Innholdsfortegnelse for Sunday, March 21, 2021 i Sunday Independent

PATRICK LUNGUZA CASE Language barrier delays SA undertaker’s case BULELWA PAYI bulelwa.payi@inl.co.za TRACEY ADAMS African News Agency (ANA) THE court case of a South African undertaker, detained in Mozambique, has faced numerous delays because of the language barrier. Patrick Lunguza, 53, of Hillview near Lavender Hill has been in custody for a month after he was charged with assisting in the transportation of illegal immigrants. Lunguza is imprisoned at a police station in Tete, Mozambique and court proceedings take place at Tribunal Judicial, da Cidade de in Tete where only Portuguese is spoken. Tete is approximately 1 500 kilometres from Maputo. During Lunguza’s three court appearances, a translator was not available. The family have pleaded with the Department of International Relations Co-operation (Dirco) for assistance. But the department has advised…

COMMENT Is regenerative tourism another buzzword? KENEILWE SARAH MIFFIE THE past year has altered how we do things. From how we work, how we shop, and how we interact. Covid-19 has also changed how we do business, to even how we travel. As a result, we had to embrace the new norm. Wearing a mask at all times, sanitising, and of course, social distancing. A few months ago, you could travel to the coast, though you were only allowed to stare at the beach, and not go anywhere near it. This is only from a traveller’s perspective. The bigger picture is more heartbreaking. The tourism and hospitality industries were some of the hardest hit by the pandemic. To this day, most business owners are still picking up the pieces. As…

ZONDO COMMISSION Zuma defiance in ‘bad faith’ LOYISO SIDIMBA loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za MIKE HUTCHINGS Reuters FORMER president Jacob Zuma’s showdown with the state capture commission is headed to the Constitutional Court with the commission demanding a jail sentence for his defiance. The highest court in the land will hear the application by the commission on Thursday. Zuma has not filed any papers to oppose the application. This week, the commission filed papers where it accused Zuma of undermining the judiciary, its integrity and authority. According to papers filed at the Constitutional Court this week, the commission, headed by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, believes that Zuma’s defiance of the inquiry is calculated to undermine public trust in the judiciary and the administration of justice, and is contemptuous. ”The seriousness of the threat that…

COMMENT Does the DA hope to control Independent Media? SIZWE DLAMINI THE Parliament’s standing committee on finance (SCoF) on Wednesday heard how Independent Media was faced with a hostile media environment shortly after being acquired by Sekunjalo Independent Media Consortium (SIM). This was during a presentation by Independent Media’s executives, led by the chief investment officer Takudzwa Hove, after a submission by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni to the committee. A submission that has been described by nay-sayers as an “off-the-cuff suggestion”, leaving one wondering if the minister was in the business of making “off-the-cuff suggestions” to the august house. EFF MP Floyd Shivambu clarified that the SCoF, as part of processing the Mpati Commission report, decided to listen to the affected companies as well as those that had written to…

COMMENT Media peddling fake news online to attract readers STEVE MOTALE THE tradition of collecting, processing, verifying and then sharing information with the public seems to have been abandoned by journalism professionals, and instead, “journalists” and otherwise respected news houses – in a frenzied panic of losing their watchdog role to social media – are now mimicking the information sharing methods of Twitter influencers. This has created an environment where we are now at the mercy of identity-less accounts that are now shaping the national discourse and to some extent taking over journalists’ sacrosanct role of being the mouthpiece of society. With this backdrop, it is not surprising then, that to attract and retain the attention of online users, respected media houses have imbibed these unrefined social media practices. A…

WHY ARE BLACK LAW ENFORCERS HARDER ON BACK PEOPLE? South Africa: the more things change … TSHEPO MATSEBA Picture: Oupa Mokoena/African News Agency(ANA) THE adverse effects of police brutality on black lives is clear – the country’s brand needs more humane policing, in line with the Constitution. Looking at major and not-so major events that have taken place in post-apartheid South Africa involving protesting crowds – which have almost always consisted of black people – and the security agencies, especially the SAPS and the SANDF, it is becoming harder to argue against those who claim that black protesters tend to receive harsher, less humane, treatment than protesters from other racial groups, especially where whites are involved. All of this happens under an ANCled government that is generally taken to understand “black…

