Innholdsfortegnelse for 2021-12-19 i Sunday Independent

Shingai Darangwa shingai.darangwa@inl.co.za AFTER the dread of 2020, I think it’s safe to say we all hoped and wished that 2021 would come with respite. While things haven’t quite been smooth sailing on several fronts, we’ve at least been blessed with the emergence of some serious local talent. We look back at the year to uncover five of our favourite breakthrough talents: Uncle Waffles There’s really no other place to start than with Uncle Waffles. In just two short months, she’s elevated from being a little known up-and-comer trying to find her feet in the entertainment industry, to one of the most in-demand female DJs on the continent. Since her viral video caught the attention of the entire country, and Drake, she’s gained over 300K followers across Twitter and Instagram…

Buhle Mbonambi buhle.mbonambi@inl.co.za THERE are many untold stories of women in history, who have shaped discourse and made contributions that are felt to this day. One of those women is Nokutela Mdima-Dube, a visionary, author, musician and scholar. Her story is being highlighted and brought to life in a Legacy Creates project titled Amagama kaNokutela, a collaboration with magazine editor, stylist and creative director Asanda Sizani; photographer Thalente Khomo; several writers, including poet Siphokazi Jonas; and actress Nokuthula Mavuso as Nokutela. Nokutela, whose work was first published in the US when she was 10 years old, was a qualified teacher who founded Ohlange High School in Inanda. She was already an established individual before marrying the ANC’s founding president, Rev John Langalibalele Dube, in 1894. She continued her selfless life…

From Page 1 Meanwhile, author and political analyst Sanusha Naidu raised concerns about how prepared the security cluster is in defusing the situation. “I’ve seen reports that suggest that the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal wants to join the appeal application that Zuma’s legal team has made. At this point, I am wondering how much resources we are going to expend in this whole process. “You look at economic data, you look at the price of fuel that has increased and spiking the cost of living. All of these things are at a point in which we need to ask ourselves, in the context of realistic dynamics and structure conditions of the country, do we have the resources to expend?” Naidu said it was high time the country thought about the other…

Tshepiso Tshabalala WHEN the first HIV case was reported in South Africa in 1982, no one anticipated that the country would be in the top four most affected countries on the African continent. According to studies, South Africa records at least 222 000 new HIV infections per year. This would explain why scientists and the health fraternity were more concerned about how the coronavirus would impact patients living with HIV considering that their immune systems are already compromised, when the Covid-19 pandemic first broke out in March last year. The South African National Aids Council (Sanac) said that in the early days of the pandemic there was no evidence to suggest that people living with HIV were more vulnerable to severe Covid-19 infection. However, later into the pandemic, a study…

Don Makatile don.makatile@inl.co.za If you heard the phrase “like father, like son”, your mind would race to exemplary fathers who are giving their sons lessons for life, for good. At this moment, no pair exemplifies the cliché more than golf icon Tiger Woods and his 12-year-old son, Charlie, who is fast proving a sensation as he tears away on the fairways with his dad. But fathers do learn and emulate their sons, sometimes. Bernard Lushozi just graduated with a PhD from the University of Pretoria last week. His motivation is his eldest son, Dr Mawande Lushozi, who did his PhD in Physics at UCT in 2018. Dr Lushozi, the father, is better known as a hard-tackling defender at both Moroka Swallows and Orlando Pirates. Footballers are incredibly book-shy, and those…

Vusi Shongwe As we remember Albertina Sisulu, we cannot help but extol the outstanding leadership virtues of this remarkable Struggle stalwart, who stoically and bravely endured the many discriminations she faced and suffered as a woman. Many women did noble things, but Albertina Nontsikelelo Sisulu was blessed with a noble spirit. She placed her pursuit of ideals above self. She truly served the South African nation so nobly. Her importance in the Struggle for freedom cannot be overemphasised. Her public esteem and sage advice were highly valued. Indeed, her integrity, generosity and grace left an indelible imprint on all those who were fortunate enough to know and interact with her. Her love for people was all-embracing. Sisulu was a highly principled woman who spoke courageously about the great moral…

