Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-11-13 i Sunday Independent

Meta’s revenue soared during the coronavirus pandemic, but now the digital shopping revolution has stalled … and its costing jobs Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg made a startling admission on Wednesday during a private Zoom call for the 11 000 workers his company had just laid off: They were losing their jobs partly because he overestimated the staying power of the pandemic’s e-commerce boom. Meta announced it was laying off 13% of its workforce, cutting discretionary spending and extending its hiring freeze through March in a bid to become “leaner and more efficient”, Zuckerberg said. Like many social media platforms, Meta’s revenue soared during the pandemic when the spread of the coronavirus forced many retailers to turn to the internet to reach would-be customers who were staying home to avoid…

WHEN the first scheduled blackouts were rolled out in 2007, it was believed to be a solution to a temporary problem, especially when the country avoided load shedding from 2009. More than a decade later, experts predict that load shedding is going to be part of the socio-economic reality for far longer than anyone could have anticipated. The cost of power cuts is estimated to be billions of rand every day. Faced with the mounting challenge, small and medium enterprise (SME) owners have been called upon to be more solutions-driven and resilient than ever. A few ways entrepreneurs can reduce the cost of business interruption and damage caused when the lights go out: 1) Share the load Many small businesses have invested in inverters and generators. The equipment can cost…

With the festive season around the corner, braving the shopping malls and planning your festive dinner can be quite the exercise. We thought we would help relieve some of that stress by putting together a comprehensive list of our favourite foods for you to plan your festive shopping. Sweet potatoes Mashed potatoes are great and all, but mashed sweet potatoes? That is my carb choice, every time. They have got the creamy goodness of the traditional mash, with about a hundred times more flavour and nutrition. Add a little rosemary and sprinkle the whole shebang with roasted pecans and watch everyone head back for seconds. Oil You cannot get very far in the kitchen without cooking oil, so do a final audit before you make your last trip to the…

Dessi Bell, a businesswoman located in the UK and a former banking company manager, invented “hot pants”, which are literally weight-loss clothing. In order to reduce weight, quickly while getting ready for her wedding, she came up with the concept for sweat innovation technology. She continued to create several sportswear prototypes and, in 2011, she and her businessman husband, Malcolm Bell, created Zaggora with a £25 000 (about R500 000) investment from personal resources. By wearing the pants during the day, night, and workouts, the designers of this fitness outfit claim that you can drop two dress sizes in two weeks. The business introduced a variety of healthy meals, such as protein smoothies, superfood shots, and detox teas, and in its first year of operation, made $10 million in sales.…

From its frantic opening moments, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever announces its intentions. Princess Shuri (Letitia Wright) is desperately trying to save the life of her brother, King T’Challa (the late Chadwick Boseman), checking his vitals by way of Griot, her personal artificial intelligence aide, and worriedly making micro-adjustments until her mother, Ramonda (Angela Bassett), arrives to deliver the dreaded news: “Your brother is with the ancestors”. Thus does Wakanda Forever address, head-on, the tragic loss of Boseman, who died of colon cancer in 2020. In a fitting tribute, the shuffle of iconic characters that opens every Marvel movie here is composed entirely of images of Boseman, a moving encomium to a gifted and charismatic actor who left the stage much too soon. The next scene, a solemn memorial rite in…

TWO vital takeaway points have emerged out of this week’s US mid-term elections, painting a veiled but optimistic picture about probable negotiations with Russia to end the Ukraine war. The first was about a revelation that US President Joe Biden’s administration confirmed reports it surreptitiously made direct contact with the Kremlin in recent weeks. Biden has lately reduced his fierce rhetoric against his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin, whom he had previously described in unpalatable terms such as “murderer”. But now he holds that Putin is “rational”. This indicates a sharp turn in the geopolitical strategy of the US-led Nato and the EU – the chief allies in the war against Russia. The allied forces led by Washington have unleashed a barrage of economic sanctions against Russia since the outbreak…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa failed to convince his critics that his hands are clean after the Phala Phala farm robbery but, instead, he opened a can of worms as he tried to take the ANC NEC into his confidence about the matter. Ramaphosa’s critics have poked holes into his version of the Phala Phala events, signalling that the independent panel of experts probing the Farmgate allegations on behalf of Parliament was also likely to have a tough task making sense of his submission. Parliament has given the panel until this coming Thursday to determine whether a case for impeachment could be made against Ramaphosa. On Friday Ramaphosa had meant to disarm his opponents when he, without being asked, introduced the long-standing controversial discussion – that has threatened to fast track his…