TV GUIDE TODAY Cricket: Paytm Women’s T20 International: India v South Africa, Second T20, 3.20pm, CRI; Test Series: Windies v Sri Lanka, First Test, Day 1, 3.45pm, VR1, cri (7.30pm) Golf: European Tour: Magical Kenya Open, Day 4, 11.30am, ACT; Sunshine Tour: Gauteng Championship presented by Betway, Day 4, 12 noon, GOL; PGA Tour: The Honda Classic, Day 4, 7pm, GOL Motorsport: Supercars Championship: Sandown SuperSprint, Race 5, 6.45am, MSP; Sandown SuperSprint, Race 4, 7.50am, MSP; NASCAR Cup Series; Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, 8.35pm, MSP Rugby: Aotearoa: Blues v Crusaders, 4.30am, RUG; Guinness Pro14: Dragons v Glasgow Warriors, 4.55pm, RUG; The Final Whistle, 7pm, RUG; Gallagher Premiership: Sale Sharks v London Irish, 4.55pm, GSD Soccer: Serie A: Verona v Atalanta, 1.20pm, FTB; Juventus v Benevento, 3.50pm, FTB; Udinese v…

INJURY TIME STUART HESS stuart.hess@inl.co.za MEMBERS COUNCIL At some point, Injury Times would like to think that those provincial presidents serving on the Members Council who are so desperate that they should hold the majority number of seats on Cricket SA’s new Board of Directors, will get tired of arguing. The rest of us are. The thing is, it beggars belief that they cannot see that the structure of the administration they are so desperate to hang onto has not worked. The proof is there; a commission of inquiry set up by the government in 2010 because of the bonus scandal, a forensic investigation in 2020 (just last year) because administrative oversight was lacking and again following that, the government had to step in to put in place mechanisms to…

T20 CRICKET Red-hot Proteas keep foot on pedal in India ZAAHIER ADAMS INDIA: 130/6 (Deol 52, Rodrigues 30, Ismail 3/14, Bosch 2/11) South Africa: 133/2 (Bosch 66*, Luus 43, Arundhati 1/20) South Africa won by 8 wickets THE Proteas Women's team’s glorious Indian summer continued in Lucknow yesterday with a tense victory in the first T20I. Having dominated the preceding five-match ODI series 4-1, Sune Luus's side took this momentum into the shorter format. It enabled them to get over the line when the 131-run target was reduced to 10 required off the final 11 deliveries. But such is the confidence in the Proteas Women's team dressing room at the moment that the result was never really in doubt. Anneke Bosch is feeding off this energy as the all-rounder…

STARS TANYA OBREZA Aries (March 21 - April 20) Deciding whether or not to give someone another shot is difficult this week. Expect some uneven emotions, as you initially succeed in going with the flow, only to perhaps change your mind again…and again. You might also get mixed signals and wonder whether or not you’re making a mistake. For now, it could be hard to tell. Taurus (April 21 - May 20) You often keep others guessing, assuming that if someone cares enough they’ll either know your mind or ask the right questions. This week is different - you volunteer information, minus the sugar-coating and clever word play. That’s refreshing and appreciated when we’re all in such close quarters. Gemini (May 21 - June 21) Recent planetary shenanigans may have…

APARTHEID CRIMES Holding perpetrators accountable key to victims IMTIAZ CAJEE APRIL 27, 1994, heralded the beginning of a new dawn in South Africa. Decades of white minority rule entrenched with apartheid’s racial segregation laws had ended. The Government of National Unity established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that was set up under the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, No. 34 of 1995: “… a commission is a necessary exercise to enable South Africans to come to terms with their past on a morally accepted basis and to advance the cause of reconciliation,”said former justice minister Dullah Omar. South Africa avoided going the Nuremberg trials option that severely punished perpetrators for crimes committed during World War II, but rather opted for the TRC, seeking truth and healing as…

JUDICIAL CONDUCT Gibson stoops low with Mogoeng call to defy JCC IQBAL JASSAT DOUGLAS Gibson’s call to Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng to defy the ruling by the Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC) against him, is an arrogant display of utter disrespect and may be construed to be a call for anarchy. That it comes from a former MP belonging to the opposition DA party, and having served on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) – it is shocking to read that Gibson would steep to such a low level in utter disregard for the rule of law. Having read Gibson’s misplaced arguments which obfuscate the core reasons why Johannesburg Judge President Phineas Mojapelo, who headed the JCC panel, ruled in favour of the applicants, I am not surprised. Gibson’s tenure in opposition…

QUICK READ FASHION Sneaker craze is uniting the country MICHELLE GUMEDE Unsplash PICTURE: Twitter FOR South Africa’s city dwellers, sneakers are more than just shoes. As a marker of personality as well as social status, they are cared for and worn with pride, and youths compete to hunt down the rarest models from a market flooded with old and new sneakers – including many fakes. “Sneakers kind of tell your story,” graffiti artist Rasik “Mr.ekse” Green said. He uses his graffiti designs to redecorate and personalise sneakers. The shoes are often an expression of geographic roots in a country with 12 official languages and dozens of ethnicities. “For instance, we know Capetonians love their bubbles,” said Green, referring to a chunky, thick-soled Nike design. And residents of Soweto “love their…