WHILE other, especially multicultural countries, constantly review their cohesiveness as viable and sustainable nations, we merely continue to talk of social cohesion. We trot out the social cohesion mantra when some horrific incident – which should have been predicted and could have been prevented – occurs, or when there are these hopelessly boring formal events that assault our senses on the airwaves, as just happened on Thursday, with official, instantly forgettable, statements on the recognition of democracy’s 27th Day of Reconciliation. It’s almost as if repeating the social cohesion mantra will make these huge transformations in all areas of all our lives magically become a reality. The majority of us mark this day very differently, as we usually do with almost all our official holidays, thus making social cohesion yet…

A dance form called moutya, an expression of resistance by African slaves brought to the Seychelles in the 18th century, was added to Unesco’s list of intangible heritage this week. “This recognition... is an accomplishment,” said David Andre, secretary general of the Seychelles Institute of Culture, Heritage and the Arts, after Unesco, announced the news on Twitter. “It will allow us as a people to preserve our culture for the next generations who will continue to value it,” he said. |…

Stuart Hess stuart.hess@inl.co.za 1996/97 – SA won 2-0 (Three-match series) The series was wrapped up after the first two matches, with hosts thumping their rivals in Durban and Cape Town. Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammed Azharuddhin produced one of the great partnerships in that second Test featuring an array of stunning shot-making, while Lance Klusener also lit up the match with a bruising hundred. India were unlucky not to win the final match at the Wanderers, with South Africa saved by rain on the final day. 2001/02 – SA won 1-0 (Should have been a Three-match series, only two were declared official) “The Mike Denness Affair” defined the series. The English match referee accused six Indian players, including Tendulkar of ball tampering in the second Test. The Indians were furious…

IOL Food have curated recipes that will make your life easy this festive season. From how to cater for a smaller number of people, to a six-page Christmas Day menu, it’s all designed to make the festive season manageable. We also share a bit of history, like why we eat the food we do during Christmas, our picks of the best wines this season, alcohol-free beverages that the whole family will enjoy and how you can and should have an eco-friendly festive season.…

From Page 1 “In comparison to the fourth wave, weekly average hospital admissions were significantly lower than the average weekly admissions in the third wave during the first two weeks of each wave.” On Friday, makeshift tents at the parking lots of some of the hospitals were empty. At Helen Joseph, a security guard, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he had noticed the difference in numbers between the patients who came to the casualty section during the first three waves. Now there were fewer and fewer sick people who came through and required hospitalisation. Now, he said, there has been a big increase in the number of patients with gunshot or stab wounds. “This situation, as you can see, is not bad compared to the third wave. The…

Lesego Makgatho lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za With the country and the entire globe affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, books kept many happily reading over the course of this year. Here is a list of 10 memorable books released during 2021: In Black and White: Anant Singh Anant Singh’s memoir is a story of professional relationships and of friendships with mentors, including Ahmed Kathrada, Fatima and Ismail Meer and Nelson Mandela, as well as with superstars. And it is a testament to determination, courage and perseverance – to speak up and speak out through the powerful medium of film. Listen To Your Footsteps: Kojo Baffoe Listen to Your Footsteps is an honest and at times raw collection of essays from a son, a father, a husband, a brother and a man deeply committed…

Lesego Makgatho lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za If you’re looking for a social media app that allows you to post text, video and voice notes on the timeline, then HN CitiPages could just be for you. Hlumelo Nyaluza is the founder and CEO of HN CitiPages, a social media app created in partnership with information technology company TechCom. He has recently released the new version of the app with new updates he called Rebirth. The app has now moved from only allowing users to post text and images to now enabling them to share text, video, image, audio and voice note status updates in the timeline. Nyaluza started working on the app in 2018 and released it in February last year. The social media app primarily connects the world on the home page; one…

