Inhoudsopgave van 2021-08-06 - Star

Sappi loses R220m production due to riots in KwaZulu-Natal EDWARD WEST edward.west@inl.co.za Sappi, the wood fibre product group, had suffered a more than R220 million loss of production after having to close paper and pulp mills due to the recent riots in KwaZulu-Natal, chief executive Steve Binnie said yesterday. He said during an interview on the group’s third quarter results to June 2021 that this figure might rise further due to the impact of the cyberattack on Transnet and ongoing Covid-19 related global supply chain issues. The civil unrest in July caused disruptions to raw material supplies and forced the temporary closure of the Saiccor, Tugela and Stanger mills in KwaZulu-Natal. A combined total of 28 000 tons of dissolving pulp (DP) and 7 000 tons of paper…

EOH Holdings gets approval to list on A2X Markets Philippa Larkin philippa.larkin@inl.co.za JSE-LISTED technology services companies EOH Holdings said yesterday it has been approved for a secondary listing on A2X Markets to give its shareholders access to an additional platform with lower transaction fees. Its ordinary shares would be available for trade from August 13. EOH said it would retain its listing on the JSE, and its issued share capital would be unaffected by its secondary listing on A2X. EOH group financial director Megan Pydigadu said: “EOH’s decision to list on A2X will give our shareholders access to an additional platform with lower transaction fees. This is in line with the group’s commitment to continuously find ways to increase value for shareholders.” Kevin Brady, the chief executive of A2X Markets,…

AFTER EARTH M-NET CITY, DSTV CHANNEL 115, 8.50PM Will and Jaden Smith star in this futuristic sci-fi adventure about love and survival. A father and son crash land on the deadly planet and must fight to survive. UNFORGETTABLE UNIVERSAL TV, DSTV CHANNEL 117, 8PM This season, Carrie and Al’s extraordinary conviction rate sees them asked to join the NYPD’s Major Crimes Division, and Carrie’s memory skills are soon being deployed as they investigate the kidnapping of a wealthy man's daughter. Then, Carrie goes undercover with a team of bank robbers in an attempt to find their elusive leader. FALSE IDENTITY 2 TELEMUNDO, DSTV CHANNEL 118, 10PM Diego tries to stop Mateo from gaining custody of Ricas. Mateo celebrates the judge’s ruling. Victoria receives an unexpected message from Alberto.…

Bongani Nkosi bongani.nkosi@inl.co.za IT IS now in the hands of the apex court justices to decide whether and how marriages entered into under Sharia Law can be regulated through the country’s secular laws. The Constitutional Court yesterday heard arguments over the dragging litigation about whether the State was constitutionally obligated to enact legislation that recognised and regulated Muslim marriages. The Women’s Legal Centre Trust (WLC), which describes itself as an African Feminist Legal Centre, pursued that matter against President Cyril Ramaphosa and Justice Minister Ronald Lamola. In its corner were the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), Commission for Gender Equality and the Muslim Assembly. While the WLC enjoyed victory at the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) last year, it sought further relief from the apex court in the form of…

Robben Island Rainbow Dreams: The making of democratic South Africa’s first national heritage institution Neo Lekgotla Laga Ramoupi IN THE 1990s, a country freed and reinvented itself. After 342 years of colonialism and apartheid, the dispossessed and disenfranchised people in South Africa reclaimed their national sovereignty and established a democracy in one of the biggest turnabouts in global politics in the 20th century. The establishment of the Robben Island Museum (RIM) in the record-breaking time of under 120 days was an important part of this once-in-generations process of national rebirth. South Africa’s first democratic government decided that the notorious prison island should be converted into a national museum and a place of memory, learning and healing. In Robben Island, Rainbow Dreams, some of those involved in the complex task of…