A whistleblower holding senior office in the Eskom forensics investigations unit says CEO Andre De Ruyter’s claims of corruption-busting at the national power utility only end at the level of a public relations campaign and the pattern is that no further efforts are taken thereafter to bring the culprits to book. As part of their duties, the Eskom forensics team should open criminal cases where investigations have been concluded. However, even though it has been brought to De Ruyter’s attention that this was not happening, he has allegedly not been bothered. Instead, said the insider, “it is only the Eskom marketing team that shows a degree of enthusiasm, especially when a high-profile case is cracked”. It is alleged the marketing team would often feed these success stories to selected media…

A REVISED law has come into effect stating that all municipal managers appointed between August 9, 2016 and November 8, 2021 should have served their last day of duty on November 2 this year. In light of this, the North West High Court in Mahikeng ruled that municipal manager Olaotse Bojosinyane’s employment contract with Kagisano-Molopo, which was set to end in February 2023, was lawfully terminated. Bojosinyane has been at the helm of the municipality since March 2018, when he signed a five-year contract with the council as elected in 2016. Many of his colleagues across the country’s 278 municipalities are set to suffer the same fate in the next few days. And they, like him, have a choice: accept their fate or challenge the fairness of the revised law.…

A VOSLOORUS-brewed kasi boy who is making furniture for big hotels is aiming to leave his footprint all over the hospitality industry across the country, with a big dream of one day becoming a significant role-player. Thato Senosi, 36, produces, maintains and repairs furniture for big and small hotels and bed and breakfasts, but does not sideline household demands. The Magauta Designs and Projects managing director operates a workshop from Randburg. He is working on opening workshops in five more provinces. His dream is to make Magauta a household brand. Currently, some of his staff travel to do repairs and maintenance at hotels in KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. Magauta provides services such as re-upholstery and refurbishing plus producing custom-build furniture, bedroom furniture, outdoor patio furnishings, and…

AN ANGEL’S Demise is an epic saga that explores a contested legacy and the heart-rending destiny of a family. The year is 1977 and the story begins on a farm in Somabhula with the birth of Angel and when Zimbabwe was still called Rhodesia. The farm is run by Paul Williams, an outwardly harsh and bigoted man who holds the livelihoods of many in his hands. When Angel’s parents join the liberation struggle, she is left in the care of her grandmothers, who have been in service to the Williams family for generations. Angel grows up on the farm over three momentous decades that see a convoluted past and inheritance unfold into an equally complicated present. Through her, we see a woman’s quest to unearth her identity and assert her…

Suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has pleaded with the Constitutional Court to allow her to complete her seven-year term in office. Mkhwebane told the apex court that last month she entered the final year of her non-renewable seven-year term. “With effect from October 16, 2022, I have entered my final year of the seven-year non-renewable employment contract envisaged in section 183 of the Constitution,” she stated in papers filed at the Constitutional Court. “It is my personal intention to prepare the organisation for a smooth handover to my successor so as to avoid some of the problems which partly and ironically led to the current impeachment process”. According to Mkhwebane, it is also in the interests of the public to have certainty in the public protector so that the core…

WE ALL love freedom of expression, one of the most important constitutional rights granted to South African citizens. But it’s not an unlimited right. The legal implications of what is put out on social media tell us that despite the right to freedom of expression we cannot say whatever we want and think we can get away with it. According to the director of employment law at law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, Phetheni Nkuna, the legal definition of defamation is something written or said that is made public with the intention of harming or damaging someone’s good name or reputation. “Defamation doesn’t just happen when you’re a public figure or a celebrity, and it’s not limited to instances where whatever is being published relates to dishonest or dishonourable conduct. Defamation…

First, there was the banning of the importation of crude oil through ocean-going tankers, which duly took effect on November 5, instantly. The exemption was only contemplated in respect of countries receiving pipe-borne crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline. The proscription against purchasing Russian crude oil affected only European Union member countries and those volunteering to do so who are not members of the beleaguered Union of 27 constituent members. This included the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In quick time, there was a realisation that for a far-reaching impact, the sanctions ought to extend beyond the EU sphere of political and diplomatic influence. The European talking heads first sought to coerce India and China with undisguised threats to stop purchasing Russian…

