Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-09-04 i Sunday Independent

When lockdown limited commercial activities, there were winners and losers. Some businesses were able to trade online locally and to global markets. Most of those businesses that thrived online were established entities. As for informal and mainly township-based businesses, it was the worst time to run a business. Only a few businesses in townships can claim to have online presence that allows them to trade. This scenario has to change if everyone is to continue to trade despite the hurdles that will come due to another Covid-19-like situation. For a very long time, we’ve known that some businesses ought to have some form of virtual existence. What Covid-19 has shown us is that online presence is critical, especially when physical stores are no longer accessible. The recent situation should…

For years, Twitter’s problems were overshadowed by those of its rival, Facebook. Not anymore: The past year has brought a parade of bad press for the blue bird, from the ousting of its CEO to an ownership battle with Elon Musk to a federal whistle-blower complaint. And on Tuesday, we learnt that the San Francisco-based firm tried to develop an adult-content service – only to scuttle it amid concerns over its inability to police child pornography. For a major global tech company, one of the few things more embarrassing than being forced to turn to porn to boost revenue is proving incapable of doing so. The company’s year from hell started when its co-founder and CEO, Jack Dorsey, abruptly stepped down in November 2021 amid pressure from activist shareholders to…

We have not moved on from Milton Friedman’s mantra that “the social responsibility of business is to increase its profits”. We know that the planet and people are important and statisticians have known this for a while. In this regard, national statisticians developed a set of measures. With its system of environmental economic accounting, the UN Statistics Commission, through statistical country programmes, has created a framework for measurement that allows the voice of the environment to be heard. This probably comes too late, because communists, socialists and capitalists alike have raped global natural resources beyond recognition in their quest for development. They are now crying about climate change. The unjust consequence is that Africa has to bear the brunt of this rapacious use of resources and is being denied access…

Despite the fact that many adults worldwide are living longer, they may not always be doing so in a healthier way. They are unable to enjoy their complete lives as a result. This chart of less-than-optimal health is caused by a number of circumstances. Nutrition, or lack thereof, is one of the most important and evident variables. After all, eating provides energy to all of the body’s cells and helps maintain muscular power. It seems simple enough to optimise your diet to improve your health. Make sure your meals are balanced by using a colourful plate that includes all the necessary dietary groups. But an unexpected fact is that adult malnutrition has only recently come to light as a frequently unrecognised health issue affecting many. A common misconception is that…

Momentum for the spinoff series, Selling The OC, was building in season five of Selling Sunset as brothers Brett and Jason Oppenheim set up shop in Orange County. Admittedly, the new office is bigger and so are the egos. But we will get to that in a bit. In one of his recent interviews, Jason discouraged any comparison to the original series, which has been given the green light for a sixth and seventh season. That was wishful thinking on his part. Fans are most definitely going to draw parallels – and that is exactly what happened. We have identified the queen bee of bitchiness in Alex Hall. Now she may not have Christine Quinn’s exquisite sense of fashion, but the single mother channels that cattiness with finesse. Brandi Marshall…

AIRPORTS Company SA (Acsa) is at the centre of a multimillion-rand tender believed to be well over R40 million that is said to have been rigged from the onset. According to insiders, Acsa recently appointed a new vegetation control and grass-cutting service provider at OR Tambo International Airport after the contract of a previous company came to an end. However, the company that was appointed, Themba Qongo, is said to have been a shelf company which was in the process of deregistration when it was awarded the contract. “The newly-appointed company was a dormant shelf company which was on the deregistration process until it was revived two weeks before the Acsa request for quotes was to be advertised. The company details, including the directors, were all changed on June 6,…

Many South Africans die with their estates in tatters, not having done enough to ensure those left behind will be able to live on comfortably. An example is the situation with the estate of late rapper Riky Rick and with his partner, Bianca Naidoo. There have been rumblings that she and the rapper were not legally married, and making the situation worse, there appears to be no will left to ensure the distribution of his assets and estate. It is reported that she has taken Home Affairs to court to recognise her as the late rapper’s wife and ultimately, the executor of his estate. The couple got engaged in 2015 and he introduced her to his family. She said Riky “expressed that he wanted a long-lasting future” with her. “At…

