Innholdsfortegnelse for 2022-12-18 i Sunday Independent

AS PRESIDENT Joe Biden hosted the US-Africa Summit in Washington DC this week – from December 13-15 – he could no longer ignore the demands of the “United States of Africa”. The much-anticipated summit in the US capital bore the hallmarks of a carry-over from the Scramble for Africa that took place between the tail-end of the 19th century and the dawn of the 20th century. Despite the present-day post-colonial world order, it seems that everybody still wants a piece of Mother Africa to fulfil their self-serving foreign policy objectives. But then again, the truth is that times have changed, and Africa of the past century is markedly different from the AU-led Africa of today. There is a renewed spirit of Pan-Africanism, solidarity and consciousness, as espoused by Thabo Mbeki,…

AS THE country awaits the final results of the new ANC leadership from the party’s elective conference at Nasrec, Johannesburg, President Cyril Ramaphosa might have himself to blame if he doesn’t get a second term. ANC delegates attending the conference believe Ramaphosa’s campaign was only targeted at “clever blacks” and “suburbs” and forgot that the party branches would be represented by comrades from rural areas especially those coming from Mpumalanga, Limpopo, the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. “Even Ramaphosa’s closest ally, Bejani Chauke, made an honest observation when he said the president’s campaigners were clueless. You can’t have a guy like Derek Hanekom run your campaign if you are serious about winning an ANC conference. “Hanekom can’t speak to anyone from Soweto, Alex or Mdantsane. Ramaphosa must take full responsibility for…

WITH all the current tensions among ANC senior leaders, the worst mistake that President Cyril Ramaphosa can make, if he wins the elective conference, is to divide the party by isolating his rivals, said political analyst Bheki Mngomezulu. The University of Western Cape political science professor was reacting to his counterpart Thabani Khumalo who said for Ramaphosa to have a smooth second tenure, he should fire his adversaries from his administration. Already, MPs who are in the cabinet, such as Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and Lindiwe Sisulu, fear losing their ministerial positions. Sisulu revealed in a recent interview with Professor Sipho Seepe that during the national executive committee meeting to discuss the Phala Phala saga they were warned that there would be consequences for those who would vote in favour of…

THE festive season is a jolly period. It’s a time when thousands of South Africans take to the roads from their places of work to go home or on holiday. However, the period also comes with sudden rushes to the head where people forget that tomorrow is another day and some families are left grieving. South Africa has one of the highest road fatality rates in the world, largely due to a culture of lawlessness – from civilians and law enforcement. Justin Manson, sales director at Webfleet Telematics, looked at what traffic officials can do to reduce road accidents and save lives. With an estimated 800 000 road crashes on South Africa’s roads every year, road users have emerged as the leading cause of accidents, according to the recently published…

ONE of the best ways to be environmentally friendly and support the local economy is by buying products that are grown or manufactured locally. Purchasing locally manufactured produce stimulates the economy and uplifts communities. As a result, jobs are created, revenue is generated, cultures and families are supported, and the kasi community flourishes. Matlala Market/Family Tree Superstore is a shop that has addressed the issue of distribution of township manufactured products as part of a way of improving the township economy. The Matlala Market is under the Family Tree Holdings, a multi-disciplinary business that focuses on enabling, translating and implementing strategies from concept phase up to execution. The business primarily focuses on township and rural communities, where they create long-term engagement by adding value to the communities and empowering them.…

WHITE-owned companies have allegedly captured Eskom to block black companies from doing business with the power utility. Former Eskom employee Dan Maaba said Eskom has been captured by white-owned companies to provide training for employees who operated on high voltage. Maaba said black-owned businesses were sidelined. He said he had established this after the utility refused to accredit him to provide courses and training for operating regulations for high voltage systems (ORHVS) for Eskom employees. He said only white-owned companies were accredited to provide training for ORHVS. “This happened when I requested to be accredited as a service provider for ORHVS and related courses in 2017. The application was received by former technical specialist Johann van Loggerenberg and an assessment date was eventually set up in 2018. “Wayne Hapelt (technical…