Manyane Manyane manyane.manyane@inl.co.za International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (Itac) chief commissioner Meluleki Nzimande has been accused of protecting his general manager, Philip Semela, who is facing allegations of corruption. A former employee, who was also representing workers at Itac, said Semela recommended that a retired employee could use the company’s assets. Itac is tasked with facilitating imports and exports, and ensuring local industries are protected from dumping of cheap goods under the Department of Trade and Industry. In his report to the company, he alleges that Itac was funding a cellphone contract of a former employee who had retired, while the company “suspiciously wrote off” a debt owed by its former chief economist, who left Itac for Egypt. He said, as a result, the company lost more than…

Jacob Mawela On an overcast Friday afternoon in Mapetla, Soweto, a gangly gray-haired man of easy-going demeanour rose from his sofa and moved across a living room to bend in front of me so that I could feel a deep, soft scar atop his pate. ‘Twas just a fortnight before his 90th birthday celebration and he was in typically high spirits! He incurred the physical scar – including broken ribs – he explained, from the rifle butt of a policeman whilst coming from the abode of Dr Nthato Motlana right in the thick of the June 16, 1976 student uprisings which were to turn the course of South Africa’s struggle against Apartheid. The incident resulted in him spending 28 days in Baragwanath Hospital’s ICU. On the wall of the…

THE North Gauteng High Court’s ruling which reviewed and set aside former National Commissioner of Correctional Services Arthur Fraser’s decision to place former president Jacob Zuma on medical parole was met with righteous anger, sadness and disillusionment. Righteous anger at Judge Elias Matojane who seemed blinded by his hatred of Zuma is fully justified – he blatantly disregarded obvious and binding precedent from higher courts. In S v Botha (318 of 2003) (2004) ZASCA 51 (28 May 2004) the Supreme Court of Appeal, made the following observations regarding judicial restraint on matters of sentencing and parole: “The function of a sentencing court is to determine the term of imprisonment that a person, who has been convicted of an offence, should serve. A court has no control over the minimum period…

President Filipe Nyusi’s government has approached South Africa’s Constitutional Court for an order barring the extradition of former Mozambican finance minister Manuel Chang to the US. Chang was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in December 2018 at the request of the US law enforcement agents who want him to answer to charges relating to fraudulent loans worth more than $2 billion (about R32bn) for Mozambican state firms. The South African High Court ruled last month that Chang should be extradited to the US.…

Mihlali Baleka mihlali.baleka@inl.co.za SIYABONGA Ngezana was one of the few players that shone during the dark tenure of Gavin Hunt at the club last term. And such is his knack for game-time, he’s willing to work hard and put himself in the good books of Stuart Baxter. From being runners-up on the standings a season before, Chiefs incredibly finished eighth last term. With Hunt having had to rely on youngsters, some became men. Ngezana was one of those, playing numerous roles in the back-four after featuring in 41 matches across all competitions, including the coveted Champions League campaign. But upon sustaining an injury after Chiefs’ Champions League’s semi-final clash against Wydad Casablanca, Ngezana faced five months on the sidelines – missing the Champions League’s final, pre-season and start of the…

Buhle Mbonambi HAS there been any other year that has had so many African-born authors awarded the top literary prizes? It is without a doubt that Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, David Diop, Damon Galgut and Abdulrazak Gurnah, have all made history by winning the Prix Goncourt, International Booker Prize, Booker Prize and Nobel Prize for Literature, respectively. In our final Editor’s Choice for 2021, here is why you need to read the books they won these awards for. Mohamed Mbougar Sarr The 31-year-old Senegalese author won France’s prestigious 2021 Prix Goncourt for, La plus secrète mémoire des hommes (Men’s Most Secret Memories). It’s a story of a young Senegalese writer living in Paris who, by chance, comes across a novel published that was originally published in 1938 by a fictional African…

