Índex per 2022-07-28 a Star

Ntombezinhle Jiyane, aka DJ Zinhle, is one of the most talked about women in South Africa. The mother, DJ, author, entrepreneur and reality TV star is always a hot topic on social media. Despite all the attention, she’s given the public a glimpse into her personal life with her reality show The Unexpected, which is gearing up to return to BET Africa for its second season in August. The trailer entices viewers with clips of Zinhle wearing a head scarf with ululating sounds in the background as well as moments of her breaking down. In the first season, which was considered a “special”, revolved around Zinhle’s businesses, home life and second pregnancy, as viewers witnessed her and her boyfriend Bongani Mohosana’s, aka Murdah Bongz’s, failed attempt at setting up Asante’s…

A SIXTEENTH suspect has been added to a number of underworld figures in the trial for the murder of Brian “Steroid King” Wainstein. Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Katlego Mogale said Igur “The Russian” Russol briefly appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court this week and faces charges ranging from conspiracy to commit murder to gang-related charges and contravention of the firearms Control Act. Russol will appear alongside alleged underworld figures including Mark Lifman, Jerome “Donkie” Booysen and Andre Naude in the Western Cape High Court next month, as the murder trial gets under way. Russol was released on R15 000 bail yesterday. “This comes after the execution of a warrant for his arrest (on Tuesday) and he was indicted to appear in the Western Cape High Court…

THE JUDICIAL Service Commission (JSC) has been asked to submit written reasons to Western Cape High Court Judge President (JP) John Hlophe’s legal team for its suspension recommendation made to the Presidency. Judge Hlophe, through his legal team, also said he was contemplating applying to court to have the process followed by the JSC and the resultant decision set aside on review. Representing Judge Hlophe, Barnabas Xulu SC wrote to the JSC saying that his client had been prejudiced by the JSC. “As stated by yourself, Judge President Hlophe had made comprehensive written representations to the JSC prior to the JSC taking its decision. Those representations were contained in a letter written by us to the JSC dated July 22. “In paragraph 68 of that letter, Judge President Hlophe asked…

It is not unusual to hear references to South African tenancy laws favouring tenants. Evicting a tenant can be problematic especially if an unscrupulous tenant is determined to defend the court proceedings. Some dishonest tenants exploit the landowner’s death by refusing to pay rentals to the executor of the deceased estate. This gets complicated if the executor dies before the estate is wound up because family members do not have the right to collect rentals. Factor in an eviction proceeding and recovery of arrear rentals initiated by the executor who dies before the matter is settled by the court; the dishonest tenant will continue to occupy, rent-free. Most tenants are not dishonest, they pay their rentals and perform their contractual obligations. Landowners use their real estate as income-generating investments and…

A non-profit organisation is putting their lives on the line by attempting to summit Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness and alleviate the problems the South African deaf community faces. Nolan Pillay, one of the directors of the Be the Best Version of Yourself Foundation told The Star that he had been involved with the deaf community since 2019 and this had led him to start raising awareness of the challenges faced by the deaf. “I realised that deaf people feel isolated in a way from hearing people. It’s not that hearing people don’t want to communicate with them, it’s more that they don’t know how to communicate with them. We want to bridge this gap,” Pillay said. Next month the foundation’s team of hikers, in an initiative supported by Miss,…

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has charged the husband of the Worcester pastor arrested for alleged human trafficking and possession of child pornography for involvement in the case. The arrest comes after an investigation following his wife’s arrest on July 11. Police allege the pair deceived the parents of three children into allowing them to host their kids at a sleepover in their home between 2016 and 2022, where they allegedly took advantage of them. NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said: “The husband of the Worcester pastor who appeared in court last week charged with human trafficking and possession of child pornography has been arrested and is set to appear in the Worcester Magistrate’s Court on August 4. “The husband, who cannot be named as he has not pleaded, now joins…

EIGHT excruciatingly boring select committee hearings later and the Democrats are still nowhere near charging Donald Trump with sedition. In fact, they’re going to bore the American public to death with more hearings in September. This is almost worse than the Mueller hearings of yesteryear that amounted to nothing. CNN, as usual, laid its egg in the wind with comments such as “Trump never called law enforcement” and “Trump watched the attack on television instead of taking action”. When he wanted to go to the Capitol, the secret service stopped him. Then the dramatic headline: “Pence’s security said goodbye to families, fearing for their lives”. The video shows Pence and others scampering down the stairs to safety, even chatting to each other. Another ridiculous headline stating, “Senator Hawley’s fist pump…

NO DOUBT, South Africa is going through a lot of challenges. Unemploy- ment and poverty levels are intolerably high. The price of goods is on the increase. The economy is hardly growing. Crime and corruption are rampant. Even the basics have been falling apart. Electricity supply has been sporadic, at best. Poor road maintenance has resulted in many potholes. Local municipalities have all but fallen apart. The rail network has been dismantled. Many hospitals lack basic medicines, staff and facilities to offer much-needed medical care. The list goes on. Politicians seem to have no solutions to these challenges. As a result, more and more ordinary South Africans are increasingly growing uneasy with the direction the country is taking. No wonder, then, that former president Thabo Mbeki, recently warned his own…