JACK OF ALL TRADES Sisanda Henna talks hustle, success and desire DEBASHINE THANGEVELO SISANDA Henna can proudly brag about his successes as an actor, director and producer. And rightfully so. At 39, this is an accomplishment in the cut-throat showbiz industry. Although he recently made his feature film directorial debut with One Night Kwa Mxolisi, a Showmax original for Mzansi Magic, he’s been honing his craft behind the camera for several years now. As much as his journey continues to be fuelled by an irrepressible hunger and passion to hone his craft in different aspects of filmmaking, failure has been an integral part of the learning process. And he owns it. I’ve watched Henna in silent admiration for several years now. After a few failed attempts at a tête-à-tête,…

EDITOR’S CHOICE WATCH Raya and the Last Dragon (In cinemas) In the fantasy world of Kumandra, humans and dragons lived together in harmony. However, when sinister monsters known as the Druun threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, Druun have returned, and it's up to Raya to track down the last dragon and stop the Druun for good. STREAM Tehran (Apple +) A Mossad agent goes undercover on her first mission in Iran's capital, which also happens to be the place of her birth; the mission has implications not just for the Middle East, but for the rest of the world. LISTEN Leave The Door Open by Silk Sonic Anderson. Paak and Bruno Mars have teamed up to bring us what is sure…

EDITOR’S CHOICE STAY Umhlanga Arch’s 4-star Hilton Garden Inn is the first Garden Inn property in South Africa. The 207-room hotel was launched in November. It boasts an array of amenities, including The Shop, a 24-hour, self-service retail space, an outdoor heated swimming pool with ocean views, a fitness centre and a self-service laundry room that’s open 24 hours a day. Located at 1 Ncondo Place, Umhlanga Ridge. See www.hilton.com/en/hilton-garden-inn/. KELLY KHUMALO IN MOZAMBIQUE Singer and TV personality Kelly Khumalo gave us serious travel FOMO during her recent trip to Maputo and Ponta do Ouro in Mozambique. The star shared a few of her holiday snaps on Instagram. In Maputo, she visited Praça da Independência (Independence Square). She snapped pictures in front of a statue of the first president of…

RECORD SEASON FOR EXPORT Citrus industry predicts another year of growth GIVEN MAJOLA given.majola@inl.co.za THE CITRUS industry is set to break previous export records with an estimated 158.7million cartons for the year 2021. The Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa (CGA) this week said that the estimate represented a third consecutive season of record export volumes, with 130m cartons exported in 2019 and 146m last year. The CGA said this year’s projection indicated a 22 percent growth in just two years. CGA chief executive Justin Chadwick said the figures indicated phenomenal growth in the industry and the economy. “To maximise the potential of the citrus industry as a South African export, we are going to need government and other stakeholders to play their part,” Chadwick said. “For example, we will…

21ST CENTURY SOLUTION TO HIGHER EDUCATION CHALLENGES A digital university for all WESLEY DIPHOKO wesley.diphoko@inl.co.za A WOMAN was killed next to the gates of the University of Johannesburg in 2012. She was the mother of a prospective student. Nine years later, a father has lost his life, again next to a university, this time Wits University. The reason why the two individuals died is partly related to the difficulty of accessing higher education in South Africa. One was queuing and trying to get her son registered, the other was a bystander who was shot when the police were shooting students who were also fighting for access to higher education. Individual details of the tragic incidents are more nuanced than that. However, the two incidents force us to think deeper about…

TRC’S UNFINISHED BUSINESS JUSTICE, CLOSURE REMAINS ELUSIVE FOR VICTIMS YASMIN SOOKA CORNELL TUKIRI EPA AS SOUTH Africans celebrate 27 years of Human Rights Day, we remember the 69 people killed in Sharpeville on March 21, 1960, by apartheid-era police, while protesting the inhumane pass laws. Despite the UN declaring apartheid a crime against humanity in 1973, and the Constitutional Court in the 2005 Basson case confirming that murder, torture, persecution, forced removals, and enforced disappearance constituted a crime against humanity, not a single apartheid politician has been indicted for the crime of apartheid. It is hardly surprising that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has secured only two indictments post-apartheid in apartheid-era cases – those of Nokuthula Simelane and Ahmed Timol – primarily because of the advocacy of family members…