If the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) had its way, there’d be no such thing as an unemployed graduate. To that end, It has set up the Institute for the Future of Work (IFoW) to act as a bridging mechanism between academia and the workplace. Very few things are as frustrating as having to sit at home twiddling your thumbs after having earned a tertiary qualification following several years of study. Some figures suggest that 53% of recent college graduates are unemployed, or under-employed. The unemployment rate for those with a bachelor’s degree or higher is 4%. Tseliso Mohlomi, senior director at iFOW, says “the university came up with the concept to close the gap between industry and academia”. “Over the years, the gap has become bigger, to the extent…

MAX Verstappen praised the efforts of his Red Bull team yesterday after he claimed a pulsating late pole position with a dramatic final lap at his home Dutch Grand Prix, outpacing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by just two-hundredths of a second. To the delight of a raucous mass of home supporters in a packed crowd at the Zandvoort seaside circuit, the 24-year-old Dutchman pulled out a fastest lap of 1 minute 10.342 seconds to top the times and secure his second successive pole position on home soil. It came 24 hours after a difficult opening day for the world champion, who was halted by a gearbox failure in the first practice session. “Unbelievable,” said Verstappen, who also criticised elements of his ‘orange army’ of fans who had brought flares to the…

Madrid is a city known for its energetic nightlife, fine food markets and rich cultural history, but taking in the sites can quickly drain the daily spending budget. But experts reveal there are various “must-see” spots that come at no cost to visitors. Included in the guide are the Plaza Maya, Renia Sofía Museum and one of Madrid’s oldest standing churches, Iglesia de San Ginés. A StressFreeCarRental.com spokesperson said: “Madrid is a beautiful culture-rich city, attracting many tourists each year with so many sights to see. “Luckily, the city is full of must-see spots that are completely free to visit. Whether you are a fan of museums, famous artworks or grand palaces, the guide offers something for all.’’ Iglesia de San Ginés Dating back to the 14th century, San Gines…

Technology can bridge the gap in financial literacy to ensure that more people are financially included. “Apps and games are changing the face of financial education by making it fun and accessible for a diverse audience,” Sea Monster CEO Glenn Gillis said. “Animation, games and gamification are especially well suited to financial literacy education because they are accessible to a diverse audience and can easily be adapted for different ages, languages, cultures and communities.” According to a 2021 report by Momentum and Unisa, many South Africans are “financially unwell” because of poor financial decisions or a lack of financial literacy. Households who make use of financial expertise, and stay on top of their financial planning, are more likely to experience better financial outcomes. Gillis said few people had access to…

Well-stocked and efficiently serviced spaza shops (local convenience shops) have the potential to become bastions within their communities. This unique business landscape, however, comes with its fair share of challenges, some of which include limited access to business financing or a line of credit, a substantial administrative burden, issues relating to safety and security, as well as storage problems. However, with careful planning, foresight, and a solid business foundation, aspiring spaza shop owners can build their businesses from the ground up and garner invaluable lessons from becoming a key component of the country’s lively informal economy. These three important factors need to be considered: Location, location, location There are an estimated 200 000 spaza shops in South Africa, most of which are concentrated in townships. There’s literally a spaza shop…

Collagen is the beauty buzzword on every glowing skin seeker’s lips. Okay, it’s pretty much on everyone’s lips. You can step up to any beauty counter and find a beauty brand, many in fact, promoting collagen. Highlighting the magical ingredient in specific products or ranges dedicated to it. If you’re lost and don’t know what collagen is, here’s a brief summary. According to Cedars Sinai, collagen is a protein that serves as one of the main building blocks for your bones, skin, hair, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. “Collagen is what keeps our skin from sagging, giving us that plump, youthful look,” says dermatologist Dr Ohara Aivaz. Your body naturally makes collagen, but this production decreases with age. Hence the reason why we turn to products containing collagen or even collagen…

The warmer weather are almost here, and if the heat last year is anything to go by, we are in for soaring temperatures. The hot weather is perfect for downing those refreshing cool foods and drinks, which you can learn about here. Keeping your system cool is important if you don’t want an upset stomach. During these seasons, if you want to feel free and light, it is better to stay away from foods that heat your system. When the weather is hot, more internal heat is generated in the body, which can make a person feel irritable, tired, and restless. Drinking enough water is crucial, but that will not help bring down your body temperature if you are eating foods that raise body heat. Here are some foods that…

