Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-01-29 i Sunday Independent

To teenagers, TikTok is mostly about make-up tutorials and music- inflected memes. But to many policymakers, the video-sharing site is about totalitarianism and illegal surveillance. National security concerns over parent company ByteDance’s relationship with the Chinese government have put Gen Z’s favourite social media service in peril – and what happens next will have even broader implications. The TikTok debate is forcing President Joe Biden’s White House to weigh how to protect the nation against the real threats that some foreign-based companies pose, without indulging in national security creep that unnecessarily cuts off foreign investment in the US. One of the biggest problems with TikTok is knowing what the biggest problem with TikTok is. Most TikTok hawks have focused on the surveillance of user activity that the app could conduct…

I’VE said this before and I will say it again, Shannon Esra is an absolute revelation in M-Net’s Lioness, which returned for a second instalment on Thursday. Talk about a benchmark performance, Esra, who planted her feet in the industry in SABC3’s pioneering soapie at the time, Isidingo, raises the bar in the crime drama Over the years, she has earned her stripes as an actress with gravitas. Let’s not forget about her performance in Still Breathing or her making history as Sandra Stein, a character who crossed over into different worlds in several telenovelas: The Throne, The River and The Queen. Produced by Ochre Moving Pictures, the names attached to this show – from the cast to the creative team – is part of the industry heavyweights. Ilse van…

Everything seemed to click into place when Zakes Bantwini and his manager and business partner Sibo Mhlungu joined forces towards the end of 2021. The veteran singer and music producer had just released Osama and Mhlungu, a seasoned entrepreneur and talent manager who earned his stripes working with talent from around the world such as the acclaimed Lebo M from The Lion King, was looking for a new challenge. After a few meetings, the pair decided to join forces and launch a new agency called IMG Africa. Together, they set off to maximise the potential of Osama and leverage this hype to build Bantwini into a globally competitive music star. Within months, Osama was breaking records on local radio and Bantwini was touring the world more than ever before. “To…

When the nominations for the 95th Academy Awards were announced on Tuesday, most of the names called out had been handicapped for months. Few were shocked that such theatrical hits as Top Gun: Maverick, Avatar: The Way of Water and Elvis made the cut. Ditto Cate Blanchett’s ferocious lead performance in Tár, or Brendan Fraser’s heart-rending comeback turn in The Whale. Even this year’s little-movie-that-could, the kaleidoscopic martial-arts-meets-existential-dread adventure Everything Everywhere All at Once, met the expectations of conventional wisdom. With the day’s most nominations (11), the art house sensation continued its stealth campaign of world domination, launched by the Midas-touch indie studio A24 last April and turned into a cult phenomenon a few months later by way of you’ve-gotta-see-this word of mouth and obsessive repeat viewings. The devotion of…

MINEWORKERS’ union NUM has flagged the role of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the Optimum Coal Mine (OCM) dispute over export rights, saying the prosecuting body must be transparent if it is being weaponised to serve the interests of the powerful political elite. Last month, the NPA’s court- appointed curator for OCM, which is under business rescue, reported that the mine was losing potential profits in the current arrangement to have contractors mine the several mini-pits on the OCM’s behalf. As part of the preservation order obtained by NPA head Shamila Batohi in March last year, the curator is tasked to work alongside the OCM’s business rescue practitioners to ensure the conservation of the assets, which Batohi alleges were acquired unlawfully. This comes as the Richards Bay Coal Terminal…

DOMESTIC workers do essential work, yet they are often among the first to lose their jobs in today’s tough economy. In a bid to look out for themselves and their families, they are now servicing more than one household at a time, leaving behind the “live-in” dynamic. Many domestic workers no longer want to work full-time as “live-in” workers. The “free accommodation” aside, they have found that they are overworked and underpaid. Part-timers seem, in the long run, to make more money. Sibongile Ntloki, 43, from Naledi extension 2, Soweto, said she had gone from being a live-in domestic worker to a freelance domestic worker working for different households on her street. “I used to live with a family of three children and two adults. I was overworked, babysitting and…