MAMELODI Sundowns overpowered 10-men Orlando Pirates 4-0 and claimed their first-ever Carling Black Label Cup at the FNB Stadium last night. Sundowns had scored a 3-0 victory over AmaZulu to qualify for the final while the Buccaneers got through via penalty shoot-outs (6-5) against Kaizer Chiefs. Sundowns capitalised when Pirates went a man down, Siphelele Mkhulise scoring the opener in the 23rd minute. Ten minutes later, Sundowns doubled their advantage as Grant Kekana popped up in the Pirates’ penalty area to extend his side’s advantage. The central defender gambled after a short corner was taken and lurked in between the Pirates’ defenders. His anticipation saw him get to Aubrey Modiba’s low cross and he tapped into an empty net. It was one-way traffic in the first half and the Buccaneers…

Silversea’s upcoming Asia season, which consists of 25 voyages that range from 10 to 20 days, includes the following itineraries: Mumbai to Singapore From December 20 to January 5, 2023 guests can travel aboard the Silver Spirit’s first Asia cruise of 2022 and enjoy enrichments from celebrated travel writer Paul Theroux, who will accompany travellers from Mumbai to Singapore. Its travellers will dive deep into India’s culture in Cochin from Mumbai, before journeying to Sri Lanka’s Colombo on an overnight call, Trincomalee, Thailand’s Phuket overnight, Port Klang (Kuala Lumpur) in Malaysia, and Malacca, arriving in Singapore on January 4 for an overnight call. Hong Kong to Singapore The Silver Spirit will embark on January 19-29, 2023, from Hong Kong for Vietnam with calls in Ha Long Bay overnight, Da Nang,…

Friday, October 14, was an eventful day for me. It started with a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and it ended with death threats. I was one of a small group of Iranian American women invited to meet top State Department officials to discuss the female-led protest movement that is gathering strength in Iran. Beforehand, the secretary’s office asked for our consent to have news organisations present while the secretary made a statement. Not anticipating any harm, I said yes. Unfortunately, I was mistaken. Over the following week, I learnt first-hand how the policy and design decisions of social media platforms, such as Instagram, directly affect users’ personal safety. Soon after photos from the State Department meeting appeared in the news, my Twitter mentions – normally non-existent, because…

WHEN President Nelson Mandela visited the Mothapo Chieftaincy in Nobody, the media was awash with news that finally somebody knew Nobody. What is in a name? But place names such as Verdwaal (Astray), Nooit- gedacht (Never imagined or thought) and Nobody are but a few beginning to define us as a nation. Yet, they should not. South Africa is just a few weeks away from the policy conference of the ANC, the majority party, in December. The slates and lists are running crazy on social media, but with no discussions about policies. If this is anything to go by, this conference will be the first to be exceedingly development content free. Without a policy mandate, there will basically be no meaningful developmental agenda the newly elected officials and the rest…

Aside from making for interesting subject matters, celebrities also make for great headlines and gossip. The bigger the star, the bigger the interest. The obsession with stars has been and will continue to be a talking point, whether on social media, in tabloids or in documentaries. Look at Lindsay Lohan for example. This IT girl in Hollywood was once the buzz of the town. But her stardom nosedived after a plethora of substance abuse situations landed her in hot water with the law. She was spiralling out of control at the height of stardom. Older – and presumably much wiser – she recently announced her return to Hollywood in the Netflix movie, Falling for Christmas. And if you are wondering where I’m going with this train of thought, it is…

“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face,” quipped Trevor Noah while discussing the turbulent few weeks Elon Musk has endured since he finalised his purchase of Twitter. It’s safe to say that things haven’t gone according to plan for the South African-born billionaire as rattled advertisers express concern about the future of the app and celebrities quit the platform. Noah then pointed out that Musk had arrived advocating for fun and free speech on Twitter before he turned around and banned a handful of users who had changed their Twitter handles to Elon Musk parodies. “What’s happening with Elon Musk is a wonderful microcosm to show you how quickly people will abandon what they say is a principle when things aren’t going their way. Everyone thinks…

South African actress Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa is determined to strengthen her fight against gender-based violence (GBV) as she steps into her new role as Grace Molotsi in the new limited series, Four Walls. Co-directed by local creators Juvais Dunn, Menzi Mzimela and Kgosana Monchusi, the nine-part series shines the spotlight on the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa. In Four Walls, Mlotshwa brings to life the heart-wrenching tale of Grace, a well-educated woman who is stuck in an abusive marriage. When Grace finally decides to end her husband’s life, her house is invaded by two thugs on the run from a cash-in-transit robbery gone wrong, who take her hostage. Mlotshwa, who is a gender-based violence activist, said preparing for her role as Grace and walking in her…