BULLET TRAIN (Cinemas nationwide) An action comedy film directed by David Leitch from a screenplay by Zak Olkewicz, and produced by Antoine Fuqua, who initially conceived the film. It is based on the 2010 novel Maria Beetle by Kōtarō Isaka. The film stars Brad Pitt as a former assassin who must battle fellow killers while riding a fictionalized version of the Tokaido Shinkansen. In addition to Pitt, the film stars an ensemble cast which also includes Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Michael Shannon and Sandra Bullock. Hunting the Dragon by Iain Buchan (R230 on loot.co.za) On one hand, it tells the story of the failure after failure of a brilliant but often frustrated South African entrepreneur who finally went on to hit the big time with…

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has set its sights on several former SABC board members and executives who approved the R11.5 million success fee paid to the public broadcaster’s erstwhile chief operations officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng. The corruption-busting unit wants former members of the SABC board’s governance and nominations committee – ex-board chairperson Professor Mbulaheni Maguvhe, former deputy chairperson Leah Khumalo, Dr Ndivhoniswani Tshidzumba, former company secretary Theresa Geldenhuys and former acting chief financial officer Maleshane Raphela – to repay the millions. Motsoeneng, a controversial figure during his time at the SABC, was paid just over R11.5m for his role in helping the public broadcaster secure an R1.2 billion deal with MultiChoice in August 2016 which saw the Randburg-based company get unlimited and exclusive access to the SABC’s archives. The SIU…

Teachers, probably along with nurses and other public servants, are among the least appreciated and most unrewarded people in Africa. Gradually, the image of the teacher as a pillar of society, the unofficial parents to whom millions of Africans daily entrust their children, has eroded. Increasingly, their working conditions have deteriorated. This has affected the quality of work and perhaps, impacted as well by the desire and discipline of the people they are meant to teach. In six weeks, the spotlight will fall on those hailed by many as their inspiration and role models on October 5, World Teachers’ Day, which is held annually to celebrate teachers. One of the targets around education in the UN Sustainable Development Goals implores governments to “make teaching an attractive, first-choice profession with continuing…

Fatherhood is a special journey and at times requires one to incorporate how they were raised and what they would like to do differently. It’s the same with composer and producer Lebohang Morake, known as Lebo M, one of the many fathers who sat in conversation with entrepreneur and businessman Thato “TT” Mbha to drive the Amatyma movement forward. The conversation between the two started when Mbha said he liked what he saw on Morake’s reality television show, Lebo M – Coming Home, which aired on Mzansi Magic last year and the relationship he displayed with his children. “I’ve got a very strong opinion about fatherhood and it comes from how I was raised and how the person who raised me was raised. I was fortunate enough to have both…

THE Department of Human Settlements has set aside R14 billion to tackle the country’s housing backlog. The department adds that at least 1572 housing projects will be undertaken in 2023 in an attempt to eat into the required 2.6 million houses. It says plans to begin the construction of low-cost RDP housing projects for the year 2023 have been approved and are ready for construction to begin. The department said out of that number, 502 housing projects have already been approved. It said 117 from 362 planned projects were already approved in the Eastern Cape. In Gauteng, 79 projects from 168 were also approved. 53 and 37 planned projects were also approved in Western Cape and North West. Provinces have been allocated just over R14 billion to reach their targets…

Blinken was full of praise for Pandor and reflected on renewing the partnership and several liaisons between their two countries before the break brought on by the Trump administration. Prior to the arrival of Blinken, International Relations and Co-operation’s head of public diplomacy, Clayson Monyela, briefed Parliament’s international relations and co-operation portfolio committee on the bilateral relationship between South Africa and China since formal relations began in 1998. This relationship, he said, was underpinned by a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement penned in 2010. In line with South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP), Economic Recovery and Reconstruction Plan (ERRP) and the comprehensive strategic partnership, the areas prioritised in South Africa-China bilateral relations were economic transformation in science and technology, the ocean’s economy, agriculture, energy, mining, infrastructure, industrial capacity development and strengthening…

CONSISTENCY. That’s one of the things Springbok captain Siya Kolisi highlighted after their 24-8 win over the Wallabies in Sydney yesterday, and that’s what they need to keep chasing. The Boks snapped a nine-year losing streak on Australian soil in their Rugby Championship meeting with coach Dave Rennie’s team, and while it was a much-needed result to regain some confidence after back-to-back defeats against the All Blacks and Wallabies, it shouldn’t just be something that will just give them a breather from all the pressure they would have been feeling after those disappointing results. The Boks haven’t looked like the 2019 version of themselves this year. While they beat Wales 2-1 in their three-Test series in July, it wasn’t a dominant or even convincing display. They kicked off their Rugby…

