Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-10-02 i Sunday Independent

For people who regularly use multiple social media, it can be easy to forget how much of our personal information is stored across different platforms. And if you have a unique name, searching yourself on Google can turn up worryingly specific details like your phone number or address. Luckily, Google is making it easier to get your information removed from their Search results. After announcing the tool at their I/O conference in May, Google has begun rolling out the “Results about you” feature. While you could already request to have some of your information removed from Search, this change makes the process a whole lot easier. If you see a Search result that contains sensitive information about you, you will be able to make a removal request right from the…

Imagine the Monopoly Man. Is he wearing a monocle or not? If you picture the character from the popular board game wearing one, you’d be wrong. In fact, he has never worn one. If you’re surprised by this, you’re not alone. Many people possess the same false memory of this character. This phenomenon takes place for other characters, logos and quotes, too. For example, Pikachu from Pokémon is often thought to have a black tip on his tail, which he doesn’t have. We call this phenomenon of shared false memories for certain cultural icons the “visual Mandela Effect”. People tend to be puzzled when they learn that they share the same false memories with other people. They assume that what they remember and forget ought to be subjective and based…

Soft skills are imperative no matter which professional field you are in and every student must invest some time to learn these skills. “A lot of people think that it has become obsolete to mention soft skills in the CV, but remember if not directly, they have to be mentioned indirectly through your work experience or qualifications,” says Apoorvaa Aagarwal, a lawyer and professional coach. Here are the eight most important soft skills that you must mention in your résumé: Communication skills: To be able to put forward your point of view in a well-articulated way and to convey your ideas effectively is crucial. Verbal communication, written communication in the form of professional email writing, drafting, and presentation skills are all important. Time management: We live in times when multitasking…

After making headlines around the world in 2015, the rediscovery of baby Zephany Nurse was on everyone’s lips, so much so a film was made documenting the life story of Miche Solomons, known as Zephany. Hot from a successful release on the UK’s streaming platform Paramount Plus, the Girl Taken documentary feature, which tells the story of the 1997 kidnapping of baby Zephany Nurse and subsequent recovery many years, has received thethumbs up from the British Media and audiences. The Cape Town-based saga of Zephany being found after being kidnapped from hospital, gripped the world and had media attention from the day she vanished. Girl Taken speaks of two parents whose baby was stolen at birth, who found her 17 years later, and then lost her again. On April 28,…

The advance hype for Don’t Worry Darling has been so incessant – from director Olivia Wilde’s location-turned-relationship with her leading man, Harry Styles, to a Kabuki-like feud with her lead actress, Florence Pugh, and something involving Chris Pine and Styles at the recent Venice Film Festival – that it is easy to forget there is an actual movie at the centre of it all. A movie that’s not a disaster, but not particularly distinguished; a movie that, in the end, will wind up being as forgettable as its own bizarre publicity. Don’t Worry Darling opens at a party in the sleekly appointed living room of a 1950s tract home, where Alice Chambers (Pugh) and her husband, Jack (Styles), are entertaining their neighbours with copious amounts of booze, cigarettes and slinky…

VETERAN Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov gave the international community the clearest hint about Russia’s concerns and fears amidst the deteriorating geopolitical wrangling, thereby pointing at possible solutions. Addressing the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) 2022 in New York last week, Lavrov engaged the heads of state who were meeting face-to-face for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. In a charged speech, Lavrov spared none of his country’s detractors in the US-led Nato and the EU, who have unleashed a sustained barrage of unprecedented punitive sanctions against Moscow. He said: “They are not shying away from declaring the intent to inflict not only the military defeat on our country but also to destroy and fracture Russia.” Lavrov added: “The official Russophobia in the West is unprecedented.…

ONE of the public protector investigators probing the Phala Phala farm theft is allegedly being managed by two people on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa. The investigator, whose name is known to the Sunday Independent, allegedly met his handlers, who are based in Johannesburg, in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape, where he was allegedly told how to deal with investigations involving Ramaphosa and his close associates. It isn’t clear whether the two men, whose names weren’t revealed, acted on their own accord or if they were sent by Ramaphosa to meet the public protector investigator. These are some of the allegations contained in Arthur Fraser’s response to the public protector’s office that was submitted this week. “The record will show that I raised this issue squarely and frontally without attacking…