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake killed at least five people in the northern Philippines yesterday, toppling buildings and shaking high-rise towers more than 300km away in the capital Manila. The shallow and powerful quake struck the mountainous and lightly populated province of Abra on the main island of Luzon, the US Geological Survey said. Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more damage than deeper ones. This one left more than a 100 people injured, triggered landslides, damaged buildings and knocked out power. “We felt really strong shaking. We started shouting and rushed outside,” said university student Mira Zapata in the San Juan municipality of Abra, which took the full force of the quake. “Our house is okay but houses down the hill were damaged.” As buildings shook and walls cracked in the municipality…

Nairobi: Kenyan banks are running out of small banknotes because politicians are bribing people to try to win support for next month’s election, a government minister charged yesterday. Politians have been handing out small amounts of cash to people attending campaign rallies ahead of the August 9 vote in a country where corruption is endemic. “People are standing on the roadside just to get 200 shillings from all these money launderers,” said Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i. Bribes are punishable by a fine of up to two million shillings (R281 050) and/or six-years in jail. | AFP…

THE South African Women’s football team were deservedly given a heroine’s welcome at the OR Tambo Airport on Tuesday as they returned with their first ever Women’s African Cup of Nations (Wafcon) trophy. Among them was a midfield rock flashing a bright smile and what has become a signature red lipstick, Nomvula Kgoale. The-26-year-old took a while to get going in the tournament but when she did, she dominated Botswana and Morocco. Apart from her usual impeccable breaking down of opponents’ play and her hard-running style, Kgoale provided the killer pass to set up youngster Nthabiseng Majiya against Botswana before she put Jermaine Seoposenwe through on goal for the opening goal in the final. She has won the hearts of the football fraternity with her work ethic and desire on…

A MALE teacher at Fred Margadie Primary School in Eersterust in Pretoria, who holds a senior position, stands accused of assaulting his colleagues and learners. The timeline of reported cases against the teacher, as reported by an organisation called Rea Thusa We Help, dates as far back as 2019 when he was appointed at the school. “In 2019, a female learner was beaten at the school by the senior teacher. A police case was opened, but to date nothing has come of it despite (the teacher) being found guilty by the Gauteng Department of Education and ordered to pay a fine. “On May 3, 2022, he allegedly assaulted a former acting principal at the school by violently grabbing her by the hand, shaking her violently and screaming at her in…

LONDON – McDonald’s will increase the price of its cheeseburger by 20% in Britain, in the first price hike for the popular item in 14 years as it responds to soaring inflation. The cheeseburger’s price will now rise to £1.19 (R39) from 99 pence. McDonald’s will also increase prices by 10p-20p for other items that have been hit by rising costs, the burger chain’s UK chief told customers on Tuesday. “We’re living through incredibly challenging times,” McDonald’s UK & Ireland CEO Alistair Macrow said. “Just like you, our company, our franchisees who own and operate our restaurants, and our suppliers are all feeling the impact of rising inflation.” The increase, which will take the cheeseburger above the psychologically important price point of £1, comes as British consumer price inflation hovers…

In a time when people are confronted by struggles in every corner of their lives, Zoleka Mandela has chosen to be an advocate for mental health, hoping to shed light on its significance. The author said by being candid about her journey, she aimed to be a beacon of hope to many, while also encouraging positivity. Known to never shy away from sharing her life experiences, Mandela is set on changing perceptions by initiating honest conversations around mental health issues to promote the Nestlé Cremora Joy of Inclusion campaign. Asked about her reason for being so transparent, she said: “When I think about what I have gone through, what sticks out the most for me is how lonely it has been, even as someone coming from a very large family.…

THE once great ANC has run out of steam. One can liken them to boxing’s all time greats, who for a time were world champions, unbeatable in the ring, but sadly fell apart outside the ring... wine, women, song, excessive lifestyles allowing them to get fat, unfit, sloppy, losing complete focus of the importance of remaining fit for purpose. So too have the ANC, succumbed to gluttony, corruption, political incoherence, delivery ineptitude and all the other sins a lack of focus brings with it. The ANC won the revolution, but lost sight of the fact that being in politics requires a level of honesty and astuteness – being in office for the greater good, for the country and people that they serve. Instead, they have, over a period of 28…

Being a supporter can be an arduous, thankless task – one where much love and commitment can be sacrificed to heart-breaking defeat. Some days, however … ah, yes, some days it can be a glorious triumph; and on the rare occasion that triumph can also be the culmination of a journey where the final destination's outcome is a massive payout after years of priceless, emotional investment. The Springboks had one such journey from 2018, which ultimately resulted in lifting the Webb Ellis trophy by winning the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019. This past week, Banyana Banyana achieved a similar feat, all the sweeter because of the multiple agony that has come before. After coming desperately close on five occasions in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Banyana…

Arriving at Kloofzicht for the 2021 annual Toyota Fortuner Challenge, I was received with a warm welcome and was pleasantly surprised at the luxury and beauty of the venue. From the hotel staff to the media companies and Toyota itself, hospitality and care was shown from the outset. Settling into my hotel room, in anticipation of what was to come, my nerves and enthusiasm went into overdrive. