Innholdsfortegnelse for Sunday, April 11, 2021 i Sunday Independent

CORRUPTION Ibrahim Patel ‘smuggled his preferred candidate’ A civil organisation claims the trade and industry minister wants Struggle veteran Barney Pityana to control the National Lotteries Commission’s R1.6 billion budget MZILIKAZI WA AFRIKA THE battle for the position of chairperson for the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has taken an ugly twist with one shortlisted candidate taking a member of Parliament to court for defamation while civil organisations are accusing the trade and industry minister of trying to smuggle his “preferred candidate through the back door”. The Independent Beneficiaries Forum (IBF), which is part of the United Civil Society in Action (Ucsa), has written letters to the ANC accusing Patel, of having “gone through loops and lengths to ensure that the processes of appointing the NLC chairperson are flawed” in order…

NEW TWIST Zuma, Concourt, Zondo’s war of attrition SAMKELO MTSHALI samkelo.thulasizwe@inl.co.za FORMER President Jacob Zuma is facing a face-off with the Constitutional Court after Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng threw down the rule book at the former president to indicate what sentence should be imposed on him if found guilty of contempt of court. Zuma has until Wednesday to reply to the directive issues by Mogoeng. Eric Mabuza, the lawyer for Zuma, could not be reached for comment yesterday. But Zuma’s supporters say they were not happy with the way the highest court in the land was dealing with the former president. This follows Mogoeng’s decision on Friday ordering Zuma to pen a 15-page affidavit telling the apex court what the appropriate sanction should be if the Concourt finds him guilty…

STAGES OF BONDAGE KUMAYL MOLANTOA EXCLUSION is one of the greatest struggles that Black people face in the new dispensation and these days it seems it has become the new normal for the majority, including black professionals and black businesses. Grace A Musila frames pertinent questions in her piece Thinking while black. She writes: “How do we nurture black affirmation? How do we craft a healthy, dignified blackness, in a world where blackness is a captured identity location that needs permission to speak, and must play nice and tiptoe around white sensitivities?” In his exhibition at The Point Of Order in Braamfontein, Kolodi Senong’s PhD project obliquely tackles the exclusion of another black artist and legend, Lefifi Tladi, from South African art history. And seems to respond to Musila’s questions…

COURT BATTLE Fourteen-year wait for justice DON MAKATILE don.makatile@inl.co.za BHEKIKHAYA MABASO African News Agency (ANA) THE adage “justice delayed is justice denied” is acquiring new meaning in an indecent sexual assault case involving the nephew of renowned golfing legend Gary Player that is still not concluded after 14 years. The sentencing of Andrew Da Luca, which was expected to be handed down this past Thursday in the Krugersdorp Regional Court, has been postponed to May 19. Da Luca was convicted of assaulting a child, who was aged 4 at the time of the incident, on January 29 2007. The accused reportedly took the child into the garden with him at Touch of Africa, a guest house in Lanseria, north-west of Joburg, owned by his aunt. Away from everyone else, he…

SIT-IN Artists unmoved by eviction order LESEGO MAKGATHO lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za BHEKIKAYA MABASO  African News Agency (ANA) THE stand-off between the National Arts Council (NAC) and a group of artists staging a sit-in at its Newtown, Joburg, offices over the alleged mismanagement of the R300 million Presidential Empowerment Stimulus Programme fund, has taken a new turn. The NAC has laid charges against the disgruntled artists and an eviction notice was issued. Spokesperson of the NAC, Tshepo Mashiane, said the council had not met its deadline of March 31, 2021, to make payments to artists because it needed applicants to return their contracts before the stipulated date. “What we had done was indicate to industry applicants that all those who had been approved and given contracts please return those contracts before the 31st…

HISTORY The tragic tale of the Duncan Village massacre LESEGO MAKGATHO lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za SOUTH African history is littered with massacres. But some come to mind more readily than others, irrespective of body count. The August 16, 2012 Marikana, June 16, 1976 Soweto Uprising and March 21, 1960 Sharpeville massacres are always top of mind. One of the least known and least talked about or reported on is the November 9, 1952 Duncan Village Massacre. On this day, apartheid police opened fire on black people at an ANC Youth League-organised event at an East London township. Eight people were killed by police gunfire and bayonet and two were killed in retaliation, including an Irish nun and medical doctor, Sister Aidan Quinlan, who lived and worked in Duncan Village. However, it is believed…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA ASSASSINS’ CONVICTION AND AMNESTY HEARING The perks of a new government are not really appealing to me. Everybody would like to have a good job, a good salary..... but for me that is not the all of struggle. What is important is the continuation of the struggle... the real problems of the country are not whether one is in Cabinet ...but what we do for social upliftment of the working masses of our country.CHRIS HANI Political leader In October 1993, both Janusz Waluś and Clive Derby-Lewis were convicted for the murder. Hani’s killers appeared before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, claiming political motivation for their crimes and applying for amnesty. The Hani family was represented by the anti-apartheid lawyer George Bizos. Both applications were denied.…