FASHION is not always top of mind for most people when it comes to either a problem or a solution due to so many things going on today, including climate change, plastic pollution, deforestation, destruction of coral reefs, lack of biodiversity and water scarcity. Unfortunately, the clothing industry is one of the highest contributors to environmental and human damage. DezgneD was founded and curated in 2015 by two South African designers, Skhumbuzo Hadebe, 45, a self-taught designer and Lesego Hadebe, 42, a student from the London International School of Fashion (Lisof). They met at fashion week as they were showcasing their individual brands. “Then after that, we became close friends sharing our industry struggles, then one thing led to another – we fell in love and that is where DezgneD…

South Africa has been experiencing a series of constant rolling blackouts for the past few years. While load shedding may have become a norm in the country, it is not the only African country experiencing an energy crisis. The struggle to keep the lights on is not unique to South Africa and can be described as a Cape to Lagos problem. Zimbabwean citizens experience power outages that last up to 19 hours a day which might be a reflection of what South Africa might go through if the load shedding is not fixed anytime soon. According to reports, Zimbabwe’s electricity gets turned on between midnight and 5am each day. This means most households can only prepare food or prepare for the next day’s activities when the clock strikes midnight. According…

THE rolling blackouts and the load shedding that now climbs up to stage 6 have turned the spotlight on the capabilities of municipalities to cope and render services. More often than not, the municipalities fall far short of expectations and fail to deliver, inviting the ire of residents who swiftly take to the streets in service delivery protests that often turn violent. The recent axing of the Mangaung Metro Municipality’s executive mayor, Mxolisi Siyonzana, has again shone the torch on the dead wood that typically run these councils, much to the detriment of the core business – rendering a service to the ratepayers. New broom at the ANC, secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, has become the bane of non-performing officials deployed by the organisation. Siyonzana is the first casualty. Miyelani Holeni, group…

ESKOM has become a weapon of mass deception and a tool to score cheap political points. While the ruling party and the opposition are at each other’s throats, citizens remain in the dark as direct and latent victims of the monotonous load shedding. In the confusion of it all, an endless blame game has ensued: For instance, President Cyril Ramaphosa would blame his predecessor, Jacob Zuma. Zuma would blame the Gupta brothers and former president Thabo Mbeki. Paradoxically, Mbeki would neither blame the late statesman nor accept any responsibility for any or all of the mess at the power utility. Nobody wants to take full responsibility, let alone those who do not pay their electricity bills, and those using illegal connections – nobody is willing to take any blame.…

IT COULD well have been scripted. So many times did Arthur Zwane mention the phrase “the Kaizer Chiefs winning culture”, during his interviews at Amakhosi’s media open day at their Taung Village in Naturena this week. But it was not. The Chiefs coach was speaking from the heart. “The fact is that this club was built on a winning culture,” he responded, when I enquired if he believed the phrase was still applicable to the club given their seven-year trophy drought. Granted, the Chiefs foundation may have been laid on a culture of success, the club having dominated the local scene for many years since their formation in 1970. The current reality, however, is that Chiefs and “winning culture” are just like the parallel lines of a railway track –…

ALTHOUGH the Bulls won just two out of seven games since mid-December, during what Jake White described as “two months of hell”, assistant coach Chris Rossouw believes that the Pretoria side will reap the benefits in the months to come. The Bulls engineered a superb turnaround against the Scarlets in Llanelli on Friday, but missed out on a remarkable victory as they lost 37-28. They trailed 27-7 after 32 minutes at the Parc y Scarlets stadium, but found their touch in the second half to trail just 30-28 with 17 minutes left. They had a chance to take the lead with a penalty, but captain Ruan Nortje went for touch to set up a line-out, and the Scarlets defence held strong. The home side made tackle after tackle and were…

With a fresh year in front of us, January inspires us to start travel planning. But no matter what kind of trip you want to take, someone has to foot the bill. If that someone is you, it’s time to start budgeting. And this year is going to be an expensive one. Experts forecast 2023 will be a year of “economic pain”, and that includes holiday costs. Flight prices are up substantially this year compared to last – 52% for domestic and 29% for international, according to Kayak. Travel prices overall are 6.5% higher than this time last year, a NerdWallet analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data found. “A lot of people – and what I used to do in my early twenties – just put the entire trip…

