Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-09-25 i Sunday Independent

Did you ever want to see an alien world? A planet orbiting a distant star, light years from the sun? Well, the James Webb Space Telescope has returned its first picture of just that – a planet orbiting a distant star. The images reveal JWST will be a fantastic tool for astronomers aiming to improve their knowledge of exoplanets (planets around other stars). Why do the observations have astronomers buzzing with excitement? And what might we learn come? Observing hidden worlds Over the past three decades, we have lived through a great revolution – the dawn of the Exoplanet Era. Where we once knew of no planets orbiting distant stars, and wondered whether the Solar System was unique, we now know planets are everywhere. The number of known exoplanets…

MANY studies and reports highlight the importance workplace stress, the negative impact of long working hours on employees and the prevalence of burnout among entrepreneurs. Many can relate to the blood, sweat and tears that go into getting a business off the ground and the amount of grit it takes to make it succeed. However, in addition to determination and perseverance, becoming a successful entrepreneur also involves anticipating high levels of sustained stress and putting practical, preventative measures in place to mitigate the long-term effects of burnout. These three tips provide simple, easily actionable ways to do this. Make a mental-health vision board Vision boards – visual representations of your goals in the form of a collage or collection of images, words and other meaningful items – have been used…

UNTIL fairly recently, organic wine had quite a negative image, but there has now been an increasing interest in it from around the world, for both its quality and the positive benefits to the environment. What is contributing to the growing interest in organic wines? Partially, it can be assumed that due to increasing media attention on industrial wine production, consumers might be more conscious of their own health. In a recent report published by the IWSR, the most trusted, accurate, and widely used source for beverage alcohol trends in the world, they predicted that by 2022 around 87.5 million bottles of organic wine would be sold worldwide, driven mainly by European markets. But what is organic wine? It is often confused with both biodynamic and natural wine, when in…

Anyone can experience fatigue at any moment, although it usually manifests itself after strenuous physical activity, a demanding workday, or both. Exercise frequently results in exhaustion, which can be reduced by getting enough rest, taking a nap, or getting a full night’s sleep. Contrarily, fatigue is a persistent, uncharacteristic state of tiredness and sleepiness. It might be difficult and demotivating to maintain your regular routine when you’re tired. It may be chronic (lasting longer than a month) or acute (lasting more than a month or 1 to 6 months or longer). Short- and long-term levels of fatigue are directly related to the food we eat. For instance, iron deficiency is linked to fatigue, reduced work capacity, and subpar academic performance. Similar to empty-calorie items, foods with added sugar and solid…

Sleep Foundation recently released a survey that looks more closely into the “Sunday Scaries” and found Sunday night was the hardest night of the week to fall asleep. What makes Sunday so scary? We are always so excited when the week finally gets to Friday because it simply means the weekend. Simply put the weekend encapsulates everything we wish our daily lives could be – time with family and friends – but it goes by so fast. We’ve experienced Monday blues, but the gnawing feeling that comes with the realisation that it’s Sunday hits differently. Dr Alex Dimitriu, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine in Menlo Park, California, and a member of the SleepFoundation.org medical-review board, said “Sunday scaries are essentially a form of performance anxiety, much like…

On Wednesday night the cast of BET Africa’s new daily drama Redemption came together for the launch of the channel’s original production. Guests were dressed in gangster drip and their Sunday best in line with the themes of the drama series and strutted their looks on the red carpet. Actress Tina Jaxa, who portrays the character of Evelyn Zikode came dressed looking like a real “Guluva” with her tilted white bucket hat and red tie. The beautiful Kwanele Mthethwa dazzled in a pink number, which had fur on the arms and hemline, looking like her Pastor Kid character Faith Zikode. The male cast members Yonda Thomas, Luthando Mthembu and Sparky Xulu also made sure to bring the heat to the red carpet. At the media launch guests were treated to…

POLITICIANS and business leaders are calling for the removal of Eskom CEO André de Ruyter as the power utility fails to keep the lights on. Many of those who spoke to the Sunday Independent this week said the embattled CEO was still in charge and earning more than R7 million per annum because of “white privilege”. They said De Ruyter and his chief operating officer, Jan Oberholzer, had to go. Senior business leaders and politicians told the Sunday Independent that De Ruyter and Oberholzer “were given all the exceptional support they needed, but failed to stabilise the power utility or the grid”. “The gentlemen were hired to make sure that South Africa has electricity, but we are constantly plunged into the darkness. Why are they still there? The situation is…

