Innholdsfortegnelse for Sunday, March 14, 2021 i Sunday Independent

VARSITY SHUTDOWN LOOMS As student fee debt estimated to be at R14 billion mounts, protests over exclusion spread across South Africa EDWIN NAIDU TERTIARY institutions throughout South Africa are braced for a nationwide shutdown as the funding crisis, accompanied by rising student protests over fees, threatens to derail the 2021 academic year. Threat of protest action comes amid a funding shortfall for universities amounting to more than R6 billion, subsequently resolved following government intervention, expected cutbacks in subsidies, and the escalating total student fee debt currently at almost R14bn. In addition, the move towards digital learning as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic has severely impacted finances of tertiary institutions throughout the country. On Friday, the South African Union of Students (Saus) handed over a list of demands to Minister…

MONARCH Covid deprives subjects from paying last respects to King SIBONISO MNGADI siboniso.mngadi@inl.co.za COVID-19 regulations will deprive thousands of Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini’s subjects and dignitaries from paying their last respect as funeral proceedings are expected to change from the normal send off due to the pandemic. The lying in state process was overturned yesterday by the royal family fearing that people would gather in numbers to view the king's body posing a risk to contract the virus. Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, Traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu Monarch, has discouraged people from flocking into the king’s palaces to send their condolences while funeral arrangements were underway. “We are faced with the reality that South Africa and the world remain within the grip of a deadly pandemic. The national regulations which…

COMMENT A man lost his life that day ... and for what? ROLAND MPOFU I WAS passing the robots between Jorissen and Melle Street in Braamfontein, Joburg on Wednesday at the height of the Wits student protests on my way home. A colleague and photographer, Itumeleng English, who was covering the protest gave me a fright with his incessant hooting and shouting my name, telling me to get into the car. When I got into the car he sped off saying he was running away from the police who were shooting the students in the next street (De Beer). But we drove back to the scene of the shooting. And when we arrived, we found a man lying on the pavement with what looked like a gun wound. To our…

MOURNING Dos and don’ts for the Zulu nation SAMKELO MTSHALI samkelo.thulasizwe@inl.co.za FOLLOWING the passing of King Goodwill Zwelithini KaBhekuzulu on Friday, the entire Zulu nation has entered a period of mourning in which several activities are forbidden until the he has been buried. Inkosi Mfanuvele Buthelezi of the Buthelezi clan in Vryheid, north of KZN, said activities such as ploughing the land was forbidden as Zulu culture dictated that the land should not be tilled until King Zwelithini has been buried. “However, we can’t say people cannot go to towns and cities and carry on with their lives or not go to work and die of hunger, but we ask that they are respectful and show humility during this time,” Inkosi Buthelezi said. He said all King Zwelithini’s children, both…

VIOLENCE Outrage over death of ‘innocent bystander’ at student protest Ramaphosa says type of resistance used by police was ‘not warranted’ during Wits demonstration against fees EDWIN NAIDU SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa led the chorus of outrage from the country’s politicians following the death of a government employee during a student protest outside the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) on March 10. The man died as students and police clashed in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. “Mthokozisi Ntumba was an innocent bystander and, indeed, even the students, much as they were protesting, the way I saw it on television, did not warrant the type of resistance and push from the police,” said Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa said he had asked the Wits University Council and its management as well as the relevant law enforcement authorities’…

Africa’s Covid-19 vaccination journey A YEAR AFTER THE FIRST CASES ON THE CONTINENT, HOPE IS BEING ROLLED OUT MALESELA MAUBANE Reuters THE phrase “prevention is better than cure” was seen in action in the past year as the world was forced to live by it in order to survive the Covid-19 pandemic. Following advice put forward by global health organisations and governments, a number of interventions were put in place to protect citizens from the unknown – a disease which spread so rapidly and changed the world so quickly that it was declared a once-in-a-lifetime threat to humanity. Messages to stay at home, wash your hands and wear a mask were reiterated. Above all, we were urged to social distance. This is how we were to protect ourselves against Covid-19. As…

ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT Solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine DR LEHLOHONOLO KENNEDY MAHLATSI THE Israel Apartheid Week (IAW) is a tool for mobilising grassroots support on the global level for the Palestinian struggle for justice and to mobilise support for strategic boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaigns to help bring an end to the inhuman apartheid system. This year it will be observed from the week of March 14 to March 21, to coincide with the South African Human Rights Day and the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The problem started on November 2, 1917, when Arthur James Balfour approved the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, effectively pledging Britain’s support for Jewish statehood, sovereignty, and control of immigration in the whole of Palestine.…

