set lifestyle and investors lining up to get in on his million-dollar cryptocurrency start -up, Shopin. The Durban-born 46-year-old had come a long way from an ordinary middle-class childhood and the burgeoning tech start-up world of Cape Town. But the New York authorities pounced in 2018, charged him with fraud and packed him off to Rikers Island, a jail complex in New York. There began…

RELEVANCE Minister Motshekga’s remarks on rape: what went wrong? MALESELA MAUBANE AS PART of pre-planning and briefing to political principals before public addresses, it is common practice to conduct research in order to establish issues and scan the environment, knowing the audience, and crafting relevant messaging. Surely, this is what Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga’s advisors did before her recent address to the Prosperitus High School learners on the first day of the 2021 academic year. In the midst of the global corona-virus (Covid-19) pandemic, President Cyril Ramaphosa brought to the fore in most of the “family meetings” that gender-based violence (GBV) has reached an alarming rate, declared a national crisis in September 2019, while it was also identified as the second pandemic in South Africa. From an issues management…

COMMENT Sona short-changed education arts and culture TSHEPO MVULANE MOLOI THIS year’s State of the Nation Address (Sona) 2021, delivered by the fallible South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, continues to justifiably receive critique, mostly revolving around trepidation about the lack of information about the government’s plans. The first concern has to do with sparse details, concerning the government’s plans to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic, that has pestered us locally, since its advent last year. The second concern has to do with the government’s sparse details, about its plans to address numerous matters, that have arisen post-Sona 2020. For the susceptible South African public, the source of the latter misery, seemingly stems from the government’s futile economic recovery plans. For persons like myself, keen about plans regarding prospects about the “arts”…

NORMALISING DIFFERENCES First gay romantic comedy film for South Africa SAM SPILLER sam.spiller@inl.co.za SHOWMAX ROMANCE, identity and being true to yourself are at the forefront of South Africa’s first gay romantic comedy film. No Hiding Here, which centres on a male couple coming to grips with the world after secrets are revealed, was released on Thursday. For writer and director Gabe Gabriel, the film presented an opportunity to depict and normalise the experiences of queer people. “It was imperative to me to strike a balance here, though. I’m not a fan of content that ignores or downplays queerness, but I knew I wanted to write a story that features multiple queer characters at different stages of self-discovery for a myriad of reasons.” The film marks his feature-length directorial debut, having…

CRICKET Given a second life, Cricket SA must take advantage and come good STUART HESS stuart.hess@inl.co.za MOTSHWARI MOFOKENG African News Agency (ANA) CRICKET South Africa’s second chance at renewal is getting ever closer. That opportunity comes at a critical time not only for the organisation, but also at a moment, when the sport globally is facing critical questions, while greater demands are being made of the International Cricket Council to show leadership. Cricket SA needs to get its house in order. Much through its own doing, the organisation’s administration imploded, less than 10 years after it had been given the means to fix itself in the wake of the ‘bonus scandal’ that led to the ousting of then chief executive Gerald Majola. It’s a fairly damning indictment of the leadership…

Tendulkar Jr looking to bowl them over in IPL BATTING great Sachin Tendulkar's son Arjun was picked "purely on skill" and the left-arm seamer will have to prove himself at this year's Indian Premier League, the IPL franchise have said. South African Chris Morris broke IPL auction records with his $2.24 million move to Rajasthan Royals on Thursday but all eyes were on the fate of the 21-year-old with Indian cricket's most famous surname. In the last purchase of the players' auction in Chennai, Arjun joined Mumbai at his base price of two million Indian rupees ($27,522) having been their net bowler in the last IPL. "We've looked at it purely on a skill basis," head coach Mahela Jayawardene said. "There's going to be a big tag on his head…

QUICK READ UK BRITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would set out what could be done in a roadmap for easing measures tomorrow, Sky News has reported. The British broadcaster cited Johnson saying the roadmap out of lockdown, would be based firmly on a cautious and prudent approach that ensures the unlocking will be irreversible. Johnson said his plan could include the earliest possible dates for reopening different sectors of the economy, however, these were subject to change if the situation with the virus takes a different turn. | African News Agency (ANA) Hong Kong HONG Kong, which has come through its fourth wave of Covid-19, was considering relaxing social distancing laws from Thursday. For residents and companies who have endured months of constraints, the relaxing of social distancing…