There is a need to transform the law profession and pave the way for the next generation. These were the words of black legal professionals during the launch of the Tshwane Society of Advocates (TSA). The launch was held at its premises in Waterkloof, Pretoria, on Friday evening. The state of transformation in the legal profession was discussed by a panel of the country’s top lawyers. The panel included legal minds such as former chairperson of Legal Practice Council (LPC) Kathleen Matolo-Dlepu, human rights lawyer Professor Barney Pityana, lawyer and author advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, Human Capital consultant Disebo Ramonyalioa and lawyer Andrew Masemola. The topic for the night was titled: A reflection on the past, present, and future of the South African legal profession. Sharing her story, Matolo-Dlepu said it…

The ANC integrity commission kicked its Phala Phala investigation into touch after President Cyril Ramaphosa stubbornly refused to explain his role in the alleged theft of millions of undeclared US dollars two years ago from his Limpopo game farm. The leaked report of the governing party’s ethics body, expected to be tabled before the ANC national executive committee (NEC) meeting this weekend, tiptoes around Ramaphosa’s role in the mishandling of the alleged crime for which he faces charges of corruption, money laundering, and kidnapping. The commission instead left it to the compromised NEC, dominated by Ramaphosa’s faction, citing that it was most appropriate that the NEC demand answers from him. “The (commission) finds that while the Phala Phala incident and events around it have definitely brought the ANC into disrepute,…

From Page 1 Dlamini Zuma rejected Ramaphosa’s submission on the grounds that money from a legitimate business transaction could not have been hidden in couches. Another NEC member said: “The minister did not believe his story, and she rejected it. The question is, why was it hidden insde furniture?” The ANC had anticipated that the Phala Phala item would be the last on the agenda, possibly in order to avoid disruptions to the weekend programme due to the polarity of views over the incident. The matter was scheduled to be tabled as part of the outstanding reports of the ANC integrity commission. However, a leaked report of the ethics body’s probe into Phala Phala showed that the governing party’s ethics body had also kicked the matter into touch after Ramaphosa,…

THE Women In Tech (WIT) awards seek to close the gap between women’s and men’s representation in the technology industry. Research by Women in Tech ZA South Africa, founded to showcase the diverse and talented women working in ICT, showed that South Africa had the highest number of female graduates in the tech sector. However, out of 236 000 available jobs, women held only 56 000. This is only about 23% of all tech jobs in the country. In attempting to close the gap and make ICT careers more attractive to young girls, the Innovator Trust – an organisation created to support the growth of small black-owned ICT businesses in South Africa – developed an initiative, Women In Tech Appreciation Experience, to celebrate women in the industry and to impart…

If ever there was an indication we are nearing the end of 2022, it is the anticipated Black Friday specials, one of the biggest business opportunities of the year. South Africans have been feeling the pinch of the rise in the cost of living, meaning that shoppers may be more motivated to take advantage of Black Friday deals. With Covid-19 lockdown regulations lifted at the beginning of 2022, the return to physical shopping has given businesses the chance to draw customers to special offers. This is not to say the lockdown regulations decreased spending in previous years. Data from payment services provider PayGate showed a 43.4% year-on-year increase in the volume of transactions for Black Friday 2021 in South Africa and it’s estimated 47% of the country’s adult population (18.5…

We have turned full circle, to a point where indignities are suffered by all South Africans, regardless of race, class, gender or any other grounds. This is as a result of state capture, endemic corruption and loss of a vision, which have left the country and its people paralysed. The beauty, however, in all this, is that we are all in it together. This alone should create a sense and spirit of solidarity among all South Africans, and help us to get together like we did when we fought against apartheid oppression. In those days, it mattered not what we were up against. What mattered most was that we yearned for freedom. We are suffering indignities to- gether – the high cost of living, facilities that are falling apart as…

NEW Zealand put their “struggles” behind them to win the Women’s Rugby World Cup with a thrilling 34-31 victory over England in front of a record 40 000 crowd in Auckland yesterday. The Black Ferns retained their title in a spectacular end to a tournament that broke records for attendances and came after England played three-quarters of the final with 14 players. Winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga put the hosts ahead with their sixth try and they held on at Eden Park to halt England’s world-record winning streak at 30 matches. It was New Zealand’s sixth World Cup title. England winger Lydia Thompson was shown a red card for a head-high tackle, but they still nearly pulled off victory thanks to the ferocity of their forward play. Four of England’s five tries…

