Innholdsfortegnelse for 2021-12-05 i Sunday Independent

David Meintjes One of the most important considerations for businesses, as they strive to squeeze out efficiencies and become more competitive, is understanding that to be relevant and appealing, they need an intelligent business communication platform. This implies the ability to adapt and react based on real-time insights. At the heart of having an intelligent communication platform is making sure the customer journey throughout the business is easy and the touch-points are pleasant. Everyone will have a host of positive and negative experiences. Let’s take a moment to think about the last time we were stuck in a seemingly endless contact-centre vortex as a customer, where every new agent had no idea who we were, what we needed or how to solve our problem. Those days are ending, precisely…

Siphelele dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za THE R50 billion economic destruction left by civil unrest and looting of businesses in July will have a lingering impact on South Africa’s prospects to reduce its unemployment rate, especially in the country’s economic hubs. The violent unrest found fertile ground to worsen the country’s jobless rate as economic activity was beset by supply-chain disruptions, lockdown restrictions and an energy crisis. As a result, it did not come as a shock when, earlier this week, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) revealed that the unemployment rate increased to a 13-year high in the three months to September, mainly due to the unrest. The Quarterly Labour Force Survey showed that the jobless rate has risen by 0.5 percent, from 34.4 percent to 34.9 percent. Stats…

Shingai Darangwa shingai.darangwa@inl.co.za The summer of 2021 started the moment DJ Maphorisa and Tyler ICU released the devilishly gorgeous music video for Izolo. Within minutes of its release, social media lit up with fans gushing over Madumane’s brilliant verse and the stunning accompanying visuals (kudos to director Nigel Stöckl). At that moment, it felt like the whole country was simultaneously giddy with excitement and ready to hit up Konka. That feeling hasn’t faded since. Amapiano enthusiasts will have you believe the song was a hit the moment it first came out as part of Mapahorisa and Tyler ICU’s joint EP, Banyana, a few months earlier, but most didn’t pay it any mind. They were busy grooving to the first single and title track, Banyana. But when the video came out,…

From Page 1 “The number of unemployed persons decreased by 183 000 to 7.6 million compared to the second quarter of 2021. The number of discouraged work seekers increased by 545 000 and the number of people who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement increased by 443 000 between the two quarters, resulting in a net increase of 988 000 in the not economically active population. “These changes resulted in the official unemployment rate increasing by 0.5 of a percentage point, from 34.4% in the second quarter of 2021, to 34.9% in the third quarter of 2021 – the highest since the start of the QLFS in 2008.” Jonathan Molapo, from Lesotho, has been in and out of the country since 2011. His job prospects are better…

From Page 1 It is said in the report that it was during the initial investigation that it was established that Truvelo Specialised Manufacturing did not apply for any export permit in terms of the Firearms Control Act or a permit to export firearms from South Africa to another country. “During our pre-inspection, a large quantity of firearm barrels were identified inside the container. These barrels were miss declared and destined to be smuggled out of the country.” It was also stated in the report that the firearms had no visible identification marks and their serial numbers could (not) be found. “A case docket for illegal exportation of firearms was registered at Maydon Wharf and all exhibits seized were handed into the SAPS there.” Truvelo deputy CEO Maoto Mabongwe…

Staff Reporter Cape Town played host to South Africa’s first truly international innovation collaboration space on Friday, getting the thumbs up from global and local corporates, scale-ups, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs wanting to collaborate more closely to drive innovation to boost job creation and fast-track financial growth. Innovation City Cape Town, co-founded by entrepreneurs Stephan Ekbergh and Kieno Kammies, in partnership with Epicenter Stockholm, hosted a Movers and Shakers event in the city on Friday. The event drew some of the most prolific local and international people in technology, business, finance and politics. These key stakeholders all share the belief that collaboration in technology innovation is the way forward to solve some of our biggest challenges. Opening the event, Epicenter CEO Patrick Mesterton reiterated the importance of collaborating in…

Mpho Rantao mpho.rantao@inl.co.za Have you heard that Marcus Harvey’s in town? If you don’t know who he is, then I don’t blame you, because it’s not the first name I would associate with an enigmatic South African artist. But the enigmatic man with rhymes from the township of Alexandra is almost everything you’d expect with such a stage name. The producer, rapper and singer dropped onto our radar with the release of his first extended play, introducing listeners to a man who has a lot on his mind and isn’t as afraid to share it as he says he thought he was. Someone who keeps to himself, Harvey’s songs all express a vulnerable side to him – using his emotions and thoughts to paint the stories on both of his…