PLANS are afoot to fast-track the movement of goods between South Africa, eSwatini and Mozambique with the elimination of borders for the purposes of rail transport. Mozambique Ports and Railways (CFM) announced an express train that would facilitate the mobility of people and goods between the Port of Maputo and South Africa and eSwatini. This initiative came after an agreement between CFM and Transnet Freight Rail (TFR), signed on July 1, 2022, to eliminate rail borders. TFR, with CFM, piloted a model that, if successful, would see exports of chrome and ferrochrome from Steelpoort in Limpopo province directly to the Maputo port. TFR CEO Sizakele Mzimela stated that the agreement would be to the advantage of South Africa, where customers were looking for different ways to get their products to…

THERE’S a new kid on the block in the highly regulated world of rating agencies dominated by the big three who control 95% of the market; it is the first from the African continent and it has boldly given South Africa, a country now inured to junk status ratings, a positive stable outlook for the short term. Sovereign Africa Ratings (SRA) was launched at the Courtyard Hotel in Waterfall City on Friday and announced its arrival on the scene with a BBB long-term and B+ short-term with a stable outlook report for the country, albeit unsolicited. Given that the usual suspects – Standard & Poor, Moody’s and Fitch Ratings were established in 1860, 1909 and 1913, respectively, SRA, just recently accredited, are relative greenhorns. But they are aware of the…

South Africa’s waste management sector has been overlooked as a contributor to the country’s economy. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) found that the sector has an estimated turnover of at least R15.3 billion per annum. It is a sector that has grown vastly due to private and public sector investment. Additional contributors to its growth have been the adoption and use of environmentally-friendly waste management across the country, which has contributed to the government’s plans to cut the country’s CO2 emissions. The CSIR found that through land-filling, the estimated value was more than R17 billion annually. They predicted that the sector could double its growth through more private-public partnerships and improved municipal support. “From the government’s perspective, it should be around the complete sector of organic waste.…

IN A truly sobering, reassuring manner, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres this week exhibited his capability to provide unprejudiced leadership in addressing the geopolitical challenges of our times. Addressing the 77th session of the UN General Assembly (Unga) in New York, Guterres – at times accused of ideological bias when dealing with global conflicts – came across as a morally upright leader with no interest in sectarian geopolitics. He spelt out the world’s immediate challenges, led by food insecurity and war in Ukraine, among others, and implored the world leaders meeting in person for the first time since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic to go back to basics and embrace multilateralism. Guterres’ main theme was international co-operation and global peace at a time when the wealthy and powerful nations of…

SOUTH AFRICA (1)(4) Zwane 33’, 64’, Mayambela 49’, Modiba 72’ SIERRA LEONE (0)(0) Themba Zwane may have very well proven that he was the missing piece in this Bafana Bafana team after putting in a master-class upon his return. Zwane scored a brace as Bafana beat Sierra Leone 4-0 in a friendly at FNB Stadium which had few supporters in the stands to witness the win on Heritage Day yesterday. On Tuesday SA face Botswana in another friendly at this stadium. Bafana came into this game having been winless in their last four matches in all competitions after one draw and three losses. Coach Hugo Broos wasn’t taking chances, with Luke le Roux and Mihlali Mayambela the only players that made their full debuts. Zakhele Lepasa,…

International cricket icon Yuvraj Singh is offering an exclusive one-time-only stay for a group of six at his home in Goa, India. Perched on a hilltop with spectacular views of the sea beyond, Singh's home pays homage to the rich cultural heritage of the beachside resort. Renowned for its pristine beaches, cuisine and hospitality, Goa is consistently one of the most sought-after destinations for travellers in India and around the world. Singh has delivered outstanding performances and career-defining knocks throughout his career; he is now setting another milestone by becoming the first international cricketer from India to host on Airbnb. “My Goa home has always been extremely special to me. While my work takes me across the world, this villa is where my wife and I come together to spend…