QUICK READ TRIBUTES FOR MUSICIAN MUSIC enthusiasts on Wednesday expressed grief and condolences over the death of one of Zimbabwe’s most celebrated musicians, Soul Jah Love. Born Soul Musaka, Soul Jah Love died on Tuesday evening at the Mbuya Dorcas Hospital in Harare. He was 31. Soul Jah Love, popular for his energetic stage performances and hard-hitting lyrics, enchanted crowds at shows in Zimbabwe and South Africa and also toured the UK. | African News Agency (ANA) DOUBLE BLOW FOR HEALTH SYSTEM THE health system in Mozambique has been the double victim of Cyclone Kenneth and an outbreak in violence which has seen the flight of 686 healthcare workers and the destruction of more facilities. These include facilities that were rehabilitated after being damaged by the cyclone in 2019. An…

QUICK READ PEREZ HILTON APOLOGISES During an interview on Good Morning Britain, former gossip blogger, Perez Hilton admitted that he regretted his role in the bullying of Britney Spears. The blogger said he regretted his treatment of Spears, which includes spreading sex tapes rumours, campaigned for her to lose custody of her children and even started selling T-shirts asking why Heath Ledger died instead of Spears. “I regret a lot or most of what I said about Britney as I’m sure Piers (Morgan) would if he were here about things he’s said in the past,” Hilton said. “Thankfully, hopefully, many of us get older and wiser.” Hilton’s apology comes after Justin Timberlake also apologised for his treatment of Spears, whom he dated in the 90s. JORDAN PEELE PROJECT After the…

TOP 5 EDITOR’S CHOICE Africa holds it own in luxury brand stakes FOR the longest time and even today when we speak of luxury brands most people think international. Yet Africa hold its own in the luxury brand stakes. The 5 brands below are just some of the one’s we can be proud of. Ash Luxe If there is a brand that reflects modern-day youth, fresh and avant-garde, it’s Ash Luxe. I love their innovativeness. The brand originated from Nigeria but can be shipped worldwide. Rosey & Vittori From the moment I was introduced to Rosey & Vittori by Creative Content Creator and entrepreneur Seth Shezi, I have adored this brand. Founded in 2013 in Maitland in Cape Town, this brand is quintessentially high-end streetwear inspired by South African lifestyle…

CULTURE AND FASHION Amanda Gorman: poetry in motion BUHLE MBONAMBI Superbowl LV AFP EVERY few years someone arrives in the world of showbiz and immediately has an impact. Usually young and unknown, their stratospheric rise to the upper echelons of the industry is much more of a big deal. When we watched the inauguration of US President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris, we were not expecting a star to be born. Ironically, Lady Gaga, who starred in A Star Is Born in 2018, was the big drawcard, chosen to sing the national anthem. And then there was Jennifer Lopez, who also tried to leave a memory as one of the performers. However, Amanda Gorman, a poet known only to a few thousand people, stole the show. She was well-known…

WHAT TO WATCH ‘One Night Kwa Mxolisi’ ALYSSIA BIRJALAL alyssia.birjalal@inl.co.za SHOWMAX’S latest original local movie One Night Kwa Mxolisi will be released on Friday, February 26. Starring a host of talented local actors, including Linda Mtoba, Motlatsi Mafatshe, Nyaniso Dzedze, Buhle Samuels, Donovan Goliath and Fulu Mugovhani, the movie will also air on Mzansi Magic on Saturday, February 27 at 9.30pm. Directed by Sisanda Henna who’s also part of the cast, One Night Kwa Mxolisi is a comedic drama set in Johannesburg. It tells the story of a semi-successful rugby player who decides to be a restaurateur. His friends take to celebrations and after one too many, secrets are exposed that threaten friendships.…

GREAT ESCAPES Gauteng budget getaways SOUTH Africa offers a range of budget-friendly experiences in the country-Here are four activities to do in Gauteng for under R50: Modderfontein Reserve Modderfontein Reserve is a 275ha private park that consists of Modderfontein Spruit, many dams, grassland and hills. The reserve is open for all activities, including running, cycling, hiking, birdwatching, picnicking and fishing every day from 6am to 6pm. Entry fee is R30 per adult, and R15 per child. Located at Arden Road. See https://modderfonteinreserve.co.za/ Walkhaven Dog Park Walkhaven Dog Park, situated in the Muldersdrift area next to the Cradle of Humankind is a top attraction for dog lovers. Boasting 22ha of grassland and two dams, it’s the ideal place to unwind with your fur babies. Doggies enter free, but adults pay R40…