Many believe in their daily cup of coffee; and for some it may be up to five cups per day. However, one TikTok user, Sarah Goodwin, shared a few tips as a flight attendant for Virgin Australia, and explained why you should stay away from airport coffee. Goodwin states that coffee has bad effects on an aircraft: “Before your flight, try not to have anything caffeine-related, because that can enhance your anxiety and make you more nervous and jittery.” She added that any drink containing caffeine is a no-no, especially for nervous flyers. Let go of those energy drinks too! Norman Urology Associates reports that caffeine can raise blood pressure, which in return alerts the bladder. “Caffeine consumption can contribute to increased urination, bladder infections and urinary incontinence. ” So,…

A landmark lawsuit by the US Justice Department against Alphabet’s Google over its dominance of advertising technology could help rivals and websites that sell ad space, but leaves an uncertain future for the advertisers themselves, experts say. The Justice Department’s complaint against Google on Tuesday called for the company to divest Google Ad Manager, a suite of tools including one that lets websites put ad space up for a sale and another that served as an ad marketplace that automatically matched advertisers with those publishers. If the Justice Department lawsuit succeeds, “advertisers and publishers could have more leverage with more options with expanding players – and consequently, more competition,” said Neil Begley, of Moody’s Investors Service. Apple Inc, which was steadily growing its nascent advertising business and promoting it as…

THE FAR-reaching effects of Eskom’s rolling power cuts have brought serious concerns regarding food security as South Africa’s agriculture industry has been put under severe strain. As economists and unions bemoan the higher input costs farmers face, the unstable power flow has put the entire industry chain in a vulnerable position. Ross Stratford, director of Stratford Farms in KwaZulu-Natal, recently disposed of 11 000 litres of milk at his dairy farm after it spoilt due to load shedding. He shed light on the wider effects of power cuts on the industry. “Without electricity, our input costs are driven up. We are forced to run our farms using generators which use fuel, an extra cost to us,” Stratford told Business Report. “Load shedding damages our infrastructure, and in turn, claims to…

When the second season of Netflix’s Bling Empire ended, the New York spinoff offering was teased. Understandably, it left fans of this aspirational reality TV series. In the slaysian world of designer-filled closets and drama-filled filled shindigs, the cast of the Big Apple is inferior in comparison to its LA counterparts. Honestly, if it wasn’t for the title, you would swear it was Dorothy Wang’s show with her circle of friends making guest appearances. The eight-episode offering opens with Dorothy arriving in New York and settling into this lavish loft apartment. Here influencer BFF Tina Leung attempts to integrate Dorothy into her social circle by inviting her to an art shindig by Stephen Hung and his gorgeous wife Deborah Valdez-Hung. What does Dorothy do? She arrives fashionably late and complains…

WHAT is your favourite food? This is a question that almost everyone can answer. For many people, eating is one of life’s greatest joys! Taking pleasure in food offers important health advantages in addition to making mealtimes delightful. Among other benefits, savouring food can boost digestion, enhance your connection with food, and help you recover from disordered eating. In some circumstances, having enough “vitamin P” is equally as crucial as the foods on your plate. Explore the delicious nuances of why pleasure matters for food by reading on. The science of recreational eating has been extensively researched. The results are fascinating and mostly positive. According to biology, people’s enjoyment of eating is physiologically processed in both their lips and their brains. Dopamine is released in the brain in response to…

CRITICS of South Africa’s foreign policy often argue it is based on the lame Shakespearian epistemology whose dictum is: “See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil.”. But that’s a myopic assessment, nay, surreptitiously mischievous. This week’s visit to Pretoria by veteran Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov drew attention to the enduring South Africa-Russia relations. Last year, the two countries celebrated 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the ties Pretoria insist remain super strong. Unapologetically, Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) Minister Naledi Pandor swiftly described Russia as SA’s “valued partner”. The sentiment is premised on special historical ties between the erstwhile Soviet Union and the majority of sub-Saharan liberation movements. They include the ANC, Namibia’s Swapo, Zimbabwe’s Zanu-PF, Mozambique’s Frelimo and Angola’s MPLA, among others.…

global anti-corruption body Shadow World Investigations (SWI), based in London, became famous for dropping bombshells at the Zondo Commission, but somehow information that one of its directors faces money laundering allegations eluded the NGO until this week. After serving SWI for six years since 2016, including running and signing off on its finances, South African-born Alastair Constance resigned on Friday following allegations in the UK of his involvement in an international money laundering network. Constance, 42, was also involved along with UK-based former ANC MP Andrew Feinstein at the Friends of the Treatment Action Campaign, which raised funds to support the Treatment Action Campaign in South Africa. Feinstein is the executive director at SWI. During the state capture commission hearings, the SWI’s evidence traced the flows of proceeds of crime,…