MPUMALANGA Premier ‘wants relatives to replace traffic cop recruits’ MZILIKAZI WA AFRIKA Mpumalanga Provincial Government A TOP Mpumalanga government official has alleged she is being “prosecuted” by Premier Refilwe Maria Mtshweni-Tsipane after she refused to appoint wives of the politician’s protectors and relatives as new traffic officers in the province. The head of department in community safety, security and liaison, Busi Nkuna, sent a scathing letter to the premier last Friday after she was threatened with suspension for refusing to close down Mpumalanga traffic colleges and send all the 125 recruits home because they didn’t include the names from Mtshweni-Tsipane’s list. Nkuna in her letter to the premier, seen by the Sunday Independent, reminded Mtshweni-Tsipane how she was summoned to the politician’s house in Midrand in January this year and…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA PRESIDENT SAMIA SULUHU HASSAN URGES UNITY People put up walls between each other - and it’s largely down to ignorance or negative media portrayals. We fail to realize there are so many good things and so many good people in this world.JOHN SATO WWII veteran Tanzania’s first female president Samia Suluhu Hassan on Friday called for unity after she was sworn in following the sudden death of her predecessor, John Magufuli, from an illness shrouded in mystery. | See more on IOL…

TECHNOLOGY Sanitising by ultraviolet light takes root NATHAN ADAMS nathan.adams@inl.co.za USING advanced light technology to sanitise the air and public spaces of airborne viruses, including Sars-CoV-2, is being touted as a possible way to curb the spread of pandemics. While social distancing and sanitising your hands remain the main line of defence for the spread of Covid-19, ultraviolet light is also being used at malls and airports overseas. Columbia University physicist Dr David Brenner has been at the forefront of developing this light technology for everyday use. Ultraviolet C (UVC) has wavelengths of 200-280 nanometres and is blocked by the ozone layer when it is emitted from the sun, so it’s harsh rays never reach the earth’s atmosphere, unlike those of UVB. In a recent public TED Talk, Brenner said:“In…

LETTER SA leads in all vices THERE isn't a reason for those Christians who in huge numbers support the stance of Mogoeng Mogoeng to be concerned for him. I know I am not. Truth to tell, I am overjoyed by the way things are playing out concerning the relationship between his confession as a Christian and the human-made laws called the Constitution. Let us allow the human wisdom seasoned with biblical themes, called the Constitution, to hang itself slowly but surely. Indeed, human history would reveal that not even the Roman empire or the Pharisees and Sadducees could prevail against the name of the Lord and those who confess belief in him above any earthly authority and power. South Africa is probably the only country on earth seeking to have…

WOMENS RIGHTS Gender-based violence: justice system moving too slow EDWIN NAIDU RAPE victims in South Africa, such as Andy Kawa, who has waged a decade-long battle for justice, including holding the police to account for their tardiness in investigating her case, should seek recourse from the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, says human rights activist Zonke Majodina. “If she has exhausted all remedies available to her nationally, she must go international, her case deserves to be heard at that level. What she has been through, amounts to a form of torture, as defined by the International Convention Against Torture,” said Majodina. Kawa’s battle for justice is being decided by the Constitutional Court after she was raped in a 15-hour ordeal on a beach in the Eastern…

FUNDING University crisis deepens EDWIN NAIDU SIPHIWE SIBEKO African News Agency (ANA) SPIRALLING student debt has reached almost R14 billion. A financially crippled government and political battles within the ANC have been affecting a growing higher education financing crisis that has already contributed to a difficult start of the 2021 academic year in South Africa. In the week beginning March 8, student protests erupted over the cost of higher education and escalated throughout South Africa, following an announcement by student organisations that they would enforce a nationwide shutdown starting on March 15. Dr Blade Nzimande, said on March 16 that the government could not afford to write off historical student debts, as demanded by the South African Union of Students. Nzimande added that the government could not afford or support a…

ACADEMIC MINEFIELDS Dean talks about traversing tragedy and racism EDWIN NAIDU Lerato Maduna A YEAR into his role at one of South Africa’s renowned health science faculties, which has been under severe pressure since the death of its previous incumbent, the new dean, Professor Lionel Green-Thompson, has had to swiftly navigate several minefields in his path. He has managed to move UCT on from its divided past, thanks to a willingness to adopt a reconciliatory tone and take staff and students into his confidence in a bid to foster healing. Green-Thompson was appointed dean on March 15 last year, replacing Professor Bongani Mayosi, who took his own life on July 27, 2018, laying bare wounds beneath the surface at the university long before the nationwide student protests over fees escalated…

Birkett: New Dusi record ANDY Birkett set a new record by winning the MyLife Dusi Canoe Marathon yesterday, extending his number of consecutive wins to eight as he wrapped up his eleventh title in masterful style. The East Londoner did not make a mistake over the three days and 120km as he posted a 21-minute victory margin over Hank McGregor, with under-23 ace Dave Evans excelling by racing onto the podium in third. Birkett was forced to race his own race and isolate himself from any challenges being mounted behind him. "You just try and get into a rhythm, where you are just tripping and finding where the fast water is flowing and limit your mistakes," he said. "You think about the next rapid and not much further past that.“…