STATE CONTRACTS Public servants abuse the law MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA Mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za THE number of public servants doing business with the state has declined by 1 055 cases as of January this year – down from 1 539 recorded last April. This happens as 638 out of 10 032 senior managers who have interests in companies did not disclose their companies. This was revealed by the Department of Public Service and Administration and the Public Service Commission in Parliament earlier this week. This took place when the institutions briefed the public service and administration portfolio committee. Briefing the committee, the department’s Salomon Hoogenraad-Vermaak said there were 484 public servants conducting business with the state as of last month. He said those who worked for the provincial governments were 358 and 126 others…

MUSIC Death after years of abuse MANYANE MANYANE manyane.manyane@inl.co.za THE Soweto family of an Orlando East musician who asked that their identity be protected, says the 33-year-old man died from lung disease after abusing drugs for a long period of time. The sister of the man who was laid to rest last Sunday, says the family believes he started taking hard drugs when he was still a cultural music performer, a career that saw him travel to perform in China and Ghana. Before the drug addiction, the deceased man was a responsible breadwinner and musician who started touring when he was 13-years-old. “He was performing cultural music. He used to travel a lot. He would go to China, Ghana and other countries. So I think he started drugs at that…

WEBINAR Political party fund ing under radar Setting limits to donations and mandatory disclosure is key DON MAKATILE don.makatile@inl.co.za WHILE money plays a fundamental role in a democracy, political party funding should be curbed at a certain threshold and there should be restrictions on who can donate. This emerged at the beginning of the three-day webinar to launch the Historical Funding Report that kicked off on Friday. Hosted by My Vote Counts (MVC), the report is an updated version of a body of work titled: Private Funding of Political Parties: What We Know. Some of what they know is already in the public domain, but the report makes for sobering reading. “The report mainly lists donations to the African National Congress (ANC), the Democratic Alliance (DA), the Economic Freedom Fighters…

ECONOMY Leadership needed to maintain Gauteng’s status as an influencer KWEZI MNGQIBISA GAUTENG has all the socioeconomic attributes for its earned reputation as a geographic influencer in South Africa. The province’s economic contribution, in terms of economic activity and employment, has drawn people from different parts of the country, making its demographic make-up near unique. Most valuable discussions about the province almost always centre on how its politics are a major determinant of how political parties will wield economic and financial power in the country. This has led to political party level contestations being the most visible coverage and consideration of our public discourse. The country’s recent economic history cites heavily the developments in the geographic area we know as Gauteng. The discovery of gold is one of the most…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA BEYONCÉ FINALLY DROPS ICY PARK AND IT’S SMOKING HOT Politics: A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.AMBROSE BIERCE Story writer The highly anticipated collection by Beyoncé in collaboration with Adidas was released on Friday, February 19. Like she does with many of her collections, she sent out drop-offs to some of her favourite celebrities, including Nandi Madida, Thickleeyonce, and Foyin Ogunrombi.…

ONLINE PLATFORM Veza Tool to expose police graft LESEGO MAKGATHO lesego.makgath@inl.co.za SOUTH Africans will now be able to call out any form of corruption, report slack or shoddy services they receive from their local police stations by blowing the whistle through a new online platform called Veza Tool. Corruption Watch, the brain behind the interactive and open data website, launched Veza Tool during a virtual media briefing on Thursday. Kavisha Pillay, head of stakeholders and campaigns at the non-profit organisation, said this development was in response to the many whistle-blower complaints it has received on police corruption. “Veza, which is a colloquial term for ‘reveal’ or ‘expose’, is inspired by its engagements with communities experiencing police violence and abuse,” she said. Pillay said Veza was a first of its kind…

INJURY TIME STUART HESS STUART.HESS@INL.CO.ZA NETWORK ISSUES It’s never a good look when a cabinet minister, having just stepped out of a cabinet meeting, is having trouble getting an on-line connection. That happened to Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa just minutes after he’d ended a cabinet meeting on Friday and then stepped into the Cricket SA interim board media briefing. Asked to show himself on camera- for the purposes of television - Mthethwa remarked: “Sorry, the picture’s so fuzzy, the signal where I am isn’t good.” Maybe Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams (Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies) could have helped, or was she at an early lunch? SOCIAL JUSTICE AND…? Remember the Social Justice and Nation building project that was the brainchild of twitter sensation and one time director of Cricket SA, Dr Eugenia…