THE safety of pupils and teachers at Altmont Technical High School in Protea South, Soweto, has come under the spotlight following incidents where gangsters disrupted schooling. Learning and teaching have been severely affected since the start of the 2023 academic year due to gangsters’ fighting at the school. The DA’s Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, Khume Ramulifho, said that during their school readiness tour at the school, they were met with disgruntled parents and community members concerned about the safety of their children. The school achieved a 76.33% pass rate last year with 55 pupils achieving a Bachelor’s pass. In their engagement with school management, Ramulifho said they had discovered that some scholars had substance-abuse issues and some brought weapons to school. “Furthermore, the school is overcrowded. Despite efforts by…

SOUTH Africa’s agricultural sector has shown strong growth over the last decade. In a recent report by Statistics South Africa (StatsSA), the gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 1.6% in the third quarter of 2022, of which 0.5% of the 1.6% was a contribution by the agricultural sector. Similarly, the agriculture sector recorded a growth of 19.2% for the third quarter of 2022. If the growth from 2020 to 2022 is considered, the agriculture sector recorded growth in 8 of the 11 quarters. The agricultural sector outpaced the primary economic sectors such as mining, manufacturing and trade, and recorded growth in most quarters. For example, in the second quarter of 2020, during the lockdown when the rest of the economy contracted by 51.0%, agriculture showed strong growth of 15.1%. Similarly,…

LOAD shedding has forced yet another small business to close shop permanently. Leano Restaurant and Live Music’s owners were among other young business owners who had to say goodbye to a business they were once passionate about and hopeful of its potential growth. According to reports, thousands of small businesses shut their doors between 2021 and 2022 because of power cuts. It is also estimated that Stage 6 load shedding costs the country at least R4 billion a day. The establishment, formerly based in Braamfontein, has been famous for hosting live performances where artists serenaded patrons. At the same time, the guests enjoyed their meals with a drink or two since its inception in 2021. In its short trading period, Leano hosted live performances by celebrated artists such as Sipho…

SUDDENLY, thanks to the Sunday Independent reporting, the community of Sporong village could finally find a much-needed boost in the David versus Goliath battle over dispossessed land. Last week, the publication reported on the story of the North West community that has been up in arms with the Anglo American mine after they were forced to leave their village in the platinum belt outside of Rustenburg to make space for mining operations. The CRL Rights Commission, in its capacity as the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, is one of the Chapter 9 Institutions established by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and also given effect by the Act of Parliament, Act 19 of 2002. These legislative documents give…

COMMUNITY members in Naledi (Draaihoek) in Soweto have been without power since May, in part, because Eskom at one point did not have a truck to deliver a replacement transformer. Eskom quietly delivered the transformer two weeks ago after the Sunday Independent asked questions, but the nine-month-long blackout continues for frustrated residents since the unit is not yet connected to the grid. Whereas millions of South Africans are becoming accustomed to getting a ray of electricity for a few hours a day, the Draaihoek residents in the south-western townships of Johannesburg, a traditional voter base of the governing ANC, have it worse. Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter has recently resigned from the post amid murmurs in the governing party’s circles that the rolling blackouts are intended to foster a regime…

THE ANC will begin its two-day national executive committee (NEC) lekgotla today, with the issue of the Cabinet reshuffle expected to top the governing party’s agenda. The party’s NEC gathered from Thursday for the induction of NEC members, which was followed by an NEC meeting. Speaking on the sidelines of the ANC NEC induction, ANC secretary- general Fikile Mbalula said there had to be changes in the Cabinet, as he, for one, was now set to be at the party’s Luthuli House headquarters full-time. It is widely expected that President Cyril Ramaphosa will have his new Cabinet in place by the time he delivers the State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Thursday, February 9. Mbalula said he would resign as transport minister, with the ANC currently guiding him on…

