Índex per 2021-10-19 a Star

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za DOMESTIC natural gas and helium producer Renergen has completed a forward sale agreement for 100 000 units of helium to Argonon Helium US, a helium trading company. The agreement is for 19 years. Each unit represents a thousand cubic feet (mcf) of liquid helium. Argonon will use the helium to issue tokens, which will in due course be listed on an exchange with the assistance of financial services provider Purple Group’s EasyCrypto platform, providing transparency in the price of helium for the first time. Renergen’s share price surged 6.7 percent to R585.85 yesterday morn- ing after the deal was announced. Purple group’s share price was up 1.51 percent to R2.02 at the same time. The tokens will be fully redeemable for helium at the…

Banele Ginindza banele.ginindza@inl.co.za TRANSNET confirmed yesterday that its Richards Bay and Durban ports were fully operational after a major fire at the former facility and bad weather at the latter last week saw the utility declare force majeure over the weekend. The major logistics state-owned enterprise said a second fire at Port Richards Bay, which broke out on Wednesday and reignited on Friday, had affected one of the import conveyor belt routes. “Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) would like to reassure all stakeholders that the ports of Durban and Richards Bay are open. TNPA is aware of reports on social media that these ports are closed and confirms that this is fake news,” said Ayanda Mantshongo executive manager: corporate affairs and external relations at TNPA. Mantshongo said shipping was suspended…

Kedibone Modise With over 200 sculptures on show, the fourth edition of SculptX offers visitors a glimpse into the different artistic approaches being applied to sculptural works. The fair was established by The Melrose Gallery in 2017 in association with Melrose Arch and will be on display across multiple venues until October 24. “With the cancellation of many art fairs and larger shows over the last two years, we felt it is important that we present SculptX this year despite the challenges. “We expect that SculptX will be even more special and will generate extensive interest this year as it is a positive expression of the art sectors’ desire to continue to create and present their works despite the pandemic,” said Craig Marks, director and founder of the Melrose Gallery.…

Viwe Ndongeni-Ntlebi viwe.ndongeni@inl.co.za As the country marks Mental Health Awareness month, a call has been made to reduce the stigma and discrimination that people with mental illness are often subjected to. A recent World Health Organization (WHO) survey shows that Covid-19 has disrupted or halted critical mental health services in 93% of countries worldwide while the demand for such services has increased. Before the pandemic, the WHO found that many countries were spending less than 2% of their national health budgets on mental health and struggling to meet their populations’ needs. This has sparked concerns that the current situation could become dire if ignored. A study conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council during the first hard lockdown around April 2020 reported that 33% of South Africans were suffering…

THE Department of Home Affairs has from yesterday temporarily extended the operating times at offices by two-and-a-half hours to meet the growing demand for services. The department said of the 412 Home Affairs offices, 197 were modernised “live capture” offices that could process smart ID cards and passports, “These are the offices that will operate for extended hours because that is where the high demand is being experienced.” The Home Affairs minister had approved the extension. | BULRUSHES…

Sonri Naidoo A STATE witness in the Nathaniel Julies trial yesterday testified that he saw blood spots of the victim in the back of the police van. Warrant officer Raphatla Moloi from the SAPS Crime Investigation Team in Gauteng told the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court that he reconstructed the scene where Julies was murdered on September 1 last year. He took photos of the police van that drove Julies to the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital after he was shot, he testified. It is alleged that Julies was shot on August 26 last year by accused number one, Caylene Whiteboy, and was picked up by accused number two Simon Scorpion Ndyalvane, and put in the back of the van, and rushed to hospital. Another officer, accused number three…

Mashudu Sadike mashudu.sadike@inl.co.za EMOTIONAL and cyberbullying are worse than physical abuse in schools, Deputy Minister of Basic Education Dr Reginah Mhaule has said. She was speaking to learners at Jacob Marwale Primary School during the second leg of a bullying, prevention, alcohol abuse, drugs and substance abuse event in schools at Ga-Nchabeleng, Sekhukhune in Limpopo on Friday. Also at the event were Deputy Minister in the Presidency Pinky Kekana, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development John Jeffrey, Limpopo Education MEC Polly Boshielo and executive mayor of Sekhukhune District Stan Ramaila. “In 2016, emotional bullying remained the most prevalent from of bullying among secondary school learners at 82.6%, followed by 56.7% of cyberbullying and physical bullying at 42.3%,” Mhaule said. Based on the outcome of the 2016 study, cyberbullying among…

