Innholdsfortegnelse for 2023-02-26 i Sunday Independent

In a week in which the Ukraine war clocked one full year, the European Council was scrambling for left-overs in their sanctions basket and could not agree on what more there still is to throw at Russia. The first anniversary had been planned to coincide with the announcement by the EU of the tenth batch of economic sanctions to cripple Russia. However, having unleashed a barrage of the top-end list of punitive sanctions against Moscow over the past year, the headache for the EU appears to be “what more?” They have imposed every possible major sanction against Russia, and yet week in and week out, the Kremlin seems to continue undisturbed with their “special military operation” in Ukraine. And the Russian economy is stronger today than it was before the…

WHILE most students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds are failing to pay for their tuition fees, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), which was supposed to look after them, is paying almost R2 million per month to rent an office block. United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader General Bantu Holomisa blew the whistle on the scandal in a letter sent to the Hawks head, General Godfrey Lebeya, and Special Investigating Unit (SIU) boss, advocate Andy Mothibi, this week. In the letter seen by the Sunday Independent, the UDM leader reported that “NSFAS recently moved to another building using a turnkey solution, from a building where the rent had been R500 000 per month to one where the rent now apparently is R1 968 647.05 per month.” The letter added that the…

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana attempted to give South Africans a glimmer of hope with the measures presented in his February 22 Budget speech. Finance professionals said it was a sober and solid budget that should keep the economy on its crutches. In the minister’s Budget speech, he announced new measures to the government-initiated bounce-back scheme, announced in the 2022 Budget speech, meant to offer financial support to businesses impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, Godongwana announced tax incentives for small businesses through the support of renewable energy. He announced that the new editions to the Energy Bounce Back Scheme would be implemented from April 1. Through this scheme, the government intends to carry 20% of losses by small businesses on defaulted loans, while encouraging banks to lend more money to…

MONTHLY budgeting, strategic shopping and the so-called side hustle are some of the tools which are being adopted by South Africans to ensure an undisturbed flow of cash in households. South Africa’s entertainment and media market exceeded the 2019 pre-Covid levels with a total industry spend of R163 billion, representing 15.4% yearly growth, in 2021, according to the report, which was compiled by PwC Africa. With Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana having delivered South Africa’s Budget Speech for 2023 this past week, South Africans have had to rethink their spending habits on entertainment and leisure. Many of them are inundated with the constantly rising cost of living. The cost of food, transportation and sustaining debt has risen so high that it has stirred up financial insecurity in some households. These living…

LAUGHTER, applause and standing ovations were the themes of the night last week Friday at The Star Theatre in Cape Town as up-and-coming comedians battled head to head at the Savanna Newcomer Showcase for a nomination spot at this year’s Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Awards. These newcomers only had five minutes on stage to showcase their talent by making the audience laugh at the 2023 Newcomer Showcase hosted by the 2013 Savanna Newcomer Award and 2015 Intermediate Award winner, Schalk Bezuidenhout. Only five start-up comedians will be nominated for the Best Newcomer category for this year’s awards. Other comedians will vote for these start-ups in order for them to make it to the nomination stage. The nominations will be announced on March 8. Wazi Kunene is one of the 20…

GENDER-BASED Violence (GBV) activists are concerned by the alarming increase in sexual crime rates. Last week, Minister of Police Bheki Cele gave a detailed report on third-quarter crime stats. The report shows rape is one of the highest committed crimes in the country. Between October and December 2022, sexual offences also climbed by 9.6%. Rape increased by 9.8%, common sexual assault increased by 4.1% and attempted sexual offences increased by 45.6%. Most of these offences occurred in the Gauteng province. GBV activist Simon Manamela from Tshwane sub-region 1, which covers Pretoria North, Ga-Rankuwa and Soshanguve, said the issues of sex-related crimes in the communities that he works with are rife. He said the lack of resources makes it difficult to prosecute sex offenders, and not much is done by the…