Summer is synonymous with being outdoors, swimming, enjoying water activities and having fun. With December around the corner, there are off-the-radar beaches you can consider visiting for a fun family day under the sun. Most local beaches tend to get overcrowded but these are some beautiful South African beaches, with Blue Flag status, that you can visit. According to the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa), for beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators to have Blue Flag status, they must comply with a specific set of criteria relating to water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety and environmental management. In order to receive this globally-recognised ecolabel, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained. From the west coast to…

According to the Global Business Travel Forecast 2023, airfares will rise 48.5% in the remaining months of 2022 and 8.5% next year. The forecast also predicts that hotel prices are expected to increase by 18.5% this year and 8.2% in 2023. For companies worried about the costs associated with travel and lodging, there are ways to reduce business travel expenses without sacrificing comfort or reliability. Here are some expert tips on how to get the best deals for business travel, according to Corporate Traveller GM, Bonnie Smith. Book tickets in advance According to Smith, businesses need to plan trips at least 15 to 20 days in advance. Last-minute travel may be necessary, but the best deals are still available well ahead of your travel days. Be flexible When booking, try…

“Twitter has had a massive drop in revenue, due to activist groups pressuring advertisers, even though nothing has changed with content moderation.” These were the words of Elon Musk, followed by “and we did everything we could to appease the activists. Extremely messed up! They’re trying to destroy free speech in America”. In response to Musk’s tweet, American vlogger Hank Green criticised the Tesla owner: “You tweeted a conspiracy theory from a website less credible than the National Enquirer like four days ago. We all need to look inward as well as outward.” Musk questioned Green in response: “And therefore Twitter should die?” An irate Musk took to his newly purchased social network – Twitter – to rant on what seem to be frustrations over a drop in the microblog’s…

INTERNATIONAL brewing giant Heineken is brewing a bold growth path in South Africa and Africa, and not just with its deal to acquire Distell. In September, the Competition Commission recommended the deal, valued at more than R38 billion, get the green light but imposed several tough public interest conditions. It has to cough up R10bn in in- vestments, including establishing a R400 million supplier development fund, among other measures. Distell’s cider, ready-to-drink beverages, and spirits and wine business will be combined with Heineken’s interests in southern Africa, including Namibia, and select export markets in east Africa. The aim is for a world-class, unlisted, Southern-African focused, alcoholic beverages business with a leading international beer and cider portfolio, combining the complementary brands, talent and skills of Distell, Heineken and Namibia Breweries, and…

We are all increasingly conscious of how our daily habits contribute to our health and the prevalence of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. To fight the rising tide of such diseases, non-surgical interventions have been developed that can easily be incorporated into daily life – in this case reducing sugar intake. Research on the impact of stevia on blood pressure, inflammation and glucose homeostasis shows that as a sugar alternative, stevia has not been linked to any known health risks. Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is a plant species that belongs to the Asteraceae family and has been used by the indigenous people of South America for centuries as a sweetener and for medicinal purposes. Dietitian Kgadi Moabelo, a spokesperson for the Association for Dietetics in South Africa, said…

Emily (Cinemas nationwide) A biographical drama film written and directed by Frances O’Connor in her directorial debut. It depicts the brief life of English writer Emily Brontë, portrayed by Emma Mackey. Fionn Whitehead, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Alexandra Dowling, Amelia Gething, Adrian Dunbar and Gemma Jones also appear, in supporting roles. The film depicts the brief life of the English writer before she wrote Wuthering Heights. Friends, Lovers And The Big Terrible Thing – A Memoir by Matthew Perry (R279 on loot.co.za) There was no show that is more iconic or beloved than Friends. It didn’t matter that their apartment was unrealistic by New York City’s standards or that they always had enough free time to hang out in a coffee shop, they were our friends, and they were us. And over…

In a wide-ranging interview, the veteran politician discusses her bid to ascend to South Africa’s top job ANC presidential hopeful and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma is confident that she will deliver the closing address on the last day of the governing party’s national conference next month. Dlamini Zuma, a member of the ANC’s powerful national executive committee (NEC), is convinced she will emerge victorious at the five-day gathering to be held between December 16 and 20 when the newly-elected party leader is expected to officially close the conference. “I am going to win but this time it’s very important because I think the ANC needs change, 110 years of men in the ANC at the helm … let’s make a change, let’s have a…