TV GUIDE Today Athletics: American Indoor Track League, Meeting 4, 10pm, VR3 Cricket: CSA T20 Challenge: Six Gun Grill Cape Cobras v Momentum Multiply Titans, 9.45am, CRI; Warriors v Hollywoodbets Dolphins, 2.15pm, GSD, CRI; Pakistan Super League: Lahore Qalandars v Peshawar Zalmi, 10.50am, ACT; Islamabad United v Multan Sultans, 3.45pm, ACT Golf: PGA Tour: The Genesis Invitational, Day 4, 8pm, GOL, GSD Motorsport: NASCAR Cup Series: NASCAR Cup Series Race at DAYTONA Road Course, 10pm, MSP Rugby: The Final Whistle, 7pm, RUG; Gallagher Premiership: London Irish v Bristol Bears, 4.55pm, RUG Soccer: DStv Premiership: Cape Town City v Swallows, 3pm, PSL; DStv Premiership Wrap, 5.30pm, PSL; Serie A: Parma v Udinese, 1.20pm, FTB; AC Milan v Inter Milan, 3.50pm, FTB’ Atalanta v Napoli, 6.50pm, FTB; Benevento v Roma, 9.35pm, FTB;…

STARS TANYA OBREZA Aries (March 21 – April 20) Mars rules your financial sector this week, pretty well assuring more money. Even long shot offers hold better promise than they normally might. Spending becomes obsessive - it’s a must-have week. Either your image or home are in for an overhaul. Don’t worry. We all occasionally suffer a bout of financial insanity, so enjoy. Taurus (April 21 – May 20) Stay alert Taurus, as this week could be laced with deception. Someone you don’t know very well may try to establish a closer friendship in order to extract a favour. This is fine, as long as you know what the game is, and play by your own rules. It’s also important to set intentions for the next few months. Create a…

QUICK READ ZIMBABWE ROLLS OUT VACCINE ZIMBABWE began vaccinating people against Covid-19 this week. “The first batch of vaccines for Zimbabwe has been successfully delivered,” President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on his Twitter account. The president’s tweet followed the arrival of 200 000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from China. The consignment arrived on Monday. The country is expected to buy more than 1 million vaccine doses from China. | African News Agency (ANA) UN SLAMS ATROCITIES IN DRC THE UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has expressed grave concern about escalating atrocities committed by armed groups in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The attacks have become part of a systematic pattern to disrupt lives, instil fear and create havoc, the UN agency said in a statement this week. A record…

QUICK READ LOVE WINS IN ANGOLA ANGOLA has decriminalised same-sex relationships and prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. According to various media sources, the landmark law decriminalising homosexuality adopted by Angola in 2019 which took effect on Thursday is viewed as a victory for LGBTQ+ rights, not only in the country, but also on a continent where same-sex relationships remain illegal in the majority of states. | African News Agency (ANA) ANCIENT BEER FACTORY FOUND AMERICAN and Egyptian archeologists have discovered a 5 000-year-old brewery in the ancient Egyptian city of Abydos, The Independent reported. The British newspaper reported that the factory was found in an ancient burial ground in the desert west of the Nile River, south of the capital Cairo. The factory dates back to the reign of…

QUICK READ Guinea GUINEA is dealing with an Ebola epidemic, the West African country officially declared last Sunday after the deaths of at least three people were confirmed. These are the first deaths to be recorded since an outbreak of the deadly virus ended in 2016. According to various media reports, the individuals fell ill with diarrhoea, vomiting and bleeding after recently attending the burial of a nurse. Between 2013 and 2016 more than 11 000 people died in the West Africa Ebola epidemic, which began in Guinea, according to the BBC. | African News Agency (ANA) Algeria The President of The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and its former ambassador to Algeria, Brahim Ghali, has congratulated President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on his return to Algeria after receiving post-Covid-19 treatment in Germany.…

DEATH SENTENCE Botswana’s capital punishment raises eyebrows MOLAOLE MONTSHO ANA Archives BOTSWANA is the only southern African country where capital punishment is carried out. Capital punishment is usually meted out for murder with aggravated circumstances and is carried out by hanging. In 2016, a former “hangman” told publication Mmegi Online about the execution process in Botswana. The former prison warder said he had participated in seven executions and was sometimes instructed to release the trapdoor handle. “The officer in charge of the prison selects an execution team consisting of male and female warders. “The person who opens the trapdoor can be the most senior officer or any other officer of the team,” he said. He said that during the countdown towards execution the condemned inmates’ last supper was a choice…

