Table of contents for 2022-05-10 in Star

SELF-proclaimed legal expert, Ismail Abramjee, is a criminal who should be brought to book for bringing the judiciary into disrepute. These were the sentiments of Black Land First (BLF) leader Andile Mngxitama and spokesperson for the Jacob Zuma Foundation Mzwanele Manyi. Speaking to The Star Manyi said: “Ismail Abramjee must be brought to book and anyone found to have been involved in the recent SMS leak must be thoroughly investigated and if found guilty instituted with an impeachment process. “We as the foundation are perturbed and find his conduct to be very offensive to the idea of a constitutional democracy. This debacle has single-handedly put a mark on the credibility of our judiciary as it means that this might not have been the first such incident. If that is true,…

THE government said it was not fazed by DA leader John Steenhuisen’s week-long trip to Ukraine. Steenhuisen met some high-profile leaders in Ukraine, as well as mayors and former presidents. He had apparently gone there to see for himself the situation in Ukraine and how the war would affect South Africa. The government had called for engagement and mediation as part of resolutions to end the war instead of taking a harsh stance against Russia. Department of International Relations and Co-operation (Dirco) spokesperson Clayson Monyela said the government was not perturbed by Steenhuisen’s agenda in Ukraine. “We have taken a position that we are not going to even comment on what he does. Those people in Ukraine know who is in government, they are not confused,“ Monyela said. Meanwhile, Steenhuisen…

Using video only, artificial intelligence (AI) can now distinguish batters with a straight backlift from those using a lateral backlift, a technique by one of cricket legends Sir Donald Bradman that left the lovers of the game divided. Thanks to University of Johannesburg (UJ) researchers who built the first deep-learning computer vision AI model to do this, coaches may give more detailed feedback to players using such technology or easily identify players with lateral backlift components in future. The technique involves the batter initiating a very subtle movement in a split second just before a bowler releases the ball at the crease. This is when the batter starts moving their bat into position. They select the shot depending on the format of the game and the type of bowler approaching…

The DA has said it was losing about 56% of its water due to water leakages, illegal water network connections, faulty metering, incorrect meter readings, and old and dilapidated water infrastructure, yet the municipality continued to spend on overtime for Metsi A Lekoa employees. DA Emfuleni North Constituency head, Kingsol Chabalala, said the residents of Emfuleni were bearing the cost of an increase in rates for water and low water pressure due to the municipality’s failure to attend to reported water leaks timeously and pay its debt to Rand Water while employees were paid exorbitant overtime. Chabalala said this was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Lebogang Maile, in a written reply to his questions tabled in the Gauteng provincial legislature. Meanwhile, Maile said Emfuleni…

For many South Africans, Freedom Day evoked a feeling of ambivalence considering the terrain they traversed in their trajectory to reach the promised land. While the country is polarised by different views of the electorates, some spewing unprintable sentiments about the government of the day, others have confessed hope that despite the wheels of democracy turning slowly, South Africa will gradually realise prosperity. Though some have rejected, and some have approved the workings of government machinery, it is worth noting that everywhere in the world, it is difficult to have a socio-homogeneous nation where all the citizens agree in unison about anything the government tells a do for them. The reality is that many people say government has not fared very well in changing the lives of the citizens. However,…

OH DEAR, our fearless freedom fighters, led by their commander-in-grief, Julius “Son of the Soil” Malema, are at it again. The veterans, who have honed their combat skills on harassing old women, scaring the daylights out of shop assistants, attacking pharmacies and even tackling a journalist or two, are now expert criminal investigators as well. Aren’t we lucky to have such brilliant people in our country? Malema has warned (threatened) the police: “Find the killers before we find them”. Mind-boggling stuff! He goes on to say: “We will teach them a lesson they will never forget. They don’t want to see the ugly side of the EFF.” Really, Malema? What will this “lesson” be? Will it be vigilantism – burning, beating or stoning to death a person who has not…

