Innholdsfortegnelse for Sunday, April 25, 2021 i Sunday Independent

TailPiece INDIAN HOSPITALS TURN AWAY PATIENTS IN COVID-19 ‘TSUNAMI’ Overwhelmed hospitals in India begged for oxygen supplies on Saturday as the country’s coronavirus infections soared again overnight in a “tsunami” of disease, setting a new world record for cases for the third consecutive day. Max Healthcare, which runs a network of hospitals in north India, tweeted that it had less than two hours of oxygen left while Fortis Healthcare, another big chain, said it was suspending new admissions in Delhi. “We are running on backup, waiting for supplies since morning,” Fortis said. India is in the grip of a rampaging second wave of the pandemic, hitting a rate of one COVID-19 death in just under every four minutes in Delhi as the capital’s underfunded health system buckles. The government has…

REPATRIATION Lindani Myeni’s body expected in SA next week The police claim he entered a home exhibiting strange behaviour leading homeowners to believe their safety was compromised. Responding to a robbery in progress, officers found Myeni on the premises and attempted to make an arrest which resulted in his demise. “The video of the incident circulating on social media shows one side of the story. “We are not sure of what happened or whether he was defending himself. “We just hope that all those who were in the house which is close to a church will come forward and share details of what happened prior so we can have a full picture and find closure and healing in our hearts,” said Sengwayo. “We can’t bring him back, but the truth…

HEALTH Giant strides in fight against malaria TSHEPISO TSHABALALA CRISPIN ADRIAANSE African News Agency (ANA) TODAY marks World Malaria Day. Goodbye Malaria, together with the national Department of Health, on Thursday hosted a virtual discussion to share insights into what South Africa and other Elimination 8 initiative countries are doing to curb the disease and to achieve zero malaria by 2030. The Elimination 8 initiative consists of eight Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, namely, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa. In a 2019 report, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that close to 229 million malaria cases were recorded globally, with the death rate sitting at 409000. Moreover, children under the age of five were the most affected by the epidemic. Health Minister Dr Zweli…

INFORMATION AGE MAY DEEPEN DISCRIMINATION Law students should study data protection, says Pansy Tlakula EDWIN NAIDU A CAREER in human rights is no longer considered sexy as it was during apartheid or around the birth of democracy, but it’s still crucial for lawyers to be equipped to handle litigation around constitutional matters, says South Africa’s Information Regulator Pansy Tlakula. The veteran human rights activist says these days, students want to do other things, such as commercial law or maritime law, “things that will bring them money quickly when they go into practice”. “But right now, I always tell them that constitutional litigation will never stop, I tell law students they must actually study data protection because we need lawyers who are going to specialise in this area. “Everyone has to…

CHALLENGES Transformation in the financial services sector CUMA VELILE DUBE THE difficulty in transforming South Africa’s financial services sector is made quite clear by the every-so-often dramatic exits of black executives in the largest institutions within the sector. Peter Moyo’s exit at Old Mutual in June 2019 could very well have been an episode of the series Game of Thrones. Basani Maluleka’s exit at African Bank in January of this very year broke all our hearts. Most recently, David Mminele was quite simply undermined at Absa – in the final analysis. He was meant, it seems, to just hold the line and not dare have a vision of his own for the bank or its strategy. Absa has not only lost another chief executive but no longer has the…

The dawn of a new political era beckons STATE capture is in its ugliest manifestations and our nation is on the edge as we anticipate a third wave of Covid-19 and municipal election frenzy engulfs voters, with every political party promising voters a new Shangri-La. All the major political parties have lost their moral values to affluence that comes with power and materialism. It’s a bane that has survived in our political arena, deserving the term cronyism. It’s waters are murky, it is not for the faint-hearted. We are a nation in total disarray. Petrol price hikes, e-tolls, load shedding, corruption, the Covid-19 vaccine fiasco and the Sassa grants debacle, will have a major impact on the electorate in 2021. An upheaval of major proportions in the political arena will…

WIDENING GAPS A critical look at post-apartheid democracy DR LEHLOHONOLO KENNEDY MAHLATSI THIS year, our country will be celebrating the 27th anniversary of the first non-racial democratic elections. In his book Towards a New Deal: A Political Economy of the Times of my Life, published recently, Professor Rob Davis captures the essence of the post-apartheid democratic breakthrough. He cogently observes: “The biggest achievements towards a national democratic society had been in the politico-social sphere rather than in the economic life of the people. Citizens had acquired extensive rights and freedoms, and the delivery of a number of social benefits had advanced rapidly, yet unemployment, poverty and inequality remained, while ownership and control of the economy still lay predominantly with monopoly capital”. It is undisputed that the democratic government has successfully…