THE “ EMPEROR OF UMLAZI ” MaBlerh is trending on kindness KEDIBONE MODISE kedibone.modise@inl.co.za KATLEGO MOKUBYANE WITTY, kind and smart is how MaBlerh, born Mthokozisi Cele, describes himself after we exchange pleasantries. The “Emperor Of uMlazi”, as he is popularly known, is the only remaining member from season 5 of SABC 3’s talk show Trending SA. His former co-hosts, Elma Smit and Refiloe Mpakanyane, left the show recently. Trending SA is back for the sixth season with MaBlerh and three new faces: Metro FM presenters Moeti “Mo Flava” Tsiki, Luthando “Lootlove” Shosha and social media sensation and performer Lesego Tlhabi. The 30-minute show sees the foursome tackling daily trending topics, discussing burning issues ranging from gender-based violence to femicide, politics and sports, as well as interviews with local…

TRENDS 21 items every guy should own in 2021 WE ARE about eight weeks into 2021, y’all, and we’re here to help get your closet ready with 21 GQ-approved foundational men’s wardrobe-essentials. We’d advise redirecting all the funds you were going to drop on a gym membership and new kitchen supplies toward some (or all!) of these. Rather than making a bunch of empty resolutions you know you’ll never keep, focus on the one you absolutely can: dressing better. These pieces will keep your style on point in 2021 and beyond. Mix and match these men’s wardrobe essentials to your heart’s content and throw in a few style swerves here and there for something a little unexpected; you’ll make looking fly every day seem like a piece of cake. The…

BRIDGERTON Dashing duke is ‘finer than fiction’ NELANDRI NARIANAN FINER than fiction! That is how acclaimed Bridgerton producer Shonda Rhimes described Regé-Jean Page, the dashing Duke of Hastings, as she bobbed a touching curtsy to the actor on his 2021 Time100 Next debut this week. “You might dream of him, the one we call the Duke of Hastings,” Rhimes cooed, “But in reality, Regé-Jean Page is finer than fiction and better than any dream.” The TV doyen went on to say: “His disappearance into character builds a vibrant world for us to enter, making it impossible to imagine any other actor playing the role.” Page was set to host Saturday Night Live last night and Rhimes was quick to point out that he is one of “the very few actors…

REMOTE WORKING Work from anywhere in the world CLINTON MOODLEY The pandemic has introduced people to the world of remote working. Many have traded their typical 9-5 working hours for more flexible options that grant them the time to explore more. Enter the OOO (Out of Office) trend that allows travellers to work from anywhere in the world, granted the destinations they choose do not have any travel restrictions. A friend of mine went on a OOO trip a few weeks ago to Langebaan. She booked a week-long stay in hopes of enjoying the tourist offerings of the Western Cape while still fulfilling her daily job requirements. She posted pictures of sunsets, Instagram worthy cuisine and selfies with the most glorious ocean views. While working remotely isn't something new as…

VACCINE FOCUS 2020 might not be a good time to launch a state bank EDWARD WEST edward.west@inl.co.za SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT @GOVERNMENTZA Twitter FINANCE Minister Tito Mboweni might express more support for the establishment of a state bank during his Budget Speech on Wednesday. Mboweni tweeted earlier this month that the “cry for a state bank is loud, clear and urgent”, suggesting also that African Bank should be the platform for such a bank. “A state bank is a potential positive disruptor to our financial system. I support its establishment. Finance Kapital (sic) is fundamental to our economic transformation. No debate about that,” he tweeted. In last year’s budget, Mboweni said the government was ready to establish a state bank on commercial principles. He suggested an amalgamation of various provincial and…

BIZ 101 Small changes to take your business from survival to thriving mode BEN BIERMAN IN THE future, we will all look back at 2020 as the year when a single virus had shook the global economy and threatened the survival of businesses. While governments are working hard to implement vaccine programmes to safeguard citizens Covid-19, the virus is likely to be with us for the foreseeable future. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that have survived thus far find themselves having to prepare for the third wave. They are slightly more proactive and prepared for the eventuality with lessons from the first and second waves of the virus. Herewith are a few steps to ride out the next wave. Infrastructure Get a work-from-home model in place by investing in digital…