Baldwin Ndaba baldwin.ndaba@inl.co.za THE ANC has vowed to allow the courts to deal independently with the appeal application of former president Jacob Zuma without the party’s involvement despite calls by KwaZulu- Natal leaders who wanted to join the appeal application. ANC leaders in KwaZulu-Natal had earlier indicated that they would submit a motion to the ANC national executive committee meeting which was held on Friday, to allow them to join as friends of the court in their bid to persuade the court to rule in favour of Zuma but the ANC appears to have rejected the move. Yesterday, the party issued a statement saying: “The NEC noted the judgment by the Pretoria High Court about former president Zuma’s medical parole, and the decision by the Department of Correctional Services to…

Ntombi Nkosi ntombi.nkosi@inl.co.za THE ANC national executive committee (NEC) has set March as the deadline for the provinces to hold elective conferences to elect new leadership ahead of the national elective conference later in the year. The party plans to hold the national elective conference after the convening of national policy conference next year. The decision was taken at the last meeting of the NEC for the year on Friday when it received a report from the national working committee. The national leaders, including leaders from the provinces and leagues, met as President Cyril Ramaphosa and deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte are recovering from Covid-19 infections. Yesterday, national spokesperson Pule Mabe said the NEC received a report on the state of organisation and the continued process of completing Biennial Branch General…

Mervyn Naidoo mervyn.naidoo@inl.co.za A significant court victory was scored recently by an organisation representing South African doctors who have studied overseas, but have apparently been denied seamless integration into the local medical fraternity. Although the country desperately needs trained medical doctors, the South African Internationally Trained Health Professionals Association (SAITHPA) found that their members – who had studied abroad at their own expense – were not received with open arms when they returned. The SAITHPA accused the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA), the statutory body that regulates the country’s health care profession, of being generally “stubborn” and “obstructionist” towards its members. The SAITHPA was dissatisfied with the HPCSA’s guidelines for integration, and limited opportunities for their members to write board exams and be eligible to complete their internship…

Roland Mpofu roland.mpofu@inl.co.za Employees who are victims of sexual harassment in the workplace are advised to carefully follow labour procedures to ensure that employers’ obligations are upheld Hedda Schensema, director of employment law practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr commercial law firm, says sexual harassment is a human rights violation. She says changes in the working arrangements, like working from home, that have been brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, have not put a stop on the problem. “Sexual harassment continues, in that social media platforms like WhatsApp and video conferencing platforms like Microsoft Teams may still provide a channel for it.” Schensema says employees who are subjected to sexual harassment in the course of performing their duties, whether in the workplace, at work events, or even at a client's premises,…

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suffered a crushing by-election defeat on Friday in the North Shropshire constituency never previously lost by his Conservative Party. That was wiped out by the Liberal Democrats in Thursday’s vote, a historic defeat set to intensify the mutinous mood among Conservative MPs after about 100 of his MPs rebelled in parliament earlier against the introduction of vaccine passes. Winning candidate Helen Morgan said that voters had sent a message “loudly and clearly” to Johnson that “the party’s over”.…

A year has passed since Ethiopia’s prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, ordered a military offensive in the country’s northern Tigray region, after an attack on a federal army base in November 2020. The attack was orchestrated by armed forces loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the party that controls Tigray, and which until Abiy’s ascent to power controlled the country. The violence is linked to the uproar caused after the TPLF ignored federal orders to postpone elections last year due to Covid-19. Abiy prematurely proclaimed victory at the end of November last year after four weeks of fighting. Today, peace is elusive. A six-month national state of emergency was declared on November 2 and the conflict has escalated to such an extent that UN observers fear the outbreak of…

MIHLALI BALEKA GOLDEN Arrows’ poor finishing upfront let them down against TS Galaxy after the two teams were forced to share the spoils following a 1-1 stalemate in a Premiership tussle at the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu yesterday. This result ensured that Abafana Bes’thende remained rooted on ninth in the standings, while Galaxy are 13th and three points clear of rock-bottom side Baroka FC. But the former will be the most disappointed with the result after dominating. However, Arrows probably know that possession doesn’t win matches – hence they were forced to come-back in the second half. Galaxy took the lead with a well taken goal from Wayde Lekay before substitute Sibonelo Cele got the equaliser. The home team were their worst enemy, especially after substitute Knox Mutizwa missed…