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Klopp bemoans missed chances LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp rued his side's failure to take their chances yesterday as Newcastle United substitute Joe Willock scored a late equaliser to deny their hosts a much-needed win in their pursuit of Champions League football next season. Liverpool's Mohamed Salah scored the opener inside three minutes but the defending champions wasted a host of chances to extend their lead and paid the price in stoppage time when Willock's deflected strike secured a 1-1 result for Newcastle at Anfield. "We kept them alive and they deserved the goal," Klopp told BT Sport. "They scored the one before, unlucky for Wilson but it is (disallowed for) handball and we don't even take this present. It's really tough to take. "In a specific way we…

SA’S RESET MOMENT Covid holds lessons for pursuit of social justice THULI MADONSELA IT IS commonly believed that the Covid-19 recovery period is a great global reset moment. Indeed the global reset narrative was the buzz phrase during the latest World Economic Forum in Davos. But truth be told, in South Africa, the great reset moment was 27 years ago when non-racial elections were held on the basis of the interim Constitution of 1993. Two years later, the current Constitution was adopted as a blueprint for the South Africa we chose to become. The Constitution is a democracy blueprint whose virtues continue to be extolled globally even though there are more recent constitutions. For example, when iconic US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was asked by an Egyptian Journalist…

QUICK READ Pandemic INDIA reported yet another grim milestone of a highest number of daily new Covid-19 cases. A total of 332 730 cases were recorded over 24 hours, according to health ministry data released on Friday. India registered more 2 000 daily deaths for the third consecutive day with the highest spike in single-day deaths of 2 263 on Friday, since the pandemic early last year, taking the cumulative death toll in India to 1 86 920 so far. The dramatic rise in numbers has been attributed to inadequate safety precautions, a Hindu festival that was attended by millions, and a “double mutant” variant of the coronavirus. | IANS Social media YOUTUBE has suspended the account of influential Nigerian TV evangelist TB Joshua over allegations of hate speech. According…

QUICK READ NATION ELIMINATES TRACHOMA THE GAMBIA has successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, making it the second country in the World Health Organization’s African Region to achieve this milestone. Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness worldwide. According to the WHO, the infection is transmitted by eye and nose discharges of infected people, particularly young children who harbour the principal reservoir of infection. These discharges can be spread by particular species of flies. | African News Agency (ANA) NAMIBIAN CABINET RESHUFFLE NAMIBIAN President Hage Geingob appointed three ministers and four deputy ministers in a cabinet reshuffle this week. Home Affairs Minister Frans Kapofi was moved to the defence post, replacing Peter Hafeni Vilho who resigned earlier this month following reports that he had not declared an…

SKINCARE The latest skin-care ingredients you need to know about GERRY CUPIDO Pexels WHEN looking at the ingredients list on your skincare packaging, these are the ingredients you need to know about. Back in the day, all we knew about skincare products was cleansers, toners and moisturisers. Then we learnt that we could have different types. You either had oily, dry or combination skin. Then we had skincare brands that could tweak those basic products, for different skin types. And that was pretty much it. However people have become more and more curious about what those products contain. Now consumers are taking out those magnifying glasses to read those tiny words in the list of ingredients. In the same way that people want to know exactly what they are eating…

EDITOR’S CHOICE Sumac – Recipes And Stories From Syria by Anas Atassi (R442 on Loot) ANAS Atassi’s Sumac, a tribute to his homeland, is an exquisitely photographed cookbook full of recipes that have been passed down through time. Featuring everything from the wonderful Friday breakfasts Anas often ate in his grandmother’s garden and his mother’s sfeeha (small savoury pies) to za’atar flatbread, batata harra (spicy potatoes), sayadiyah (spicy fish pilaf with caramelised onions) and zahra (spicy roasted cauliflower) which he enjoys making for his friends. Each of the 80 traditional and contemporary recipes in this cookbook retains the heart of Syrian family life. Root – Small vegetable plates, a little meat on the side by Rob Howell (R583 on Loot) WITH a focus on sustainability and using the very best…

EDITOR’S CHOICE ‘Dead Places’ keeps horror genre alive DEBASHINE THANGEVELO As a horror buff, I’m always drawn to hair-raising offerings. Sometimes, I’m impressed. The offerings in the genre can be hit and miss. If you’ve enjoyed Haunted on Netflix or Travel Channel’s The Kindred Spirit, Portals to Hell or Ghost Brothers, you will enjoy Dead Places, a local paranormal series on Netflix. I’m already three episodes into the eight-part series and it’s kept me wide-eyed and completely engrossed. Also, I am blown away from Shamilla Miller’s performance as Kelly. She’s a natural in front of the camera and I suspect will have a promising future in the industry. The Blood & Water actress shares wonderful screen chemistry with her co-stars Anthony Oseyemi (Will) and Rea Rangaka (Joe). The series follows…

LUGGAGE CHECK Packing a carry-on bag? Here’s what you need to know GERRY CUPIDO . | Pexels THERE’S nothing worse than being stopped at the security checkpoint when you’re on your way to board a plane, especially when you’re running late for a flight. When you’re doing an overnight stay or a same-day return trip, it’s usually unnecessary to pack a big suitcase that needs to be checked in. People taking a long overseas flight will need to take a carry-on bag to freshen up on board or change their clothes during long layovers. To avoid any hassles at the security when boarding, here’s what you need to know about carry-on luggage. When it comes to air travel, size does matter. If your bag doesn’t fit in the overhead storage…