QUICK READ Happiness YESTERDAY was International Day of Happiness, a UN designated day dedicated to the “importance of happiness in people’s life”. The World Happiness Report 2021 focused on the effects of Covid-19 and how people have fared. CNN reported that despite the events of the past 12 months, there’s been no change at the top spot in ranking the happiest country. Finland has come out on top in the annual report powered by data from the Gallup World Poll, with Iceland, Denmark, Switzerland and the Netherlands following in second, third, fourth and fifth position respectively. | Staff Reporter Brazil AS BRAZIL’S coronavirus outbreak spirals out of control, the country is facing a dangerous new shortage, threatening to drive fatalities even higher: a lack of staff in intensive care units.…

QUICK READ AID APPEAL FOR REFUGEES THE UN refugee agency UNHCR and its partners are appealing for $1.2 billion (about R18bn) to provide vital humanitarian assistance to more than 2.2 million South Sudanese refugees living in five neighbouring countries. Millions of the population of South Sudan, which became the world’s youngest nation nearly a decade ago, were displaced due to conflict. More than 65% of the refugee population is under 18, including 66 000 children. | African News Agency (ANA) EXPLORING TRADE WITH UAE SOUTH Africa’s Consulate General to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mogobo David Magabe, called for innovation in the environment of restricted trade due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Magabe made the remarks during a virtual trade and investment webinar attended by South African and UAE business people…

HERE’S WHAT EVERY USQUEBAUGH AFICIONADO CAN EXPECT FROM THE YEAR AHEAD … Whisky trends to watch for MOLIFE KUMONA molife@condenast.co.za WHISKY cognoscente and influencer Nathan Woodruff sat down with us and gave his predictions for the whisky trends that will emerge in 2021. From the boom of liquor store sales over bars to lesser-known whisky regions coming into the spotlight, here’s what every usquebaugh (whisky) aficionado can expect from the year ahead … Age statements will be less important than before “A high age statement doesn’t necessarily mean a whisky is better,” Woodruff says, “and that notion is ebbing away now. Brands are starting to focus on the quality of the whisky even before it goes into a barrel – everything from the wood of the barrel to the…

TELEVISION Our top 5 Noxee Maqashalala performances BUHLE MBONAMBI MANY of us are shocked by Noxolo “Noxee” Maqashalala’s death. For her to die and no one knows she is dead, and only be discovered a week later, decomposed, has left me mortified. The industry has been pouring out their hearts and paying tribute to the well-liked actress and producer. And what a performer! Noxee embodied every role too well. From Tsha Tsha to Intersexions, The Kingdom and Diamond City, Maqashalala was a versatile thespian and truly one of our best. Her loss will be felt in the industry. Here are some of our favourite roles she starred in. Tsha Tsha In her break-out role in the SABC 1 drama, Maqashalala portrayed Viwe, a young woman who is HIV positive and…

EDITOR’S CHOICE ASIAN NEWS LUKE NEWTON SHARES PHOTOS FROM ‘BRIDGERTON’ SEASON TWO THE Bridgerton brothers are back in London! Actor Luke Newton, who stars in the Netflix romantic period drama Bridgerton, confirmed that the cast is currently shooting the second season of the popular show by revealing behind-the-scenes pictures from the sets of the series. The actor, who stars as the youngest Bridgerton brother, posted a series of BTS photos on his Instagram handle which featured him and his co-stars dressed to film the period drama series in London. In the first snap, Newton and Jonathan Bailey, who plays Newton's on-screen older brother, Lord Anthony Bridgerton, are seen talking to one another on horseback. The next photo features Bailey and his fictional brother, Luke Thompson, who plays Benedict Bridgerton, relaxing…

ADRENALIN-PUMPING IDEAS 5 activities to add to your adventure bucket list 1 JUMP THE WORLD’S HIGHEST BUNGY BRIDGE DARING travellers can jump off the world’s highest bungy bridge, at Bloukrans River Bridge (pictured right). This once-in-a-lifetime experience is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Eastern Cape. Bloukrans Bungy uses pendulum bungee technology to ensure the smoothest bungee jump possible. Jumpers are secured in a full-body harness, combined with an ankle connection. Despite the 200m drop, adrenaline junkies will enjoy astonishing views of the Bloukrans River valley. Call 042 281 1458, 071 109 6872 or 071 248 5959 or e-mail book@faceadrenalin.com. 2 GO ON A RIVER RAFTING TRIP If you are feeling adventurous, try river rafting. Vaal Adventures hosts half and full-day rafting trips just an hour away…