John Whitlock | Germiston I HAVE, on numerous occasions, read remarks in letters alluding to the same theme – “We live in a constitutional democracy which is in immense pain, and which suffers from trauma inflicted on its people by apartheid.” I have yet to come across anyone who can explain what is meant by the platitudes. The only ones to blame for the parlous state of South Africa is the incompetent ANC government. It has destroyed a once-thriving country, through fraud, corruption, cadre deployment, nepotism, cronyism, unqualified officials, affirmative action and maladministration. It has “inflicted trauma” on its own people. The new generation, born in 1990, are in their thirties and have been living in a democracy free from the shackles of apartheid. Yet there has been…

INTERNATIONAL Day for the Eradication of Poverty, observed on October 17, is a reminder of the challenges and prospects of addressing this worldwide problem – made much more serious during the current global crises. Poverty is a problem for all of humanity, not just for the poor. So far, the focus of poverty eradication programmes has been, mainly, the transfer of financial resources. Although this has improved living standards in some parts of the world, inequality remains widespread. The gap that separates the rich and the poor is, in fact, widening each year, which indicates that current systems in place to eradicate poverty are incapable of solving the problem. Long-held theories and conventional approaches are failing to suppress prejudices, conflicts, and exploitation – all of which aggravate poverty. Extremes of…

From Page 1 The ACDP leader believed that parents should be guiding their children on whether they should vaccinate, and said the state must not try to divorce parents from their responsibilities. “The act talks about whether a child is mature enough, but how do we define maturity if we are not using age? Maturity is very relative,” he said. Some parents also disagreed with the act. Phindile Zaphi, the mother of a 15-year-old, said if vaccination was compulsory according to her child’s school, she would allow her child to get the jab. However, she said it was wrong that children just 12 years old could consent to a Covid-19 vaccine. “I was so sad when I heard that my child could consent without my approval because I have…

UK media outlets have reported that the suspect behind Tory MP Sir David Amess’s murder was plotting to kill any UK politician, and that the 69-year-old MP was stabbed to death “at random”. The suspect, Ali Harbi Ali, 25, a British national of Somali heritage, reportedly was radicalised after he watched videos of convicted Islamist hate preacher Anjem Choudary. Ali was referred to a UK counter-terrorism programme, but was not believed to be extreme enough to alert British intelligence. | Sputnik…

Zaahier Adams zaahier.adams@inl.co.za SOUTH Africa’s history of exporting cricketers to the UK is a well documented story, but on Sunday’s opening day of the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup in Oman a new chapter emerged. Joburg-born all-rounder Chris Greaves, who was playing just his second international match, delivered a match-winning performance to power his adopted country Scotland to a shock six-run victory over Bangladesh. The impact of Greaves’ performance goes far beyond his 28-ball 45 that led Scotland to 140/9, and 2/13 which restricted Bangladesh to 134/9. Greaves walked to the crease with Scotland in trouble at 53/6 in the 12th over. He would never before have come close to facing the quality and class of a bowler such as the highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history Shakib-al-Hasan. Neither…

Lehlohonolo Mashigo lehlohonolo.mashigo@inl.co.za GELUKSDAL Tsakane ward 82 has become a battleground between councillor Henry Buidendacht and contractor Thando “Sparks” Dotyeni. Buidendacht appeared in court yesterday on charges of malicious damage to property. The councillor is accused of destroying fibre connections laid by Dotyeni’s Havingstone Group. The R30 million project has become a thorn in the side of residents, some of whom are accusing the councillor of pushing for a company close to him to get the tender. Dotyeni, founder of the Havingstone Group, says Buidendacht is hell-bent on sabotaging the work of inserting fibre connectivity in the ward. “We have got a project where we’re installing fibre, and if you come with a project to communities it’s through the council. So we engaged with the councillor following due process…