Lesego Makgatho lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za Teaching children about the importance of diversity and uniqueness is something that needs to be done constantly, not only in the schooling space but in the home and social space as well. Author Mary Ellen Maunz once said, “the absorbent mind is one of the most important ideas in early childhood education. The absorbent mind makes our adult lives possible”. That statement could not be truer. Each of us is a product of words that were spoken to us when we were growing up. Children’s minds are like sponges, they absorb everything happening around them. This includes the content that your child is consuming. For example, what movies, comics or books are your children consuming? Take Your Place, You Belong by Karen Theunissen explores race and…

US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin appear set to hold direct high-level talks before the end of the year. Media sources in Russia claim the meeting could take place as early as next week, though this remains unverified. The clearest indication of an imminent meeting came this past week from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who held near hour-long private talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on the sidelines of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit in Stockholm, Sweden. Blinken told journalists that he and Lavrov would report the details of their meeting back to their respective presidents, who “may have the opportunity to speak directly in the near future”. The get-together in Stockholm of the two top diplomats was…

The poor performance of the ruling party, ANC, in the recent municipal elections has set tongues wagging, and further precipitated delicate conversations on what might unfold after the national elections in 2024. It is inevitable that, come 2024, we are not going to see any party winning an outright majority of the vote, and thus triggering coalition arrangements. Given the level of politics and politicking in this country, which saw the mushrooming of political parties and the possibility of individuals standing for political office in the provincial/national elections, it is highly possible for the ANC to cling to power after three decades with the help of the some “opportunistic” small parties and individual politicians. The other scenario will be that which might see whites formally reclaiming the Union Buildings, similarly,…

A court in southern Libya has reinstated Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi, as a candidate in this month’s presidential election, Libyan media reported. He had lodged an appeal against the electoral commission’s rejection of his application last month on the grounds of his criminal record. He had been sentenced to death by a Tripoli court for crimes committed during the revolt that toppled his father. A rival administration later pardoned him but he is still wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes. |…

Stuart Hess stuart.hess@inl.co.za SOUTH African cricket breathed a collective sigh of relief following confirmation that the Indian team would undertake their tour to the country later this month. Sure, the T20 matches were postponed, the schedule will be rejigged again because of Covid, and crowds may not be allowed, but if India hadn’t toured at all the fallout for Cricket SA and the sport as a whole in the country would have been catastrophic. The Board of Control for Cricket in India, through its secretary Jay Shah, confirmed yesterday that the tour would go ahead. It would start a week later than originally scheduled, but Cricket SA are happy to accept that, and the fact that the tour would have to take place according to strict Covid-19 protocols in a…

Smiso Msomi and Eshlin Vedan SWALLOWS FC began life with new coach Dylan Kerr with a 1-1 stalemate with Maritzburg United at the Dobsonville Stadium yesterday while Golden Arrows brought Chippa United back to earth as they won 2-1 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in the other 3.30pm kick-off. The Birds needed a 95th minute equaliser from defender Yagan Sasman to rescue a point for the home side whose finishing let them down numerous times. Maritzburg scored against the run of play on the stroke of half time. Rowan Human set up Bafana Bafana international Bongokuhle Hlongwane for his first goal of the season and his side’s third in seven matches. Kerr recalled to the starting line-up Mwape Musonda, who he previously entrusted with goalscoring responsibilities during his stint…

It is said “it takes a village to grow anddevelop a child” this couldn’t be more true for our country, it will take all sectors of the economy to come together and develop “this child”(country) if we want to see “this child”(country) grow. The title of the lecture is beautiful for learning however it comes with sorrow, to imagine that after so many years of inclusivity articles written by government and all forms of policy written, we still find ourselves having to explain the importance of inclusivity in any sector. With that being said, who better has shown the nation that its possible other than Saul Gumede himself, to contribute to the development of a sector from its roots, trunk and branches. Today the real estate sector stands like…