Following the recent commemorative festivities around the Battle of Isandlwana in KwaZulu-Natal, Eshowe-born music star, historian and heritage enthusiast Mbuso Khoza this weekend brought the fifth Isandlwana Lecture, which began on Friday running to today, to the Gauteng province at the State Theatre in Pretoria. The Isandlwana Lecture was initiated by Khoza, accompanied by the Afrikan Heritage Ensemble, an acapella group comprising 18 musicians. “When I presented the first lecture, I had great expectations. As a lover of history, heritage and culture, as well as music, I toyed with the idea of presenting a lecture, but it had to be something that Africa as a whole would partake in. “I have always regarded the Isandlwana Battle victory as a triumph for us all as a continent. “I then decided to…

YOUNG speedster Gerald Coetzee has his sights on making Test cricket his home if and when he gets his debut in either of the two Test matches against the West Indies. T20 cricket took the world by storm and has become the most preferred format by the younger generation of cricketers and also the fans who love the entertainment factor of T20 cricket. Fast bowler Gerald Coetzee has naturally been one of the most wanted youngsters by franchise teams in the T20 circuits because of his raw pace and his fiercely competitive character. Coetzee earned millions in the SA20 not so long ago. Despite the lucrative nature of T20 cricket, Coetzee is still a cricket purist at heart and wants to prioritise Test cricket more than any format. “Greatness is…

A DIRECTOR of Templar Capital, which acquired equity in the Mpumalanga mining company Optimum Coal Mine (OCM) after the Guptas failed to pay debts owed, has taken offence to the “irrelevant, vexatious and/or scandalous allegations” placed before the court by the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) The answering affidavit to the RBCT by Dubai-based Daniel McGowan, who is seeking to revive the mine, rejects allegations that he had a “Grand Plan” driven by “improper motives” to export coal through Optimum Coal Terminal (OCT) so he could make “super profits” at the expense of OCM and OCT, and “unlawfully dissipate funds out of South Africa”. The contractual dispute over the RBCT’s decision to terminate OCT coal export allocation in Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal at the end of January is being heard…

Last year, local small businesses showed caution but were optimistic regarding the prospects of an economic recovery following the Covid pandemic. However, several socioeconomic factors have contributed to the decline in business confidence and the failure of efforts to rebuild an already struggling sector. On Wednesday, all eyes were on Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana as there was a growing expectation the government would assist small and medium-sized businesses (SMMEs). In his 2023 Budget Speech, Godongwana offered limited good news for SMMEs despite disintegrating growth prospects, difficult domestic and global environments, and a 1.4% annual real gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast from 2023 to 2025. Nonetheless, the new fiscal year offers SMMEs some advantages, such as no significant tax increases and a new fiscal support package to encourage the…

BILLIONS of people around the world use social media to share information and create relationships. On a personal level, social media can be used to talk to family and friends, learn new things, develop interests and for entertainment. On a professional level, social media can be used to connect with other professionals in different industries and ultimately gain knowledge about different fields. On a business level, social media gives people the opportunity to engage with different audiences, collect feedback from customers, advertise and elevate different brands. Kabelo Enos Makinta is a 30-year-old digital marketing entrepreneur from Soshanguve. Makinta’s Kasi Economy platform was established in 2020 during the hard lockdown after seeing many people being pulled out of work and opening their businesses in the townships to survive. As a patriotic…

We often lament over what is lost instead of celebrating and rejoicing about what is gained. When it comes to the art space, even after people have died, their impact remains. One such individual that has left a remarkable mark on the industry and society is Gibson Kente. To honour his work and passion, the Soweto Theatre will be renaming the main Auditorium (Red Theatre) after the late father of black theatre in South Africa. Bra Gibs, as he was known to some of his colleagues, was one of the first writers to deal with life in the South African black townships, a playwright who became the getaway to a narrative that spoke of characters on the periphery of society. The icon and pioneer produced 23 plays and television dramas…