ANALYSTS’ WARNING ‘Fragile economy can’t afford more strikes’ SIPHELELE DLUDLA siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za THE LOOMING strike season over the impasse in the public sector wage negotiations could have the potential to derail South Africa’s expected economic recovery this year. This week, analysts warned that strikes could override the gains made since the easing of lockdown restrictions and the vaccination rollout. NFB Private Wealth Management managing director Andrew Duvenage said the strike season, with wage negotiations in full swing, could be the biggest risk to investor confidence and into this year's fragile economic recovery. The year was bringing other complexities that could be far worse than previous years. “Our recovery is fragile and lower than the rest of the world. We cannot now afford to have economic activity halted again,” he said. “But…

REAL NUMBERS Outsourcing Stats SA’s functions or imposing hefty budget cuts a bad move PALI LEHOHLA MARIANA Muzzucato, a Presidential Economic Advisory Council member, has breathed life into the contestations about the political economy and the role of the government in the state. Muzzucato has introduced a concept of an entrepreneurial state. She has argued that state-owned entreprises (SOEs) become the backbone and the interlocutor of the government and the private sector in achieving the mission of the state. Muzzucato dismisses the binary of the government as ineffective and the private sector better. To this end, she cites mega state projects of landing the first person on the moon. The government-sponsored programme spawned major scientific endeavours and discoveries that enabled the American private sector to leapfrog into major technological ventures.…

EXPOSÉ Defence Minister ‘living like a queen’ MZILIKAZI WA AFRIKA DEFENCE minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has a lot to answer for after UDM leader General Bantu Holomisa submitted another explosive dossier alleging that her expensive taste cost the taxpayer over R7-million on questionable chartered flights and luxury hotel accommodation. The dossier, submitted to the chairpersons of the parliamentary joint standing committee on defence last month, follows another letter to the same committee in which Holomisa alleged that Mapisa-Nqakula “extorted” more than R5-million from a South African National Defence service provider. In his new submission, Holomisa included alleged WhatsApp communications between the minister and the unnamed South African Defence Force service provider. He also submitted invoices that show that “Mapisa-Nqakula extensively travelled in 2019 which cost the taxpayer over R7-million”. According to…

TENDERS CEO ‘returns’ despite SIU report KARABO NGOEPE karabo.ngoepe@inl.co.za PLANS are allegedly afoot to reinstate the chief executive of the Joburg Property Company (JPC) despite an Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation having found she might be guilty of financial misconduct. The Sunday Independent has been reliably informed that the board of the JPC has resolved to reinstate Helen Botes, who has been on suspension since September 4, last year. “The board decided to reinstate Helen despite the findings of the SIU. It’s puzzling as to why they are so adamant that she leads the entity,” said a source speaking on condition of anonymity. Botes’s suspension followed the awarding of a deep cleaning tender to companies that sources said were not qualified to carry out the work when the hard lockdown…

ICYMI | IOL.CO.ZA INDIAN COVID-19 VARIANT FOUND IN SWITZERLAND If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.DESMOND TUTUApartheid freedom figher Geneva - A first case of the Covid-19 variant contributing to the exploding outbreak in India has been detected in Switzerland, the public health authority said Saturday. | See more on IOL…

BOOK Past catches up with present in ‘Invisible Strings’ LESEGO MAKGATHO lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za WHEN Naledi Mashishi first thought of working on her debut novel Invisible Strings, she was disturbed by the spate of fly-by-night pastors who get their congregants to eat grass and all sorts of absurd things. In Invisible Strings, she explores this more through fiction. Layered in 36 chapters, Invisible Strings follows the life of a spoiled and self-absorbed Mamokgethi Pule. Her life is brought to an abrupt halt by an unplanned pregnancy. As her daughter Thato grows, she begins to develop otherworldly powers ranging from visions, to seeing the dead, to healing by touch. A young pastor, Solomon Khumalo, is desperate to prove himself by preaching the word of God to a large and loyal congregation. When he…

WILDFIRE UCT blaze–devastating aftermath EDWIN NAIDU VOLUMES of African literature, including archives of the liberation struggle history and the mid-19th century Cape San people, hosted at the iconic African Studies Library, as well as several historical buildings, have been destroyed by raging fires that engulfed the University of Cape Town (UCT) and parts of Table Mountain in the Western Cape. About 4 000 students were evacuated from residences on April 18 and placed at temporary accommodation sites across the city as the fire, believed to have started on the slopes of Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak, spread rapidly to the Rhodes Memorial before reaching UCT’s upper campus in Rondebosch. While the full extent of the damage to the affected UCT buildings and their content is still being determined, environmental group…