TV TODAY GUIDE TODAY Cricket: Indian Premier League T20: Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders, 3.45pm, CRI Cycling: Paris-Roubaix: First Edition, Women, 9.15am, VR2; Paris-Roubaix: 118th Edition, Men, 10.55am, VR1, GSD; Tour of Turkey, Stage 1, 12 noon, VR3 Golf: The Masters, Day 4 - Second Feed, 4.15pm, ACT, GOL; The Masters, Day 4 - Early Coverage, 5.45pm, GOL, GSD (6pm); The Masters, Day 4, Main Feed, 8pm, GSD, GOL Hockey: FIH Pro League, Men: Argentina v India, 10pm, VR1 Motorsport: NASCAR Cup Series: Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500, 1am, MSP, GSD; Supercars Championship: Tasmania SuperSprint, Race 7, 4.30am, MSP; Race 8, 7.20am, MSP, GSD Road Running: Hamburg Marathon, 35th Edition, 9am, SSM, VR3 Rugby: Aotearoa: Hurricanes v Crusaders, 5.30am, RUG, GSD; FNB Varsity Cup: University of the Western Cape…

INJURY TIME STUART HESS stuart.hess@inl.co.za TAKING SA FOR FOOLS THE South African Fools Association (Safa) really do take their job very seriously. That organisation had some time back come up with a guidance document called Vision 2022. So, recently it offered a report back on progress aligned to Vision 2022 and called the whole thing a big success. Never mind that the national men’s football team – supposedly the pinnacle of the sport in this country – failed again to qualify for the continent’s premier tournament. Nah man, according to the Foolball Association, it’s all good. The Confederation of African Football had actually expanded the Africa Cup of Nations, from 16 teams to 24 and still Bafana Bafana failed to qualify, but it’s ok, that’s not actually part of Vision…

STARS TANYA OBREZA Aries (March 21 - April 20) Your mind is on the move, and the change looks positive. Basically, it comes down to trusting your instincts and then acting on them quickly. For many, this will mean new work or study. And why not take a chance on love? All this, thanks to a new moon in your sign. It seems that, this week, you’re irresistible. Taurus (April 21 - May 20) Recently, too many demands have drained the Taurean spirit. No wonder you've scuttled back into your shell. Take heart, my friend, brighter times lie ahead. The greatest gift? A growing self-confidence and an equally expanding income. For some, this may relate to professional matters. Others look to resolve a mystery. An “a-ha” moment sheds light. Gemini…

FREEDOM DAY What would our martyrs say if they could see us now? SATHS COOPER ANA Archives APRIL 6, celebrated during the apartheid era from 1952 to 1994 as Founders Day (Stigtingsdag) in recognition of Jan van Riebeeck’s landing in Table Bay and the subsequent Dutch settlement in Cape Town, is also the day on which the PAC was founded, in 1959, after breaking away from the ANC. Cynically, the apartheid regime hanged 22-year-old Solomon Mahlangu at Pretoria Prison on that fateful day in 1979, after he was denied any appeal that focused on his not having killed anyone. Like our numerous holidays, both official and unofficial, we have not been short of martyrs to remember since the advent of democracy after our historic general election of April 27, 1994.…

BRITAIN Prince was the gruff figure at heart of monarchy A BLUNT-SPEAKING naval officer who as Queen Elizabeth’s dutiful consort helped modernise the British monarchy, Prince Philip might be best remembered for his gruff public persona. Outspoken and irascible, Philip lived in the shadow of the woman he married at Westminster Abbey in 1947 and always walked a step behind the queen at ceremonial events they attended during her reign, the longest in British history. Although he had no official role, Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was one of the most influential figures in the royal family for more than 70 years. He died aged 99 on Friday. While Philip was often criticised for his demeanour and sometimes brusque remarks, friends said that as Queen Elizabeth II’s closest confidant he…

