Índex per 2022-03-17 a Star

T MARKANDAN | Kloof WHILE terror rains down on Ukraine, many people are quibbling about why it gets so much media coverage. They accuse the West of hypocrisy, giving preferential treatment to blond-haired, blue-eyed Christian refugees from Ukraine, while the dark-skinned refugees from non-European countries are given scant regard. To be fair, there has been media coverage on Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan and other hot spots. But we hear little of Kashmir. As for the atrocities being committed against the Uyghur minority in China, Western media have been virtually barred from Xinjiang. Why, does the Muslim world focus only on Palestine and not on China? Why does our media keep silent about Yemen, Mozambique and Haiti? Even Pakistani President Imran Khan has turned a blind eye to the…

COMETH DUBE-MAKHOLWA | Midrand GAUTENG has four academic hospitals: Steve Biko and Dr George Mukhari in Pretoria, and Chris Hani Baragwanath and Charlotte Maxeke in Johannesburg. I have serious doubts that the R59.4 billion budget allocation for Gauteng health services will be enough to see the four hospitals through the year, let alone cover all the hospitals and primary health-care centres in the province. My experience, having returned to Tembisa from 2002 to 2013, the year I retired, was that our budget for theatre was always about R7 million, which we usually received in May. It would be depleted by the end of August. When we ordered what was needed, the theatre manager would tell us that the hospital had no more money, because part of the budget…

WITH all that is happening in the world, how fitting to take a pause from the chaos and focus on good, but reflective, times as Joburg Theatre presents a three-nights-only concert with the incredible creative singer-songwriter and social activist who ranks among the world’s finest, Simphiwe Dana. Recognising her immense and distinctive talent, Dana will be creating a new offering, Moya, in April. In this undertaking, Dana seeks to offer her audience a new experiential journey as she weaves her message through a story being told through the a cappella roots of her music and the spiritual call there is in it. Given the magnitude of loss we have suffered in the past two years, a gathering to take stock of our spiritual health is important and Moya endeavours to…

The right to water and sanitation is a human right provided for in the bill of rights. The Constitution contains a Bill of Rights which forms part of the cornerstone of our democracy. It enshrines the rights of all people and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality, and freedom. The Constitution places a legal obligation on government to ensure this right becomes a reality for all people living in the country. Successive governments have, over the past 27 years, prioritised the provision of water especially to communities that were deliberately excluded by apartheid and the current administration continues to upgrade water infrastructure. As a young professional who grew up in Mpophomeni Township, KwaZulu-Natal, I accept the call to responsibility that comes with the many rights and freedoms that…

ACCESS to funding is an ongoing issue for university students in South Africa. The Covid-19 pandemic played a role in contributing to the burden, which has also caused some students to look to alternative ways of funding, since debt and student loans are not always within reach. Leana de Beer, founder and chief executive of education crowdfunding organisation Feenix, said a powerful solution to the problem has been for students to reach out to communities for financial support through the internet and social media platforms. “Crowdfunding is a way for students to raise funds for their university studies by connecting them to individuals and businesses who can make a financial contribution to their university fees,” said De Beer. She added that since the launch of Feenix in 2017, more than…

CHULUMANCO MAHAMBA chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za @Chulu_M EQUALITY, socio-economic and just administrative action rights violations are among the top three rights violations reported to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). The SAHRC released its Trends Analysis Report (TAR) for the financial year 2019/20 yesterday. The report provides a glimpse of the state of human rights and the priorities for the SAHRC prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. The SAHRC said the TAR provided a general overview of the handling of complaints for the year under review and informed Parliament and the public of the trends in human rights violations reported to the commission and the interventions it has undertaken. The report highlights a 13% increase in the number of complaints received by the commission compared to the…

Somalia has again pushed back the deadline for completing lower house elections, delaying until March 31 a process that is already more than a year overdue and has resulted in political sanctions. The postponement further delays the vote for a new president and prolongs a political crisis in a country also facing drought and an Islamist insurgency. The lower house elections were to be completed on March 15, but only three of five states had selected representatives, said election officials. | AFP…

HERMAN GIBBS Comment THE two squads in the recent Soweto Derby revealed there were only two players who were 21 years and younger, and one of those was a foreign-born player. Both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, starved of success for many years, had an average age of just over 28. It pointed to the generous use of experienced players, many of whom produce conscientious performances week in and week out but can no longer hold down a national team berth. Many of these experienced players no longer command regular match-winning performances to ensure these two storied clubs win more matches. In stark contrast, a club like Stellenbosch FC, with nine players younger than 22 years in their squad, have run them close on the Premiership standings. Bafana Bafana coach…