INJURY TIME STUART HESS stuart.hess@inl.co.za WE MISS FANS It’s one year since the courts, arenas and stadia of the sporting world went silent. They remained closed for about four months and for fans – at least those not in Australasia – remain closed. We miss the noise of – dare we mention this – vuvuzelas, the ‘give us a wave’ bunch that always turned up at cricket or hardy lot that turned up at Ellis Park to watch rugby even when the home team was a bit rubbish. We miss fans in SA. MTHETHWA AND ALL HIS STATEMENTS Nathi Mthethwa loves a press statement. His office will release a press statement about the minister buttering a slice of toast. This week we’ve had statements about a ‘Ministerial Advisory Team (MAT)’…

TV GUIDE TODAY Boxing: SA Super-middleweight Title: Rowan Campbell v Ryno Liebenberg (12 Rounds), 3pm, VR4 Cricket: Women’s ODI Series: India v South Africa, Fourth ODI, 5.20am, CRI; T20 International: India v England, Second T20, 3.15pm, CRI; ODI Series: Windies v Sri Lanka, Third ODI, 7.15pm, CRI Cycling: Paris-Nice, Stage 8: Nice/Nice (110.5km), 4/10pm, VR1 Golf: European Tour: Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, Day 4, 11am, ACT; Sunshine Tour: Players Championship hosted at Dainfern Golf Estate, Day 4, 12 noon, GOL; PGA Tour: The Players Championship, Day 4, 7pm, GOL Motorsport: NASCAR Cup Series: NASCAR Cup Series Race at Phoenix, 9pm, MSP Rugby: Aotearoa: Blues v Highlanders, 4.30am, RUG; Guinness Pro14: Benetton Rugby v Cardiff Blues, 2.55pm, RUG; Six Nations: Scotland v Ireland, 4.50pm, GSD, RUG; The Final Whistle, 7pm, RUG;…

STARS TANYA OBREZA Aries (March 21 - April 20) Putting your grand plans into motion could prove to be tricky this week. Pushing your agenda before it's primed to go is not a recipe for success. Activate your creativity, and let it lead you in the right direction –with art, a journal or a collage. It could generate that major a-ha moment that provides you with a key piece of the puzzle. Taurus (April 21 - May 20) Certain realisations can take time to dawn on us. The tell-tale signs often come in the form of a project or relationship that has lost its appeal. The question is: Are you really interested anymore? If you feel like letting your game drop, maybe it’s for a good reason. The planets encourage…

QUICK READ DEATH ‘DEEPLY DISTURBING’ PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has described the death of Mthokozisi Ntumba, who was shot dead during the Wits University protests on Wednesday, as deeply disturbing. Speaking at the National House of Traditional Leaders on Thursday, Ramaphosa said Ntumba’s killing had to be investigated. Ntumba, 35, was killed after leaving a medical centre in Braamfontein. He was allegedly shot several times. Efforts to resuscitate him failed and he died at the scene. | IOL See http://bit.ly/IOLMthokozisiNtumba MKHWEBANE’S JOB DETAILS DA MPs Glynnis Breytenbach and Werner Horn have succeeded in forcing Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane to reveal details of her application for a job at the State Security Agency (SSA). The Supreme Court of Appeal on Thursday overturned a Western Cape High Court ruling dismissing Breytenbach and Horn’s…

QUICK READ CALL FOR PROTEST ACTION UGANDA’S National Unity Platform opposition party leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, allowed the public – apart from journalists – to view alleged evidence of election rigging this week. This is the evidence that was withdrawn from the country’s Supreme Court. “From our tally (even with all the ballot stuffing) we beat General Museveni with 54.19% but he went on to declare himself!” Wine wrote on social media. He also called for a nationwide peaceful protest. | African News Agency (ANA) A TASTE OF AFRICA TWINS Pamela and Wendy Drew are tickling San Franciscan taste buds with South African cuisine. The sisters are the brains behind food company Amawele – which means ‘twins’ in Zulu and Xhosa – and have been treating residents…