TailPiece COLD, LACK OF WATER OVERWHELM TEXAS HOSPITALS MORE THAN COVID-19 DID Texas doctor Natasha Kathuria has practiced medicine in 11 countries, worked through the 2014 “Snowmageddon” storm that ground Atlanta to a halt, and survived the past year’s COVID-19 pandemic crush. But Kathuria and some other doctors in Texas are saying they have never seen a more harrowing week than this one. Record-setting cold weather has cut water and grid energy supplies to hospitals across a wide swath of Texas. Electricity and water services were resuming, but many homes and some hospitals still did not have either on Friday. Half the state’s population was under a “must-boil” order to ensure water is safe. “We’re overwhelmed, way more than we’ve been with COVID,” said Kathuria, who works in several Austin-area…

TAX Please don’t raise taxes Mr Mboweni – political SIYABONGA MKHWANAZI siyabonga.mkhwanazi@inl.co.za FINANCE Minister Tito Mboweni has been urged to find the balancing act in his Budget speech on Wednesday and stick to fiscal consolidation. This comes as the Budget faces pressure from the various competing interests. The DA, IFP and the ACDP yesterday urged Mboweni not to raise taxes but to provide a comprehensive plan on the rollout of the vaccines. DA spokesperson on finance Geordin Hill-Lewis said they did not want tax hikes and that the government must provide a plan for Covid-19 vaccines. “The first thing we would not like to see now is taxes because you can tax your economy to grow. Taxes will be a bad idea. We would like to see a properly funded…

ABUSE Woman assaulted by police officer LESEGO MAKGATHO lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za SUPPLIED A JOHANNESBURG woman is seeking justice after she was beaten up, allegedly by her mother’s partner who is said to be a police officer at the Hill-brow Police Station in Joburg. When Siphesihle Tyhobeka found herself in an altercation last month with the man, she didn’t think it would get physical, leaving her with a bruised and battered eye. Tyhobeka said she was arguing with the man at their home on January 27 this year because she said he was controlling towards her. Tyhobeka admitted to not seeing eye-to-eye with him. “Because my mother and I live with him in his house in Randburg, he feels it’s okay for him to control her. He’s always wanted to have a say…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA AFRICAN UNION TO SET UP INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Land monopoly is not the only monopoly which exists, but it is by far the greatest of monopolies; it is a perpetual monopoly, and it is the mother of all other forms of monopoly.WINSTON CHURCHILL Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom The African Union is setting up a fund to finance the construction of much-needed roads, railways and power plants on the continent, its infrastructure head said, turning to new sources of cash due to donor fatigue and higher debt levels. IOL…

EDUCATION Of rotten states and hopeful futures VUYISILE MSILA “SOMETHING is rotten in the state of Denmark,” says Marcellus in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Here he is talking about the crumbling of political hierarchy and how this destroys the fabric of society. It refers to the idea of how a fish rots from the head thus signalling the crumbling of the political pyramid. The crumbling of any political hierarchy will surely have a huge impact on various sectors of society and education is, unfortunately, one of the critical ones that are shaped by the direction of the captains in the bow of the ship. So, with all the problems compounded by the pandemic of Covid-19, the country has to contend with the heavy challenges which may eventually lead to a rotten…

DRAMA SERIES ‘Die Sentrum’ to replace ‘7de Laan’ SAM SPILLER sam.spiller@inl.co.za ZUKISWA MINYI African News Agency (ANA) A NEW drama series being shot in Cape Town is set to take over prime time on Thursdays and Fridays, as popular soap 7de Laan’s episodes are reduced. Die Sentrum, set to replace the old favourite in two of its 6pm slots, is expected to launch on April 5. The Afrikaans- and Xhosa-language show is produced by Penguin Films and follows the trials and tribulations at a crisis helpline call centre in the Mother City. The cast is led by actress Carmen Maarman. “Back in the day, everybody trekked to Joburg because it was a TV scene,” she said. “New work has finally arrived in Cape Town, which I’m so happy about.” Known…

CRICKET RABADA AND MAGALA ON FIRE, DOLPHINS CRUISE ZAAHIER ADAMS IN one ball Kagiso Rabada gave an exhibition of the importance of having the Proteas involved in the CSA T20 Challenge. Wihan Lubbe was the batsman. The Warriors left-hander is an accomplished domestic player having learnt his trade at North West and the High-veld Lions before moving south to the Eastern Cape at the beginning of the season. But yesterday the 28-year-old found out the stark difference between facing a domestic franchise paceman in comparison to a high-quality international fast bowler. Rabada charged in and dug one in short. Before Lubbe could react, the bouncer struck him flush on the helmet and visibly shook him up. Although Lubbe recovered to strike 22 off 16 balls before he succumbed to the…