WHEN SECRETS BECOME STORIES Edited by Sue Nyathi Loot.co.za (R185) Jonathan Ball A YOUNG girl on the Cape Flats is gifted in exchange for a bottle of alcohol, a woman is beaten by her boyfriend and told to bezekela (persevere), a businesswoman is asked for sexual favours to secure a contract, while a child rapist is released on bail after three years … In sharing their experiences from girlhood to the boardroom, from Cape Town’s suburbs to the hills of KwaZulu-Natal, women from different walks of life show how chillingly common male violence against women is. Together, their voices form a deafening chorus. In this extraordinary collection, brave women summon the courage in others to do the same. In speaking out, sharing what was once secret, shame’s hold is…

A SEASONED professional with a decorated career in local and national government has been appointed to the helm of the City of Joburg’s Department of Community Development, charged with turning things around. Vincent Campbell, the new executive director of community development, brings a wealth of experience to the portfolio, having worked in the field at senior levels for more than 20 years. Campbell’s three-year tenure commenced in June. He is expected to provide administrative leadership and create an environment in which the department’s staff complies with necessary regulations and ensure they flourish in their work. Born and raised in Kliptown and Eldorado Park, he studied at the University of Johannesburg where he obtained a BA and a BA (Ed) degree, specialising in human movement science, recreation and education. He also…

Muhammad Omar | Durban North WHILE many may be surprised by the lack of statements from President Ramaphosa, make no mistake, there are lots of negotiations and options being considered. Given the recent turmoil, the president has to show some concrete changes in the country’s security and military leadership. This will be done at ministerial and department levels. Currently, various officials and politicians are being considered for appropriate appointments. This is going to set the tone for probably the second term, and it’s likely many politicians’ careers will be cut short (read pro-Zuma), placed on early retirement (ineffective), or given a low-level portfolio. It’s time to restore confidence and credibility, Mr President.…

REMEMBERING the life and times of Charlotte Maxeke is opportune, once again, during this Women’s Month and a year which marks 150 years since her birthday. As the first African woman, from South Africa, to earn a university degree, Mam’ Charlotte was also an internationalist and had the great opportunity of studying under the supervision of great pan-Africanists such as WEB du Bois. While one cannot separate these two exclusively, politics and science, it is important that each allow the other to do their work and fulfil their respective roles in society. One is sure that Mam’ Maxeke would have advocated that scientists leave the realm of setting public policy to the people’s representatives whilst advocating that politicians leave scientists to do their work in the field of science. In…

Morgan Bolton morgan.bolton@inl.co.za IVAN van Rooyen has made good on his threat to use his selection policy as a tool to spur his players into action and arrest their rapid decline by making several changes to his Lions side to face Griquas today. Speaking after the devastating loss to the Pumas last week, Van Rooyen said he would consider making wholesale changes to his match-day squad in an effort to overturn the team’s recent run of form. As such, the coach has wielded his axe on a handful of players, while also attempting to buffer his squad from recent injuries and an upcoming fixture list bordering on madness. Perhaps the most noticeable absentee from the team is flank Vincent Tshituka, one of the few shining lights of the Lions this…

ASHFAK MOHAMED ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za IT got so hot in the shot put circle at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium yesterday that Kyle Blignaut needed a breather. But that’s not because he couldn’t handle the heat in the proverbial kitchen. In fact, Blignaut never took a backward step in finishing sixth in the shot put final with a best effort of 21.00 metres. That was one spot higher than the only other South African to reach an Olympic shot put final, Janus Robberts, who ended seventh at the 2000 Sydney Games with a distance of 20.32m . Now Blignaut is hoping to go even further at next year’s world championships and Commonwealth Games. “I think I am going to take two weeks off, spend time with loved ones back home … family, friends,…