THE ANC has set its sights on the two metros it does not control in Gauteng following the election of new Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero after the ousting of the DA’s Dr Mpho Phalatse. On Friday, the ANC supported the successful motion of no confidence in Phalatse by minority parties in the Joburg council. ANC Gauteng spokesperson Lesego Makhubela yesterday confirmed that the party would back similar moves in Tshwane and Ekurhuleni to remove mayors Randall Williams and Tania Campbell, respectively. In August, the ANC’s planned motion of no confidence in Williams ended in chaos after EFF councillors walked out of the meeting. Morero heaped praise on the smaller parties that helped him oust Phalatse as the first citizen of the country’s economic hub. He was elected unopposed on Friday…

AS the country faces threats of being grey-listed, Finance Minister Enoch Godogwana has applauded the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), which is understaffed because of resignations, for its major contribution to the fight against financial crime. Such crimes, which could lead the country into grey-listing, have been identified as major contributors to the deterioration of economic growth. Godogwana’s comment is contained in the FIC 2021/22 Annual Report, which indicated that, through the combined efforts of the crimebusters, the state had managed to recover more than R5billion in criminal assets. This is an increase from R3.3bn recovered in the previous financial year. The report, released on September 29, revealed the country was facing the problems of human trafficking, wildlife poaching, pyramid schemes, drug trafficking and cybercrime. The minister pointed out that corruption,…

A SCHOOL should be a place where the safety of pupils and teachers is guaranteed. However, it has turned into a place of horror as many witnessed their schoolmates lose their lives at the hands of other pupils. Violence and crime issues have become prominent concerns in the last few years. The increasing rate of school violence has left many communities wounded, rendered some parents childless and left teachers fearing for their lives. Over 10 cases have recently been reported where a pupil fatally stabbed a fellow pupil. The latest case is of a General Smuts High School pupil in Vereeniging where a pupil was stabbed to death on his way to a taxi rank. Teachers are always in the line of fire when these incidents occur as they are…

The Free State government has assured the country that there will be no room for corruption once the money to build houses in Jagersfontein is allocated. The provincial government announced that it would build houses for affected families after a dam burst at Jagersfontein Diamond Mine. About 51 houses in Charlesville and 113 houses in Itumeleng were swept away by the sludge caused by the collapse of the dam on Sunday, September 11. This week, Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela announced that four contractors had begun construction on four model houses through alternative building technology. The houses are intended as show houses and the affected families would be expected to choose their preferred plan before more are built. The construction of the houses began on Monday. Recently, the government has…

ERIK ten Hag’s faith in Manchester United “warrior” Lisandro Martinez will be put to the test as Manchester City striker Erling Haaland aims to extend his red-hot streak in today’s derby. Haaland has made a blistering start with City since joining the Premier League champions from Borussia Dortmund for £51 million (more than R1 billion) in the close season. With 14 goals in nine games in all competitions for City, the Norway striker, playing in his first Manchester derby, will put United’s recent revival to the test. Only once has Haaland been denied a goal in the Premier League this season, but United manager Ten Hag might have the solution to taming the prolific 22-year-old. When Ten Hag’s Ajax faced Dortmund in the Champions League last season, they stopped Haaland…

When Google was using the ‘Don’t Be evil’ slogan most users trusted the platform to some extent, writes Wesley Diphoko Google’s unofficial motto was once known simply as “don’t be evil”. When Google was reorganised under a new parent company, Alphabet, in 2015, the tech giant assumed a slightly adjusted version of the motto, “do the right thing”. When Google came up with the motto it was unclear why there was a need for a tech company to focus on ethics and morality around its branding. It is now clear why that was necessary. Tech was once an innocent entity and player in society. Tech is responsible for some of the worst harms facing modern society. The sad reality is that it’s difficult to distinguish between good and bad tech.…

THERE is no formula for the perfect entrepreneur. A writer for Business News Daily put it perfectly: “While no natural-born skill is a prerequisite (for becoming a successful entrepreneur), some characteristics are good predictors.” The four traits that many of the most prolific businesspeople have in common: An appetite for risk A study written for the Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship assessed a constituent of entrepreneurially minded business students for the traits they shared. It found a strong correlation between having the mindset of an entrepreneur and a propensity for risk-taking. Several experts agree that being willing to take risks and put a business idea to the test under trying conditions is one of the leading traits of entrepreneurs who thrive. This is not to say that entrepreneurs…