GREATNESS BECKONS FOR OSAKA NAOMI Osaka added a second Australian Open title to her two US Open crowns yesterday but said she would rather "live in the moment" than set ambitious targets for further Grand Slam glory. The Japanese third seed overpowered American Jennifer Brady 6-4 6-3 at Rod Laver Arena and is now in the bracket of luminaries like Kim Clijsters and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, who also won four Slams. With her career still budding at the age of 23, further major trophies will be expected to follow, particularly if Osaka can convert her hard court form to clay and grass. "Right now, I'm trying to go for five," she told reporters after winning a 21st completed match in succession. "I like to take things not big-picture. For me,…

NO MORE BUSINESS AS USUAL AT THE WTO SHANNON EBRAHIM Reuters A BREATH of fresh air is sweeping through the World Trade Organization (WTO), with the first woman and African to ascend to the position of director-general at the only global body responsible for resolving trade disputes. The new director-general, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, says that the definition of madness is continuing doing what you have done for years over and over again, but expecting different results. She is determined to breathe new life into the WTO and be the fresh eyes and ears of the organisation, and above all to produce results. Her vision is to build a stronger, more relevant and more inclusive trading system. Okonjo-Iweala takes on the driving position at the WTO at a time of rising…

BUDGET 2021 A difficult recipe for masterchef-cum-finance minister Mboweni PROF BONKE DUMISA MINISTER of Finance Tito Mboweni is undoubtedly the most educationally appropriately qualified post-apartheid Finance Minister, in terms of his university qualifications in Economics at a post-graduate Masters level. He is also known in social media circles for trying his hand at cooking, where all the well-known cooking experts have given him a failing grade. The reason why I start with Mboweni’s university post-graduate economics qualifications in the same breath as his cooking experiments, is because this year’s 2021 National Budget, is going to be his most challenging one, and the most difficult national budget we have ever had in the post-apartheid era. This is because of the most intractable economic challenges and the negative economic multiplier effects of…

UNITED STATES President Biden’s burden of leading by example DR DAVID MONYAE and DR SIZO NKALA THERE is a vast chasm between US President Joe Biden’s ideal world and values as captured in his foreign policy and the prevailing reality in the country he governs. America’s democracy came under threat just two weeks before his inauguration on January 20 when a mob of Trump supporters attacked the Capitol Hill, the very seat of American democracy, in an attempt to block the Congressional certification of the 2020 election results. This followed weeks of former president Donald Trump’s denial of the election results and his refusal to concede, citing electoral irregularities. He and his team filed 62 election lawsuits in US courts to prove electoral malpractice. They lost 61. Staggeringly, 147 Republican…

EDITOR’S CHOICE Watch The Loudest Voice (Showmax) It’s been a long time since I’ve reacted to a TV show with anger and disgust. But that’s how great The Loudest Voice is. It elicits this emotion because it’s mainly about the despicable actions of the late Fox News CEO, Roger Ailes. Brilliantly portrayed by Russell Crowe, Ailes wrecks havoc on the psyche of Americans, using the channel to spread misinformation about Barack Obama and other democratic leaders. He also sexually assaults the women on the channel, while using his influence to gain control over both his staff, and political players. It is based on the 2014 book The Loudest Voice in the Room, by Gabriel Sherman. Listen Agoiweng (Let's Go) by Kebidoo Agoiweng (Let’s Go) is a dance track by musician…

MOLIFE CHATS TO Lebo Lion on business, race, the black customer and more FROM the moment I found out about Lebo Lion the founder of Beople SA, a marketing and public relations agency, I have since been hooked to her content. On a daily basis Lion gives nuggets of information and at times talks about marketing, personal branding and entrepreneurship. She is a digital maven whose viral Twitter threads, digital marketi ng expertise, and courageous conversations have led her to transform over 1000 South African start-ups and small to medium businesses, through her global top 100 iTunes podcast; The Lebo Lion Podcast. Known to deliver mindset-shifting and empowering content, Lion is disrupting the African learning landscape. She was recently honoured as one of the 40 under 40 African Business Icon…