THE African Development Forum (ADF) was inspired into existence by the recent passing of the Tuskegee Engineer Alumnae Mr Thami Mtshali, who brought iBurst to South Africa and was the illustrious pioneer of the Galela immune booster. It was to honour his legacy but also to establish an erudite Afrocentric think-tank. At its recent webinar on the topical issue of Eskom, the ADF weighed in on key solutions. First, there was consensus that we support the transfer of Eskom from the Department of Public Enterprises to the Department of Minerals Resources and Energy under the current Minister Gwede Mantashe, whose pronouncements on Eskom and the energy availability factor are well informed, cogent and in line with South Africa’s national interests. Second, there was consensus that the future of electricity generation…

WEST Indies cricketers of the new millennium were born into a cricketing dynasty. But the responsibility of maintaining the royal legacy of the 1970s and 80s proved to be too heavy a burden. All they ever heard about was how great Sir Vivian Richards, Sir Clive Lloyd, Michael Holding, Malcolm Marshall, Andy Roberts, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes and Jeff Dujon were. It took an entire new format of the game to be unearthed for the next group of superstars from the Caribbean to break free of those shackles and form their own identity. And what an impact they’ve had over the past 15 years. Dwayne Bravo is the world’s premier wicket-taker in T20 franchise cricket history. Chris Gayle, of course, leads the run-scorers list, but just two places down in…

AFRICA is one of the most beautiful continents in the world. What makes it unique is the nature surrounding it. If you’re planning to explore Africa this year, make sure that Zambia is on your list, and here’s why. Insta-worthy views Most travellers like to take beautiful pictures during their holidays. Zambia boasts beautiful mountains and sweeping valleys, providing breathtaking backdrops for “wish you were here” photos. The country has three natural lakes – Bangweulu, Mweru and Lake Tanganyika – with the latter known as one of the deepest natural lakes in the world. So if you love being in water, then you’ll definitely enjoy it. Adventure For those who have the adrenalin rush for an adventure, a gorge swing at Victoria Falls, a hike through ancient forests, or river-boarding…

As part of its 20th-anniversary celebrations, Oceania Cruises has launched a limited-time 20th Anniversary Sale, featuring a special gift of up to $800 (about R13 000) shipboard credit per stateroom or suite on 110 voyages. The shipboard credit is valid on all its seven ships, including Vista, which joins the fleet in May, on voyages sailing to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, South Pacific, Alaska, Asia and more. The 20th Anniversary Sale will open for bookings until February 28. Sales director Riet Goetschalckx said the sale was a treasure trove of possibilities for repeat and first-time guests and aimed at reconnecting travellers with their spirit for adventure. The cruise line said each 20th Anniversary sale fare features Oceania Cruises’ OLife Choice package, which includes a choice of either free shore excursions, a…

The US Justice Department announced on Thursday that it had shut down the Hive ransomware operation, which had extorted more than $100 million (about R1.7 billion) from more than 1 500 victims worldwide. US attorney general Merrick Garland said US authorities working with law enforcement in Germany and the Netherlands took over the Hive’s website and servers after having infiltrated it for nearly seven months. The infiltration helped hundreds of companies to avoid paying $130m in extortion demands made after Hive hacked and froze their data systems. Deputy attorney general Lisa Monaco called the operation to infiltrate Hive a “21st-century cyber stakeout”. “We hacked the hackers,” she said. Hive operated as a ransomware service, meaning anyone could hire its software and other services to help hack into and lock down…

As one who has dealt and continues to deal with evidence, and has been immersed in development communication, I had to think about what was going on in the mind of Premier Sbu Ndebele of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) when he launched a development language that decades later echoed on the tongues of citizens. After repeated attempts by KZN Premier Senzo Mcunu requesting that I, as the then Statistician General, conduct a survey looking at the views and satisfaction of citizens, Mcunu finally had his way. In 2016, I conducted this survey in KZN. What remained unique in the survey was the depth of language development from Sbu, to Khabasela, to Macingwane, to another Macingwane. Operation Sukuma Sakhe is now the language of development in KZN. It is anchored in development theory…