Spring is finally here and along with it, the appeal of vibrant superfoods. Superfoods pack a punch that is pleasing to your body. From preventing cancer to giving you beautiful skin, incorporating such foods into your diet can make a huge difference. Science says nutrient-dense foods not only make you feel great but may even reduce the risk of certain chronic health conditions while providing multiple health benefits. You have most likely heard the term superfoods to describe foods that will supposedly make you look great, feel great and help you live a longer, healthier life – but what are “superfoods” and what makes them so super? We spoke to health and wellness expert Maria Ascencao, who explained the importance of these foods. Ascencao said superfoods were exceptionally nutrient-dense foods.…

The 2022 International Emmy Awards nominees have been announced and M-Net’s Reyka is in the running for Best Drama and Best Performance by an Actress, for Kim Engelbrecht. The thriller series, which is known as The Cane Field Killings in some countries, was created and written by Rohan Dickson. In early September, it won four of the eight nominations it received at the Saftas 2022: Best Actress in a TV Drama (Kim Engelbrecht), Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – TV Drama (Dickson), Best Achievement in Directing – TV Drama (Catharine Cooke, Zwelesizwe Ntuli) and Best Achievement in Cinematography – TV Drama (Tom Marais). Reyka oscillates between past and present with Reyka Gama, an investigative and criminal profiler, looking into a series of murders in KwaZulu-Natal. Her judgement becomes clouded when her…

Highly anticipated action-packed fantasy series Blood Psalms has officially dropped on Showmax. On Tuesday, the cast and production got together to launch the series ahead of its debut on the streaming platform. The stars came dressed in their finest African opulence for the black-tie affair. After gracing the red carpet, guests were treated to an intimate dinner where they got to experience a taste of all that is set to come on the stellar production. Produced by Yellow Bone Entertainment, Blood Psalms is an epic tale set 11 000 years ago in ancient Africa, and is Showmax’s most ambitious series yet. Jahmil XT Qubeka is renowned for his stellar productions and Blood Psalms is no different. From cinematography, costumes and make-up to the finer details of the production, the…

MANY have expressed shock at the removal of Joburg mayor Dr Mpho Phalatse following a motion of no confidence that was passed on Friday. Many people believe she was ‘working’ and ‘turning things around’. But for the residents of many townships, it’s a different story. Her tenure has proved fruitless for residents of Soweto who still grapple with power issues despite her many promises to address the issue. Many have described her as a mayor who prioritised service delivery in the affluent areas more than the townships. Townships continue to be riddled with potholes and street lights that never work. But when you go to the suburbs, street lights are normally out of action for a few days. In the townships, it’s months. Potholes end up becoming ditches, resulting in…

WHEN one watches netball, one expects to see women with their hair tied up, passing the ball in less than three seconds to get the win. They don’t expect to see long hairy legs in team shorts and deep voices issuing team commands, with a ball in their hand and wearing netball bibs. Yet, this was the South African men’s netball team that represented the country in green and gold at the Americas Netball Men’s Championship, hosted by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. This tournament featured several teams (Grenada, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), with South Africa taking two wins over the hosts and Grenada, and ceding a match to Jamaica. Known as the Protea Pumas, they are a team of 12 athletes coached by…

A Black-owned company that used to run a gym at OR Tambo International Airport is taking on the Airports Company of SA (Acsa) in a bid to recoup a R21 million investment. Phela-Live Wellness and Fitness Centre has blamed Acsa for its financial loss after it allegedly locked the premises they were operating from. According to the company, in 2016, Acsa unlawfully locked Phela-Live’s offices, saying the centre had failed to make its monthly rental payments. The closure resulted in more than R21 million in investment going down the drain, and more than 40 employees losing their jobs. The closure also jeopardised the plans of over 3 000 members to keep fit. The fitness centre was the brainchild of young black entrepreneurs – Tshepo Mokgoatjana and his partners – and…