QUICK READ DEFENCE MINISTER RESIGNS NAMIBIAN President Hage Geingob, pictured, is expected to name a new defence minister after Peter Hafeni Vilho resigned this week. Vilho resigned following media reports that he did not declare an offshore bank account in Hong Kong. Geingob has accepted Vilho’s resignation from the cabinet and the government. It was reported last week that he confirmed owning a unit trust account in Hong Kong, which reportedly had a market value of about $233 631 (R3.4 million). | ANA GBAGBO ‘FREE TO RETURN’ PRESIDENT Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast said former president Laurent Gbagbo, pictured, and his youth leader Charles Blé Goudé were “free to return to Ivory Coast when they want” after they were acquitted of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court on…

GLOBAL TRENDSETTER What you need to know about the hard seltzer drinks trend LUTHO PASIYA OF ALL the trends and shake-ups in the alcohol industry over the past few years, none have been as dramatic or as exciting as the rise of hard seltzers. A few years ago they were almost unheard of, but then, seemingly overnight, they have become cultural mainstays and a dominant force in the alcoholic beverage market. What is a hard seltzer? The term “seltzer” is American for sparkling or soda water. So a “hard” seltzer has been spiked with alcohol and usually flavoured with fruit. Some are made with spirits such as vodka, gin or tequila. The alcoholic content differs between brands but is usually 4 – 6% – similar to beer – with a…

STAGING GROUND TikTok, the youth and a new way of consuming music NOSIPHO NYIDE AP AP AP IT HAS been a little over two years since Lil Nas X’s Old Town Road featuring Billy Ray Cyrus went viral on TikTok, and what a time it has been since then. The rapper/singer, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, rose to fame after Old Town Road was uploaded on the short form video-sharing app in 2019, quickly sparking a challenge in which creators drank “Yee Yee Juice” and changed into western outfits as the song dropped in the background. This catapulted the tune to mainstream media, landing it the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a record-breaking 19 weeks. It also became the fastest song in history…

EDITOR’S CHOICE SABC1 ‘UBETTINA WETHU’ PLAYS IT TOO SAFE TO BE A SUCCESS DEBASHINE THANGEVELO WHEN it comes to entertainment options, viewers have the option of content on pay-TV, free-to-air channels as well as several streaming platforms. And SABC is determined to get a piece of viewership action. This week SABC1 kicked off with uBettina Wethu, a local version of the international hit series, Ugly Betty. Using a successful international series as a blueprint for a local offering has been done before. The success lies in the execution. And it can go horribly wrong. Having watched every episode of Ugly Betty, I was curious to see how the homegrown version would interpret the comedy-drama, which saw a Plain Jane planted at the epicentre of vanity central as the newbie at…

POST-PANDEMIC DESTINATIONS Bucket list attractions travellers want to see in SA CLINTON MOODLEY MOST people have put their travel plans on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, but that hasn’t stopped them from dreaming of locations to visit when travel is safe again. The folks at Budget Direct decided to explore the “Bucket List” hashtag on Instagram to see which destinations and landmarks people were dreaming of visiting when they felt comfortable to travel again. Budget Direct extracted location data from a sample of 26 072 Instagram posts tagged with the bucket list hashtag and then extrapolated this data to estimate destination counts across all 10.6 million posts. They added the results in an interactive heat map. In South Africa, the research revealed that the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga…

7 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU HIKE UP TABLE MOUNTAIN IF YOU are keen to take in some views atop Table Mountain, you may want to read on. Wahida Parker, Managing Director of the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC), said that with more people wanting to explore the mountain, people should take the necessary precautions. “No matter how experienced a person may be, unexpected things can and do happen in rugged terrain. “The more prepared you are when exploring Table Mountain and other nature reserves, the more likely you are going to have a good experience,” she said. Some of the trails, such as the India Venster and Nursery Ravine, can be very technical. Hiking trails that require some level of preparedness include Platteklip Gorge, Skeleton Gorge…