EDITOR’S CHOICE Unathi to host online jazz series INSIDER REPORTER POPULAR singer and TV and radio personality Unathi Nkayi will host the Cape Town International Jazz Festival’s (CTIJF)’s online series, Jazz-Fix, which kicks off on February 27. Nkayi is a friend of the festival, and she performed at the CTIJF in 2012. “I’m delighted to be the host of the upcoming JazzFix online series. This is an online event music lovers won’t want to miss out on. Let’s celebrate true South African musical talent,” said Nkayi. The specially curated online series will showcase some of the best shows of the CTIJF and transport jazz lovers back to their favourite CTIJF stage, with memorable performances and all the glitz and glamour over the years. The shows will be presented on the…

REMOTE ACCESS Will it be love at first sight? DEBASHINE THANGEVELO Instagram Netflix Who’s that girl? Simone Ashley has been the name on many lips this week. Of course, how could she not be after it was announced that she has been cast in season two of Netflix’s romantic period drama, Bridgerton, and that her character, Kate Sharma, will be a game-changer? So who is this dusky beauty? Some will remember the British actress, who is of Tamil origin, as Olivia Hanan in another Netflix series, Sex Education. Right now, her steamy sex scenes, including one of her in full traditional attire, is what everyone seems to be talking about. Of course, this is clearly in anticipation of her debut in the second season, which is based on Julia…

QUICK READ FLIGHT attendant Kat Kamalani shared her hotel hacks in a Tik Tok video. Here are some of her tips: Don’t say your hotel room number out aloud There’s always that one person who will share their room number for everyone to hear, either as a way to brag about their hotel room or share it on social media. Kamalani advised against it. “Never say your hotel room number out aloud, just in case there is anyone around, and you do not want them knowing where you are staying. Always make sure that there is no one behind you when going into your room,” she said. Check to see if there is anyone inside your room Inspecting your hotel room is a safety measure every hotel guest should adopt.…

QUICK READS AIRCRAFT Brazil has announced that it will formally withdrawn its 2017 suit against the Canadian government at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over commercial aircraft subsidies. Brazil challenged the subsidies granted by the Canadian government for the launch, development and production of the C-Series aircraft by Bombardier, a Canadian manufacturer of business jets. According to the Brazilian government, the more than $3 billion granted distorted competitive conditions in the commercial aviation market and caused serious losses to Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. Bombardier’s withdrawal from the commercial aviation market, in particular the sale of its C-Series program to European company Airbus. Crypto Bitcoin is an “economic side show”; and a poor hedge against a decline in equity prices, analysts at JP Morgan said in a sobering assessment that could undercut…

JOB LOSSES Agriculture warns of devastating impact of minimum wage SIPHELELE DLUDLA siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za THE AGRICULTURAL industry has warned that the changes in the national minimum wage would cripple the sector and impact any prospects of creating further jobs. AgriSA on Friday said that its survey showed that the earnings threshold of the new minimum wage gazetted by the Department of Labour and Employment earlier this month could be devastating. AgriSA executive director Christo van der Rheede said the study found that the majority of farmers were opposed to the increase in the minimum wage. Van der Rheede said 549 out of 577 participants said they would have to exceed their budget for wages this financial year due to the new minimum wage. “They will also be halting any new job…

REAL NUMBERS We have to stop romanticising our plight PALI LEHOHLA FORTY years ago, the University of Lesotho community was very cosmopolitan with different African nationalities convening there. Many South African politicians, bureaucrats and captains of industry studied here. We stayed just outside the university campus. The campus had a bee farm, and when our places became invaded, we would go to the farm management for advice. One day, I stood there as the bees invaded my ceiling. I summoned my herd boy days strategy of smoking them out with the help of an old tyre, a bit of petrol and a match. After two hours, the unwelcome visitors were gone and the wall was left with a soot, but we had peace. Last week, I listened to the State…

QUICK READS Books The Microsoft founder, Bill Gates, warned us about pandemics. Now he’s written a new book to warn us about climate change. In the book he highlights that firstly we need need international cooperation, secondly that we need to let science to guide our efforts and thirdly that solutions should meet the needs of the people who are hardest hit. Tech US-based start-up OnwardMobility has announced its agreement to release a new Android-based BlackBerry smartphone with a physical QWERTY keyboard and 5G support in the first half of 2021. Under the terms of the agreement, BlackBerry has granted OnwardMobility the right to develop, engineer, and bring to market a BlackBerry 5G mobile device. Uber Uber has lost its battle in the Supreme Court over drivers’ rights - a…