I was part of a group of journalists and social media influencers who were recently invited to a mega hosting to showcase some of Mzansi’s great destinations as part of the “Sho’t Left – Travel Week” campaign. For the first time, South African Tourism hosted two groups at the same time. One group was headed to the Free State, while the other explored Gauteng. I was excited about this trip, I mean for two years we couldn’t travel but as soon I glanced at the list and saw my name on the Gauteng group, my heart dropped because I live in Gauteng … born and bred … why couldn’t they take me to another province? Trust me, that pity party didn't last long. As soon we left SA Tourism’s Sandton…

The digital payments sector has seen massive growth in Africa, with an emergence of technologies helping people save and invest, says the managing director of micro-investment platform upnup, Tony Mallam. “Africa’s fintech sector has the potential to produce answers to many problems that South Africans face, whether it be our low savings rate or improving financial inclusion,” Mallam said. “Micro-savings and investment products, which allow consumers to put away a small amount of money, are perfectly suited to the South African context where savings rates are low, and the cost of living means that not everyone can put away set amounts of money each month.” He said that as the digital payments sector starts to mature and saturate on the continent, and the need for financial inclusion goes beyond just…

Business Report interviewed three economists on their commodity outlook after bullish commodity prices earlier this year helped bolster South Africa’s gross domestic product. They all pointed to a more muted picture ahead. According to Anchor Capital investment analyst Seleho Tsatsi, the largest factor for commodity prices in the second half of 2022 will be the size of the stimulus coming out of China. Certain commodities, particularly those deemed important to the world’s transition to a greener economy, had more attractive long-term demand outlooks. These are commodities like copper, zinc and nickel. According to Tsatsi, other commodities like iron ore also had much more muted long-term demand growth outlooks. “Take copper, for instance, it seems easier to create a bullish medium-term scenario. For example, the copper market is roughly 28 million…

While the digital realm is rich with opportunities for our kids to explore, learn and connect, it is also rife with predators and illicit activities. To be able to take appropriate action to protect their families, parents must be aware of the risks associated with children’s online safety. “One of the biggest hurdles to keeping kids safe online is a parent’s lack of knowledge of the cyberspaces where their kids are active. Many parents sanction their kids having social media accounts without much clue about how those platforms actually work,” says cybersecurity expert and GoldPhish CEO, Dan Thornton. Some parents are unaware that the online chat rooms in the games their children play allow them to freely interact with strangers. Some parents don’t know that recreational drugs are sold…

When Covid-19 struck in March 2020, placing everyone around the globe in some sort of hard lockdown, viewers turned to their favourite streaming platforms, which provided an escape from boredom and, at the same time, a distraction from the pervading anxiety. At the time, Netflix was the leading option and its K-dramas were second to none. In SA, it wasn’t the only option. We have Showmax, AppleTV+, Amazon Prime Video, BritBox and Disney+, among a plethora of options, depending on one’s budget. Now the streaming market is about to receive a new contender with Universal+ set to launch next month and will be available to DStv subscribers across Sub-Sarahran African. The new streaming platform includes movies and series from Universal TV, E!, DreamWorks, Studio Universal and Telemundo. Universal+ has already…

In a perfect world, you exit one relationship amicably and begin a new one. No more links, no more memories, no more bitterness in the heart. But the world is not perfect. Breakups are frequently messy and leave you with a shared past you didn’t ask for. How to handle that? Dating app QuackQuack, polled individuals between the ages of 21 and 35 to learn their thoughts on bringing up the ex with their current partner. It found that 61% of people discuss their ex-partner with their current companion. They advocate talking to your partner about anything that is upsetting you. However, 39% of people are concerned it might damage their relationship. Talking about your ex is like wading into uncharted territory. Healthy relationship check Talking about their ex with…