QUICK READS TOBACCO BRITISH American Tobacco (BAT), the world’s biggest tobacco producer, has said that one of the reasons legal tobacco volumes is under the threat of going up in smoke was due to the continued rise in illicit tobacco sales. BAT which produces branded tobacco products including Dunhill, Peter Stuyvesan and Rothmans said in its 2020 annual report that the fact that cigarettes remained a reliable source of tax revenue for governments worldwide, price differentials between markets, regulatory changes and broader macro economic pressures were enabling the growth in illicit cigarette trade. “It is generally accepted there is a direct correlation between steep, ad hoc increases in taxes and illicit trade. The current sanctions in many countries often fail to deter criminals in search of profits,” said BAT. The…

REAL NUMBERS Africa should use its competitive advantage PALI LEHOHLA GHANA advocated for competitive advantage and architecture at its independence. The export of cocoa beans brought much-needed relief to the Ghanaian and Ivorian farmer, just as mohair and wool did to Lesotho. But, as explained by Jagdish Bhagwati in his Immiseririzing Growth theory in 1958, economic growth can result in a country being even worse off. Ngugi wa Thiong’o realised this much earlier in his career. After publishing The River Between in English and a few more earlier, he dared the world and started writing in his native Kikuyu language. Only once he had done so could his books be translated in other languages. In his book, Decolonising the Mind: The Politics of Language in African Literature, wa Thiong’o sheds…

MONETISATION NFTs signal the emergence of new media ownership WESLEY DIPHOKO wesley.diphoko@inl.co.za WHEN Twitter boss Jack Dorsey, announced that he was selling his first tweet, “just setting up my twttr”, for $2.5 million (about R36m) everyone was baffled. He was followed by Elon Musk who was selling a tweet and a song. The two tech leaders were not joking, they were talking about Non Fungible Tokens. NFTS are tradeable as well as digital ownership certificates representing the ownership of a unique asset. The concept began as a special kind of token that works on the Ethereum blockchain. It was popularised in 2017 by Axiom Zen, the start-up behind CryptoKitties, a relatively popular Ethereum game that lets users collect and breed one-of-a-kind digital cats. Some have dismissed them as just another…

TALKS Nzimande to meet MPs over student fund ing SIYABONGA MKHWANAZI siyabonga.mkhwanazi@inl.co.za THE National Assembly committee on higher education confirmed it would meet with Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande on Tuesday to deal with funding for students. Students took to the streets issuing several demands, including the scrapping of historical debt. Philly Mapulane, who chairs the committee, said yesterday they hoped they would be able to finalise issues. He said the meeting was a continuation of last Wednesday’s meeting where Nzimande and his deputy Buti Manamela left early. However, the Department of Higher Education, Universities South Africa (Usaf), Wits University and the Students Representative Council from Wits made presentations to MPs. “It’s a continuation of the meeting we had on Wednesday. On Wednesday, we couldn’t finalise it because the minister…

COVID-19 Third wave looming - experts NATHAN CRAIG nathan.craig@inl.co.za LOCAL experts have come to the consensus that there would be a third wave, much like many European countries are currently experiencing. They say that it would be in the aftermath of Easter celebrations, some citing relaxed lockdown regulations and holiday revelry as the reasons for the resurgence. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize echoed concerns of a possible third wave after Easter, adding that the virus would likely spread again during the winter months. Vaccinology professor Shabir Madhi, director of the SA Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit at Wits, said the third wave would come down to controlling the virus and human behaviour. “The virus is completely unpredictable, so controlling it is difficult but we have complete…

EDUCATION Varsities clear hurdles for 2021 registration ROLAND MPOFU roland.mpofu@inl.co.za TOP South African universities are saying they have spent almost R20million each in assisting financially distressed students and have lifted the financial blocks in order to allow the students to register, so that the new academic year can start smoothly amid the ongoing protests across the institutions of higher learning. University of Johannesburg spokesperson Herman Esterhuzein said the university concluded the registration process of both new and returning students, after weeks of delays due to challenges that have affected all institutions of higher learning across the country. “UJ has several initiatives to assist many of our students who ordinarily would not have had access to education. These include, but are not limited to: Setting aside R20m to assist students with…

UPDATE FROM THE SAPS POLICE Minister Bheki Cele’ spokesperson Lirandzu Themba said there were mechanisms in place that were undertaken by the police management to look into how police officers can better service society. “This includes training of officers, the amendment of the Police Act and the implementation of the Marikana recommendations through the panel of experts report which will be released by the end of this month, which speaks to how police can better handle crowds during protest. “Minister Cele is on record condemning both the cases of the two mentioned individuals who died allegedly at the hands of police. The Minister has bemoaned the behaviour of police who have disgraced the police badge by acting outside their mandate and bringing harm to citizens and he has said their…