QUICK READ WORLD STOCKS HIT RECORD HIGH, POWERED BY WALL STREET Global stocks hit record highs on Friday, as tech shares on Wall Street cheered receding U.S. inflation fears, with the lack of inflation pressure keeping bond yields near two-week lows. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated late on Thursday that inflation was not a worry, following data showing an unexpected rise in the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits. MSCI’s broadest gauge of world stocks set a record high in Asian trading, though it was down 0.1% at 0755 GMT. | Reuters GOVCHAT IN LEGAL DISPUTE AGAIN A dispute over ownership of communications platform GovChat has landed in the Western Cape High Court, with claims made by a Milnerton businessman that the GovChat concept is all…

QUICK READ SMART MASK BY WILL.I.AM Will.i.am and Honeywell introduced the first connected mask. This latest product by Will.i.am is better known as Xupermask and it’s made of silicon with athletic mesh fabric on the sides, it is a joint venture between Will.i.am and Honeywell. It fits snugly around the bottom half of the face and comes with three dual-speed fans, a Honeywell HEPA filtration system, as well as noise-cancelling headphones, LED lights for night-time, a rechargeable battery and Bluetooth capability. It allows you to play music and take calls, has a seal over the nose to keep glasses from fogging and makes the wearer look sort of like a sci-fi rhino warrior. AIRBNB EXTENDS SUPPORT FOR JOZI SHOP LOCAL INITIATIVE International home-sharing platform Airbnb has announced that it will…

QUICK READ TECH ELON MUSK MIND CONTROL COMPANY SHOWS PROGRESS Elon Musk’s Neuralink, one of his many companies and the only one currently focused on mind control, a video detailing some of its recent updates – including using its hardware to make it possible for a monkey to play pong (game) with only its brain. WEB YAHOO ANSWERS TO SHUTDOWN Yahoo Answers, one of the longest-running and most storied web Q&A platforms in the history of the internet, is shutting down on May 4, 2021. That’s the day the Yahoo Answers website will start redirecting to the Yahoo homepage, and all of the platform’s archives will apparently cease to exist. The platform has been operating since 2005 POWER ORACLE WAR WITH ESKOM Eskom is involved in a contractual dispute with…

LEST WE FORGET OUR TORRID HISTORY JESSIE DUARTE ON APRIL 6, 1979, Solomon Kalushi Mahlangu was taken from his cell to a holding cell that held six other men in the death row section of Pretoria Central Prison. A day before, he had seen his mother Mme Martha Mahlangu and his lawyer Dr Priscilla Jana, after he had lost his appeal some weeks earlier, and had told his mother: “Tell my people that I love them and they must continue to fight, my blood will nourish the tree that will bear the fruits of freedom, A luta Continua.” From the holding cell he was made to stand next to six other men, his head was covered with a white hood, the front flap was lifted and he was asked by…

STUDENT SUICIDE FORMS PART OF AGENDA Emergency council meeting as UCT crisis deepens EDWIN NAIDU THE deepening crisis at troubled UCT took a new twist after it emerged on Friday that a student in the faculty of health sciences, allegedly committed suicide – and will be one of a growing number of issues on the agenda during an emergency meeting of council to take place on Tuesday. Grieving colleagues of the student from the Eastern Cape claim they were forced to write assessments on the day of his death without support from the university last month. In a week of high-drama at UCT over the controversial stop-gap appointment of a retired white male over a black woman professor, which led to the shock resignation of convocation President Eddy Maloka on…

COVID–19 Gauteng vaccine roll-out sites still a mess ROLAND MPOFU roland.mpofu@inl.co.za TWO vaccination sites earmarked for public vaccination against Covid-19 in Gauteng are ready only on paper not on the ground. This was witnessed on Thursday during a visit by the Gauteng Human Settlements MEC Lebogang Maile to inspect the state of readiness at the sites in Tshwane which have been identified for the much-anticipated vaccination roll-out. Members of the executive council visited various vaccination sites and according to the Gauteng Health spokesperson Kwara Kekana, the visits formed part of the provincial government’s programme to ensure Gauteng’s readiness to administer the Covid-19 vaccine as more doses are expected. At the Saulsville Arena, a visibly shocked Maile asked why “we were at an empty place”? The Gauteng deputy director for clinic…

BRUTAL FRUIT LAUNCH Quenching the thirst for social interaction AMANDA MALIBA amanda.maliba@inl.co.ca AFTER a dry spell of indoor and outdoor entertainment events during the Covid-19 lockdown, Brutal Fruit has pulled off an exclusive product launch to quench the thirst for some social interaction. A small group of invited guests braved the Joburg autumn chill on Wednesday to celebrate the women of Mzansi with Brutal, under the theme #YouBelongToCelebrate. True to form, fun lovers were dressed to the nines for the black tie with a touch of blush-pink and rose-gold event. #YouBelongToCelebrate was also a reminder of the collective sisterhood that exists, that no one is alone and to also encourage everyone (especially women) to take a step back from the city life's high expectations and acknowledge each other's successes and…