BULLYING Manual to deal with scourge welcomed ROLAND MPOFU roland.mpofu@inl.co.za THE South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) has applauded the newly published teachers’ safety and security handbook, which was developed by educators for their colleagues to reduce the risk of violence in their schools. The online handbook was published last week by the South African Council of Educators (SACE) in the wake of increased violence and bullying in schools across the country. Limpopo pupil Lufuno Mavhunga from Mbilwi Secondary School took her own life after a video of her being bullied by a fellow pupil went viral on social media. In Gauteng a Grade 11 boy from Anchor Comprehensive allegedly stabbed a Grade 12 boy from Emadwaleni Secondary School in Orlando West. Launching the instruction manual SACE CEO Ella Mokgalane…

White privilege insulates colonial relations THE rising cost of living will thrust the poor into a poverty trap. Moreover, the public transport system is a shambles and effectively compounded by a dilapidated rail service, impacting severely on the lives of the working class. What remains the order of the day are ethically deficient politicians and unbridled corruption in government. The naked effect of this is the sharpest contradictions affecting black people in an unchanged capitalist society. It’s a matter of fact that white privilege insulates colonial relations in some centres of power from transformation by embracing bourgeois democracy and courting the black political elite to cultivate…

APRIL 27 Freedom Day celebrations, what freedom ? DAVID LETSOALO IOL Archives ON Tuesday, the country will once again be on a pause as the nation is expected to celebrate what the ANC government, with full confidence, calls Freedom Day. The vexing question is whether this day is, in all honesty, worth celebrating. It’s about time we searched our conscious minds and hearts as we reflect on this issue. What is freedom? Have we attained it, realistically speaking? These questions need to be answered objectively, without being constrained by the incessant narrative and rhetoric of the “rainbow” dispensation. Obviously, some individuals and entities do benefit from this scheme that punts the illusionary free society. A mythical notion of the “rainbow nation” was therefore constructed, exploiting the hype surrounding the April…

INJURY TIME STUART HESS stuart.hess@inl.co.za SPORTS, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa described the ongoing mess at Cricket South Africa as a ‘soapy’. The arts fraternity might ruefully smile at that reference given its anger towards Mthethwa and the way he has handled grants for artists during the pandemic. Mthethwa could do with some good publicity from fixing cricket, but it won’t wash with the country’s artists. CSA’S ‘MAY DAY’ On April 10, Cricket SA’s communications department, released a statement with the headline: “A LANDMARK MOMENT FOR SPORTS ADMINISTRATION IN SOUTH AFRICA: CSA INTERIM BOARD WELCOMES MEMBERS' COUNCIL DECISION ON A NEW GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE FOR CRICKET”. A week later, CSA’s Members Council took a vote – secretly – and the ‘landmark moment’ was lost. At that Special General Meeting, the…

TV GUIDE TODAY Cricket: Test Series: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, First Test, Day 5, 6.15am, CRI; Indian Premier League T20: Chennai Super Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore, 11.50am, ACT, CRI (3pm); Sunrisers Hyderabad v Delhi Capitals, 3.50pm, CRI Cycling: Liege Bastogne Liege, Women Elite, 11.20am, VR1; Liege Bastogne Liege, Men Elite, 1.25pm, VR1 Golf: LPGA Tour: Hugel-Air Premia LA Open, Day 4, 12 mid-night, GOL; Sunshine Tour: Limpopo Championship, Day 4, 12 noon, GOL; European Tour: Gran Canaria Open, Day 4, 3pm, GOL; PGA Tour: Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Day 4, 7pm, GOL Motorsport: FIA Formula E Championship, Qualifying Round 6: Valencia, 9.45am, MSP; FIA Formula E Championship, Round 6: Valencia, 1.30pm, MSP; IndyCar Series: Streets of St Petersburg, 6pm, MSP; NASCAR Cup Series: GEICO 500, 7.30pm, ACT, MSP…

DSTV PREMIERSHIP Leopards frustrate SuperSport ESHLIN VEDAN KABELO LEPUTU BackpagePix SUPERSPORT United’s frustration continued as Ovidy Karuru’s 28th minute strike consigned them to a 1-1 draw against basement club Black Leopards at the Thohoyandou Stadium yesterday afternoon. Sipho Mbule opened the scoring for SuperSport in the 17th minute to end Matsatsantsa’s two-game run without a goal. Tebogo Mokoena produced a cheeky pass into the path of Mbule who struck home and opened the scoring. The game presented SuperSport with a good opportunity to end their eight-game winless run but it was actually Leopards who had the better chances in the first half. It was hardly surprising when Leopards drew level through Karuru. Karuru initially produced an impressive pass into the path of teammate George Maluleka. The veteran’s shot forced an…

STARS TANYA OBREZA Aries (March 21 - April 20) Reassess which aims are worth pursuing and which aren’t, then discard anything (or anyone) that has become troublesome. At the same time, you might like to throw new ideas around with other like-minded or more compatible friends or family. It’s said that many hands make light work. Indeed, the planets suggest safety in numbers. Taurus (April 21 - May 20) With family issues threatening conflict, patience helps you keep a balanced viewpoint and, in these financially challenging times, it might also pay to keep an eye on finances. It’s not that loved ones can’t be trusted but for you to know what they’re spending. In matters of the heart, online or long-distance love could also turn out easier than imagined. Gemini…