VACCINE CONSRIRACY Theories act as an early warning system VUYOLWETHU FUNDAM Vuyolwethu.Fundam@africannewsagency.com REBUILDING trust in public institutions and systems is what is needed to combat Covid-19 vaccine conspiracy theories, says senior futurist Dr Njeri Mwagiru of the Institute for Futures Research at the University of Stellenbosch Business School. There are numerous myths about the vaccine, that it is unsafe, that they change one’s DNA and are used by businesses to boost their profits. These myths have caused uncertainty, making the public hesitant to get vaccinated and hindering the government’s target of achieving herd immunity against Covid-19. Mwagiru said the spread of misinformation was damaging to public health, individual well-being and overall societal peace and order. “Conspiracy theories and beliefs thrive when the social contract is weak, when the public lacks…

TRAVEL WORLD CAME TO A STANDSTILL A year of challenges and lessons CLINTON MOODLEY Pexels THE year 2020 started on a high note for the travel industry, with many travellers hoping to catch flights and explore new destinations. But that all changed when coronavirus was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March. The virus, first identified amid an outbreak of respiratory illness cases in Wuhan City in China in December 2019, later spread to most parts of Asia, Europe and the US. By March 2020, it slowly made its way to Africa and South Africa. The travel world came to a standstill. Many airlines stopped flying to high-risk Covid-19 areas and many countries imposed travel bans. Travellers, fearful of contracting the virus, postponed their upcoming trips.…

TRAVEL SECTOR Industry shares impact and tips CLINTON MOODLEY ENVER Duminy, chief executive of Cape Town Tourism, said it had been tough keeping the industry motivated during Covid-19. “There have been major job losses over the last year with many businesses closing down, especially the SMMEs within tourism. “While this year has been tough, it inspired many. We see small businesses do all that they can to support others even while they are struggling. This year has brought the tourism industry and the communities that we serve closer together. When we emerge from this pandemic, our industry will be stronger and more resilient than ever before,” he said. Sisa Ntshona, chief executive of South African Tourism, said the industry was resilient. “The sector is resilient. It will recover. It will…

MANUFACTURING How much profit has been made by vaccine makers? RUDOLPH NKGADIMA and KELLY JANE TURNER PHARMACEUTICAL companies around the world raced to develop Covid-19 vaccines and in under 10 months they were able to cross the finish line in record time. The development of Covid-19 vaccines has generated billions of dollars for pharmaceutical companies. Here, we look at how much profit has been made by vaccine manufacturers: 1 Pfizer and BioNTech Pfizer's latest earnings report notes that Covid-19 vaccine (Comirnaty) profits are split 50-50 with BioNTech. The company anticipates approximately R22 trillion ($15 billion) in revenue from its vaccine in 2021, which will represent nearly 30% of company revenue overall. Based on the current deals the company is expected to supply up to 1.3billion doses of the vaccine worldwide…

COVID-19 AND ME ... 4 stars and coaches recount how they were personally affected 1 Cape Town City star Thabo Nodada “Having tested positive, I can testify that this virus is no joke. It has swept the globe in a nasty way and we are going to feel the effects of it for years to come. “I felt slightly weaker than normal, it wasn’t a great feeling. Not having a sense of taste and smell is a scary thing. Having to deal with all of that in isolation makes things even worse. “The results of Covid have been evident in my daily life. I have been affected as well as family who work in different industries, so I know it’s not just us in the football fraternity. For us,…

STREAMING The rise of streaming services WESLEY DIPHOKO wesley.diphoko@inl.co.za COVID-19 has been bad for most businesses except for some digital businesses such as streaming services. Netflix has been one of the most obvious winners, with millions of people streaming films and TV shows while forced to stay home. Netflix reported that almost 16million people created accounts in the first three months of the year. That is almost double the new sign-ups it saw in the final months of 2019. The home entertainment giant's share price has climbed more than 30% in 2020 as investors bet on its ability to benefit from people spending more time indoors. Europe, the Middle East and Africa accounted for the largest number of new members, with almost 7million new subscribers. Growth in the US and…

EDITOR’S NOTE HOW RESILIENT SA IS BRINGING THE RAINBOW BACK INTO OUR NATION BUHLE MBONAMBI THE anniversary of the arrival of Covid-19 in South Africa comes at a time when I, and so many others, are reeling from the losses of the past year. It has been a year that has seen the world endure an event of catastrophic proportions, yet we all tried to put on a brave face and make things work. We have lived, and are living, through unspeakable loss, be it the death of our loved ones, job losses, business closures or being alone. This will be a period we look back on years from now and wonder how we survived. For many of us, Covid-19 drained the colour from our lives. As the number of…