The global tech industry has been eating the media industry’s lunch. In response, the South African National Editors Forum has submitted a paper to the Competition Commission to outline its concerns. Sanef makes some recommendations about what can be done to address tech giants’ use of media industry content without paying fairly for it. Sanef’s recommendations emanate from the view that the media industry is owed something and therefore needs compensation. The paper also recommends additional ways of supporting the media industry. The challenge is that its recommendations fall short of dealing with the main issues that are the cause of the challenges faced by the media industry in a tech-driven world. The media industry has given up its power by allowing global big tech to become the distributor…

Where the culpability lies between life companies and the regulator, depends on whom you ask, but the fact that a combined R90 billion has been owed to thousands of beneficiaries of deregistered and dormant pension funds for more than 10 years, is nothing less than a travesty. This week, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) finally launched a seminal discussion paper on the unclaimed assets across the financial sector, the bulk of which, about R47bn, are in retirement funds. But it has taken a decade for the authority to reach this point, with the FSCA under fire for dragging its feet. Stakeholders say efforts to trace the estimated 4.8 million people owed the staggering amount in benefits are proceeding far too slowly, if at all. Advocacy group Open Secrets and…

When corporate giant Steinhoff crashed in 2017, it wiped more than R200 billion off the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and knocked the pension funds of millions of ordinary South Africans. The collapse was due to the discovery of accounting irregularities and resulted in CEO Markus Jooste’s resignation. Now Showmax takes a deeper look into the biggest corporate scam in South African history in Steinheist. Jooste; former Steinhoff chairperson Christo Wiese, who remains a billionaire despite reportedly losing the bulk of his wealth in the Steinhoff crash; Bruno Steinhoff, founder of Steinhoff International; Louis du Preez, the current Steinhoff CEO, who’s been a driving force behind the company’s remarkable recovery; and others have their say in exclusive interviews. The three-part documentary was produced by Idea Candy, who produced the documentary Devilsdorp. Director…

Actress and TV host Phumeza Mdabe and her music producer husband Mnqobi “Shota” Mdabe are set to give Mzansi an inside look into their nuptials with their four-part wedding special, PS: I Love You, Phumeza and Shota’s Wedding Special. In IOL Entertainment’s interview with the couple, the actress opened up about how her musician husband, in 2012, popped the big question. “I was home in the Eastern Cape for the December holidays. On December 27, I got up and wondered why my aunt wanted us to cook a special meal, we had just done that on Christmas Day. “Only to find that everyone knew his people were coming to negotiate lobola that day except me. I just heard people at the gate. “My dad asked me if I knew these…

THE unfolding process of struggle in our country has raised serious questions about the ANC’s ability to continue leading the processes of social change. Of concern are the ideological cohesion, organisational strength as well as quality of leadership and membership of the movement. These factors, or at least most of them, must be in sync for the movement to best exercise and fulfil its mission of total emancipation. We execute the struggle in a context of imperialist and neo-liberal hegemony. Ours is still a unipolar world, dominated by the most reactionary alliance of right-wing imperialist governments, multilateral development banks, ratings agencies and multinational corporations. However, Russia’s Ukraine campaign is challenging the West’s unbridled power and bringing about much-needed global balance. This has rallied those forces seeking an alternative to US…

ANOTHER royal battle is on the cards – this time in the Modjadji nation in Limpopo, where the inauguration of Lekukela Modjadji as the king of the Balobedu nation is scheduled for the end of the month. However, internal squabbles and allegations of the bypassing of cultural practices and the alleged bullying of those who have dared to raise their voices are threatening the process. The Sunday Independent has learnt that the planned inauguration has caused divisions within the royal family and council. Local chiefs are also up in arms about how the process has been handled. At least four chiefs, who spoke to the publication on condition of anonymity, spilt the beans on how the regent, Mpapatla Modjadji, had ruled with an iron fist and removed anyone who dared…