PUPILS at Lawley Thuto Lefa Secondary School continue to be taught in overcrowded mobile classrooms and are still on a rotational learning system, which is not a conducive environment for them to access quality education. Lawley has 2 200 pupils – about 60 per classroom. The school is riddled with challenges with a lack of resources evident. Concerned parents and staff have complained the school does not have enough mobile classrooms. Upon our visit to the school, we saw damaged containers and classes of various grades that were overcrowded – particularly Grades 8 and 12. The school needs at least 12 more mobile classrooms and parents said they had raised these issues with the Department of Education. Situated 8km south of Lenasia, the Lawley township is plagued with high…

Cope factions are set to face off in court over their tit-for-tat suspensions and claims that the party’s former Ekurhuleni proportional representation councillor was an ANC member when he was elected last year. The faction led by party president Mosioua Lekota and its national chairperson Teboho Loate is heading to the South Gauteng High Court to enforce the purported suspensions of deputy president Willie Madisha, national spokesperson Dennis Bloem and secretary for elections Mzwandile Hleko and interdict and restrain them from acting as Cope officials and representatives. Cope wants Madisha, Bloem and Hleko to cease to regard themselves as office bearers, spokespersons and representatives of the party, and not attend any meeting of its structures. Madisha, who along with Lekota is Cope’s only MP, will be allowed to continue executing…

HANDRE Pollard made his return to rugby yesterday; but does that mean he should start for the Springboks against Ireland on November 5? The 28-year-old was named on the bench for his English club Leicester Tigers’ match against Saracens. Pollard has been out of action since the Boks’ loss to Australia in Adelaide on August 27, but declared this week that he was fit to play again. But there are a number of factors for Bok coach Jacques Nienaber to ponder in terms of his selection at flyhalf for the first Test of the tour against the Irish in Dublin. The first issue is whether Pollard will be match-fit and physically ready. After yesterday’s Saracens fixture, the Tigers face Sale Sharks on Saturday, followed by Harlequins (October 16), Newcastle (October…

Disney Cruise Line will no longer require vaccinations on most of its voyages from October, the company announced on Tuesday, marking the final major cruise line to ease its vaccine requirement on most US sailings. For voyages on the Disney Wish, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wonder beginning on October 14, full vaccination is “highly recommended”, but not required, according to the cruise line’s website. Unvaccinated travellers 5 and older must provide proof of a negative coronavirus test taken within two days of the sail date, either through an observed antigen test or a lab-based PCR test. Vaccinated travellers and children under 5 are not required to test. The same policy applies to Disney Magic sailings beginning on November 7. The Magic will be visiting ports in Canada and…

There’s an aphorism about social media sites that warn consumers that they’re not consumers after all – they’re the product. True enough, but there’s more: they’re also test subjects. A study in the journal Science, by researchers at LinkedIn, MIT, Stanford University and Harvard Business School reveals that the professional networking platform conducted experiments on more than 20 million users over five years. The idea was simple: harness the power of big data to confirm the sociological hypothesis that not-so-close acquaintances are more helpful for finding employment than the closest of friends. The attempt to prove the theory worked, apparently too well. Now, some critics are claiming that LinkedIn gave some users a leg up while leaving others to languish – carefully improving its product but carelessly playing with people’s…

Reduced port congestion levels, along with weaker cargo arrivals, was one of the major reasons behind the significant decrease in freight rates, S&P said in a note earlier this month. AS THE CARGO sector returns to pre-Covid normality after supply chain disruptions, red flags are being raised by economists that global trade is slowing with recession on the horizon for some nations. MSC over border and project manager Stephen Masters said in an interview this week that the movement of cargo and shipping flows were getting smoother and the erratic movement of cargo amid the national lockdowns had been normalising over the past month or two. “Obviously we still have issues where we have on some occasions had to cancel sailings due to the backlog and vessels being held outside…

Reality dating shows, while incredibly entertaining, don’t help instil much confidence in that happily- ever-after scenario we were indoctrinated with since childhood by our favourite fairytales. In the real world, where individuals are career focused and looking for love, making the time for it is a challenge. Also, values differ. And everyone has a list of requirements, some not very practical and, dare I say it, rather far-fetched. Gosh, I feel like I’m starting to sound like Sima Aunty from Indian Matchmaking. There is also the issue of individuals being so set in their ways that any sort of compromise results in a knee-jerk reaction. Streaming platforms are saturated with dating shows. Sadly, most of them are on the shallow side like Too Hot Too Handle and Love Island. Then…