On the 2nd of December 2022 the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council (GEAC), a civil society led under the leadership of Dr Terence Nombembe, convened a round-table session to continue discussing how to give advice on institutionalising integrity across the Gauteng City Region (GCR). The GEAC comprises men and women of high integrity, individuals who have distinguished themselves for being beyond reproach. The work of the GEAC was published in the biannual report that was released early this year. The report recommended that the 6th Administration of the Gauteng Province should implement, among others, the following areas: Consistent adherence to constitutional values; Provide effective oversight; Full implementation of the recommendations of Chapter 9 and 10 Constitutional institutions; Effective integrity management programme; Communication of success stories; Adoption of the Integrity Pact as…

THIRTY-SEVEN club trophies, seven Ballon D’Or awards and six European Golden Boots. A Copa America title, an Olympic gold medal and a list of scoring and statistical records that may never be beaten. Over the course of an 18-year career Lionel Messi has, with one obvious exception, won the lot. And won it again and again. Tonight, the 35-year-old Argentina captain has the chance to fill the last remaining hole on his CV – a World Cup winners’ medal. For Messi’s most ardent admirers, victory over France at Doha’s Lusail Stadium will settle the debate over where he ranks in the most exclusive inner sanctum of football’s pantheon. His career achievements to date have already earned him the right to be mentioned in the same breath as Pele, Diego Maradona,…

A very proud Sharks director of rugby, Neil Powell said it might take weeks, months and even years before the Sharks properly digest how good their win over Bordeaux was on Friday night in what was the KZN team’s first away game in the Heineken Cup. The Sharks beat the French team 19-16 in a fierce encounter in which every point was bitterly contested. The teams scored a try apiece and the difference between the them on the scoreboard was a Curwin Bosch drop goal. Bosch kicked with precision, adding three penalties and a conversion to his well-taken drop goal. The Sharks’ try was well scored by Werner Kok in the second half and that made up for him being yellow carded early in the game for a wrestling manoeuvre…

Weight gain/loss is a contentious issue that needs to be handled delicately without ostracising anyone in the process. Dieting and exercise can help people lose weight, but whether it’s by choice or is advised for medical reasons, it comes with a lot of challenges as well as health benefits. It seems that just about every week brings a new diet craze: wiring your jaws shut, combining coffee and protein or even using medication side-effects as a weight loss tool. All diets come and go but one thing remains clear: a combined effort of dietary changes and consistent exercise can yield positive results without jeopardising your health the way quick fixes can. Slimming wires/jaw wiring: TikTok is no stranger to quirky hacks that are sometimes helpful, but sometimes just shocking. Slimming…

While there is naturally an inclination to ask, why does Avatar need a sequel, director James Cameron more than validates his creation of Avatar: The Way of Water with its immersive, expansive and bombastic tale. Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, Avatar: The Way of Water follows the footsteps of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri and their kids), who end up plagued by trouble, and the lengths they go to keep each other safe – including the battles they fight to stay alive. After unforeseen events displace them from their home, the Sullys travel across the vast reaches of the moon Pandora, ultimately fleeing to territory held by the Metkayina clan, who live in harmony with their surrounding oceans. There, the Sullys must learn…

ANC NATIONAL chairperson Gwede Mantashe has warned that the use of money in the governing party’s internal leadership elections will affect the quality of its leaders. The mineral resources and energy minister called for the ANC and its tripartite alliance partners to have an honest discussion about the quality of leaders they elect for various structures. “Take, for instance, the ANC process of selecting leadership, which is predominantly driven by ‘money’, instead of the quality of leadership we need to lead the party. In that space, where we are selling the organisation to the highest bidder, pettiness becomes practice,” wrote Mantashe in the latest edition of ANC Today, the party’s weekly newsletter. He further warned that the use of money would accelerate the decline of the ANC. According to Mantashe,…

THE burning of municipal offices during protests in Rabasotho Tembisa is now forcing residents to travel to Kempton Park and Winnie Mandela to seek assistance. This has also led to overcrowding at the centres in these areas. The co-ordinator of the Ekurhuleni North Community group, Bishop Michael Mtshali, said: “I will not say it’s Rabasotho residents but I will say the people who were demonstrating burned down Rabasotho ccc, and actions that are taken when people are angry are regrettable in the end.” He said it was sad to see people suffering when they were not among the protesters who destroyed the infrastructure. “Not only does this affect the residents of Rabasotho and surrounding areas, but also many of those in the wards who went to Rabasotho for their services.…