ASHFAK MOHAMED ashfak.mohamed@inl.co.za IT is one thing not qualifying for an Olympic final, but in the case of Chederick van Wyk, he didn’t even get to run at the Tokyo Stadium yesterday following Team South Africa’s misfortune in the men’s 4x100m relay heat. Considered one of the last medal hopes for Mzansi in athletics, the relay team were confident of at least making today’s final, having won the World Athletics Relays title in Poland in May. SA relays coach Paul Gorries worked long and hard to prepare the squad for Tokyo, including a number of camps ahead of the World Relays and the Olympics, including one in Gemona, Italy, in July. They went to great lengths to travel to Poland in late April for the May 1-2 World Athletics Relays,…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za The MANUFACTURING sector is expected to continue ramping-up its production capacity after showing significant improvement in May from last year’s record plunge during the level 5 lockdown. However, the recent civil unrest that disrupted supply chains in July could hamper the manufacturing capacity and have a prolonged effect on the industry well into 2022. Data from Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) yesterday showed that the utilisation of production capacity by large manufacturers rose to 78.6 percent in May from 59.8 percent a year ago. This was an increase of 18.8 percentage points as all of the manufacturing divisions experienced increases in utilisation of production capacity during the month. The May print was also higher than February’s reading of 76.3 percent as manufacturers used more…

Chulumanco Mahamba chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za TEACHER unions are up in arms over the Department of Basic Education’s plan to reduce social distancing from one metre to half-a-metre in schools. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced this week that the department intended to approach Cabinet in regard to the possible reduction of social distancing in primary schools from one metre to half-a-metre. The new development comes after the publication of the new department Covid-19 directions on July 31 that determine social distancing as 1m. In a joint statement from the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of SA (Naptosa), National Teachers’ Union (Natu), Professional Educators Union (Peu), SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) and South African Teachers’ Union (SAOU), the unions said they rejected the new developments. “Despite warnings from the teacher unions that…

ON OCTOBER 12, the 14 people accused of looting VBS Mutual Bank will finally face more than 100 charges in court for their alleged role in the so-called heist. The accused include Limpopo ANC treasurer Danny Msiza. They appeared briefly before the North Gauteng High Court on Monday. The matter had been transferred from the Palm Ridge Commercial Courtfor pre-trial but was postponed to October because some of the accused had recently changed legal representation. Msiza and former VBS chairperson Calvin Tshifhiwa Matodzi and 12 others are accused of looting nearly R2.3 billion. | Mashudu Sadike…

INTO DARK WATER Jeremy Vearey Jeremy Vearey, ex-MK cadre and bodyguard to Nelson Mandela, is a former police major-general and deputy provincial commissioner of the Western Cape SAPS. His book Into Dark Water presents a wide-angle portrait of policing, politics and criminality in the Western Cape. In the excerpt below, he engages the enemy. MY NEXT encounter with the enemy was in December 1992, well within shooting and stabbing range. It was a heady time of Madiba magic and rainbow nation euphoria. Joe Nhlanhla, the national head of the ANC’s Department of Intelligence and Security, had just instructed our head in the Western Cape, Jacob Madikiza, to engage with the Security Branch to address the political and sectarian violence in the region jointly. Colonel Gordon Brookbanks, the commander of Security…

THE family of former Our Perfect Wedding presenter Thembisa Mdoda-Nxumalo last night confirmed that she had contracted Covid-19. Television presenter and actress Mdoda-Nxumalo had earlier revealed that she was fighting for her life in hospital. She said she was severely ill in hospital at an emotional time for many in the entertainment industry following the death of Shona Ferguson. In a statement her family said she was “diagnosed with long Covid-19 which was further aggravated by an allergy”. Taking to Twitter, Mdoda-Nxumalo said the grief was heavy for her, especially since she was also fighting for her life. “My kid feeling my grief and comforting me, on the phone today, knowing very well that I’m also fighting for dear life on this hospital bed. What a heavy day,” Mdoda-Nxumalo said.…

The word tribe or tribalism has got some negative connotations because of the context in which it has been used for many years, and if one’s tongue goes unbridled, the risk of dividing society is high, as we recently saw in President Ramaphosa’s case, when he expressed regret and apologies for his utterances of that abominable word. Tribes can either be functional or dysfunctional to society. There are some retrogressive tribes that coil up stubbornly to their ethnic identity. On the other hand, there are some progressive tribes that transcend ethnic boundaries for the collective good of society. I recently stood open-mouthed when I watched a video clip where Ghanaian youths flatly rejected bags of rice from politicians and instead demanded decent jobs from the government. “We need jobs and…