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Are black vice-chancellors poor leaders? EDWIN NAIDU A CONTROVERSIAL statement made by an ANC member of Parliament who claimed that black vice-chancellors were not carrying their weight as leaders compared with other race groups at institutions of higher learning was dismissed by Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Dr Blade Nzimande. “There is absolutely no basis for an argument that any institutional performance is linked to the race or gender of its leadership,” said Nzimande in response to the assertion by Jane Mananiso in the National Assembly on March 5. “No, there is no merit in such an argument. The leadership of our higher education sector is diverse and predominantly black. We have one of the strongest higher education systems on the continent.” Mananiso made her claim…

B O O K Unpacking the black ‘hair-volution’ LESEGO MAKGATHO lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za THE natural hair movement is a global phenomenon with fascinating local meanings. As you gain understanding of the social, cultural, and historical significance of hair texture in South Africa, you will quickly learn just how complex the movement to celebrate kinky-curly hair is. Recently, retail-led health-care group Clicks found itself embroiled in controversy with social media users for a contentious TRESemmé haircare campaign that tried to compare the hair of black and white women and set off a debate about hair and what it means to be black. Wearing natural hair in South Africa is both a personal and political act. Post apartheid, many black and coloured women felt pressured to assimilate into newly accessible spaces by straightening their…

TENNIS Harris stumbles on final hurdle in Dubai HERMAN GIBBS SOUTH African qualifier Lloyd Harris finally met his match at the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships yesterday when he ran into an on-fire Russian wild card Aslan Karatsev who won 6-3 6-2 in 75 minutes. After a week of heroic performances, yesterday's showdown was a bridge too far for Harris even though during the week he claimed the showpiece court felt like his 'home' court. The defeat meant Harris was denied his maiden ATP Tour 500 Series title. The two energy-sapping three-setters of the past two days against Denis Shapovalov and Kei Nishikori might have taken a toll, as Harris’ performance in the final was flat. Despite the defeat, Harris will bank R1.6 million, which incidentally marked a 66%…

FOOTBALL The derby that sees beer flowing and white men ’dancing’ The Soweto derby still makes our hearts skip a few beats and this afternoon will see the 100th clash in the league between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. Matshelane Mamabolo has seen quite a few of those and he picks his five favourite derbies. November 3, 1990 Orlando Pirates 5 Kaizer Chiefs 1 Stories of shebeens in Orlando selling beer for a song when the Buccaneers have won the derby abound. But it doesn’t only happen in Soweto. Out in Lebowakgomo where I grew up, we had one in our neighbourhood and the old lady was a huge Pirates fan and boy did the beer flow after this solid Pirates victory. Of course, I didn’t have any – I…

QUICK READ WHAT MAKES SA HAPPY? A SURVEY conducted by the SA Rooibos Counci among nearly 700 people of various ages and backgrounds across the country has revealed the five things that South Africans enjoy. The results were released this week. The top pursuits that bring the most joy are: visiting with close friends and family (65%); sipping a soothing cup of tea (56%); being in nature (53%); lending a helping hand to someone (39%); a good night’s rest and laughing out loud (tied at 29%). | IOL See http://bit.ly/IOLSAhappiness BATTLE TO DEMOCRATISE ANC IN 2005, then president Thabo Mbeki told delegates at the staff lekgotla that the ANC needed a “new type of cadre” – one willing to be ruled by party democratic principles and values. After liberation day,…

QUICK READ CONGO GOES TO THE POLLS PRESIDENT Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo will seek to extend his 36 years in power in presidential elections today. Sassou-Nguesso, 77, came to power in a coup in 1979. He will face off against other candidates, including finance minister Mathias Dzon and Guy-Brice Parfait Kolélas, a former minister who has become an opposition politician, Radio France Internationale reported. Main opposition party, the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy, is boycotting the vote. | African News Agency (ANA) FRANCE IN COVID LOCKDOWN FRANCE imposed a month-long lockdown yesterday on Paris and regions in the north of the country after a faltering vaccine roll-out and spread of highly contagious coronavirus variants forced President Emmanuel Macron to shift course. Macron had said he would do…

PANDEMIC Vaccine denialism and weak leadership hampers roll-out CHAD WILLIAMS chad.williams@africannewsagency.com AS AFRICAN nations continue to roll out their allotment of vaccines to combat Covid-19, the mammoth task will require all hands on deck. Now more than ever, vaccine transparency remains a vital component to beating the pandemic. If the year-long Covid-19 crisis has taught us anything, it’s that statistics, trends and facts are key to combating the coronavirus. From daily case numbers to updates on recoveries and deaths, a clear flow of information from health authorities is crucial. As we’ve seen in some African countries where Covid-19 denialism is alive and well, when there is a disparity in figures or a lack of transparency, that it is easy for the country to slip further into denialism and vaccine apathy.…