SOUTH Africans are aware of the social imbalances between the haves and have-nots. The imbalances show in almost every aspect of our lives, from healthcare and education to housing and connectivity. Over the past years, connecting to the internet has become a vital part of life. We depend on internet connectivity for work, communication, education, news, searching for jobs, and relationships. Yet, many low-income homes in townships pay more for data than suburban areas, and the connectivity is not always as robust in townships and rural areas. Lorna Mlonzi is the founder and CEO of Sky Internet, which is a company that provides fibre-optic internet services for households with super-fast speeds of a minimum of 35 megabits per second (Mbps). Sky Internet offers uncapped data packages. The internet service provider…

THERE is something about the genius of Whitey Basson that leaves friend and foe alike with no choice but to take note of the man. It is easy for his detractors to say he made it because of the apartheid laws that were favourable to Afrikaner business at the time but the man’s work ethic surely must count for something. It is the only reason the eight small stores he purchased in the backwaters of the Cape eventually morphed into a southern African retail giant and JSE-listed company posting over R145 billion in turnover annually. Granted, apartheid legislation smoothed the path for white business across the spectrum at the expense of others but this did not guarantee success as evinced by the fall of OK Bazaars, that South African Breweries…

FORMER State Security Agency (SSA) chief Arthur Fraser says the real reason the state capture commission declined to hear his testimony is that Chief Justice Raymond Zondo and evidence leader advocate Paul Pistorius were afraid that he would expose “the real puppet masters” pulling the strings behind their backs. While the commission called several witnesses who implicated him in serious crimes, Fraser said in his court application to review and set aside the findings, “the commission used every available excuse or justification to deny me the opportunity to appear before it; either to answer the allegations made against me or to present my own evidence before it”. Fraser filed the review application on Wednesday in the high court in Pretoria. In it, he cited 14 reasons why the commission’s report…

ONE of Eskom’s suppliers, Beier Envirotec, is embroiled in an unfair labour practice row following the sacking of some of its employees. This is after the company allegedly retrenched eight employees for raising concerns about their working conditions. Beier Envirotec is a subsidiary of the Beier Group. The company supplies automotive filter bags to Eskom. The workers said they were not happy with how the company had treated them, saying Beier Envirotec refused to register and hire them permanently. They said they had been working under contracts for years. They were served with letters of retrenchment on October 26, 2022. Their fate was sealed this week following a meeting with management. “We had a number of meetings with the management but the situation remained unresolved. The only thing they tried…

There is an unhealthy balance in the Proteas Test side – that much has been obvious for a long time. Worryingly, from the outside, it appears it’s something the team has embraced. Following another poor effort with the bat on the opening day of the first Test in Brisbane, when they were bowled out for 152 by Australia, Kyle Verreynne was asked: “What was the feeling in the team after you didn’t put the runs on the board that you would have liked?” The context, of course, is that South Africa has rarely scored enough runs. In the past three years, in 38 innings, the Proteas have scored totals of over 300 just eight times. In their last five Test innings, they haven’t scored above 200. “Initially disappointment, and then…

THE air fryer is one of the most popular cooking appliances on the market. These countertop convection ovens are capable of rapidly cooking and “frying” food with much less oil than a deep fryer or even typical oven. They have seen a boom in sales as people are more invested in quality cooking than ever, while being mindful of their health. So why is everyone obsessed? Healthier cooking The single most important factor for most people buying an air fryer is the prospect of healthier cooking. With very little oil used in the cooking process, this is the perfect way to replace deep-fried foods with a healthier alternative. You do still need to spray fried foods with a bit of oil so they can get evenly crispy while cooking, but…