DISGRUNTLED Liberated Metalworkers Union of SA (Limusa) leaders are heading to the Labour Court to fight the registrar of labour relations’ decision to approve its merger with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). Former Limusa KwaZulu-Natal deputy chairperson Mancane Sibaya, its former national treasurer Sello Rapao and former first deputy president Reginald Baatjies will square off against the department of employment and labour’s registrar of labour relations Lehlohonolo Molefe and the NUM at the Labour Court in February next year to set aside the decision to amalgamate the union. Molefe approved the amalgamation of Limusa and the NUM in November last year. As a result, Limusa, whose membership stood at about 8 200 in 2018, and NUM amalgamated to form a new union, which will retain the name NUM. Limusa…

BUSINESS associations are increasingly banding together to call for the establishment of black-owned banks that would cater for previously disadvantaged South Africans, but state policies remain a hindrance to this aspiration. Also, statements such as “only a banker can buy a bank”, might be seen to indicate that the country has no strategy to transform the financial sector to pave the way for black people to establish banks. Among those who are not happy with the banking status quo is George Sebulela, the president of the multiracial South African United Business Confederation (SAUBC). Sebulela is also the former chairperson and secretary-general of the Black Business Council (BBC). “It has always been on the cards to say one of the key priorities was to establish a majority black-owned bank. The reason…

THE DStv Delicious International Food and Music Festival returned to its adopted home, the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, after a two-year absence. The weather was in a stellar mood as thousands of patrons strolled down Mr D’s Delicious Mile, snacking on a variety of foods from local vendors. Those who were seated near the main stage were entertained by spoken-word poet Lebo Mashile and kwaito giants Arthur Mafokate, Chomee and Trompies. From kwaito to R&B, hip-hop and amapiano, music lovers cheered as they sang and performed classic dance moves like kwasa kwasa and hlokoloza. Afrobeats singer (and sister to Burna Boy) Nissi Ogulu made an invigorating introduction, singing her hit single Judi. TKZee then ushered the crowd into the night with their biggest hits before they were treated to a…

JAGERSFONTEIN residents are taking on the mining company allegedly responsible for the dam collapse that wreaked havoc in the area. They have appointed Phosa Loots Incorporated to file a lawsuit against the mine. The disaster at the Jagersfontein Developements tailings dam killed four people and left more than 300 homeless after their homes were swept away by the sludge. To this day, several people are still missing. On Friday, Phosa Loots announced it had been appointed to represent the affected families and file a lawsuit against the mine. Andries Nkome, an attorney with Phosa Loots, said the firm had been instructed by Kopanong Municipality to assist it in making sure it could claim compensation for the damage to its infrastructure. Nkome said this included sewerage, water reticulation, electricity infrastructure, and…

A DISAPPOINTED group of the native bourgeoisie in the Cape and Natal was distressed the English had double-crossed them by choosing the Boers as their partners to govern the newly created all-white led nation-state called the Union of South Africa in 1910. The “black whites” saw that as a snub and quickly assembled to present their petition to the Queen in England. When their efforts failed, they returned home to form the South African Native Congress (SANNC) in 1912. It is no coincidence that the ANC remained hopeful in the years leading to 1948 that whites would change their minds and welcome them back as friends. Only when the National Party tightened the grip did they resort to the armed struggle. It is also possible that the likes of…

LET’S be fair to the Springboks, the 39 points they needed to win the Rugby Championship was always going to be a big ask against a seriously tough Pumas team, and they should be praised for giving it one heck of a lash at a heaving Hollywoodbets Kings Park, ultimately winning 38-21. The Championship title yet again goes to the All Blacks, and when the Boks do their wash-up on this campaign, they will know that it was at Ellis Park that they really lost it and the Kiwis won it. The Boks had such a golden opportunity to put away a vulnerable All Blacks team that had been crushed a week before in Nelspruit, but the coaching staff got their selections wrong and the team that did take the…

South Africa has been a topic of discussion when it comes to tourism; we offer diversity in people, culture and experiences. As Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism speaking on this year’s Tourism Month theme, “Rethinking Tourism” said: “This Tourism Month, we are aiming to inspire discussions about rethinking tourism for development, including education and job creation, as well as how it impacts the environment and opportunities to grow sustainably through this future-focused theme.’’ Although enthusiastic to explore South Africa, by repeatedly opting for the same experience, there are other ways to explore new and exciting experiences; new things in life can be delightfully rewarding. Culture South Africa has world-renowned biodiversity and scenic views, while authentic experiences are unique to specific regions and times of the year. If you’re…