TYI Contributor Getting a good night’s rest is vital for your physical and mental state, but when you dream about your partner doing some questionable things, you tend to wake up more annoyed than relaxed. Dream analysis experts at PsychicWorld.com, in collaboration with TheDozyOwl.co.uk, have revealed the possible meanings behind some of the most common relationship dreams, according to a survey of 3 854 people. Partner cheating with an ex The most common dream people in relationships have is that their partner is cheating with an ex – which usually means you have insecurities which you need to pinpoint. Do you fear abandonment, feel neglected by your partner or do you have poor self-esteem? In some cases, these dreams can also mean there is a third person in the…

Mzilikazi Wa Afrika A South African arms manufacturer is being investigated for allegedly smuggling weapons to the Democratic Republic of Congo where more than six million people have died since the government and rebels have been at war for over a decade. The ongoing war in the region started in 1996 and has been described by the UN as one of the bloodiest since World War II. More than 18 000 peacekeeping soldiers have been deployed in the war-torn region. Sunday Independent can today exclusively reveal that Truvelo Specialized Manufacture is being investigated after law enforcement agencies allegedly seized 410 firearms in one of their containers during a raid at the Durban Harbour last month. A senior official, with intimate knowledge of the case and who asked not to be…

Baldwin Ndaba baldwin.ndaba@inl.co.za A top Joburg prosecutor, Advocate Pumeza Futshane, who allegedly accused foreign nationals of plotting to poison and kill South Africans, is due to know her fate soon following disciplinary charges brought against her by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). In the main count, the NPA alleged that Futshane posted on the NPA’s official WhatsApp group on September 3 and 4, 2019 a message titled “Attention ALL South Africans”. One of the excerpts stated: “A leak has revealed that foreign shop owners are planning to poison all South Africans through the products they sell in their shops. “The poison is aimed at (avenging) themselves upon the xenophobic attacks throughout the country against them. “The poison will be untraceable and is meant to be a slow killer. Warn your…

Amanda Maliba amanda.maliba@inl.co.za Music producer and businessman Thami Mdluli says his latest jazz album is his best work so far. The 10-track album Ticzo Jazz was scheduled for release in 2020 but the Covid-19 pandemic hit, forcing the muso to sit with his project. But it was within that period that he found more time to perfect his craft and re-recording new music that he feels is the true essence of jazz music. “It was during this time that I wrote songs that I never thought I would write. I would sit alone, play my instruments. It was there that I would explore interesting elements that have given birth to the sounds and melodies that I have not explored before. I had time to focus on music, pour myself back…

Yasmin Sooka and Katarzyna Zdunczyk ZANDISILE Musi, the sole survivor of the planned assassination of the “Cosas 4” by the apartheid security branch in February 1987, died earlier this year. Musi and his comrades, Eustice “Bimbo” Madikela, Ntshingo Mataboge, and Fanyana Nhlapo, were members of the Congress of South African Students (Cosas). The Cosas 4, inspired by the anti-apartheid Struggle waged by the banned ANC, decided to leave the country to join the ANC in exile. Musi entrusted a comrade, Tlhomedi Ephraim Mfalapitsa, with getting them out of the country. Unbeknown to him, Mfalapitsa, an Askari, informed his superiors about the students’ plans and was allegedly ordered by Jan Carel Coetzee, his superior at Vlakplaas, to entrap Musi and his comrades by deceiving them into believing that they would receive…

Gambians went to the polls to pick a president yesterday, in the first election in the West African country since ex-dictator Yahya Jammeh fled into exile. The shadow of Jammeh, who seized power in The Gambia in 1994 and ruled with an iron fist for 22 years, still hangs over the poll with his supporters pushing for his return. For President Adama Barrow, pictured, who is seeking re-election, the vote is a test of confidence in his ability to deliver development. The initial results could be announced later today.…

WYNONA LOUW Stormers 19 Lions 37 THE Lions claimed a bonus-point win after a dominant second half display in their United Rugby Championship clash against the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium last night. There was a double blow for the Stormers before kick-off with Sergeal Petersen and Nama Xaba missing out due to Covid protocols. Rikus Pretorius was promoted to the starting line-up and started on the wing with Tristan Leyds taking his spot on the bench, while Marcel Theunissen took Xaba’s spot among the replacements. After a spirited start by the Stormers in the opening quarter, the Lions looked promising as they attacked the scoreboard first after some fast and determined play, and they got the reward when Francke Horn went over for a converted try (0-7). The Stormers…