DIVORCE Zuma to pay R95K alimony LETHU NXUMALO THE Pietermaritzburg High Court has ordered former president Jacob Zuma to pay monthly maintenance of R95 000 to his soon to be ex-wife, Tobeka Madiba-Zuma. Zuma, a polygamist, will also be liable for all private school-related fees for their minor child and is expected to make an initial contribution of R50 000 within 10 days towards the former first lady’s legal costs. The former first lady filed an urgent interim maintenance application pending finalisation of their divorce. She initially sought R170 000 for her upkeep but the amount was revised to R145 000 by her legal team. She told the court that since 2018 her husband had stopped making her car payments resulting in her Audi Q7 being repossessed. Her list of…

‘DEAN OF AFRICAN LETTERS’ HONOURED Es’kia Mphahlele’s works showcased at Market Theatre DR TSHEPO MVULANE MOLOI THE MEMORY of Professor Ezekiel Letoba Mazwi Mphahlele (1919-2008) or “Es’kia” or “Zeke”, was rekindled throughout February at The Market Theatre in Newtown, Gauteng. The origin of the nickname “Zeke” remains elusive, unlike that of “Es’kia”. After almost two decades (1959-1977) in self-exile, in defiance of the apartheid regime, when arriving back in South Africa – what Mphahlele called “the tyranny of place” in 1977 – he decolonised his name from the biblically derived Hebrew “Ezekiel” to “Es’kia”, which embraced his Africanism. The decision is prudently recorded in Mphahlele’s last interview (published in the now defunct South African literary journal Wordsetc) to journalist Madala Thepa. Mphahlele argued that “Es’kia is Sotho ... So in…

MOURNERS SHARE THEIR GRIEF AFTER DEATH OF KING GOODWILL ZWELETHINI A time of darkness, great sorrow SAMKELO MTSHALI samkelo.thulasizwe@inl.co.za KING Goodwill Zwelithini KaBhekuzulu’s death on Friday has been described by mourners in the Zululand area, in the north of KwaZulu-Natal, as a moment of darkness and great sorrow that has engulfed the entire Zulu nation. The royal family yesterday appealed to mourners not to travel to Nongoma to pay their respects and said a special official funeral for the king would be broadcast live. The family also said the king would not lie in state at the royal palace as it would be “unconscionable to allow his majesty's passing the become the cause of further deaths”. The death of his majesty, who succumbed to a diabetes-related illness, aged 72, was…

CONDOLENCES Tributes pour in from around globe BALDWIN NDABA AND LETHU NXUMALO THE UN and various countries in the world have joined the South African people in paying tribute to King Goodwill Zwelithini of the Zulu kingdom. King Zwelithini died at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital following Covid-19 related complications in the early hours of Friday and his death sent shock waves not only throughout South Africa but to the neighbouring kingdoms of Lesotho, and eSwatini, as well as other African countries. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres passed his condolences to the people of South Africa, close relatives and family of King Zwelithini. The US embassy in the country was also among the countries that paid tribute to Zwelithini. “During his over 50-year reign, King Zwelithini was a strong steward and…

PRESSURE Cities buckling under Covid-19 pandemic MANYANE MANYANE manyane.manyane@inl.co.za COVID-19 has added more financial strain to the metro-municipalities that were already battling to generate enough revenue to provide service delivery. The 2020 State of Cities Finance Report released by the SA Cities Network (SACN) this week showed that the cities’ finances status had worsened. The biennial report examines the finances of nine metro municipalities: Joburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Nelson Mandela Bay, Cape Town, eThekwini, Buffalo City, Msunduzi and Mangaung. SACN said the cities were finding it hard to raise sufficient revenue to cover their mandates as a result of structural issues within the local government fiscal framework (LGFF), and the deteriorating macro-economic environment in which they operate. “Cities are already operating in an unstable and difficult macro-economic environment, and this year…

DIAGNOSIS Breathalyser test for Covid-19 a possibility NATHAN CRAIG nathan.craig@inl.co.za IMAGINE a breathalyser or pregnancy test which, instead of their traditional functions, tested for Covid-19. These are the biotechnological strides being made by a local team utilising nanobodies for rapid antibody testing to detect and in the future potentially treat Covid-19. Nucleic acid testing, the primary Covid-19 method, requires a laboratory, trained personnel and closed proprietary systems which can hamper access, but these new advances hope to avoid these hurdles. Professor Tahir Pillay, head of pathology and chemical pathology at the University of Pretoria, the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Professor Anil Chuturgoon, Bettina Chale-Matsau a pathologist from the National Health Laboratory Service and businessman Reggie Govender are the team behind MikroMab Diagnostics – the company with the latest innovation. Chuturgoon described…