General Shazli, a famous Egyptian, once said: “Accidents don’t just happen, they are caused”. If one has read the newspapers over the last few weeks, one can clearly detect a concerted and sustained effort to vilify and character-assassinate the Sekunjalo Group of Companies and Dr Iqbal Survé respectively. This is not by accident, but by a deliberate ploy to undermine the dignity and character of Dr Survé and, by association, the companies he directs. One would have thought that by now Dr Survé would have been cowed into submission but, being the principled man he is, having overcome many obstacles, he is today a self-made man – a man who could go out and sustain himself. He is not beholden to any person or party for his daily sustenance and…

A former senior Rwandan official went on trial in Paris yesterday, accused of complicity in the nation’s genocide, the most senior figure yet to face justice in France over the 1994 massacres. The case of Laurent Bucyibaruta is the fourth from the Rwandan genocide to come to court in France. An estimated 800 000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus died in 100 days of slaughter in 1994 in which Hutu militiamen massacred Tutsis. Bucyibaruta, 78, who denies the charges, faces a life sentence if convicted. | AFP…

A good Friday turned into a stinging Sunday for Mercedes at the Miami Grand Prix with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton sweating to fifth and sixth-placed finishes, and under no illusions about how far off the pace they remained. After winning the last eight constructors’ titles, Mercedes are well adrift in third place in the standings, already 62 points behind leaders Ferrari and 56 behind second-ranked Red Bull. Mercedes had shown signs of better performance in Friday’s practice sessions, but that proved to be a false dawn with neither of the cars ever in contention to win on the new South Florida track. “At the end of the day there is no happy moment. We are third quickest on the road and in a way, in no man’s land. We…

Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi has warned his players against complacency after his team grabbed a valuable advantage in the first leg of their Confederation Cup semi-final. The Buccaneers put in a classic away performance at Libyan side Al Ahli Tripoli and have put themselves in prime position to qualify for their second final in the competition through goals by Innocent Maela and Goodman Mosele in a 2-0 win on Sunday. “The game is not over, this is just half-time,” Ncikazi said. “We are only leading because they can go to South Africa and do the same to us. “We will treat the game very seriously because we understand the dynamics of African football, an away goal is very important. “We will afford them the respect they deserve in the…

While last weekend didn’t disappoint when it came to upsets and almost-theres in the Currie Cup, things are likely to get even more thrilling from here on. In the competition’s first round back after a break, the Pumas showed some muscle as they pushed for a play-off spot by pulling an upset win over the Sharks on Friday afternoon, while the Bulls and the Cheetahs – the top two teams on the log – had to grind it out for their victories against Griquas and the Lions, espectively. The Bulls team was glossed up with several of their United Rugby Championship (URC) players, and while they held a healthy 36-5 lead at half-time and appearing set to complete the second half in cruise control, the Kimberley outfit again showed just…

SOUTH Africa and Gauteng is not yet in the fifth wave of Covid-19, says the National Department of Health. For almost three weeks, South Africa has seen a steady rise in the number of reported cases, particularly in Gauteng, which has contributed to about 50% of reported daily cases. Yesterday, Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla and Gauteng Department of Health officials provided insight into the rising number of cases in Gauteng and the province’s readiness for an approaching fifth wave of infections. “We know now that this is driven by a sub-variant of Omicron. Our genomic surveillance team, led by Professor Tulio de Oliveira, have not said to us that this is a definite new variant except there are mutations in Omicron. In their view, the spike is driven…

Quadriplegic Heiron Joseph has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel abroad to showcase his mouth paintings in Switzerland. But standing in the way of making his dream a reality is lack of funding. Joseph, who is paralysed from the neck down after suffering spinal injuries during a diving accident in Paternoster in 2005, took up mouth painting shortly after the accident as a hobby. He honed his skill over many years and is now presented with an opportunity to exhibit in Zurich, Switzerland. Joseph said he has “been living with the daily struggles, both physically and financially, of being a quadriplegic, ever since”, but tries to make ends meet by selling his paintings. He hopes the trip to Switzerland, for which he has to raise R40 000, will be a springboard…