ASSASSINATION Hopes for breakthrough in Kinnear investigation STAFF REPORTER THE wife of slain Anti-gang Unit sector commander Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear has revealed police are working strongly behind the scenes, hoping to secure a possible breakthrough soon. Nicolette (Kinnear) said she was left shaken by recent grim court details about a hand grenade planned for her family home. Nicolette, who was married for 27 years to Kinnear, created a Facebook page called “Justice for LT/Col Charl Kinnear” following the assassination of her husband last September in front of their home in Bishop Lavis, giving the public continual updates on court proceedings. At the time of Kinnear’s death, a R1 million reward was offered for the arrest of the gunman. “I do have regular meetings with the investigating team, they are working…

BOOK Gripping break from apartheid jail DON MAKATILE don.makatile@inl.co.za AT EACH end of Tim Jenkin’s political life stood a huge bout of dejection. He was unhappy at the level of apathy among his fellow whites who insisted on leading their ordinary everyday lives under apartheid – and therefore threw in his lot with foot soldiers in the Struggle for freedom. Once the post-1994 project got under way, he was aggrieved to see that the wanton greed and corruption was far from what he and his ilk sacrificed their lives for. Escape From Pretoria is a slice of political history and represents a bold act of cocking a snook at the bigotry of the now-defunct racist regime. Inspired by the heroics of the legendary Papillon (Henri Charriere), Escape From Pretoria is…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA CHRIS HANI What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of South Africans who love their country and love everybody, irrespective of their colour.CHRIS HANIPolitical leader Born Martin Thembisile Hani, was the leader of the South African Communist Party and chief of staff of uMkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress. He was a fierce opponent of the apartheid government, and was assassinated by Janusz Waluś, of the Conservative opposition on 10 April 1993.…

SACP SG Hani would challenge those in power today DR LEHLOHONOLO KENNEDY MAHLATSI THEMBISILE Martin Hani was recruited into the ranks of our movement in his teens, when he was attending Love-dale High School, by comrade Sipho Makana, another serious-minded revolutionary and former head prefect of Lovedale. He later became an ANC national executive member. After completing his studies at Fort Hare, Hani joined his father in Cape Town. There, he threw his energies into the working-class struggles and was introduced to underground structures of such working-class veterans as Ray Alexander and Oscar Mpetha. In Lusaka, he was a resourceful member of the ANC’s Revolutionary Council structures that had excelled in the grim battles of the ANC/Zapu Alliance units in the then Rhodesia’s Spollilo/Wankie operation. He was a leading cadre…

GOLF DUSTIN LEFT IN THE DUST AT MASTERS DUSTIN Johnson's only remaining duties at the Masters will be to place the Green Jacket on the new champion. Johnson saw his bid to defend his title bottom out badly as he finished 36 holes at 5-over-par 149, two shots off the cut line at Augusta National in Augusta. "Obviously, a lot less stressful walks, but still, obviously I wanted to be around for the weekend," a disappointed Johnson said after shooting a 3-over 75 in Friday's second round. "I like this golf course. I feel like I play it very well. I just didn't putt very good. It's pretty simple." Johnson wasn't the only big name who missed the cut. Brooks Koepka also had a 75 and 149 total, and Northern…

Banyana’s Spanish trio wreak havoc against Zambia MIHLALI BALEKA BackpagePix SOCCER SOUTH AFRICA (3)(3) Matlou 39’, 42’, Kgatlana 53’ ZAMBIA (1)(1) Banda 17’ BANYANA Banyana didn’t need a chunk of their overseas-based players to thump Zambia 3-1 in a friendly at the Bidvest Stadium yesterday, given that the connection of SD Eibar duo Thembi Kgatlana and Noko Matlou was enough. The friendly was the beginning of Banyana’s preparations for the Cosafa Championship tournament and Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (Awcon) qualifiers later this year. Banyana will miss out on this year’s Tokyo Olympic Games after their qualifying campaign was halted by neighbours Botswana, a team they face on Tuesday in a friendly international at this venue. Coach Desiree Ellis was without most of her overseas-based players due to Covid-19 restrictions.…