OPINION Thankfully, policy is back on Ramaphosa’s agenda VUSI GUMEDE AMID all the noises in our society, some indeed very important noises, it is comforting to see policy firmly back on the agenda. Having resuscitated the policy unit that was disbanded by the Zuma administration, the Ramaphosa administration has been pursuing many initiatives that bring policy co-ordination back on the agenda. Mbeki, while deputy president, established a policy unit that undertook policy co-ordination working with directors-general. It grew to be a force to be reckoned with, especially as it was perceived to be close to him when he was president. It must have also helped that Joel Netshitenzhe was its head because there were only about 20 policy analysts. In 2010 the Zuma administration replaced the policy unit with a…

TENNIS ’Djokovic can extend No 1 record to 400 weeks’ NOVAK Djokovic is capable of extending his record for holding the men's world No.1 ranking for most weeks to 400, said Russia's Daniil Medvedev who will climb up to a career-best ranking of second on Monday. The 33-year-old Djokovic, who won his 18th Grand Slam at the Australian Open last month, eclipsed Roger Federer's record on March 8 when he moved past the Swiss to hold the top ranking for the 311th week. "First of all, it's an unbelievable achievement," Medvedev said after reaching the semi-finals of the ATP 250 event in Marseille on Friday. "I think in the world of tennis we talk about Grand Slams more than anything else. But this is also a small competition, I'm sure…

SOCCER Chelsea slip up against Leeds THOMAS Tuchel remains unbeaten after 12 matches as Chelsea manager, but his side's lack of firepower meant they had to settle for a goalless draw at Leeds United in the Premier League yesterday. Chelsea remain in fourth place, and are two points off third-placed Leicester City who have a game in hand. Leeds had an early effort from Tyler Roberts ruled out for offside and then Chelsea came close thanks to a mess-up in the Leeds defence. Luke Ayling blasted a clearance into teammate Diego Llorente and the ball struck the bar before falling into the arms of keeper Illan Meslier. Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy did well to tip a curling shot from Roberts against the bar and had to be on alert several…

CRICKET Proteas on the brink of series record ZAAHIER ADAMS THE Proteas Women's team have an opportunity to make history in Lucknow today. The visitors have never won a series in India and after Friday's thrilling chase lead the five-match series 2-1 heading into the fourth ODI. A victory today will put the Proteas into an unassailable position. It would be a major achievement for Hilton Moreeng's team building towards the World Cup next year. Furthermore, it will continue their development after also winning in New Zealand for the first time last year. A major sign of the maturity the team is displaying is the fact they are not focusing on the records just yet. "At this moment, we are not thinking about the series win. To be honest, it…

COVID-19 FACT BOX • Covid-19 derives from a large family of corona-viruses which is respiratory viruses causing illnesses such as SARS and MERS. • The novel coronavirus was officially named Covid-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO). • There are currently more than 119 million Covid-19 cases worldwide. • The novel Covid-19 strain first detected in Wuhan, China only caused fatal respiratory disease in 2% of those affected. The world is currently fighting various potently-mutated strains. • Covid-19 can survive on surfaces such as plastic and stainless steel for up to three days and up to 24 hours on cardboard. • Studies found that blood type O may be least susceptible to Covid-19 infection. • Covid-19 has been detected in faeces and urine of some patients. • One of the…

COVID-19 Abdool Karim reflects on lessons learnt KUBEN CHETTY A YEAR after the identification of the first patient with Covid-19 symptoms in South Africa, and as the country continues to deal with the effects of the pandemic and the more than 50 000 deaths, we spoke to world-renowned clinical infectious diseases epidemiologist and co-chairperson of the ministerial advisory committee on Covid-19, Professor Salim Abdool Karim. The professor reflected on the milestones and challenges in dealing with the virus. There were many milestones achieved in the fight against the pandemic. What was the first crucial one? The first was when the president declared the state of disaster and then shortly thereafter declared the lock-down. That was a seminal point in the epidemic because it indicated that we were taking this disease…

TURKEY Economy has weakened Erdogan’s hand in Africa BOBBY GHOSH IT IS not like Recep Tayyip Erdogan to eschew the spotlight, much less an opportunity to strut on the world stage. And yet, Turkey's president passed up on pageantry when a pair of West African heads of state paid him court in Istanbul on January 30. Erdogan’s meeting with Senegal’s Macky Sall and Guinea Bissau’s Umaro Sissco Embalo took place behind closed doors; afterward, there was little to show for the event other than a few vapid photographs. Perhaps the absence of pomp was the point. After all, Turkey’s relations with sub-Saharan Africa, once touted as proof of Ankara’s growing international reach, have matured to a point where visits by heads of state require no fanfare. But just as likely,…