FAROUK ARAIE | Gauteng SOUTH Africa has been a de facto one-party state since democracy was inaugurated over 25 years ago, resulting in the cancerous spread of endemic corruption. It was French economist and author Frédéric Bastiat who said: “When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in a society, over the course of time they create for themselves a legal system that authorises it and a moral code that glorifies it.” Sadly, during 27 years in power, the elite and those in the corridors of power, and their progeny, have used their political positions to embezzle economic and financial resources, a process which involved the mass pauperisation of their own citizens in an act of shameless betrayal. Citizens’ outrage has spawned a clutch…

Investigations reveal its government had identified 3 500 phone numbers THE extensive use of Pegasus spyware by governments to spy on other heads of state has sent shock waves across the world, but it has also lifted a lid on what governments like Rwanda are doing covertly. While Rwanda has denied using Pegasus spyware, the Pegasus Project – a consortium of international media and NGOs – investigated how Pegasus spyware, of the Israeli company NSO Group, was abused by governments to spy on their perceived enemies. Pegasus spyware allows the client to record phone calls, read texts and emails, access photographs and passwords, and secretly activate microphones and cameras to make audio and video recordings. The investigations of the Pegasus Project reveal the Rwandan government had identified more than 3…

Stuart Hess stuart.hess@inl.co.za FORMER national selector Hussein Manack told Cricket South Africa’s Social Justice and Nation Building (SJN) hearings he regretted not standing his ground and picking Khaya Zondo for the series-deciding one-day international against India in 2015. Zondo’s non-selection for that Mumbai match was the catalyst for a dramatic split along racial lines in the national team. A group of black players wrote a letter to Cricket SA’s board at the time, signing it ‘#BibsMustFall’ and stating that they were tired of only being viewed as good enough to be squad members but not to start matches for the Proteas. Zondo had been part of the squad in India, and with the series tied 2-2, he was left out of the starting XI, while Dean Elgar, who had flown…

IT’S Formula One’s summer break and for the next few weekends our Sundays will be bereft of what has turned out to be a thrilling season so far, as we wait for its resumption at the end of August at the Belgium Grand Prix. Eleven events have been held, four different winners have stood on the top step of the podium, and the battle between Max Verstappen and Sir Lewis Hamilton has enthralled all. This three-week hiatus represents the perfect opportunity to look back at the season so far and declare the best and worst 2021 has had to offer. Best driver: Verstappen has won five races to Hamilton’s four and as good as the Red Bull driver and seven-time world champion have been, neither have been the season’s standout…

Momentum Investments revises South Africa’s Siphelele Dludla siphelele dludla@inl.co.za Momentum Investments is the latest institution to revise down South Africa’s growth prospects and has factored in the possibility of a fourth wave of Covid-19 into their forecast. The downward revision comes as the economy has been stymied by the impact of level 4 lockdown restrictions and the week-long disruption of supply chains in July, some of which is ongoing. Van Tonder said their forecast factored in the possibility of a fourth wave of Covid-19 later in the year. The National Institute of Communicable Disease predicted recently that the third wave would likely peak in most provinces by mid-August, while other health experts have said a fourth wave was possible as early as October. Momentum Investments yesterday lowered its 2021 gross…

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za ADDRESSING the gender pay gap and environmental social and governance (ESG) issues had to be prioritised in South African boardrooms going forward, the latest remuneration report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said yesterday. The PwC’s 13th edition of the “Exe- cutive directors’: Practices and Remuneration Trends” report found that the pay gap was most pronounced in medium-cap companies, with a gender pay gap of 46 percent observed at the median and 51 percent at the upper quartile, with a smaller pay gap observed in small-cap companies with gaps of 27 percent and 30 percent observed respectively at the median and upper quartiles. Andreas Horak, PwC reward practice co-lead and director in PwC’s people and organisation department, told journalists that a more representative workforce, which includes…