HERITAGE Education key to preserving African history DEVEREAUX MORKEL Devereaux.Morkel@africannewsagency.com AFRICANS need to shape the narrative about their history and need to tell their own stories, and it starts with education, chairperson of the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF) Vusumuzi Mkhize said. “We must shape the narrative as Africans. We must also embed our own stories in our education system,” Mkhize said. “I think if we have proper education systems that are able to gather historical facts about Africa’s development, growth and past, we then are able to make sure our future generations take pride in their Africanness and take pride in terms of telling their own stories by Africans for Africans.” Mkhize said Africans should build the capacity to have the necessary skills and expertise in universities to develop…

COVID-19 Morocco leads the continent’s vaccination campaign CHAD WILLIAMS Chad.Williams@africannewsagency.com WITH close to 22% of its population already vaccinated against the coronavirus, the north African country of Morocco has become a beacon of hope on a continent that could potentially be left behind by the global vaccination train. It has been 70 days since Morocco began its inoculation campaign. With a population of around 37million, Morocco has managed to vaccinate 8.3 million citizens to date, according to the latest figures by Our World in Data. The per-person vaccination rate is higher than in some European countries that started a month earlier, but concerns are rising that Morocco’s vaccine supplies are drying up and the rate could slow, according to media reports. According to The Independent, the country is using vaccines…

FISHING FOR ANSWERS 5 Lessons from ‘Seaspiracy’ NOSIPHO NYIDE SEASPIRACY, the Netflix documentary that highlights the negative impact of commercial fishing on ocean life, has gained mixed reactions since its release last week. On the one hand, viewers are left mind-blown by all the claims made by the director and narrator of the film, Ali Tabrizi (and his partner), as they travel parts of the world in what is initially a look into the effects of plastic debris on ocean life. Their search quickly shifts to what is highlighted as the real problem, though: the fishing industry. On the other hand, NGOs, sustainability labels and experts featured in the film have accused it of making “misleading claims” and using out-of-context interviews to make a point. “An executive with the international…

BIZ 101 Changing your business strategy mid-stream BEN BIERMAN AS WE enter the second quarter of 2021, businesses should be well into implementing their growth strategy for the year. However, operational costs can fluctuate, especially in the current tough economic climate, these fluctuations can be extensive, and businesses may be thrown a curveball. Trusted, long-standing suppliers might go out of business (forcing you to find and vet new suppliers in a pinch, which may have a cost implication), annual electricity hikes could end up being more than you projected, and of course the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a number of new challenges including additional health and safety protocols that must be implemented at a cost. In the midst of these unforeseen changes, it’s important to be adaptable and open…

TELECOMS SA ranks 136 worldwide for the cost of mobile data GIVEN MAJOLA given.majola@inl.co.za AP SOUTH Africa is now ranked 136th worldwide for its mobile data pricing this year in a study based on the cost of 1 gigabyte (1GB) of mobile data as South African regulators try to clamp down the high costs. The data from 6 148 mobile data plans in 230 countries were gathered and analysed by Cable.co.uk between December, 8, 2020 and February, 25, 2021 South Africa’s data costs an average of $2.67 (R38.93) for 1GB of data from a sample of 60 plans measured on February, 25. The study found the cheapest data cost $0.12, while the most expensive was $34.95. Data prices are keenly looked at by South African consumers after the Competition Commission…

CRIME Church to probe allegations of rape BULELWA PAYI bulelwa.payi@inl.co.za ACTIVIST organisations have welcomed the decision by the Anglican Church to launch an investigation into allegations of rape against one of its priests. The church announced that a tribunal would hear the case involving allegations of rape by Reverend June Major against another cleric. This followed protests and hunger strikes by Major since 2016, demanding that a tribunal be set up to investigate the alleged rape and be allowed to serve again as a priest. Major said she hoped that the tribunal would also look into the role of the church in protecting the alleged rapist as he continued to minister in the Diocese of Cape Town. The alleged rape incident took place in 2002 in Makhanda (Grahamstown) while Major…