QUICK READ SHANTIVAX – A VACCINE FOR AFRICA BY AFRICA As the developing world faces disparities in vaccine distribution and availability, the development of Shantivax – Africa’s first Covid-19 vaccine – could be a game-changer. This is according to the chief executive of Genlab, Kamsellin Chetty. The Gqeberha-based immunotherapy company has joined forces with Danish biotechnology company Immunitrack to design and develop the vaccine. According to Chetty Shanti is the ancient Sanskrit word for peace. He said he was happy with the way the vaccine prototype had been designed. The “next generation” vaccine has evolved from current vaccines to be safer and more effective. It will elicit antibodies and T-cells. Clinical trials for the vaccine would take place within the next 10 months, he said, and would be split between…

EDITOR’S CHOICE Pandemic preparedness: Is South Africa ready for a third wave? KELLY JANE TURNER kelly.turner@africannewsagency.com WHILE the Covid-19 vaccines continue to be rolled out to health-care workers across the country, experts believe that a third wave is inevitable and South Africa could be better prepared this time around. Experts including Professor Salim Abdool Karim, co-chairperson of the Covid-19 ministerial advisory committee and the South African Medical Association (Sama) chairperson, Dr Angelique Coetzee, estimate a third wave could arrive in June or July. The Easter weekend next month is likely to be a contributing factor to the rise in cases if South Africans host mass gatherings with poor ventilation and do not adhere to mask wearing and sanitising. Coetzee said the country could be better equipped to handle a third…

QUICK READ OLYMPICS TOKYO OLYMPICS CHIEF INVOKES POWER OF SPORT Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto highlighted the power of sport as she expressed condolences on the anniversary of a deadly earthquake and tsunami, saying it provided hope for survivors and in facing the coronavirus. On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck off northeast Japan, triggering a tsunami that devastated the region and caused a meltdown at a nuclear plant in Fukushima. About 20000 people were killed. On Thursday Hashimoto said the power of sport had become a focus of Tokyo’s bid for the Games after the disaster and that the concept could be extended to facing the coronavirus pandemic. The Olympics, postponed by a year because of the pandemic, are scheduled for July 23 to August 8 and…

QUICK READ START UPS AN AFRICAN UNICORN HAS BEEN BORN African payments company Flutterwave announced that it has closed $170 million, valuing the company over $1 billion. Launched in 2016 as a Nigerian and U.S.-based payments company with offices in Lagos and San Francisco, Flutterwave helps businesses build customizable payments applications through its APIs. The company, which also helps businesses outside Africa to expand their operations on the continent, has an impressive clientele of international companies, including Booking.com, Facebook, Flywire, and Uber. Flutterwave says more than 290,000 businesses use its platform to carry out payments. GAMING EPIC GAMES CHALLENGE GOOGLE Epic Games Inc. filed a lawsuit against Google in Australia, widening a fight against the tech giant over the commissions charged in its app store. The maker of Fortnite is…

ISSUES OUTA said its legal team has identified the following problems with the new regulations ◆The electronic delivery of Aarto notices (via SMS or email) presents an unacceptable risk for motorists who may overlook them. ◆While proposed regulations stipulate that drivers, whose licences will be suspended due to the accumulation of the maximum demerit points, may be informed by registered post or electronic means, the Act says only registered post may be used. This makes the regulation void, as it cannot amend legislation. ◆Prescriptions around rehabilitation programmes to get drivers’ licences back are too vague and ambiguous. ◆The prescribed appeals process, where decisions can be reviewed or appealed, will more than likely result in administrative backlogs as the single Appeals Tribunal, run by a chairperson and eight part-time members, will…

MKHIZE Ded icated to service of the poor, peacemaker SIYABONGA MKHWANAZI siyabonga.mkhwanazi@inl.co.za HEALTH Minister Zweli Mkhize has paid tribute to King Goodwill Zwelithini saying he was a great ambassador for the country, a peacemaker and a champion of the poor. Mkhize said yesterday King Zwelithini promoted a number of projects to uplift the poor. He said King Zwelithini was involved in projects related to the fight against HIV/Aids and was held in high regard and loved by many. He also described him as a selfless leader who dedicated his life to the people. The minister said he was saddened when he heard of King Zwelithini’s passing. “His Majesty was a great ambassador for our country, who used the Royal House to facilitate investment in agriculture, education and socio-economic development. “He…