EVERTON are in crisis on the field, and relegation looks like a genuine prospect this season. Along with the big guns of the English top flight, the Toffees are one of the teams to have never been relegated in the Premier League era. When Rafa Benitez was sacked by the Merseysiders in January, Everton were six points clear of the relegation zone. Under Frank Lampard, there have been no clear signs of improvement so far. They head into their game against Newcastle United today only just above the drop zone on goal difference. Was it a mistake by Everton to appoint Lampard? It remains to be seen. Lampard is still a young manager who lacks experience. His only previous stints were with Derby County in the Championship and with his…

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za 3SIXTY Life was liquid, had met all liabilities and claims payments, and was awaiting the outcome of a court hearing following the release of a curatorship report that would outline the insurer’s recapitalisation. This was according to acting chief executive Khandani Msibi, who joined the insurance company that is owned by the National Union of Metalworkers in March last year. He said in a telephone interview yesterday they had put up R180 million in property, R130m of which was unencumbered, for the recapitalisation of 3Sixty. He said the company had been hard hit by claims through the Covid-19 pandemic’s second and third waves in particular and had late last year breached its solvency and minimum capital requirements. “At this stage we only had two options, liquidate…

MWANGI GITHAHU mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za DON’T pack up that home office just yet – the government is recommending working from home as an energy saving measure if, as looks likely, the price of fuel gets to R24 a litre as a result of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. International oil prices have soared to record levels in recent weeks because of the conflict and concerns over Russian oil supplies. Russia is the third top producer of crude oil and the conflict is being reflected in increased oil prices. Department of Mineral Resources and Energy deputy director-general Tseliso Maqubela said the government thought that companies that can have their employees work from home would be saving them from rocketing transport costs as the country would be adversely affected by the situation. “We…

The vehicle Baldwin Ndaba baldwin.ndaba@inl.co.za | Political Bureau The DA has accused Sedibeng District Municipality mayor Lerato Maloka of refusing to use a vehicle purchased for her as her official vehicle. Maloka first became Sedibeng District executive mayor in March last year following the death of former mayor Busisiwe Modisakeng, who died in January, due to Covid-19-related complications. Modisakeng ran the municipality at a time when it faced several corruption allegations. Last year, advocate William Mokhari was appointed to probe allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement in the Sedibeng municipality. Mokhari was also appointed to investigate allegations of maladministration and corruption against Stanley Khanyile, who had served as the municipal manager from June 2017 until he was shot dead in a mall parking lot in October last year. Following…

DR THABISI HOEANE | Pretoria THERE is an irony in that the many Russian oligarchs who have spread globally are now facing the wrath of the West as their ill-gotten riches are seized. These are people who were politically connected under communism and when the Soviet Union collapsed and liberalised/privatised, they looted the Russian state of billions of dollars, making them instant billionaires. The Russian economy was just too small for them to keep their stolen loot there and they had to spread it all over the world. As usual, the West has no scruples whose money it receives and does not care whether it is dirty. It welcomed these massive investments, which ranged from property to football clubs. Thus the hypocrisy of the West has now been…

Morgan Bolton morgan.bolton@inl.co.za THE National State of Disaster might have been prolonged for another month, but the extension is more akin to a state of emergency for the country’s sporting codes. As pointed out by Sharks CEO Eduard Coetzee this week, it has been more than 700 days since the nation’s stadiums have been allowed to operate at capacity; and the recent extension will do the situation, teams, clubs, unions and franchises no favours. Stadiums are allowed a paltry 2 000 spectators. Administrations are haemorrhaging money to stay afloat. Without fans, there can be no sport, so the financial implications of another month-long “ban” is severe. This is about survival, and there is a growing fear that by the end of the state of disaster, some of the teams would…

Anita Nkonki anita.nkonki@inl.co.za WHEN she realised that she could hold musical notes at the age of 7, that was Malakhiwe Grootboom’s discovery of her musical talent and she has since sought to succeed in the world of music. Afro-soul rising star “KhiweG” kicked off her music career by entering talent shows, forming music groups and joining choirs such as the Eastern Cape Youth Choir. As her enthusiasm grew, she began exhibiting her talent on her YouTube channel where she did music covers and Xhosa folk songs. Placing her talent on a platform such as YouTube garnered a lot of positive feedback on her covers, pushing her to take her career a step further. She said these opportunities enabled her to learn a lot about music and built her confidence in…