FREEDOM CHARTER: A MEASURE FOR GOVERNING BUT NOT FOR THE ECONOMY Roll up sleeves to make wishes come true PROF BONKE DUMISA TIMOTHY BERNARD African News Agency (ANA) IN 1955, the People of South Africa congregated in Kliptown, in the former Transvaal, where they came up with The Freedom Charter. This document came up with so many idealistically great things that “the State” was going to give or provide to all for free. A brief look at The Freedom Charter lists some of the following as part of a long list of what was to be given or provided free: 1. There shall be work and security. 2. Education shall be free, compulsory, and universal for all children. 3. Higher education and technical training should be opened to all by…

WEST AFRICA Counting the costs of fishing CHAD WILLIAMS chad.williams@africannewsagency.com HENK KRUGER African News Agency (ANA) A RECENT Netflix documentary highlighting the environmental impact that the fishing industry has on the planet has left a rather salty taste in the mouth of viewers, with many now calling for stricter regulations in light of “sustainable” fishing practices. Apart from the bold statements made by the creators in the film, Seaspiracy, and the debate around whether they’re accurate or not, there is no doubt that our oceans are being plundered at an alarming rate. So let’s bring it back home: what is really happening in West Africa’s waters? According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN, about 7 million people depend directly on fishing as a source of income…

MALAWI Cabinet minister fired, dozens arrested for looting funds MOLAOLE MONTSHO molaole.montsho@africannewsagency.com A CABINET minister was sacked and more than 60 people have been arrested for misuse of about $7.95million (about R113m) meant to fight the coronavirus in Malawi. Last Sunday, President Lazarus Chakwera fired Labour Minister Ken Kandodo for looting Covid-19 funds. This was after an audit on Covid-19 funds revealed that Kandodo had used $766.627 as allowances when he accompanied Chakwera on his official visit to South Africa in November last year. “Even though the minister has since returned the money, his usage of the funds means that the money was unavailable for its intended purpose when it was needed most. And I cannot have in my cabinet any individuals who either spend money budgeted for one thing…

WORLD ART DAY Lensmen own crown by honouring the craft GONE are the days when photographers were perceived as nothing but cameramen. These days, they are celebrated as talented visual artists whose work takes us to moments that shall never be forgotten. What’s lovely about photography is that it captured a permanent memory that’s visible. And as World Art Day was recently commemorated (April 15), we look at the fashion photographers who own their crown by honouring their craft. South African award-winning photographers are celebrated through a partnership with Black Crown as they document and unpack the brand’s conceptualisation, using the eye they have for photography. The photographers include Themba Mbuyisa, David Blaq and Shane Burnell. Themba Mbuyisa Themba Mbuyisa is a fashion photographer who captures intimate moments through high…

WHAT DO MOVIES MEAN? This year’s Oscars underscore an existential question... ANN HORNADAY DOES anyone need reminding that the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday (Monday, 3am in South Africa) will be the weirdest ever? Or the most lacklustre? We get it: No one’s seen the movies. These Oscars are going to tank. Next! Honestly, was anyone expecting rabid excitement after a year of pandemic, when theatres shut, studios postponed their blockbusters and prestige pictures, and viewers hibernated on their couches with hot chocolate bombs and Gilmore Girls reruns? This year’s Oscars underscore a supreme irony that has yet fully to play out: If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that visual storytelling is more essential than ever. The question, when we emerge in 2021 or early 2022, is whether we’ll…

PLAN A TRIP WITHIN YOUR CITY A Freedom Day daycation guide CLINTON MOODLEY and SACHA VAN NIEKERK Clinton Moodley. Getting started Your daycation spot should not be far from your home. Try to limit driving time by choosing a destination 30 to 90 minutes away from your city. Check out the establishments that are open and find out what their requirements are for visiting guests. The next step is to set a budget. Take factors such as petrol, food, entrance fees and other costs into account when you plan your itinerary. Start exploring early to avoid traffic or large groups of people. The ultimate daycation activities to add to your list: KZN Sugar Rush Park Sugar Rush Park in Ballito incorporates adventure, adrenalin and family fun. The attractions include…

BIZ 101 How to manage the risk of burnout BEN BIERMAN BEING a business owner can be immensely rewarding but it requires a lot of mental resilience too. Business owners invariably clock up significant overtime and are usually hard at work long after 5pm. A Gallup poll recently found that 39 percent of business owners work in excess of 60 hours a week. Covid-19 has added to the pressured workday. No person can keep up this high level of output without the risk of burnout. Should burnout occur, the consequences to the business (as well as the owner) can be dire, often resulting in poor decisions being made, compromised personal health and a very negative experience of putting even the most dedicated individual off entrepreneurship for good. A few pointers…