Peter Bachtis | Benoni Such high drama at the St George hotel, where Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thandi Modise and two of her colleagues were involved in a theatrical hostage situation, with the ANC geriatric veterans. It seems Modise refused to see the “old timers”, to discuss their demands. You can’t blame the veterans, as they have endured 27 years of looting and have not been considered to receive some of the spoils. The so-called Special Forces were called in to disarm a group of old ANC warriors, of their walking sticks, hearing aids and bifocals. Scandalous! This will no doubt go down in history as one of the ANC’s most absurd moments, elevating their foolish behavior to heights never witnessed before. How have the people…

Chulumanco Mahamba chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za THE word “vaccination” has been named the 2021 South African Word of the Year, according to the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) in association with media research company, Focal Points. PanSALB made the announcement over the weekend and said the SA Word of the Year is “a word, term or expression preferred to reflect the passing year in language”. PanSALB said candidates for SA Word of the Year were reviewed by PanSALB and their merits debated, choosing one that captured the philosophy, mood, or preoccupations of this particular year. “The pandemic continues to occupy public discourse, with the government response to the pandemic and the responsiveness of the public to the messages of government significantly taking centre stage of these discussions,” said PanSALB chief executive Lance…

Education is a crucial cog in the attainment of a better future for young people. However, learner pregnancy often derails the dreams and ambitions of vulnerable young girls for a brighter future. The latest alarmingly high rate of learner pregnancy in schools is a cause for immense concern and should impel us to provide the necessary support to our schoolgirls. According to recent statistics released by the Gauteng Department of Health, about 23 000 schoolgirls fell pregnant between April 2020 and March 2021. This means almost 2 000 schoolgirls fell pregnant within a month, and more alarming is that some were as young as 10 years old. This disturbing phenomenon raises questions about the moral fibre of our society, as in some cases older men have been found to be…

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, 26, who was shot by the Pakistani Taliban as a schoolgirl, called on Afghanistan’s new rulers to let girls return to school. The Taliban say they will allow girls to return once they have ensured stricter segregation under their version of Islamic law. Yousafzai called on the leaders of Muslim nations to make it clear to the Taliban that “religion does not justify preventing girls from going to school. Afghanistan is the only country that forbids (it)” said the letter. | AFP…

HERMAN GIBBS Fresh from their continental engagement over the weekend, Orlando Pirates take on Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium tomorrow. Pirates would have been pleased with the 0-0 draw against Diables Noirs in the first leg of their Caf Confederation Cup first-round clash at Alphonse Massamba-Debat Stadium in Brazzaville, Congo, on Friday. Now back on home soil, Pirates will be keen to continue in that vein. This season, both Pirates and Maritzburg have been inconsistent. Pirates are in seventh place on the Premiership standings and should be favourites against the hosts. They were held to a 1-1 draw by Cape Town City in their previous league game. Maritzburg are several places lower down the standings in 11th place and are on a two-match losing streak. The home team…

The quarter-finals of the Cricket South Africa Provincial T20 Knock-Out take place in Kimberley today and tomorrow. Stuart Hess provides a forecast for all four matches ... Today, 10am: SWD v Titans: South Western Districts are the only Division Two team to qualify for the play-offs. They have done so by finding a good balance between circumspection from their top order, with Yaseen Vallie and Jean du Plessis playing anchor roles; some explosive hitting in the middle from young Heath Richards; and outstanding bowling from Herschell America, Renaldo Meyer and Onke Nyaku. Their opponents have studied them now, so how they adjust when their strengths are put under pressure is intriguing. For the Titans, it’s about being more aggressive with the bat. For a team who were once the leaders…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za SOUTH African businesses are expecting trade conditions to ease for the next six months and move into positive territory after the turbulence experienced in July and August. The SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) yesterday said the momentum in trade conditions remained in negative territory in September. Sacci said the Trade Activity Index (TAI) was at 39 points in September, below the 50 points mark that separates contraction from expansion. The TAI was temporarily interrupted in July and dipped to its lowest this year at 34 points due to supply chain disruption during civil unrest, and recovered to 39 points in August. Trade was severely hampered as thousands of businesses were van- dalised, looted and burnt down in July during some of the…