As far as 1990s hits go, it doesn’t get much bigger and better than Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise. An interpolation of Stevie Wonder’s 1976 sleeper hit Pastime Paradise, the haunting single saw Coolio (real name Artis Leon Ivey Jnr) detail how his “character” is wasting away in the streets and certain to meet death at any moment due to his life of crime. Not many songs on such a raw subject matter made an impression on the charts in the ’90s, but so compelling and infectious was Gangsta’s Paradise, which was part of the 1995 film Dangerous Minds, that it beat the odds and went on to become the best-selling song of 1995 in the US. It would also go on to be awarded a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance,…

EMBATTLED power utility Eskom is bringing to life George Orwell’s famous Animal Farm where “all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”. This as large sectors of society have raised concerns over the implementation of load shedding where areas that house politicians are spared but health facilities bear the brunt of the blackouts. This has resulted in healthcare practitioners writing a petition to Eskom to refrain from this and instead prioritise power supply to hospitals and clinics, where it is needed to save lives. In a bid to address the issue, Professor Adam Mohamed, head of Internal Medicine at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, has called on the government to exempt hospitals from load shedding. His plea came as the country has been gripped by the biggest bout…

WHILE chartered accountants are highly sought-after, the carrot dangled is not always enticing enough to woo every novice in the business. Like many of his colleagues at the time who were finishing their articles at a major auditing firm in December 2012, he was assured of a cushy job with a blue-chip company in January 2013, but Peterson Khumalo did not take it. His eyes were fixed on the bigger picture. With a partner, also a rookie, they decided to go on their own and start their firm. But the next six months as partners of their new outfit would be angst-ridden, filled with doubts about the wisdom of leaving their well-paid jobs. The demands of life and financial commitments would see not just one but two successive partners opt…

LOAD shedding continues to wreak havoc in the country with cellphone providers struggling to ensure reception during blackouts. This is despite mobile networks having investments in back-up systems and generators. South Africa’s three network providers said most of their sites had been equipped with battery back-up systems which were meant to last for hours. However, the frequency of load shedding was adding strain to their systems. They said this impacted the ability of batteries to recharge fully, resulting in the internet and calls being affected. Recently, Eskom implemented Stages 4, 5, and 6 load shedding, citing breakdowns at power stations. This left consumers venting their frustrations as cell towers struggled to stay on. MTN chief technology and information officer, Michele Gamberini, said increased load shedding was a challenge for battery…

AS THE Kingdom of Lesotho prepares to go to the polls on Friday, the country’s election body has come under severe criticism over its voters’ roll. Political parties and ordinary citizens are complaining about what they have termed duplicates in the roll, which they believe can have a significant bearing on the outcomes of the elections. This week, at least three individuals told Independent Media the country’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) could jeopardise the entire process and contaminate it. According to the Revolution for Prosperity (RFP) party, led by prime minister hopeful Sam Matekane, the voters’ roll was riddled with errors that raised questions about the quality of work being put out by the organisation. “The voters’ roll that the IEC made public on its website is riddled with clerical…

PITSO Mosimane and his three-man technical support team leave for Saudi Arabia today, hopeful they will have yet another “historic” two-year spell in a foreign land. Jingles is, however, also realistic enough to admit that he has taken on a project that could well tarnish the great reputation he has built for himself, following his trophy-laden tenure at Egyptian and continental giants Al Ahly. He has accepted the unenviable challenge of leading yet another giant of a similar name – Al-Ahli Saudi. But unlike the Cairo Red Devils, the Jeddah giants have fallen on seriously hard times. Al-Ahli are campaigning in the second-tier league in Saudi Arabia, following their shock relegation from the Pro League last season. The four-times Saudi champions are trusting Mosimane to take them back to the…

Following recent lockdowns and coronavirus restrictions around the world, travellers have realigned expectations of their travel experiences. They are more particular about where they want to go, when they want to go, and how they want to explore a destination, or even who they want to travel with, and most are opting to make the journey alone. Here are three tips on how to maximise your solo travel adventures. Saving According to Tony Mallam, MD of upnup, Africa’s first passive micro-saving and investing platform, while working their way (literally) through the cities and experiences digital nomads wish to enjoy, it’s a very smart idea to save up along the way. “By doing this, the working traveller has more cash available to amplify the number of things they can experience in…