QUICK READ FACEBOOK RESPONDS TO CLUBHOUSE On Monday, Facebook said it was adding podcasts and live audio rooms in a push to get people talking and taking on the fast-growing audio-based app Clubhouse. Facebook’s plan to weave audio offerings into the social network comes as it works to prevent losing users to Clubhouse. Facebook has seen a steady rise in users opting for voice, from audio calls at the social network to leaving spoken messages using WhatsApp or Messenger. | IOL Tech APPLE GOES FOR THE ADVERTISING BUSINESS Apple will expand its advertising business, says two people familiar with its plans, just as it brings in new privacy rules for iPhones that will probably cripple the ads offered by its rivals, including Facebook. The iPhone maker sells search ads for…

QUICK READ APPLE APPLE LAUNCHES A NEW PRODUCT Apple’s “Spring Loaded” event on Tuesday offered a bonanza of new hardware announcements, including some unexpected ones. But while Apple went big and loud with the new iMacs and powerful with the new M1 iPad Pros, the company also launched a tiny and discreet new product: the AirTag.AirTag is Apple’s long-rumored tracking gadget, designed to be attached to an item to track its location in your house—or across the city. | IOL Tech CARS CAR SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE ON THE CARDS FOR SA Europcar, a global car rental company has partnered with SA car tech startup FlexClub to be a part of its innovative rent-to-buy car subscription model. The partnership will enable Europcar to enter the car subscription space in South Africa and…

An apology to Gary Player In our article titled “Fourteen-year wait for justice for a child victim of sexual assault” written by Don Makatile (published on 11 APRIL 2021) we referred to the man convicted of the crime, Andrew de Lucas as “the nephew of renowned golfing legend Gary Player”. Mr Player has brought it to our attention that he has never had a relationship with the man on trial and, therefore, we accept that using the golfer’s name was inappropriate. Makatile has also admitted that statements attributed to the victim’s family friend whose comments were also included in the story, were not sourced from court documents or trial testimonies. Sunday Independent hereby retracts the reference to Mr Player and sincerely apologises to Mr Player for the embarrassment and inconvenience…

Strike looms over wage hike freeze SIYABONGA MKHWANAZI siyabonga.mkhwanazi@inl.co.za The public sector unions could be headed for a strike after the wage negotiations with the government collapsed at the bargaining council. Cosatu-affiliated unions and the Public Servants Union warned yesterday the strike was looming after the deadlock in the negotiations. The PSA said it has advised its members to prepare for a strike over pay hikes in the public service. Cosatu convener in the negotiations Mugwena Maluleke said they will know in the next few weeks the next course of action. “The outcome with the government on the wage negotiations is a deadlock. We have five days before the employer comes back with a revised offer. After that, it is conciliation stories. We can’t act until 21 days before we…

CONCERT Return to live shows music to the ears SIPHO MABASO sipho.mabaso@inl.co.za WHEN invited to a live musical performance these days, you undoubtedly expect it to be cancelled about a day or two ahead of the concert because the president was on TV – “Fellow South Africans” – the other day, and you expect the organisers to soon send you that cancellation email. Classical music devotees who are members of the Johannesburg Musical Society (JMS) turned out to have Lady Luck on their side, this time. Last Sunday, the JMS hosted its first live concert – after several cancellations since early last year – at the Linder Auditorium, Wits Education Campus, Parktown, in Johannesburg. Under the adjusted alert level 1 lockdown regime of rather relaxed regulations since the alert level…

VACCINE TRIALS Ins and outs of the Covid-19 vaccine trials TSHEPISO TSHABALALA tshepiso.tshabalala@inl.co.za MEDICAL research trials require a thorough understanding from both the researcher and the recruit. However, in a country where unemployment is rife, participants are prone to be enticed by financial gain without fully understanding what a particular study entails and the risks associated with it. Although the monetary reward may seem “too little” for some, desperation may hinder research recruits from refusing to participate in the try-outs. To ensure that candidates are compensated fairly and that they are not solely influenced by the financial reward, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Saphra) says there are guidelines to help prevent such instances. “Incentives such as financial, transport, and food should be fair and reasonable without making the…

PANDEMIC SPIN-OFF Huawei pursues Africa cloud share EDWIN NAIDU LEADING global provider of information and communications technology infrastructure and smart devices Huawei does not have its head in the clouds over its tumultuous battle with the US government over 5G, despite the leadership change. But it is confident of demand for its cloud services – hence, its ambitious plans to grow its market share in South Africa and Africa, which has already seen an increase in uptake due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While there has been no shift in policy towards Huawei since the baton passed from ex-president Donald Trump to his successor, President Joe Biden, Huawei’s new president for the Huawei cloud business in Southern Africa, Stone He, said the change in leadership had not improved its standing in…

EDITORIAL Freedom Day is right time to look in the mirror TWENTY-SEVEN years ago to this day, millions of South Africans woke up to a new dawn full of hope and possibilities because at last the majority could cast a vote for a new dispensation, promising an end to the decades-long human rights abuse and violations at the clutches of the racist apartheid regime. We dared to dream that after years of marginalisation; discrimination; racism; detention and torture; forced removals; poverty; joblessness; homelessness and no access to clean water and sanitation, decent housing and health services … our humanity and dignity would be restored. We believed we had forced Ou Krokodil PW Botha to swallow the words he uttered in 1988, when he refused to cross the “Rubicon”, trying to…