Sonri Naidoo sonri.naidoo@inl.co.za AFTER two weeks of screenings, sifting through more than 360 productions from 86 countries, the international selection of the upcoming International Public Television Screening Conference (INPUT) is complete. The final selection of 64 Productions from 30 countries includes Kick It, produced by Mindset Concept Production House, owned by Lungelo Dhladhla and Sbu Ngobeni. Kick It is a South African Film & Television Awards-winning production highlighting the problem of substance abuse in the country. It was funded by the Gauteng Department of Social Development for the SABC, where it has been broadcast to resounding audience response. Dhladhla, the founder and chief executive of Mindset Concept, said the team was very excited but still needed funds to take them there. “It’s a big achievement for our craft and most…

ZELDA VENTER zelda.venter@inl.co.za THE South African authorities failed to recognise the rights of a refugee who is legally in the country, the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court. He had to spend 21 days in appalling conditions behind bars – simply because both the police and Home Affairs refused to look at his valid refugee permit. Roy Kamushinda instituted a R200 000 damages claim against the police and a magistrate this week ordered that Kamushinda was entitled to the damages and ruled that the State entities had to pay him. Kamushinda was stopped on May 6, 2015 by the police in Johannesburg and was asked to produce valid documentation that he was legally in the country. Kamushinda informed him he was a recognised refugee, but that he had accidentally left his permit at…

As we celebrate Human Rights Week, we will do well to reflect on our heroes and heroines – men and women who dedicated their lives to fight for the human dignity of the people of African descent in Africa, in the diaspora and all over the world. They lived in much more difficult times than we have to contend with today, but they had a calling in their lives to pave the way for us. In a foreword to the book, They Are Africans by Barrister Dudley Thompson, (OJ, QC, an internationally renowned barrister), with paintings by Barrington Watson, (Jamaican master painter), former UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, says: “While all these leaders would have continued to struggle for Africa's future, I believe they would have been prouder still of the…

Eight people have been rescued and at least 15 are missing after a major landslide in Peru, the government said yesterday, with police and fire brigades continuing their search in the hope of finding more survivors. The landslide occurred on Tuesday in northern Peru. Between 60 and 80 homes were left buried underground. The National Civil Defense Institute said the landslide was the result of heavy rains. Local authorities said the vegetation-covered mountain was not suitable for building homes. | Reuters…

SMISO MSOMI smiso.msomi@inl.co.za THE opportunity to lead one of the biggest clubs on the continent is one that should never be taken lightly. The demands and levels of expectation associated with such a pivotal position exceed the normal rigours of a footballer. Kaizer Chiefs have had inspirational characters leading the line in the past. The likes of Ryder Mofokeng, Neil Tovey, Patrick Mabedi, Cyril Nzama and Siphiwe Tshabalala piloted Amakhosi to numerous titles and cups. The Naturena-based club have an interesting predicament on their hands this season, however, as club captain Itumeleng Khune continues to watch from the stands. The veteran goalkeeper hasn’t seen much game time in a Chiefs shirt and this has left most of his on-field captain duties to experienced teammate Bernard Parker. Parker recently turned 36,…

Stuart Hess stuart.hess@inl.co.za CRICKET South Africa (CSA) hopes that restoring trust with sponsors, players and various other stakeholders will be accelerated now that it has finally appointed Pholetsi Moseki as permanent chief executive. Moseki, who has agreed a five-year contract, had been acting CEO since December 2020, and takes up the position at a challenging time for all sports from a financial perspective. In CSA’s case, those issues are exaggerated by problems the organisation created for itself, chiefly by previous occupiers of the position. “In five years’ time I do hope there will be a farewell party attended by everyone. I won’t be chased away by lawyers before my time ends as has been the case with some of my predecessors,” Moseki quipped. Gerald Majola was removed as CEO in…

Morgan Bolton morgan.bolton@inl.co.za Griquas (14) 49 Tries: Hartzenberg, Mulder, Xamlashe, Dube, Zito, Jonker, Sirgel Conversions: Du Plessis (5), Davids (2) Yellow Card: Pretorius Sigma Lions (3) 17 Tries: Mollentze, Rossouw Conversions: Tedder (2) Penalty: Tedder GRIQUAS stuck to their gameplan, in spite of clear scoring opportunities, to first grind down the Sigma Lions; and then to dominate and demolish the embattled Johannesburg-based side in an impressive Currie Cup victory yesterday. The Lions were under siege for most of the first half, and only a massive defensive effort and Griquas’ insistence to punt every penalty into the corners, ensured that the half-time score was limited to 14-3. Indeed, in a period of 20 minutes between fullback Rynhardt Jonker breaking the line to release Munier Hartzenberg in the 16th minute to finish…