Many bridal couples are very specific about what they want their guests to wear to their wedding. Months of planning go into preparing for a wedding. Therefore, it’s just a common courtesy for guests to at least make the effort to dress according to their desired dress code. They clearly have a vision of how they want their wedding, as a whole, to look. Specifically for the wedding picture. This Reddit user was invited to his conservative boss’s wedding, which had very specific dress code requirements. Especially for the ladies. In his post on the AITA (Am I The A*****e) group, he states that in the invitation, the bridal couple asked for all men to wear black suits and the women to wear long dresses with long sleeves and no…

The fact that local music is continuing to make its mark globally and the biggest artists in the world are recognising South African talent is becoming more and more a source of pride among local music fans. Costa Titch & Akon Before the shenanigans around Akon’s no-show at Cape Town’s Saint Champagne Bar & Lounge grabbed headlines, the American-Senegalese artist said in an interview that he was a big fan of South Africa’s Costa Titch. In the clip, part of an unidentified podcast recording, Akon said the local rapper and amapiano star is going to change the game. “Man, there’s a brand new artist out of Africa, his name is Costa Titch,” the Locked Up hitmaker said. “Check him out. That kid is a problem, he’s gonna change the game.…

I’m NOT a fan of horror movies or psychological thrillers but I thoroughly enjoyed the first season of Dam, Showmax’s original thriller. I’m equally thrilled about the second instalment, which is set to make its debut on February 16. It was the unexpected twists and turns, amazing local talent and lots of hair-raising scenes, coupled with skin-crawling moments, that pushed me to get through the whole season in less than 48 hours. It was no surprise that Dam was one of the top 10 most-watched streaming shows on the platform when it premiered in 2021. Fast-forward to 2023: the show is back and it’s more sinister than before. Created by four-time South African Film and Television Awards (Safta) winner Alex Yazbek, the small-town psychological thriller is set three months…

THE man who was accused of being the mastermind behind Hillary Gardee’s kidnapping and murder was released on R20 000 bail last week after seven months behind bars. Now he wants the State to withdraw all the charges against him and apologise for their blunder. In an exclusive interview with Sunday Independent on Friday, Philemon Lukhele claims he was tortured and begged by police to implicate EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu, whom he hasn’t seen or spoken to for many years, as having ordered a hit on Gardee. “I was tortured and asked to admit that I worked with Floyd to kill Hillary. Someone wanted to settle a political score with Shivambu using me in this case. When police realised that there was no connection between Floyd and myself as…

SEVERAL disgruntled ANC branches in the Free State are threatening court action over the outcomes of last weekend’s provincial conference as its leadership considers a cabinet reshuffle. Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela and her allies lost to co-operative governance and traditional affairs MEC Mxolisi Dukwana, a key ally of President Cyril Ramaphosa. There has been talk that Ntombela and nine of her 10 MECs who failed to make it onto the ANC provincial executive committee could be ousted. Dukwana was the only MEC to make it into the party’s top leadership structure in the province but, when contacted by the Sunday Independent yesterday, he would not say whether or not a reshuffle of the provincial executive was on the cards. Dukwana’s victory left some of the branches, especially those who…

Colleges and universities are said to be withholding students’ academic transcripts as a tool to get them to pay their outstanding fees. Institutions do this in a bid to ensure students settle their debts, but withholding of transcripts is making it hard for students to find employment even if they have graduated. They find it difficult to prove to prospective employers they hold the qualifications they claim. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) used to offer funds to post-graduate students, but only for selected courses. However, the bursary scheme announced in early 2021 that it had done away with all funding toward post-graduate studies, leaving many students from disadvantaged backgrounds stranded and without financial assistance. Students from disadvantaged families fear they may remain unemployed due to their outstanding fees.…

ZAKES Bantwini is a man who controls his narrative. He always has melodies floating between his ears, and notes on his sleeve, ready to produce another hit. His intuition is always on the button. He knew it when he discovered his love for music, and now with the release of Bayethe – a collaboration with Grammy-winning flautist Wouter Kellerman and singer Nomcebo Zikode. “The funniest thing is that when we were making this record, we were making it to be nominated for a Grammy. So I wasn’t totally surprised,” Bantwini said. The story of Bayethe’s existence is witty and astounding. Bantwini shared that in the week of the deadline for Grammy Awards submissions, he, Kellerman and Zikode recorded the song and submitted it to the Recording Academy before its official…