TRIBUTE COMPILATION Gee Six Five’s music lives on AMANDA MALIBA amanda.maliba@inl.co.ca OBANI Lababantu? hit-maker Gee Six Five, real name Olpha Selepe, made waves in Mzansi when she launched her music career at the age of 65 in November last year. Her career didn’t last long as Mzansi was robbed of her talent three weeks later. The muso died while self-isolating in Durban after she received a positive test for Covid-19 in December. Four months later, her son Fika Selepe wants to ensure her memory lives on forever in music with the release of a tribute compilation EP of Selepe’s songs. The EP aims to keep alive Gee Six Five’s message of endurance and defying the odds to achieve one’s dreams. The EP took a month to complete. “The EP is…

ELECTRICITY Eskom’s 15% hike ‘too much’ MANYANE MANYANE manyane.manyane@inl.co.za THE 15% Eskom tariff hike has not gone down well with consumers who feel it will add more burden to the cost of living that is already too high, coupled with some having had to take salary cuts due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “Already life is expensive... I found it unfair because they increase the price of everything while salaries remain the same. Right now the taxi industry is increasing fares because petrol prices also went up. It’s even ridiculous that Eskom is increasing the prices while we continue to experience load shedding,” said 32-year-old Teboho Mabote from Sebokeng. “Some of us are getting a minimum wage and already we are struggling to pay for electricity. Some of us are unemployed.…

REVIEW ‘Do Not Disturb’ should provoke the outrage of every African SHYAKA KANUMA MICHELA Wrong’s new book, Do not Disturb: The Story of a Political Murder and an African Regime Gone Bad, should provoke the outrage of any African worth their self-respect. The writer – who has made a career trading in demeaning stereotypes of Africans in previous works that include In the Footsteps of Mr Kurtz, about the last days of Zairean president Mobutu Sese Seko, and It’s Our Turn to Eat, billed as “an analysis of why Kenya descended into political violence” – is at it again. This time with the president of Rwanda in her crosshairs. But in none of her previous books is the British journalist’s racist stereotyping of an African people more pronounced than in…

SASSA Covid-19 grant - one year later KGOMOCO DISEKO I’M IN AWE as to how this grant was set up under hard lockdown where staff were drastically minimised in offices and face-to-face interaction with grant applicants was impossible. How this grant’s systems were put together without going to tender for at least six months, provides an illuminating case study of how a government-business collaboration can benefit a developing country. It's also interesting how Sassa managed to implement such a mammoth technology-based assignment with neither extra staff nor funding. I leave the details of how all this was achieved under such hostile circumstances to the research world, lest some of us public servants get likened to fish seeking praise for swimming. What is discouraging is that our toxic political environment continues…

A TIME TO HEAL ELLIS PARK’S NIGHTMARE OF BROKEN BODIES MATSHELANE MAMABOLO JENNIFER BRUCE KIM LUDBROOK DOCTOR Zakes Motene will today begin a healing process he had put on the backburner for two decades. "It's about time I went for therapy my brother," Motene says "We all need to." The all Motene is referring to are his friends from varsity (MEDUNSA), the ones he was with on that fateful Wednesday night of April 11, 2001 at Ellis Park when a stampede led to the deaths of 43 people during the Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates. While he somehow managed to survive despite being caught up in the stampede, Motene witnessed a dreadlocked lady die in front of his eyes. As a final year medical student back then,…

EPL Master outshines apprentice as Leeds upset Man City MARCELO Bielsa and Pep Guardiola are never short of praise for each other but the master showed the apprentice he can still outthink his protege as 10-man Leeds United beat runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City 2-1 yesterday. Spaniard Guardiola has in the past described Bielsa as the best coach in the world, crediting the Argentine with being an inspiration for his style of play. As Leeds snatched a dramatic last-gasp victory at The Etihad, Bielsa showed being so attack-minded can still produce incredible results even against the best team in the country. "First of all I didn't beat Pep Guardiola," Bielsa said. "This sounds strange to say – it would have been fair if City had won but we deserved…

SOCCER Gritty Cape Town City kick back into gear ZAAHIER ADAMS CAPE TOWN CITY 3 Lakay (35), Makola (64), Morris (85) SUPERSPORT UNITED 0 CAPE Town City returned to winning ways with a resounding 3-0 victory over SuperSport United at Cape Town Stadium yesterday. The home team had been under severe pressure coming into this DStv Premiership clash having been unable to claim all three points in their last eight league matches. A stern tongue-lashing from club boss John Comitis during the week certainly did the trick as City finally managed to convert all their possession and dominance into goals. The Citizens opened the scoring after Fagrie Lakay slotted home a penalty into the bottom right-hand corner for his sixth goal of the season after Thatayaone Ditlhokwe brought down Tashreeq…