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za IRONGATE Group, formerly Investec Australia Property Fund (IAP), said yesterday that it had received a “highly conditional” and “unsolicited” A$1.1 billion (R12bn) takeover offer from fund manager 360 Capital Group, a company that IAP’s board previously warned might make a predatory offer. The offer was for all shares in Irongate that 360 Capital did not already own for A$1.6047 cash per security, which was made up of a headline price of A$1.65 less the anticipated distribution of A$0.0453 per IAP security for the half-year to September 30. Irongate’s share price rose 3.66 percent to R16.69 on the JSE yesterday around midday, while in Australia the price was up by the same percentage to A$1.56 per share. The proposal was conditional on ESR Real Estate (Australia)…

Kedibone Modise kedibone.modise@inl.co.za South African artist Astral Mngonyama was recognised as the national winner of the 2021 BIC Art Master Africa competition for his artwork titled Ubuntu. Hailing from uMlazi township, KwaZulu-Natal, the 22-year-old security guard said he is “deeply honoured” and “overwhelmed” to have received the prestigious accolade. Mngonyama said, interpreting the brief, to draw his piece from the ‘enchant everyday life,’ wasn’t too difficult because he is inspired by his surroundings and personal life experiences. Mngonyama said his award-winning portrait was inspired by his 91-year-old grandmother, who taught him to “value every aspect of life and to have compassion for every living being as well as nature”. “Creativity is important to me because it allows me to open my mind to new thoughts on life in general and…

Kelly-Jane Turner Video Journalist at IOL and African News Agency South Africa’s Covid-19 vaccination rollout will extend to children in the 12 – 17 age group from tomorrow. The age cohort will be able to receive a dose of the Pfizer vaccine ahead of the end-of-year examinations. “The MAC advised that for now, we only give one dose while assessing information, which suggests that in a few cases, there have been short-lived cases of transient myocarditis after two doses. The timing of the second dose will be informed by further information on this rarely observed side effect which has no permanent risk,” said Health Minister Joe Phaahla following advice from the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC). The timing of the second dose will be communicated when more information becomes available, he…

Loyiso Sidimba loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za THE group of military veterans accused of holding two ministers and a deputy minister hostage is expected back in court today. Court proceedings will be held at the Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria. The 53 former members of Umkhonto weSizwe, the Azanian People’s Liberation Army and the Azanian National liberation Army were arrested after allegedly holding Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise, her deputy Thabang Makwetla and Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele hostage at the St George Hotel in Centurion, Pretoria, on Thursday night. The group face charges of intimidation and, according to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), terrorism charges may be added. Dali Mpofu, SC, who is representing some of the veterans, told magistrate Bheki Ntshingila that the State did not know what to…

Gary Scallan | Cape Town WITH so many overpaid and plentiful politicians, South Africa should be working like a dream. As an ex-councillor by choice, I often hear people say that although they dislike all the political parties or candidates on offer, they do not know who to vote for. In the last election of 2019, more than 235 000 South Africans spoilt their vote, making the voters the fifth-largest political grouping. The spoilt vote is seen as a protest vote. The voters want change and are gatvol. The electoral dispensation is not working for the benefit of most citizens – there are too many politicians, and they are overpaid. The average salary for a councillor in the large metropolitan areas is about R525 000 (part-time) a year.…

SHARLIN MOODLEY | Pietermaritzburg WITH voting open for elections I have noticed a rise in pastors who have become involved in politics. I may be keen on politics but I am also aware that my interest in politics must not overshadow my interest in the Gospel. Many pastors and Christian leaders have allowed their interest in politics to subvert them from preaching the glory of God. Satan would gladly give Christians a victory at the polls if it meant a great many would no longer listen to the proclamation of the good news of Jesus.Or to put it the other way around, we should be happy to lose every political battle if it meant we would win more men and women to a genuine obedience of faith to…

Chulumanco Mahamba chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za A JOHANNESBURG Grade 7 learner has proved his maths prowess by being declared the overall winner of the senior division of the Nestlé Nespray SA Mathematics Challenge (SAMC). The SA Mathematics Foundation (SAMF) announced the top achievers in its flagship learner development programmes on Saturday. Emmanuel Rassou, a Grade 11 learner from South African College High School in Cape Town, received a gold medal and was declared the overall winner of the senior division of the Old Mutual SA Mathematics Olympiad (SAMO), while Noah Greenblatt, a Grade 7 learner from King David Primary School in Linksfield, Johannesburg, was declared the overall winner of the senior division of the Nestlé Nespray SAMC. Speaking after being announced the winner, Noah, 13, said he had been participating in the…