LETTERS Email: gautengsubs@inl.co.za. All letters must contain the writer’s full name, physical address and telephone number. No pen names. enduring influence. This brings to mind a pamphlet written by Joe Slovo entitled “The South African Working Class and the National Democratic Revolution” (1988). Slovo articulates the principal task of the national liberation Struggle, reinforcing our revolutionary course to capture the state and transform it into a government of the people. At the centre is the capture of the commanding heights of the economy to accord the poor a desirable socio-economic status. Put simply, our historic Struggle needs less bourgeois influence enabled by those who joined the movement to feather their nests. Needless to say, the self-serving interests of the elite group converged to bankroll a trust-funded presidential campaign is distinctly…

#UnmuteFreedom campaign calls for change SAMKELO MTSHALI samkelo.thulasizwe@inl.co.za SOUTH Africa celebrates the 27th anniversary of Freedom Day on Monday and Independent Media has committed to ensuring that South African voices will not be silenced again with its #UnmuteFreedom campaign. #UnmuteFreedom launches tomorrow and will run for the rest of the week. It will include an icon, which will be used each time an article appears – online and in print – and will highlight something contrary to what Freedom Day stands for. The gist of this year’s campaign though is a strong reminder that while the country has come far, it still has a very long way to go until there is complete inclusion and therefore real freedom. Dr Iqbal Survé, executive chairman of Independent Media, said that this year’s…

DSTV PREMIERSHIP Majoro on the double for AmaZulu ESHLIN VEDAN STEVE HAAG BackpagePix A brace from Lehlohonolo Majoro steered AmaZulu to a 2-1 win over TS Galaxy at the Jonsson Kings Park Stadium yesterday, allowing Benni McCarthy's team to keep the pressure on log leaders Sundowns. Veteran Majoro opened the scoring in the 33rd minute after his right-footed shot gave Galaxy keeper Marlon Heugh no chance of saving. Majoro doubled his team's lead just before half-time with a simple tap-in as his side exerted their domination. Galaxy grabbed a consolation with virtually the last kick of the game as Lindokuhle Mbatha struck his penalty beyond the reach of Usuthu keeper Veli Mothwa. A 74th minute goal from Wayde Jooste earned Orlando Pirates a 1-1 draw with Moroka Swallows in “the…

TENNIS Djokovic hopes Covid-19 vaccine will not become compulsory NOVAK Djokovic said he hopes it will not become mandatory for players to get vaccinated against Covid-19 to compete on the ATP circuit and that their freedom of choice should be supported. The ATP earlier this month issued new guidelines, saying players who have been vaccinated would not be considered a close contact of anybody testing positive. The governing body of men's tennis also drew up an exemption list for players who have been vaccinated. Both the ATP and the women's WTA recommended players accept vaccine shots when available. Djokovic said there were "a lot of options in terms of vaccines" but still a lack of clarity on whether they would be compulsory. "I don't think it'll come to that. I…

SOUTH AFRICA: 27 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY This tumultuous time shall pass RYLAND FISHER ANA Archives ON TUESDAY, democratic South Africa turns 27. It’s an age when our country can no longer be considered young and when we would have been expected to deal with many of the problems we inherited from our apartheid past. When I think of the number 27, two instances come to mind. The first is that 27 is the number of the prison gang which, according to criminologists, are the guardians of gang law and responsible for peacekeeping in prisons. The second is that the 27 Club is a group of talented musicians who all died at the age of 27, after already making their mark on the music industry. South Africa is not a…

HUMAN RIGHTS SA edging from ‘skunk to saviour’ in global arena EDUARD JORDAAN ANA Archives THE story of democratic South Africa and its approach to human rights in the rest of the world is a tale of woe. For two-and-a-half decades, its foreign policy mostly failed to defend internationally – and quite often contradicted – the human rights principles contained in its Constitution. An assessment in the Washington Post more than a decade ago still rings true: “South Africa remains an example of freedom while devaluing and undermining the freedom of others. It is the product of a conscience it does not display.” Why has South Africa behaved this way? Surprisingly, it is not the case of the country feeling compelled to make common cause with African states, many of…

BEAUTY How make-up gives us freedom JAMAL GROOTBOOM THE beauty community has become a huge force online with some of the biggest social media stars such as Bret-man Rock, Patrick Starrr, Jackie Aina, Nikkie Tutorials to name a few and South Africa is no exception. One of the biggest creators to come have out of the continent is Nigerian-born South African beauty guru Foyin Ogunrombi. Having gained prominence with her 7Days7Faces series, Foyin has become one of the most prominent faces in the local make-up community. The series started in the heart of the lockdown last year. Taking inspiration from another creator, Foyin kicked off the series and since a week is not a lot of commitment, she gave people a way to channel their frustrations with being locked up…