QUICK READ TIMOL CASE DELAYED AGAIN THREE years after former apartheid security branch officer João Rodrigues first appeared in court for the murder of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol, his criminal trial has yet to begin. On Thursday, the case was again postponed pending the Supreme Court of Appeal ruling in Rodrigues’s application for leave to appeal the dismissal of the permanent stay of prosecution application by the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg in 2019. See http://bit.ly/IOLTimolcase ACE DODGES QUESTIONS ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule shied away from questions around whether he intended to step-aside or defy a party resolution after he introduced the ANC Youth League National Youth Task Team at Luthuli House this week. Journalists asked Magashule about his intentions following an ANC NEC ruling that members who are…

SOUTH AFRICA Recovering money that has been lost is a key priority TSAKANI MALULEKE THE debates and subsequent media coverage that accompanied the tabling of the PFMA 2019-20 Consolidated General Report on national and provincial audit outcomes is encouraging. This is complemented by notable attention from accounting officers and authorities to the reports and matters we have brought to their attention. The optimism over the slight improvements in some areas of the audit outcomes is not misplaced but it is no reason to be complacent or celebrate. We make a clarion call to all of society to become involved with matters of public accountability and participate in the process of ensuring that public funds are spent effectively and efficiently in the public interest. This report, tabled under difficult circumstances of…

FOOD Cook autumn’s best green produce BUHLE MBONAMBI SPRING always gets the praise for having the best produce. But there’s something about autumn produce that has one wanting to spend time in the kitchen and cooking up a storm. I strongly believe that autumn has the best green produce. Think about it – broccoli, apples, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, pears, leeks, green beans, kale, lettuce, peppers, spinach and courgettes are just some of the produce we will see on the fresh produce aisles in shops soon. And with so many diverse ways of cooking these greens, it has made us appreciate them more. Take Brussels sprouts. More people are embracing the once-hated veg, because they realised they had prepared it wrong. Instead of boiling it and serving it with barely any…

EXHIBITION Designers showcase sustainable fashion THOBILE MAZIBUKO AFRICAN designers are big on sustainable fashion with their exhibition at Sandton City’s Diamond Walk. The Sustainable Fashion Re-imagined Exhibition, which started in March and will run until April 18, sees brands like Nicci, Lush, Shoetopia, Sunglass Hut, Poetry, Roberto Botticelli, Factorie, Skins Cosmetics, Daniel Wellington, Krispy Kreme, Woolworths, Grand Prix and Lindt Chocolatiers, have their branded paper shopping bags exquisitely crafted into bespoke sustainable designs by Franz Grabe. That’s not all. Designers, Gert-Johan Coetzee, Fundudzi by Craig Jacobs, Hangwani Nengovhela from Rubicon, Lezanne Viviers from Viviers Studio and Lara Klawikowski, also have their designs on display. Jacobs, who has been in fashion since 2004, has always used sustainable fabrics. For this exhibition, he trawled his archives and came up with three designs…

EDITOR’S CHOICE READ HOW I ACCIDENTALLY BECAME A GLOBAL STOCK PHOTO AND OTHER STORIES BY SHUBNUM KHAN Shubnum Khan impressed many with her brilliant penmanship in her first novel, Onion Tears. Now she’s back with her latest work, which chronicles the hilarious story of how she became a global stock photo. Its described as part memoir, part travel tome and a love letter to her various travel experiences. Get ready to laugh, cry and also feel good things again. WATCH SURVIVOR 40: WINNERS AT WAR (M-NET CITY - DSTV 115 ) The fortieth season of the greatest reality show sees some of your favourite winners over the 20 years of the show return to prove they are the best of the best. As always, there are twists that will make…

LONG HAUL You can walk from Cape Town to Russia in 187 days CLINTON MOODLEY FORGET planes, boats or cars… you can now walk from Cape Town to Russia. Twitter user Mitchell Mhlanga detailed in one of her recent viral tweets how this is possible. She said the longest road in the world that can be walked is from Cape Town to Magadan in Russia. “There is no need for planes or boats… there are bridges,” she tweeted. Mhlanga said the 22 387km journey would take 4 492 hours, which translates to 187 days of walking nonstop, or 561 days if you walk for eight hours a day. She said in her tweet that walkers would pass through 17 countries, six time zones and all seasons of the year. Embarking…