A hacker who set the gaming world alight with the leak of the decade this week, claims he is the same 18 year old who was responsible for the embarrassing breach of Uber’s internal systems just days earlier. On September 16, Uber announced, via a Tweet, that it was investigating a “cybersecurity incident”. This was around the same time as a screenshot emerged of the company’s internal messaging platform, where the hacker had taken control of staff accounts and posted an announcement of the data breach. According to employees who spoke to The Post, staff initially thought it was a joke and were interacting with the hacker (including replying with GIFs and Twitch emotes) before the Slack platform was taken down by Uber’s IT team. The hacker told The New…

What is in a name, for a rose by any name smells just as good was the question the nurse to Juliet asked in Shakespeare’s book, Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare also interrogates the paradox of leadership in Twelfth Night. The clown says to Malvolio, “Do not be afraid of greatness, for some are born great, some acquire greatness whilst some have greatness thrust upon them”. Did the name Fortune play any role in the fortunes of Quinton Fortune? His prowess is not only in sports, but is in legendary leadership? In my mother tongue the Sesotho language, we have an idiom that argues that there is a lot in a name – it is a causality and therefore a premonition on things to happen to one so named.…

ALTHOUGH there is little research on nutrition prior to conception, studies have shown that a Mediterranean-style diet, which includes nutritious foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, seafood, beans, and nuts, may support fertility outcomes in some women who are having trouble getting pregnant. With larger intakes of monounsaturated fats associated with nearly 3.5 times higher probabilities of live delivery following embryo transfer, this diet may be linked to a 70% decreased incidence of ovulatory problems in infertile women. Avocados are classified as a fat fruit. The majority of the fat in avocados is “good” monounsaturated fat. While there are good fats and bad fats (poly- unsaturated and monounsaturated), trans fats are among the less healthy fats. Avocados are a special food that can help with maternal nutrition, birth outcomes, and…

More and more people hope to develop a Zen mindset. Achieving Zen, however, is not about re-organising life and work around 30. Instead, it focuses on cultivating a sense of serenity through discipline, harmony and love. Being mindful enables one to remain fully present in their experiences and pay attention to what is going on. While practising mindfulness consistently can have significant benefits for the body, mind and spirit, it's not always simple in the beginning. Stress at work and pressure from relationships get incredibly hard to handle, especially in your mid-30s. First of all, stress cannot be physically handled by the body, and managing it mentally may be more difficult. A person may experience stress for a variety of reasons, some of which may be more complicated than the…

Where the Crawdads Sing is a visually- stunning movie adaptation of the best-selling novel by Delia Owens. And while lovers of the book will enjoy the film, newcomers might be undecided. As someone who has not read the novel, I was able to enjoy the Where the Crawdads Sing movie for the story that it told. The movie tells of a murder in a North Carolina marsh and how one young woman is suspected of it. It captures all the drama, romance, as well as mystery, while bringing the story to life. The film has made its way to the screen with its driving force being actress and producer Reese Witherspoon, who chose the book for her book club before having it adapted by her production company, Hello Sunshine. One…

THE wisecracks and humorists on social media venture the thought that we should adopt load shedding as our national heritage, as a country. Load shedding is no laughing matter. It is a distressing topic and when it hits, the mood gets even gloomier. A conversation with economists is, as they say on social media, an extreme sport; it is very sobering. Assuming load shedding for a day, one economist says, the cost to the economy is as follows: load shedding for a whole day – Stage 4: R8.4 billion; Stage 5: R10.5bn; Stage 6: R12.6bn. “These are based on gazetted costs on unserved energy,” the said economist says. “Over a year, it is a hell of a lot (of money)” Until yesterday, Eskom said: “Load shedding will continue to be…

SOME members of the ANC in the Free State have threatened to take legal action against the party’s interim provincial committee (IPC) due to the tardiness of branches to hold their branch biennial general meetings (BBGMs) ahead of their provincial conference. The members, who complained that so far only 16 out of 51 branches had held their BBGMs, said they would approach the court to find the IPC in contempt for failing to implement its order to hold the conference at the end of this month. About 35 branches are yet to convene their BBGMs. Last month, the Free State High Court ruled the ANC in Free State should hold its provincial conference by the end of September. Members said the delay could lead to the conference being postponed, and…