Based on the success of Jordan Peele’s Oscar-winning horror debut Get Out and its follow-up Us, the filmmaker’s name alone has the power to strike fear into the hearts of studio heads and film distributors with a competing product to sell. And so a wide berth has been given to Peele’s latest, a stylishly creepy alien-invasion tale starring Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer. Fittingly for a movie so big-footed it has scared away almost all comers, you’re going to want to see Nope on the largest screen possible, and with the best and biggest sound system. Set on a remote ranch in the picturesque California desert town of Agua Dulce, the film centres on siblings OJ and Emerald Haywood (Kaluuya and Palmer), Hollywood horse trainers who experience an unearthly visitation.…

POLICE top brass, including Minister Bheki Cele, lied to Parliament when they reported that “no resources of the SAPS”, especially crime intelligence, were used in the Phala Phala farm cover-up and clandestine service investigation. Responding to a question by EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, the police in an official answer approved by Cele, national commissioner General Fannie Masemola, deputy national commissioner: policing General Tebello Mosikili, and acting divisional commissioner: crime intelligence General Philani Lushaba said: “No resources of the SAPS crime intelligence (human, physical and financial) were used concerning the theft at Phala Phala farm.” Ndlozi had asked whether crime intelligence “was involved in any way in the investigation into the burglary at the Phala Phala farm”. The police’s written response is dated August 29. However, the police failed to acknowledge…

The top jobs may still elude women as men still call the shots in South Africa’s automotive industry. But slowly things are changing, following the announcement that Martina Biene, head of Volkswagen small and compact product line, will become chairperson and managing director of Volkswagen South Africa – the most senior role held by a woman in the largely male-dominated motoring industry. Audi South Africa recently announced the appointment of Mulalo Makungo as national sales operations manager. “Women are no longer spare wheels in the automotive industry,” said Asha Sivenath, Nissan South Africa’s human resources general manager, who once worked on weekends as a student promoting sunglasses for Edgars. “I always loved cars and would spend hours racing toy cars with my cousins. But I knew I wanted a career…

In venda, there is someone referred to as tshiviambudzi. The literal translation of the word is “one who slaughters a goat”. In practice, tshiviambudzi is the only male member of a cultural group of women who perform tshigombela, or malende traditional dances. The reason every group of women has a tshiviambudzi is the patronising yet accepted belief that there would be some tasks that women would not be able to do and therefore they would require male supervision and assistance. As the ANC opens the nominations for the election of its national executive committee members this week, Africa’s oldest liberation movement must shed its tshiviambudzi tendencies. If the party is sincere in walking the talk in relation to its stated commitment to renew itself, it should consciously harness efforts to…

AT LAST, an angry Springbok team! And wasn’t it a thing of beauty as the Wallabies got walloped off the park in front of their sold-out audience, although there were enough expat South Africans present for there to be a resounding boo each time Nic White touched the ball. Speaking of whom, it seems he did not learn his lesson from the previous week when his histrionics lost him the respect of the rest of the rugby world because his incessant chirping at the Boks kept stoking the red hot coals which burst into incandescent fire 10 minutes from time when the Makazola Mapimpi try sparked a riot. Mind you, Willie le Roux was probably just as bad with his stirring, and he and White were constantly at each other’s…

There’s plenty to suggest that the Kruger National Park is a favourite destination for international travellers. Consider that Lufthansa, for example, recently added a direct route from Frankfurt to the Kruger National Park. However, South Africa’s biggest game reserve is certainly also a top leisure destination for South African travellers, and more so since the Covid-19 pandemic. Kruger Gate Hotel CEO Anton Gillis said: “We are very grateful to notice an incredible uptick in bookings by locals. This spike started during the pandemic, of course, when South Africans were unable to travel internationally. But now, even with a return to normal in the travel space, we continue to see locals flock to the park – some with laptops as they take full advantage of the ‘work from anywhere’ phenomenon.” According…

The KZN South Coast, also known as The Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom, has a rich history and culture. Evidence of this can be seen in the region’s museums, galleries and natural heritage sites, which showcase unlimited opportunities for cultural enlightenment. South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise CEO Phelisa Mangcu believes heritage is at the heart of KZN South Coast’s tourism offerings as it provides visitors with great insight. Here are eight gems on the KZN South Coast worthy of touring in order to celebrate the region’s culture and heritage. Ntelezi Msani Heritage Centre in Mthwalume A great place to start on any cultural journey into The Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom is Ntelezi Msani Heritage Centre. This arts and heritage facility offers visitors a cultural experience, retelling the history…