NAMIBIA Restless Namibians challenge Swapo’s grip on power MOLAOLE MONTSHO molaole.montsho@africannewsagency.com NAMIBIA celebrates 31 years of freedom this year against the backdrop of a growing democracy and dwindling support for the ruling Swapo party. The country gained independence from South Africa on March 21, 1990, after the Namibian War of Independence, waged between the South African Defence Force and the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (Plan), an armed wing of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo). Fighting broke out between Plan and the South African authorities in August 1966. According to the free encyclopaedia Wikipedia, more than 97% of eligible voters participated in the country’s first parliamentary elections, in which Swapo won 41 seats, Incumbent President Hage Geingob told the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) in June that democracy, including…

EDITOR’S CHOICE COMPANION PODCASTS When you just can’t get enough of the TV show... BUHLE MBONAMBI YOU know when you are so engrossed in a documentary or TV show that you can’t get enough and seek other content to help you digest what you have watched? It has become common for me to seek out articles and podcasts about shows with which I am obsessed. It turns out I am not alone. There is a demand for what I call “companion” podcasts that break down the story, providing analysis that will make you appreciate what you are watching even more. These are the three you must listen to. The Crown: The Official Podcast Remember those stories about the British Royal Family wanting Netflix to classify the series as fiction? Well,…

THE COVER SHOOT, HER CAREER, HER PASSIONS AND MORE Mo Chats to . . . Boogy Maboi MOLIFE KUMONA molife@condenast.co.za WHEN it comes to wardrobe hire and fashion styling in South Africa, no matter who you ask in the industry, they will all agree that Styled by Boogy is the go-to. The brainchild of creative director and stylist Boogy Maboi, she has gone from being the best-kept secret in the industry to a leader and one of the most sought-after creative directors in the continent. Boogy did the styling and creative direction for my first GQ cover with Loyiso Gola (March/April issue on shelves now), and even though we had never met, from the moment we spoke on the phone to meeting at the shoot, we have become kindred…

ENTERTAINMENT Taylor Swift has been on a long quest to impress the Grammys; it has paid off again SOME musicians act like they don’t care about awards. Taylor Swift takes the opposite approach. It has paid off again. At the Grammy Awards on Sunday night, Swift won album of the year for Folklore, which she released in July and which became the highest-selling album of 2020. This is the third time Swift has won the show’s most prestigious category (she won in 2010 for Fearless and 2016 for 1989), making her the only female artist to achieve that accomplishment alongside Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder and Frank Sinatra. Last year, the country-turned-pop mega-star threw herself into writing songs with a quieter, alternative, indie-pop vibe, which are sounds the Grammy voters enjoy.…

SOUTH AFRICA TO THE WORLD 6 ways government can help the tourism industry recover TRAVEL REPORTER JABULANI Debedu, a senior consultant at BDO South Africa, shares six ways in which the government can help the ailing tourism industry bounce back. Prioritise front-line tourism workers He said that the national vaccine rollout needed to be on par with vaccination rollouts in South Africa’s tourist-source markets. “Vaccinated travellers will not travel to countries that have vaccinated only a small percentage of its population or do not yet have herd immunity,” he said. Make travel accessible The government should make South Africa more accessible to tourists and business travellers and revisit its visa requirements. “Other African source markets have been largely underplayed for years, especially as we tend to perceive most African visitors…

BIZ 101 Building an engaged workforce BEN BIERMAN COVID-19 and the related events of the past year have hit businesses harder than ever before. Not only have profit margins taken a severe strain, but companies are facing unprecedented Human Resources (HR) challenges of decreased employee engagement, due to the radical logistical adjustments such as remote working and strict workplace protocols. A recent survey by the World Economic Forum has shown that 55 percent of employees have found changes in work routines and organisation stressful. Even employees working from home experienced a hard time, with nearly half feeling lonely or isolated and over 40 percent admitting their productivity levels have been affected. The best strategy is to carefully manage the levels of productivity by ensuring your employees are happy and engaged…

QUICK READ FACEBOOK FACEBOOK AGREES TO PAY FOR NEWS Facebook has agreed to pay Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp for its journalism content in Australia, a month after the social media platform temporarily blocked news links inside the country over legislation pressing digital giants to compensate publishers. The deal will include news content from major Murdoch media outlets like The Australian, a national newspaper; the news site news.com.au; and other metropolitan, regional, and community publications. Last month, Google unveiled its three-year global agreement with News Corp to pay for the publisher’s news content, and Facebook backed down, under heavy criticism, from its drastic step of blocking the sharing or viewing of news links in Australia. UBER UBER DRIVERS TO BECOME WORKERS AND NOT EMPLOYEES Following a Supreme Court ruling, Uber said…