THE ANC national disciplinary committee (NDC) was on Monday on a power trip to ride roughshod over the rights of suspended secretary general Ace Magashule, but the stinging response from his legal representative and party veteran Mathews Phosa brought the scheme to a halt. In a ruling released on Thursday the committee headed by Ralph Mgijima conceded that it could not go ahead with Magashule’s prosecution in his absence, in contrast to his earlier position last Saturday that the “hearing will proceed on Monday 7 November as scheduled”. Mgijima replied to Phosa’s written submission that Magashule “will not be available to attend the proceedings”. The sudden rush to sanction Magashule more than a year since his alleged unlawful suspension by President Cyril Ramaphosa betrayed a desperate plan to expel him…

THE spate of unlawful arrests that President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration carried out on the back of untested coup claims during last year’s July unrest has come back to haunt the state, with an estimated R250 million lawsuit against Police Minister Bheki Cele this week reaching the final stages of being filed in court. Now acquitted, Bruce Nimmerhoudt, a Gauteng man once dubbed South Africa’s number one enemy, sketches out events of July 16 last year when more than 40 gun-toting police officers stormed his house at 1am to arrest him, how he was forced to sleep on the holding cell floor during a cold winter night, and his detention for days in a maximum security section reserved for hardened criminals. The resident of Witpoortjie in the west of Johannesburg was…

From Page 2 On Friday ANC treasurer general Paul Mashatile said the integrity commission report would be the last item on the NEC agenda, scheduled to be discussed today. Other than the burning Phala Phala issue, the work of the commission would also be closely watched for the implications it would have on party leadership candidates who have had adverse findings made against them. It was expected that the revised guidelines adopted by the Electoral Committee headed by former president Kgalema Motlanthe over the eligibility of candidates may be weaponised to elbow out opponents from the succession race taking place next month. Among the targets mentioned was former health minister Zweli Mkhize, who has so far emerged as the most credible candidate to run against Ramaphosa for the ANC presidency.…

AS WE approach the end of the fourth term of the 2022 academic year, several qualified but unemployed teachers, who funded their own tertiary fees, have expressed concerns that they could remain unemployed for quite a while. These graduates feel they are being let down by the government, which they claim put them at the bottom of the list in terms of employment in preference of graduates who got bursaries particularly from Funza Lushaka and NSFAS. The teachers said they sensed a form of discrimination and unfair treatment from the government claiming that they were not treated the same way as bursary holders. However, the Department of Basic Education said this was not the case, as all teachers were given the same acknowledgement and treatment. The department’s spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga…

WOMEN in the TV and film industry have revolutionised the term “leading man”. In our contemporary world, we see all types of females on our screens – strong, wealthy, liberated women are the theme of most of 21st century female characters. However, this was not always the case. A mere 50 years ago, women were fighting for positive representation in films and television. Since women first appeared in movies around the onset of the 1900s, their characterisation has been shaped in relation to their male counterparts. Such had been the unmistakable influence and impact of patriarchy in society. The struggles for women’s emancipation had historically been waged on many fronts, taking various forms and shape through the years. For example, in early films, women were portrayed as simple-minded and inferior.…

Let’s be real. We are addicted to our phones and one day without technology can make you feel disconnected and lost. But that might be a good thing. What if you had a way to live your best life and disconnect from all things electronic? Enter Corona Island. It’s the dream destination without the heavy carbon footprint. It's your Island hopping fantasy without the stress of the outside world. But most importantly, it’s a way to relax and unwind. “Corona Island is an island that makes you disconnect from your everyday routine, from the humdrum of your life to disconnect from the world and connect with what Mother Nature has to offer,” said Corona SA marketing manager Melanie Nicholson. In a fantastically strange but pleasant way, Corona Island forces you…

HAVE you ever given a child and their parent the dead stare because the child is simply not behaving? Especially in situations like a church service or on a long-hour flight? Recently, a Reddit user named mngirl2465 wrote that during a 15-hour flight she was “tortured” by a child who decided to kick her seat and pull her hair. The woman wrote: “I had a 15-hour flight that began at 8pm and I had been planning to sleep throughout to help time go by plus catching up on sleep after travelling for 24-plus hours.’’ So, we can only imagine how tired this woman was. Travelling is fun, but it can also be draining. To make matters worse, the mother of the girl didn’t reprimand her daughter. “Throughout the first two…