FACEBOOK yesterday announced plans to hire 10 000 people in the EU to build the “metaverse”, a virtual reality version of the internet that the tech giant sees as the future. Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has been a leading voice in Silicon Valley hype around the idea of the metaverse, which would blur the lines between the physical world and the digital one. The technology might, for example, allow someone to don virtual reality glasses that make it feel as if they’re face-to-face with a friend. |…

News that an armed Haitian gang has kidnapped 17 members of an Ohio-based missionary group has again pushed Haiti into the centre of an international crisis. But for Haitians rich and poor, gang violence and kidnappings for ransom have become a tragically common facet of life. Haiti, the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country, holds the grim record of the world’s highest kidnapping rate per capita. One gang, 400 Mawozo, was responsible for 80% of abductions in Haiti from June through September, according to Gédéon Jean, director of the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights in Port-au-Prince. When Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry attempted on Sunday to lead a ceremony commemorating the death of one of the country’s founding fathers, his delegation was met with a volley of gunfire that…

MATCHDAY 3 FIXTURES Today: Besiktas v Sporting Lisbon; Club Brugge v Manchester City; Ajax v Borussia Dortmund; Atletico Madrid v Liverpool; FC Porto v AC Milan; Inter Milan v Sheriff Tiraspol; Paris Saint-Germain v RB Leipzig; Shakhtar Donetsk v Real Madrid Tomorrow: Barcelona v Dynamo Kiev; Red Bull Salzburg v Wolfsburg; BSC Young Boys Bern v Villarreal; Benfica v Bayern Munich; Chelsea v Malmo FF; Lille v Sevilla; Manchester United v Atalanta; Zenit St Petersburg v Juventus PREVIOUS RESULTS Matchday 2: Atalanta 1:0 BSC Young Boys Bern; Zenit St Petersburg 4:0 Malmo; Bayern Munich 5:0 Dynamo Kiev; Benfica 3:0 Barcelona; Juventus 1:0 Chelsea; Manchester United 2:1 Villarreal; Red Bull Salzburg 2:1 Lille; Wolfsburg 1:1 Sevilla; Ajax 2:0 Besiktas; Shakhtar Donetsk 0:0 Inter Milan; AC Milan 1:2 Atletico Madrid; Borussia…

Roberto Firmino may have bagged a hat-trick, but it was the name Mohamed Salah that was on everyone’s lips after Liverpool’s 5-0 thrashing of Watford that featured another wonder goal from the Egyptian. Salah started with a sublime early pass to tee up Sadio Mane for the opening goal, but it was his second-half strike that stunned fans and reignited the discussion as to whether or not he is the best player in the world at the moment. Surrounded by defenders, he somehow manoeuvred himself into a sliver of space before sending a defender the wrong way and firing the ball into the net for another stunning solo finish, leaving manager Jurgen Klopp to declare him as the best player on the planet. Encouragingly for Liverpool, all of their forward…

Eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter is refusing to get carried away after his team thrashed Chippa United 4-0 in the Premiership over the weekend. Keagan Dolly produced a Man of the Match performance for Amakhosi, scoring a brace and playing a role in creating the other two goals as Baxter’s troops thumped Gavin Hunt’s team. Prior to the result, Chiefs had made a slow start to the new season, having won just one of their six league games. “With the word vindication, I’m not sure,” said Baxter. “We played six games. I was under pressure when people can see the work I’m doing and can speak to the players. “Possibly, the vindication comes from the criticism on social media and that is maybe where the tide will…

Fast bowler Curtis Campher took four wickets in four balls to help Ireland thrash The Netherlands by seven wickets in a first round match of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup yesterday. Campher took a hat-trick and then struck again to return figures of 4/26 as the Dutch were dismissed for 106 in the Group A opener in Abu Dhabi. In reply, Ireland lost two early wickets but veteran opener Paul Stirling, who made an unbeaten 30, and Gareth Delany, who scored 44, put on 59 runs for the third wicket to ease into their chase. Ireland achieved their target with 4.5 overs to spare as Campher hit the winning runs for his team’s first win over The Netherlands in a World Cup tournament. “(We wanted) just to attack the stumps…