REGARDLESS of what industry you’re in, there’s no denying that the work environment is very different now to what it was two years ago. New health and safety policies have been introduced to workplaces, many employees now spend most of their week working from home and, unfortunately, many people had to be let go of from their jobs, or take a pay cut. In addition, employers have also been faced with many other tough quandaries such as whether to implement a vaccination mandate, the disciplinary process around violations of their new Covid-19 safety protocols, and how to approach possible lay-offs and new hires in the future. Of course, this is no simple feat for business owners who want to ensure they are compliant with the regulations and employment laws. While…

With careful planning, it will be easier to stretch your money through the festive season. Like so many other aspects of life, the excitement and joy of the imminent festive season has been somewhat ruined by Covid-19. Some people have lost their jobs while others had their incomes cut, which put pressure on their household budgets. With the possibility of a fourth Covid-19 wave, there is no telling what the future holds, which is why it is important to plan out your finances ahead of time. With careful planning, it will be easier to stretch your money through the festive season. “We can’t pretend conditions are easy, but by focusing on what’s really important to you, and budgeting diligently, it’s possible to stretch your money further and make this a…

NOT that the previous ones have ever been pleasant but the latest unemployment figures released on Tuesday by Statistics South Africa make for horrific reading. The country’s unemployment rate now stands at 34.9%, the highest since the 2008 labour survey. The biggest cause for angst comes after zeroing in on the stats: the number of employed persons decreased by 660 000 in the third quarter of 2021 to 14.3 million. If one keeps the numbers under the microscope, one notes despairingly that, according to Stats SA, the number of discouraged work seekers increased by 545 000 and the number of people who were not economically active for reasons other than discouragement increased by 443 000 between the two quarters, resulting in a net increase of 988 000 in the not…

Manyane Manyane manyane.manyane@inl.co.za As more big companies such as Standard Bank add their names to the growing list of businesses that will enforce Covid-19 vaccinations come 2022, more civil rights organisations are threatening court action to stop the government from going ahead with its intention to enforce mandatory vaccines. This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent announcement that the government has set up a task team to undertake broad consultations on making vaccination mandatory for specific activities and locations during his ‘family meeting’ last Sunday evening, when he addressed the nation on the surge in the number of infections caused by the Omicron variant. Ramaphosa’s latest statement on mandatory vaccines has been met with utter disbelief and confusion by many South Africans because, not so long ago, in a video that…

From Page 1 He said Ramaphosa, in terms of Section 7(2) read with 83(b) of the Constitution, has failed to fulfil his obligations to respect, protect and promote the Bill of Rights, and also failed to uphold, defend and respect the Constitution as the supreme law of the country. Mashashane wants the court to declare mandatory vaccination unconstitutional and invalid, and to order Ramaphosa to instruct organisations and companies to withdraw any declaration that vaccination is mandatory to their employees. He further asked the court to order Ramaphosa to instruct the medical aid scheme institutions, private doctors and hospitals to refrain from any form of discrimination on the basis of vaccination against Covid-19. He concluded that the president should uplift the imposed curfew in the country and the court to…

Lesego Makgatho lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za The Fight For Good Foundation is South Africa’s first anti-GBV initiative that takes women from victim to warrior in 12 weeks. The Fight for Good Foundation is fighting against gender-based violence (GBV) in a unique way. The NGO specialises in getting women “past the punch” in an intensive, and well-researched 12-week programme. Nicole Bessick, alongside her business partner Kinesh Maharaj, have joined forces and expertise to draw up a unique, accessible solution to benefit victims of abuse in the country. “We help women get past the punch through an individualised 12-week programme that combats GBV through the implementation of a set of multi-sectoral responses. We also implore society to consider ways in which GBV doesn’t necessarily manifest physically,” said Bessick. “Abuse is more than physical. It…

Tshepiso Tshabalala tshepiso.tshabalala@inl.co.za Last week the Sunday Independent invited some of its readers for a wine, dining and jazz brunch session courtesy of Indaba Hotel. This was also an opportunity for the editor – Zingisa Mkhuma – to meet with our readers and also find out from them what they would like to see in the newspaper apart from the diverse content we already cover. Among our guests was veteran actress and former model advocate Nakedi Ribane, who was dressed in a snazzy white suit and sneakers, together with her partner, socialite Minga Dlamini. Also present was dapper-looking author of Sperm Donor Letepe Maisela, with his partner Nthabiseng Chabedi. The group, made up of both women and men, the young and the old, were treated like royalty. The pampering started…