QUICK READ HALLE GIVES HER TEEN LESSONS ON ‘REAL BEAUTY’ HALLE Berry has been teaching her 13-year-old daughter Nahla about beauty by creating homemade skincare products. The mother-daughter duo got stuck into making their own natural concoctions in quarantine. Berry, 54, said: “I’m giving myself more pedicures and facials and concocting things. If I’m doing a deep cleanse on my skin, (I’ll apply) a homemade mask made of yogurt, honey and lemon for vitamin C. I’m really having fun. “It’s really been fun doing it with my daughter. She just turned 13, so she’s learning about all these products. But, I love teaching her about what I consider real beauty, which is taking care of your natural skin. It’s not about covering your natural face with gobs of make-up. It’s…

THE WORK OF CAPE TOWN-BASED ARTIST KYLE JARDINE Heritage architecture gets a fresh creative look PIET SMEDY ART IS ART HERITAGE architecture gets a fresh new look in the work of Cape Town-based artist Kyle Jardine, who has quickly risen through the art world (and Instagram) ranks to become one of the country’s most exciting need-to-know young artists. Here he talks inspiration, design and his love for the Mother City. Which came first, the love of architecture or the love of illustration? I would say the two collided at the right time. Art came first, as it’s something I’ve done throughout my life, but I’ve always had a great appreciation and admiration for architecture – heritage buildings in particular, and the tales that they tell. My love of both…

EDITOR’S CHOICE READ A Coat of Many Colours by Fred Khumalo One of Africa’s best wordsmith’s, Fred Khumalo, is back with another book. A Coat of Many Colours, a riff on the story of Joseph, is crammed with short stories that will bring you as much joy as the coat did to Joseph. The stories range from comedy and noir crime, to realism and surrealism. It’s a must-have read . LISTEN Keep It! (On all podcast services) Executive produced and hosted by former culture journalist and now screenwriter, Ira Madison III, Keep It! is a pop culture podcast that also sits perfectly in the intersection of politics, race and human rights. With his co-hosts and fellow writers Louis Virtel and Aisha Osman, Ira leads conversations with Hollywood news makers, while…

TRIP OF A LIFETIME Backpacking through Africa during the pandemic CLINTON MOODLEY A WORLD map picture on Instagram inspired Norwegian social worker Adrian Misfjord to backpack through Africa during the pandemic. The 21-year-old is currently on a 5-month trip to various countries in Africa open to tourists. “I intended to go on a backpacking trip for a long time. When the opportunity arose, it didn’t take me long to quit my job as a social worker in Oslo and pack my bags,” he said. Not much preparation went into his trip, although he did plan a route of destinations he wanted to visit. He aims to document his adventures on his YouTube channel, Broke and Bohemian. Misfjord, who is now in Zanzibar, said the pros of travelling during the…

QUICK READ BIDEN TO FLOAT HISTORIC TAX INCREASE ON INVESTMENT GAINS FOR THE RICH President Joe Biden will roll out a plan to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans, including the largest-ever increase in levies on investment gains, to fund about $1 trillion in childcare, universal prekindergarten education and paid leave for workers, sources familiar with the proposal said. The plan is part of the White House’s push for a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. tax system to make rich people and big companies pay more and help foot the bill for Biden’s ambitious economic agenda. | Reuters MINERS SEEK GOLD UNDER THE DESERT SANDS AFTER EGYPT CHANGES RULES Mining companies awarded blocks in Egypt’s Eastern Desert are set to start exploring for gold under a legislative overhaul that seeks…

SPACE Ingenuity: the revolutionary helicopter that flew on Mars WESLEY DIPHOKO Nasa. NASA has made history once again. Its Ingenuity helicopter took to the skies of Mars for the first time, marking a new age of planetary exploration. Ingenuity’s flight is the first powered flight on another planet – an event Nasa described as “a Wright brothers moment” in space. Ingenuity is a small, robotic helicopter operating on Mars as part of Nasa’s Mars 2020 mission. Given the distance between Mars and the Earth, and subsequent 15-minute communications delay, the Ingenuity’s flight was autonomous. The craft took to the Martian skies for about 40 seconds, at a height of about 3m. Its blades spun at a whopping 2500 RPMs – that’s roughly five times faster than the rotations helicopters on…

UNITY IS KEY TO REALISING DEMOCRACY DIVIDEND NKOSAZANA DLAMINI ZUMA Picture: Louise Gubb © OUR revolution is based on the strategic mission to liberate our country and continent from the systems of apartheid and colonialism. It is because of this strategic objective, that the ANC and the broader liberation forces, the alliance including the Communist Party as well as the women’s movement and other organisations achieved the historic breakthrough of 1994, through its highs and lows. Despite these highs and lows, our movement consistently ensured that it was never deterred from this objective and it never succumbed to the challenges it faced from time to time. Despite the difficulties, the movement, because of its commitment to principle and to uniting the people in action were able to renew itself, its…