Janet Jackson has delivered on her promise and announced her first tour in four years. Her ‘Together Again’ gigs will mark her 50 years in entertainment, and the singer, 56, told fans she could not “wait” to see them again when she announced it on Instagram on Monday. Revealing that she was going back on the road in April 2023 in North America, as well as cities including New York, Atlanta, Austin and Seattle, she said in a video: “You guys, I miss you so much. I am so excited to see you. You guys have no idea, I’ve missed you so much, so much, and I can’t wait to be with you. I’m so excited.” ‘Together Again’ will also mark the 25th anniversary of her Velvet Rope album. Ludacris,…

A TITANIC battle like no other is looming as the country’s former and current heads of state threaten each other with court action. Following Jacob Zuma’s private prosecution jab at Cyril Ramaphosa, the latter retaliated and demanded that “Msholozi” withdraw his action or face another legal tussle. Ramaphosa accuses his predecessor of trying to frustrate his re-election as ANC leader at the party’s national conference. He has given Zuma until tomorrow to withdraw his private prosecution or face further legal action for abusing court processes. Zuma issued a summons against Ramaphosa on the eve of the ANC national conference at Nasrec for the alleged contravention of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Act concerning the disclosure of the former president’s medical records by prosecutor Billy Downer and News24 journalist Karyn Maughan.…

THOUSANDS of South Africans are missing out on travelling and job opportunities as a result of their Police Clearance Certificates not being issued. The certificates are regarded as pivotal for many South Africans’ livelihoods. According to the DA, there is currently a backlog at the Pretoria Criminal Record Centre of more than 40 000 Police Clearance Certificates that had not been issued. This was confirmed to the Special Oversight Committee for Community Safety and Security by the Provincial Police Commissioner, who said the Criminal Record Centre was awaiting the delivery of government paper. A backlog in the issuing of Police Clearance Certificates is nothing new in South Africa. It has been happening for some years. In March, the SAPS said it received about 60 000 applications that needed to be…

CASTLE Lager hopes to grow 50 small businesses by 10% by the end of 2023 through its campaign, #ItsWithin, which started last month. The company said it noticed how some small businesses were knocked out of the market, not because their products were not top-notch, but because they did not have a proper marketing plan. The marketing initiative was developed to provide township businesses with free marketing and a marketing crash course for those involved in managing these businesses. The company committed to giving these small businesses R34.5 million in marketing support. Aubtec Kitchens, a Limpopo-based company, founded by Aubrey Koma in 2014, has been chosen as one of the multiple small businesses that stand to benefit from the initiative. The company specialises in manufacturing unique and exclusive wooden furniture…

THE South African film industry plays a vital role in telling authentic and unique local stories. It contributes significantly to the recording and archiving of the country’s rich history. Many people, especially the younger generations, rely on films and books to learn more about their surroundings, historical events and how they should perceive the world around them. While this industry is the epitome of documenting and telling local stories, the lack of support for all the vital role players in the sector such as directors, writers, producers and actors, makes it challenging for the industry to grow. Film industry expert and Joburg Film Festival (JFF) content programmer, Jack Chiang, said more support initiatives should be developed and implemented to ensure the local film industry’s development so it could reach its…

Small business owners in and around Nasrec where the ANC’s 55th National Conference is taking place are hopeful that the gathering will inject some much-needed money into their pockets. The traders said they were excited to be at the five-day conference of the ruling party. They anticipated that the second day of the conference could have a positive outcome for their businesses. Lined up on Nasrec Road, a few metres away from the expo centre, some traders unpacked their ANC merchandise in their gazebos while others tended to their gas stoves to cook the food they would sell for the day, despite the gloomy weather. Pushing her trolley filled with sweets, chewing gums and chips, Nomlindo Siswana from Molofo in Soweto, said she hoped that yesterday’s gathering would bring…

THIS week, Morocco suffered a devastating loss against France in the Fifa World Cup currently under way in Qatar. Morocco, the first team in Africa to reach the semi-finals of a Fifa World Cup, suffered a 2-0 loss to the defending champions, France. The knock-out stage of the games have been built up over the past few weeks, most especially pressing on whether the North African country would be true contenders as the competition grew. They truly have. The Moroccan team not only proved themselves as a force to be reckoned with, but also placed themselves in the gullies of history as formidable contenders in the global soccer arena. In digital spaces, the loss for Morocco was met with a mixture of sorrow and gratification. The team has not only…