OPINION Probe into Mbati allegations continues EDWIN NAIDU edwin.naidu@live.co.za AS SOUTH African higher education institutions grapple with increasing challenges over a tardy and tumultuous start to the academic year, legislators in the National Assembly have spent the past three weeks grilling an embattled university boss on sexual harassment claims and other charges he had already been cleared of. The reopening of a probe into claims of improper conduct against Professor Peter Mbati, the former University of Venda vice-chancellor, came soon after his appointment as head of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, formerly known as the Medical University of South Africa, on June 1, 2020. The portfolio committee on higher education, science and technology, an oversight committee in the National Assembly, launched an inquiry on July 17, 2020, concluding the first…

RUGBY TRAGEDY 'These people are quiet as if my son was a dog … ' MANYANE MANYANE manyane.manyane@inl.co.za LUMKA M’belle, the mother of the late star rugby player Thabang M’belle, who was a pupil at Potchefstroom High School for Boys in North West, is still fighting for justice 19 years after her son died after he had sustained a concussion in an earlier match but was still allowed to play by the school’s rugby coach. In 2002, Thabang was only 18 and in his matric year. His rugby career was on the rise because he was playing for the Junior Springbok team. Before that fateful day, doctors had advised the boy not to participate in further matches until told otherwise, but the school coach allegedly ignored the doctor’s orders and…

OPINION Trust vital to success of people in business ZUNAID MOTI FOR centuries, the rules of engagement in commerce and industry have not changed. Dating back as far as the ancient and medieval times, trust was one of the most important factors when merchants engaged in an agreement. Whether they entered into a verbal agreement or a handshake deal, which are both still legally binding today, traders adopted a body of customary rules and principles that drove every transaction. While Mercantile Law was only formally established in the late 1800s, a relationship based on trust and ethics has always been one of the key drivers of entering into a contract, which still underpins the way principled business is conducted today. When I started the Moti Group in the early 1990s,…

CORRUPTION Gift that will keep taking: Steinhoff, PwC captured NPA THEMBA GODI HENK KRUGER African News Agency (ANA) STEINHOFF must sit on two equally shameful horns of a dilemma. The company made around R30 million available for a forensic investigation into itself. Either the money is a gift to the state, or it is an investment related to the core business of Steinhoff. Both scenarios get it into trouble. Here is how. If it is a gift, then Steinhoff is in trouble because it should not be gifting money to others while it is under enormous financial distress with legitimate claimants waiting to be duly compensated in light of the gigantic historic fraud that led to the near collapse of this corporate giant. It would amount to a fundamental breach of…

RUGBY Five players looking bright for Rainbow Cup THE Preparation Series is mostly about the former Super Rugby teams exploring their depth and readying themselves for next month’s Rainbow Cup with the current PRO 14 teams. Midway through the Series, MIKE GREENAWAY looks at five players that have enhanced their reputations. Grant Williams The Sharks scrum-half has long been rated by coach Sean Everitt since arriving at Jonsson Kings Park straight out of school at Paarl Gimnasium. But he was initially plagued by injuries and then had little opportunity last year when rugby was so heavily disrupted. Now the 24-year-old has been given ample game time in the Sharks’ matches against Griquas and the Cheetahs and he has made the most of it. He is a nippy scrum-half and blisteringly…

SOCCER Chilli Boys too hot for Rich Boys GOALS from Anthony Laffor and Maloisane Mokhele brought an end to Richards Bay FC’s dream run in the Nedbank Cup as they were downed 2-0 by Chippa United in a quarter-final clash at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane yesterday. The KwaZulu-Natal side who downed Kaizer Chiefs and TS Sporting en route to their clash against Chippa were punished as early as the seventh minute when Moses Mthembu committed a comical error by passing the ball straight to Laffor when the Liberian was in a dangerous position for Chippa. Though the 36-year-old Laffor could not wrap his foot around the ball as he would have hoped, he got enough on the ball to slot it past the Richards Bay keeper and give…

PANDEMIC TOLL ON PEOPLE AND SYSTEMS IN SA Dhlomo warns of long-term impact SIYABONGA MKHWANAZI BONGANI MBATHA African News Agency (ANA) THE Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, has expressed concern over the long-term psychological impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on ordinary South Africans and urged them to seek help to navigate this impact. “South Africans must not underestimate the impact of Covid-19 on individuals, families and society. Some of the psychosocial issues are going to remain with us for some time and therefore people must not underestimate this impact. “They must seek to be closer to social workers, psychologists and faith-based individuals who can assist them to navigate these challenges,” he said. Dhlomo also said that Covid-19 has opened up the country and healthcare…