It was all things jazz this past weekend at Lifestyle Country House in Fourways, where music fans got to be part of the Mbokodo Music and Art Fair experience as popular local jazz artists took to the stage. The event was also a celebration of women from all walks of life as many showered their moms with love on Mother’s Day. The event featured artists such as Zarcia Zacheus, Omagugu Makhathini, Linda Tshabalala, Gabi Motuba, Ziza Muftic and Spha Mdlalose. We spoke with renowned songstress Nothende, who headlined the vibrant festival and spoke candidly about how the whole experience was for her. “I love performing, so whenever I get the opportunity to perform it is a blessing, but in this case it is more than that because I am performing…

The music producer Chicco Twala was arrested and released on bail after he allegedly assaulted one of the two City Power employees who he had mistaken for electric cable thieves. I fail to understand how one can mistake City Power technicians for thieves. Even from a great distance all City Power contractors are easily identifiable or at least all those that I have come across. Even if Twala made such a mistake, at close range there must have been something that indicated to him these were authentic City Power employees. I want to believe these technicians were not attending to their duties in their casual clothes. I am as sure as the day follows the night they most probably were wearing their all time shouting City Power branded reflective jackets…

IT IS without a doubt that the gruesome murder of Hillary Gardee, the daughter of a politician, Godrich Gardee, has triggered the pain faced by women in the country. Last week, the country was reminded how dangerous it is for children and women living in South Africa. Like many other cases of the horrific killing of women and children, Hillary brought tears to the nation as her life was taken away, reminding us of the many unsolved cases where perpetrators get away with murder. Each day, a girl child and women are victimised by those close to them. They are subjected to all forms of assaults – sexual harassment, rape, murder and other abuses. Women in the country live in fear of being the next to be kidnapped, raped and…

Bob Dylan’s first permanent artwork has been installed on the grounds of a wine estate in southern France. Rail Car is a large wagon with walls made from iron wheels, cycle parts, wrenches and other tools, among the vines of the swanky Chateau La Coste in Provence. It is part of an “Art and Architecture” walking tour that also includes installations by Tracey Emin, Frank Gehry, Richard Rogers and musician, Michael Stipe. Dylan, 80, is also showing 24 paintings, Drawn Blank, at the chateau’s art centre. | AFP…

Kaizer Chiefs and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) will not proceed to the South Gauteng High Court today for a long-awaited court case which could have made a mockery of professional football in South Africa. Instead, the two parties have reached an agreement, and the high court officials will make the announcement this morning. The National Soccer League (NSL), the PSL’s trading name, had decided to approach the high court with the view to overturn the arbitration outcome by Nazeer Cassim, the Safa-appointed official. Cassim ruled that the two Premiership matches that Chiefs failed to honour should be replayed. The matches in question were Chiefs’ two league games against Cape Town City at FNB Stadium and Golden Arrows in Durban during December last year. While the NSL’s appeal was set…

‘Mabuyane’s re-elections brings more of the same’ IN WHAT could be a boost for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ambition for a second term, the slate most aligned to him won the Eastern Cape ANC conference with a clean sweep with his ally Oscar Mabuyane re-elected chairperson. His deputy is Mlungisi Mvoko who defeated Xolile Nkompela, while Lulama Ngcukayitobi is the provincial secretary with Helen Sauls-August his deputy secretary. Finishing the leadership is Mlungisi Williams as the provincial treasurer. “We are happy with you because we have spoken about renewal for some time. There has not been a leader willing to take a risk because we have smallanyana skeletons. But you said this is the time the ANC should be saved for South Africans and you led us…

ONE year after the fire that gutted Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJH), the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Unit at the facility has opened its doors, but not fully. The Department of Health opened the unit yesterday in line with the decision in March that this critical unit would be ready by the end of the last month as part of a phased-in approach to rehabilitate the hospital. The critical hospital in Gauteng and the Southern African Development Community region was gutted by a fire in April last year. “Even though the A&E Unit will be commissioned, as a Central, Quaternary, Academic Hospital, the facility will be admitting priority 1 and 2 patients and will not be open for walk-in patients at the current moment,” Health Minister Dr…