As the world celebrated Rhino Day this week, a multidisciplinary law enforcement team nabbed several suspects in connection with wildlife crime, including rhino poaching. This was after a law enforcement team on Thursday searched 11 private and business properties operated by individuals who were engaged in tax evasion and wildlife trafficking. The team consisted of the Hawks wildlife trafficking section, the SAPS special task force unit, counter-intelligence, Asset Forfeiture Unit, SANParks, the Department of Environmental Affairs, the NPA, the SA Revenue Service (Sars) specialised debt, and a customs detector dog. According to Sars commissioner Edward Kieswetter, this was another strategy to deal with non-compliant taxpayers, actors and facilitators who are benefiting directly or indirectly from tax evasion and illicit financial flows stemming from wildlife crime. “Several arrests were made including…

A ZIMBABWEAN businessman and presidential hopeful has had his licence withdrawn by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) over a R200 million loan granted to controversial fugitive and self-proclaimed Malawian prophet Shepherd Bushiri. Joseph Makamba Busha’s JM Busha Asset Managers was stripped of its licence as a registered financial service provider (FSP) in April last year in terms of the determination of the fit and proper requirements after the FSCA found that its assets did not exceed its liabilities. Busha, 56, has already launched his presidential bid in Zimbabwe through his FreeZim Congress and is expected to square off against President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Citizens Coalition For Change leader Nelson Chamisa in the 2023 elections. JM Busha Asset Managers’ attempt to challenge the FSCA’s ruling at its Financial Services Tribunal…

THOUSANDS of people dependent on non-profit organisations (NPOs) will have to fend for themselves following the Gauteng Department of Social Development’s (DSD) decision to reduce its reliance on NPOs. DSD said the Institutional Realignment Project (IRP) will be implemented to respond to challenges it has been faced with in the partnership model it has with NPOs, which has led to delayed service delivery. Spokesperson at the department, Feziwe Ndwayana said they sent a stern warning to NPOs that did not comply or perform, that their funds will be terminated and be reprioritised to other programmes. The DSD said the move was necessitated by trends of intimidation and threats to the department’s monitoring officials when they detect non-compliance. “The current partnership model with NPOs is unsustainable because more resources are allocated…

HERITAGE Day reminds us of the rich cultural and traditional diversities we encompass as South Africans. On September 24, each year, we are not only encouraged to celebrate our rich variety of cultures but even more so, to celebrate the cultural diversity that is so often used to create tensions among us. This is exactly what Heritage Day calls for – the celebration of one another. As a country, we come from a very tumultuous history, and in our daily lives, contend with multiple challenges as a result. We are often very focused on the politics and socio-economic issues of the country, but we do not interrogate how our heritage relates directly to our identity, as individuals, and as a collective. In a recent public discourse discussion, the question of…

On the southwestern coast of Thailand, limestone cliffs tower over seawater against the backdrop of swaying trees. Long-tail boats – the only means of transportation to Railay Beach – sit parked in the distance, neon-pink-and-green flags swaying at the bow. Sand bubbler crabs dip above and below the surface, leaving their intricate designs at the mercy of high tide and flip-flops. I’m sitting in a bar on the beach, watching water droplets fall down my ice-cold Singha beer, looking at the sunset glimmer on the water. Picturesque doesn’t even begin to describe this. There’s just one question on my mind: How did I end up here? A few weeks earlier, I was fantasising about going somewhere – anywhere – far away. I craved the feeling of being lost in an…

Air Belgium has launched in South Africa, marking the airline’s first foray into Africa. According to the airline, flights on its modern A330neo will depart Brussels every Wednesday and Sunday at 7.45pm and arrive in Johannesburg at 7.15 the next day, with a continuation to Cape Town. Air Belgium said South Africans heading to Europe would be able to fly from Cape Town International, with a short stop in Johannesburg or OR Tambo every Monday and Thursday, and the flight offered 30 seats in Business Class, 21 seats in Premium Class and 235 Economy Class seats. Air Belgium CEO Niky Terzakis said it was an exciting and important chapter for Air Belgium. “But we’re equally thrilled to introduce South Africans to a new airline and an alternative route – and…