Loyiso Manga, the man behind an award-winning extra virgin olive oil brand, is looking to expand his business by operating a farm that explores all things olives. Manga gained popularity with his brand of olive oil, Ubuntu, in 2019 – two years after he founded his business. Now Manga is looking to grow his own olives and become the farmer he always dreamt of being. The 37-year-old plans to plant and press his own olives. Visitors to the farm will also be treated to an olive experience which includes the picking and pressing of olives and seeing how this oil comes to life. “There is no recipe for quick success. It takes hard work, passion and believing in yourself.” Manga obtained his Honours degree at Helderberg College in Somerset West…

THIRTEEN months after the issuing of the warrant of arrest for the former Transnet Group executive Brian Molefe, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has failed to present a formal charge sheet. Initially, a warrant of arrest for Molefe was issued on December 13, 2021; however, Molefe and his co-accused were arrested only on August 29, 2022, and appeared at the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in the R398.4 million Transnet fraud and corruption case where they were released on a bail of R50 000 each at their first court appearance in August. Speaking to the Falcons, the former Eskom group executive’s attorney Mpho Molefe raised concern about the delaying tactics in bringing forward a signed charge sheet by the NPA, adding that the issuing of warrants of arrest without…

PROTEAS white-ball captain Temba Bavuma has heaped praise on Sisanda Magala for his role in the exhilarating comeback win over world champions England in Bloemfontein on Friday evening. Having posted 298/7, England were seemingly cruising to victory after openers Jason Roy and Dawid Malan posted 146 for the first wicket in 19.2 overs. And even after their departures for 113 and 59 runs respectively, the visitors still looked well set with the target reduced to 77 runs off 99 balls with six wickets remaining. But that’s when Magala (3/46) intervened. He had already accounted for the two earlier wickets, but now returned to break open the game by having Moeen Ali caught on the square-leg boundary. From thereon, Anrich Nortje (4/62) took over the reins to dismiss England for 271,…

AN emotional Aryna Sabalenka said it would take a “few more days” to sink in after battling from a set down to win a maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open yesterday. The Belarusian collapsed to the court in tears after winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 against Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in a 2hr 28min arm-wrestle on Rod Laver Arena. The 24-year-old Sabalenka wiped away tears before getting a hug from Moscow-born Rybakina, who played a full part in a thrilling match between two of the most powerful hitters in the women’s game. Sabalenka, the fifth seed and form player in 2023, then celebrated with her team. “Thank you, my team, the craziest team on the tour. We’ve been through a lot of, I would say, downs last year,” Sabalenka…

AFTER a long day and night that ended with a terrible defeat, the last thing Stormers coach John Dobson would have wanted to do was answer questions from South African media late into the night in a chilly Belfast. He had just watched his already-weakened team become further depleted with several more injuries, on what was a freakish Friday that began with Clayton Blommetjies and Junior Pokomela having to withdraw, and ended with a serious Evan Roos injury and a 35-5 United Rugby Championship loss to Ulster at Kingspan Stadium. Dobson doesn’t hide or makes excuses when his team have been beaten, but if ever a rugby coach could say there were things beyond his control that caused such a heavy defeat, it was this game. With a number of…

With so many must-see places, you can have an unforgettable time exploring beautiful, vibrant and affordable experiences in South Africa. CAPE TOWN Cape Town Tourism recently promoted the Pocket-Friendly Guide, which aims to give affordable experiences across the metro. James Vos, mayoral committee member for Economic Growth and Tourism at the City of Cape Town said: ‘’We are working towards making tourism accessible while also making the offerings of businesses financially attainable for domestic tourists.’’ Cape Town Tourism has compiled a handy list of 50 things to do for under R50 while the Pocket-Friendly Guide highlights other cost-effective activities in communities across Cape Town. Watch the wildlife in Rondevlei Nature Reserve Set in the suburb of Grassy Park, Rondevlei is a 20-minute drive from the city centre. It covers 290ha…