A SMALL group of Pimville residents marched to the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo offices in Nancefield, Soweto, to deliver their memorandum of demands. The community was led by the Pimville Community Forum, as well as the leader of the Dudula movement, Nhlanhla Lux Dlamini, with a splash of Pimville and Klipspruit residents in attendance. In a written memorandum dated May 9, the forum said it demanded that City Parks helped clear and clean all the parks and public spaces that have been neglected since the new administration came into office at the beginning of the year after the local government elections in November. “In the past couple of months such parks and designated public spaces have been neglected, resulting in bushy areas to the detriment of public infrastructure, including…

SOUTH Africa ranks third on the cybercrime hot spot list in the world. On World Password Day on May 5, South Africans were urged to take their cyber habits seriously. Cybersecurity expert and GoldPhish CEO Dan Thornton said controlling who had access to restricted data, systems or areas was one of the most fundamental elements of security. “Weak passwords, password reuse and lack of application are still some of the most serious concerns for cybersecurity,” he said. Internet users are urged to have strong passwords that are more difficult for criminals to crack. GoldPhish advised users to use three random words. “Forget super complex passwords that make no sense; remember, length trumps complexity. “Instead, use passphrases with three random words that you can actually remember. If you need to get…

Mbali Makhathini, formerly known among the AbaThembu nation as Nodiyala Mandela, the former wife of Mandla Mandela, the tribal chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council, and the grandson of icon Nelson Mandela, has welcomed her first born. Speaking to The Star’s sister paper, the Daily News, on Sunday, Makhathini, who broke ties with the Mvezo Chief in 2017, said that after many attempts to bear a child, she had received favour from God and gave birth this month to a baby boy with her new husband. Makhathini was married to Mandela in 2011 but divorced in 2017. “As everybody knows, I was married but had no child. So after my separation from Mandla, I moved on and found love elsewhere and so I am extremely excited to be…

The voters expect, and indeed are entitled, to demand political parties, especially the official opposition, have sensible policies, advice and criticism of the government. It helps to know what you are talking about. It has been dumbfounding to note criticism of opposition leader John Steenhuisen’s visit to Ukraine. The government makes such a mess of most areas of our national life it earns a constant barrage of criticism. Therefore, one realises that opponents of the DA – especially the media – grasp almost any opportunity to say something nasty about the opposition, doing so in pursuit of “balance”. Steenhuisen speaks on most areas of government. His shadow ministers and the chief whip must do the same. He heavily criticised the presidential response to Ukraine. Ramaphosa all but came out on…

While we know criminals operate throughout the day and night, the cover of darkness does offer them extra benefits and opportunities to carry out their plans. This is why residents who leave home in the dark and return home after dark are particularly vulnerable and should take precautions to stay safe. With winter upon us, bringing shorter daylight hours, it is important to think about a change in routine, however minor, to improve personal and home safety. We also have load shedding to contend with. Shorter daylight hours also put pedestrians and commuters at higher risk, as well as people who exercise, like joggers and cyclists. There are particular reasons criminals infiltrate residential areas late at night or in the early hours of the morning, one of these being that…

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday defended Russia’s offensive in Ukraine and blamed Kiev and the West, as he looked to use grand Victory Day celebrations to mobilise patriotic support for the campaign. Speaking at the start of the annual military parade in Moscow’s Red Square marking the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany, Putin said Russian troops in Ukraine were defending their homeland and portrayed the conflict as a continuation of World War II. Addressing Russian forces on the front in Ukraine, he said: “You are fighting for the Motherland, for its future, so that no one forgets the lessons of the Second World War.” Putin has tried to connect the fighting in Ukraine to what Russians call the Great Patriotic War by describing authorities in Kiev as neo-Nazis. He made…

Earlier this year, the Sharks hosted South Africa’s rugby media at Kings Park and in the information session, chief executive Eduard Coetzee raised eyebrows when he proclaimed that the Sharks’ mission statement was to win the European Rugby Champions Cup. The old Heineken Cup is the biggest and richest rugby competition in the northern hemisphere after the Six Nations, and features the best teams from various tournaments, including the United Rugby Championship. Maybe the media were a touch startled because at that point the Sharks and the other SA teams were languishing in the bottom half of the United Rugby Championship standings, and Coetzee’s ambition seemed lofty. Four months later the Sharks, Stormers and Bulls are quarter-finalists in the United Rugby Championship and so have qualified for the next European…