QUICK READ Africa THE Forbes Woman Africa Awards 2021 announced the winners of the most influential women on the continent this week. OkayAfrica reported that the former president of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, received a Lifetime Achievement Award. The other award winners included Kenyan comedian Elsa Majimbo (Entertainer of the Year), Ada Osakwe (Business Woman), Hellen Obiri (Sport), Prof Rudo Mathivha (Academic Excellence), Temie Giwa Tubosun (Technology & Innovation), Isabella Kamariza (Social Impact) and Rabia Ghoor (Young Achievers). | African News Agency (ANA) Space CHINA and Russia are collaborating on building a lunar space station. The China National Space Administration and Russian space agency, Roscosmos, signed an agreement this week for the construction of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) on the moon or on the lunar orbit. In December…

QUICK READ SANCTIONS FOR ISIS GROUPS THE US has designated the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique affiliates of jihadist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) as terrorists and slapped financial sanctions on them and blocked all the property and other interests of these groups and their leaders that were subject to US jurisdiction. American citizens were also prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them. ISIS launched the Islamic State Central Africa Province in April 2019. | Africa News Agency (ANA) IVORIAN PRIME MINISTER DIES IVORY Coast faced shock and uncertainty following the death of Prime Minister Hamed Bakayoko, pictured, this week. Bakayoko, 56, has died of cancer in Freiburg, Germany on Wednesday, the Ivorian Presidency said. He is the nation’s second premier to die in…

ESCAPISM 5 TV shows that got us through the pandemic 1 RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE SEASON 12 When it comes to reality TV, RuPaul’s Drag Race is a global sensation and 2020 was no different. Season 12 was an experience for viewers and the queens. Not only did the pandemic hit by the second episode, resulting in the queens missing out on the viewing parties and tours, Sherry Pie was accused of sexual assault which meant she had to be edited out of the show. Nonetheless, it was still enjoyable, and since it was filmed in 2019, except for the finale – when Jaida Essence Hall was crowned the winner on Zoom – once a week we could watch a show that wasn’t about the pandemic. 2 THE UNDOING In this…

ROCK BOTTOM Travel agent went from busiest month ever to zero income CLINTON MOODLEY FEBRUARY 2020 had been Travel Savvy owner Jennifer Morris’s busiest month during her 16-year career. A day before the first case of Covid-19 hit South Africa last March, Morris wanted to expand her Durban travel agency and flirted with the idea of hiring more consultants to help meet the rising demand. In her words, “Business was booming”. Everything changed when the pandemic hit. Morris said she went from “hero to zero” in a matter of days. She had to deal with changes and cancellations on existing bookings, frantically tried to get those travelling to international destinations back home due to border closures and dealt with the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. By April, she had zero…

INFLUENCIAL PEOPLE WE LOST TO THE PANDEMIC How Covid-19 ‘brain drain’ has affected South Africa KELLY JANE TURNER kelly.turner@africannewsagency.com NOKUTHULA MBATHA African News Agency (ANA) THE Covid-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on the global economy and South Africa could be further affected by a Covid-19 “brain drain” where many business owners, influential people, health-care workers and breadwinners of homes have lost their lives due to the virus. South Africa has recorded 1.52 million Covid-19 cases and almost 51 000 deaths. While it is difficult to estimate the exact extent of economic damages and mortality impacts, experts say that the virus could negatively affect the economy. Chief executive of local consulting firm SE AdvisoryDr Bheki Mfeka has called for government to release official demographic figures and details of…

INNOVATION Ghana used drones to take vaccines to remote areas WESLEY DIPHOKO wesley.diphoko@inl.co.za Zipline web GHANA became the first country in the world to receive a consignment of Covid-19 vaccines by drone. The COVAX doses, which had arrived in Accra a week earlier as part of a cargo of 600 000 vaccines manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, were collected by health workers after a precisely-targeted parachute drop. By day’s end, Zipline, the world’s first national-scale drone delivery service, had dropped a total of 36 deliveries of Covid-19 vaccines, facilitating 4 500 vaccinations. The UPS Foundation, Zipline and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, first teamed up to deliver vaccines by drone across Ghana almost two years ago for immunisation and other health purposes. For Gavi, the aim was to support…