The consequences of the Just Energy Transition (JET) experimentation could be vast for South Africa and its future. However, nothing is surprising about the broken test tube economic experiment. Leading economists championed the cause of neoclassical economics. Economic liberalisation became the mainstay of their arguments for government policies that promote free trade, deregulation, elimination of subsidies, price controls and rationing systems, and, often, the downsizing or privatisation of public services. Among others, they made a case for open trade by saying that if a rich country signs a free trade deal with a poor country, the productivity of the impoverished country will increase quickly. Their arguments, especially the work of US economist Paul Samuelson, formed the basis for the economic policies of the Washington Consensus – the basis for the…

TO shake off the global greylisting status that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) slapped South Africa with this week, President Cyril Ramaphosa must crack the whip on law enforcement agencies, government insiders say. Among the indicators assessed by the FATF, an international financial crime watchdog, is “the efficacy of the criminal justice system and the global body is impatient with our criminal justice system”, said a Treasury official on condition of anonymity. On Wednesday, during the Budget speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana acknowledged “the need to be more effective in implementing our laws, particularly in fighting organised and sophisticated crimes”. But Ramaphosa would also have to first look into his Phala Phala closet, according to critics, as the money laundering allegations against him continue to make global headlines. It…

THE EFF in the North West has axed its chairperson, Betty Diale, after she was charged with stealing R700 000 from Road Accident Fund (RAF) beneficiaries while still a practising attorney. In a letter to the provincial legislature dated February 1, EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini said Diale would be replaced by the party’s deputy provincial chairperson, Primrose Bogatsu. Dlamini did not cite the charges against Diale as the reason for her removal. However, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has indicated that Diale is expected to be back at the Rustenburg Regional Court on Friday. NPA North West regional spokesperson Henry Mamothame told the Sunday Independent that Diale is facing six charges of theft, amounting to approximately R700 000, allegedly stolen from RAF claimants. According to police reports, the Fidelity…

THE government has been warned not to be elitist with its plan to subsidise the installation of rooftop solar panels to ease load shedding, as announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana this past week. Godongwana announced that from next month, businesses will be able to reduce their taxable income by 125% of the cost of an investment in renewable energy. In addition, there will be no thresholds on the size of the projects that qualify, and the incentive will be available for two years to stimulate investment in the short term. According to Godongwana, the government will also introduce a new tax incentive for individuals to install rooftop solar panels to reduce pressure on the grid and help ease load shedding. “Individuals who install rooftop solar panels from March 1,…

With the country going through some of its greatest challenges, including load shedding (an ongoing electricity crisis) and the looming threat of being greylisted by the Financial Action Task Force, the book On The Precipice, written by Dr Kaizer Mabhilidi Nyatsumba, could not have come at a better time. Asked why he wrote the book, he said he felt it was important to document the country’s evident decline and reflect the reality of the political landscape to readers. “I have been deeply concerned about the state of our country for a long time now. Consequently, I felt it important not only to document the country’s decline from yesteryear’s glory, in the form of my own version of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe but to make the point, through fiction,…

South African children are part of the most vulnerable groups in the country, and they face a growing crisis of teen suicide. According to PsySSA (Psychological Society of South Africa) and the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag), 9% of all teenage deaths have been attributed to suicide, while 20% of high school learners in the country have attempted suicide. PsySSA said that the current statistics have raised fears of an increase in teen suicides as teens struggling with mental health still feel shame in admitting their mental health struggles to parental guardians. Research by Sadag found that there was a “slightly elevated” suicide ideation in urban teens living in Gauteng. “These feelings are consistent with the youth Suicide Risk Survey where results indicated higher levels of sadness and…

FOR the first time in the history of South African cricket, a black player will don the precious green blazer of the Proteas and take to the middle on day one for a coin toss a few moments before the start of a Test match. Temba Bavuma, the glass-ceiling breaker, will be the first black man to have the privilege of captaining the Test side. He was appointed by the new coaching regime that is headed by the experienced Shukri Conrad. Conrad played his cricket during the dark days of apartheid and was denied opportunity to play at the highest level on the basis of the colour of his skin not being white enough. For Conrad’s generation, who were defiant enough to stay in and around cricket despite everything…