On January 26, I reported on the employment of foreign nationals and the fear the ministerial moves to create quotas about the employment of foreign nationals would create violence. Over this past week, we have seen flare-ups of xenophobic violence in Joburg, and I venture to add this xenophobia will spread across the country. An organisation known as “Operation Dudula” has formed a vigilante group that has taken it upon itself to monitor and get rid of foreign workers. A few months back a political party chose to undertake a similar exercise by threatening employers with action if they had too many foreign workers in their workplace. The worsening unemployment figures have created an environment conducive to scapegoating and violence. Every family has been affected by unemployment and today it…

TSHEPO DIALE | Nkwe Estate MARCH reminds us of human rights. We know that most human rights violations happen on farms. The land restitution programme is at the centre of government programmes to redress the land injustices perpetrated through colonialism and apartheid. It is an opportunity for those who were forcefully removed from their land, an opportunity to restore the land and their dignity. Our goal is to see a sustainable agrarian reform with a thriving small and large farming sector; improved access to affordable and diverse food; improved rural services to support sustainable livelihoods; rural job creation linked to skills training and promoting economic livelihoods; and an enabling institutional environment for sustainable and improved growth. The land should be returned to the people because it was stolen…

Kutloano Makgoro | Vosloorus People are wondering when we will stop wearing masks. With the number of vaccinated people increasing by the day, it leaves people with the hope that we will return to a mask-free wearing nation someday. However, I do not think it will be possible or necessary to stop wearing masks completely. Covid-19 can still infect people that are vaccinated and a huge number of people reported that they did not catch the normal flu last winter since they started wearing masks in public. Masks are a necessity that we have to live with from now on.…

Bongani Nkosi bongani.nkosi@inl.co.za SOUTH Africa’s metros face crippling drinking water restrictions in the next five years due to factors including the poor state and performance of treatment plants, climate change and urbanisation. The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has relayed this forecast in the National Infrastructure Plan 2050. Water could be restricted across all eight metros before 2030 if there were no significant changes in its management, said the newly published document. “There is a high risk of water restrictions being imposed in all of South Africa’s metropolitan areas over the next five years, with restrictions currently in place in six of the eight metros. “Current estimates indicate that seven out of 13 major water systems could be in deficit in 2040,” it said. “Although interventions have been identified…

Ukraine said yesterday it wants its security to be guaranteed by international forces and rejected proposals pushed by Russia for it to adopt a neutral status comparable to Austria or Sweden. “Ukraine is now in a direct state of war with Russia. As a result, the model can only be ‘Ukrainian’ and only on legally verified security guarantees,” its top negotiator, Mikhailo Podolyak, said. He called for a legally binding security agreement, signed by international partners, who would “not stand aside in the event of an attack on Ukraine, as they do today”. The Kremlin earlier yesterday said that a neutral Ukraine along the lines of Sweden or Austria was being discussed at talks with Kyiv to end three weeks of fighting in Ukraine. “This is an option that is…

Lebanon’s Fransabank yesterday closed all of its 50 branches in following a judicial order freezing its assets, in a legal dispute with a man who is seeking to unlock funds stuck in the Lebanese banking system. Lebanese banks have frozen most savers out of their hard currency deposits since a financial crisis in 2019. The order required Fransabank to reopen the account of the depositor and pay out his deposit in cash. The bank said it had issued him a cheque for the value of his deposit and he was therefore no longer a client. | Reuters…

Mihlali Baleka mihlali.baleka@inl.co.za THE South African Football Association (Safa) has reported that they are “on a sound financial footing” after receiving financial backing from various entities, including their sponsors and Fifa, over the years. “We have long-term sponsorship contracts with most of our partners. The average term of our contracts is four years and these contracts are renewable,” Safa said in a statement yesterday. The statement details how the monies received are distributed, but it is not clear why the statement was released. Safa has long-term sponsorships with various companies including SA Breweries, Sasol and the SABC. These sponsors are responsible for backing Bafana Bafana, Banyana Banyana or both teams. With Safa a member of the world governing body, the association also benefits “through a programme known as the FIFA…

GUENTHER Steiner has got used to his phone pinging with bad news for his Haas Formula One team, but Sunday’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix could be the start of something better. The US-owned outfit, who joined the grid in 2016, have had a turbulent time since they finished fifth overall in the 2018 standings, slumping to the bottom of the championship tables last year. The last few weeks have been particularly trying. Haas were forced to sever ties with Russian racer Nikita Mazepin and his oligarch father’s potash-producing title sponsor Uralkali earlier this month after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The team’s freight was then delayed due to a technical problem with the aircraft carrying it, forcing them to miss the first half of the opening day of the final test…