A boutique hotel in Knysna will be going under the Rawson Auctions Western Cape hammer on August 25. The double-storey Madison Manor, on Bosbou Street in Knysna central, spans 1 566m² and is on an erf of 5 084m². It has 17 bedrooms; a licensed restaurant; an entertainment area and pub; a fully equipped kitchen; parking; a braai area and a large pool with sunbathing area. There is also a conference centre, with its own kitchen. All the furniture on the property will be included in the sale. Downstairs are three elite suites with en suite bathrooms; eight double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms; the restaurant and the kitchen. Upstairs are six double en suite bedrooms. All the bedrooms are air-conditioned. The property is walled and fenced, with good security.…

From Page 1 “Our advice to schools in the interim is that where the 1m cannot be complied with, the schools should follow the deviation provisions as contained in the Gazette and to continue with rotational timetabling. This is done in the best interest of the child, educators and the community and to ensure that schools do not become super-spreaders …” the unions said. They said they have formally requested an urgent meeting with the department to discuss the matter. Motshekga was monitoring teaching and learning at primary schools in the Free State yesterday where she said the department was looking at measures to have as many learners as possible in schools. She had heard that the unions were concerned that they weren’t consulted but added that the department still…

Ntando Makhubu ntando.makhubu@inl.co.za AVIC Tim already has several hits behind his name, but the Limpopo musician is not resting on his laurels. “I am not yet where I want to be in music. My plan is to use every opportunity that comes my way. Where there no opportunity, I want to create it and make sure I market my music well until it reaches the target audience,” he said. Born Edmo Sehlagamele Makoti at Ga-Mphahlela in Lebowakgomo, he is known in the South Africa music scene for his retro sound. “The main objective which has led me to venture into music is to create timeless sounds to heal hearts and inspire brave minds. “I describe the kind of sound I make as the fusion of what made people dance back…

FOR THE first time, the leaders of various political parties represented in the City of Joburg’s Council have agreed that they have lost “the people’s mayor”. After opening a special council meeting in honour of the late mayor Geoffrey Molantoa Makhubo, last month, Speaker of Council Nonceba Molwele said: “It is very sad when someone you know becomes someone you knew. I wish I could take all this pain and sorrow from all of you, the family, fellow councillors, officials and the citizens of Johannesburg.” The meeting was held through a hybrid format, with most people joining virtually while a limited number of people were inside the Council Chamber. This is in line with adjusted level 3 regulations. Makhubo’s family representatives were in the chamber. Keitumetse Makhubo, the mayor’s daughter,…

Peter Bachtis | Benoni PRE-1994, each town had a fully functioning Health Department, staffed with qualified personnel, ensuring that all food outlets complied with strict guidelines and protocols. These requirements have fallen away as municipalities descended into catastrophic chaos coupled to large corporates cutting corners. Who then is ensuring that the food products that we purchase from restaurants and other outlets are controlled in accordance with stringent directives? Who is questioning the integrity of what we are ingesting? Imploding and non-existent standards are real... Remember the listeriosis outbreak and the recent leaking cans.…

Keagan Gertse “… We must therefore draft a Constitution that will fully be legitimate, a Constitution that will represent the aspirations of our people.” Dear Mr President The above quote forms part of a larger address made by you in 1995 as chairman of the Constitutional Assembly, then representing the aspirations of a limping people towards a democratic state. As a forgiving people, great things were achieved on the grounds of equality, but we should acknowledge many failures on the part of the decision-makers who formed part of developing the cornerstone on which to make those decisions representing a nation building towards economic, civil and social inclusivity. As a state tied to political turbulence in the wake of infighting, we can no longer turn a blind eye to…

THE violence and looting that took place in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng last month set back our struggle for a non-sexist and non-racist society. This is the same struggle that black, white, Indian and coloured women stood up for during their march to the Union Buildings on August 9, 1956. In his address to the 49th Session of the UN General Assembly in October 1994, former president Nelson Mandela said: “Our watchwords must be justice, peace, reconciliation and nation-building in the pursuit of a democratic, non-racial and non-sexist country. In all we do, we have to ensure the healing of the wounds inflicted on all our people across the great dividing line imposed on our society by centuries of colonialism and apartheid. We must ensure that colour, race and gender become…