LEKGANTSHI CONSOLE TLEANE In a 2018 research article titled Decolonial Sociology: W.E.B. Du Bois’s foundational, theoretical, and methodological contributions, Melissa F Weiner argues that what has come to be known as decolonial studies has remained marginal to the social sciences due largely to their lack of foundational theorising. Instead, most decolonial scholars ground their studies mainly in the humanities. But what is the difference between the social sciences and the humanities, and why does this matter for Weiner, and why should it matter for us? A commonly available comparison is that the social sciences concern themselves with real issues that ordinary people experience in groups and the society. Hence, social scientists develop theories to try and understand or explain social phenomena. Humanities, on the other hand, cover those aspects of…

WHO would have dreamed that a man, the son of a first-generation indentured labourer, born on December 16, 1927, a day originally celebrated by Afrikaners as Dingaan’s Day and yet later on as the Day of the Covenant and the Day of the Vow; would be honoured some 90 years later by the award to him of the Order of Luthuli by a democratically elected government. December 16, we now call the Day of Reconciliation to celebrate our newly won freedom, the date also chosen in 1961 to launch the armed struggle and with-it Umkhonto We Sizwe. The significance of the day of Swaminathan Gounden’s birth and the decades that followed his unwavering dedication to the cause of freedom, is what also marks him out be an icon of that…

Chad Williams chad.williams@africannewsagency.com The conflict in the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia has been going on for more than a year. While major fighting has been between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and Ethiopian government forces, armed groups from neighbouring Eritrea have also been involved. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday urged Tigrayan rebels to surrender, claiming government forces were nearing victory just one week after he vowed to lead military operations at the front. It seems the gloves are off in the continuing conflict, which has led to scores of civilian deaths and several hundred thousand displaced. Abiy recently ordered troops to “destroy” the enemy. In 2019, Abiy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing an end to the 20-year stalemate with Eritrea. But critics say…

The UN has called for the complete eradication of contemporary forms of slavery. The focus is on eradicating trafficking in people, sexual exploitation, child labour, forced marriage and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict, the UN said in a statement issued on Thursday. “We must never forget the suffering of millions of African men, women and children under the transatlantic slave trade,” UN secretary-general António Guterres posted on Twitter. “I honour the resilience of those who endured and pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in the quest for freedom.” Some of the more than 40 million victims of slavery today are forced to produce the clothes people wear, the food they eat, or construct the buildings they live and work in, Guterres…

| Reuters CHAMPIONSHIP leader Max Verstappen denied title rival Lewis Hamilton a practice clean sweep for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix by going fastest in yesterday’s final session. The Red Bull driver, who has a shot at clinching his maiden Formula One title this weekend, lapped the 6.1km Jeddah track in one minute, 28.100 seconds. Hamilton, fastest in both sessions of practice yesterday, struggled to match the Dutchman’s pace on the soft tyres and was 0.214 seconds adrift. Hamilton, gunning for a third straight win in order to force a final-race title showdown in Abu Dhabi, clocked his fastest lap early in the session on the hard tyres. The Briton also drew scrutiny for impeding AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly and Haas driver Nikita Mazepin, who had to take evasive action…

Clinton Moodley Planning a holiday is an exciting time for travellers. Experiencing a new destination, relaxing and sampling the local cuisine are just some of the benefits of going away. During this time, travellers should also be mindful of their personal safety, home and vehicles. Adele Artman, the senior manager for Alternative Distribution at Indwe Risk Services, shares four safety tips travellers should consider ahead of their holiday: Keep a safety checklist Travellers need to be cautious about what they pack as some items may lure criminals. “Take what you need to avoid being a target for thieves,” Artman said. She advised that travellers also monitor what they post on social media. “We know you’re excited about going on holiday, but advertising your plans on social media will highlight that…

Clinton Moodley Travellers are constantly on the search for quirky and zany attractions to visit – and South Africa has quite a few of these across its nine provinces. None quite compares to the Upside Down House in Hartbeespoort in northern Gauteng. Built upside down, the house has drawn attention from local and international travellers who fill social media with their images. Everything is upside down, including the furniture. Upside Down House South Africa states on its website: “This is an amazing experience as one’s mind cannot comprehend what is happening” (sic). Guests usually spend more than an hour at the attraction as they wander from one room to the next. “The house is also built on an angle, thus, it contributes immensely to the illusion and experience one has…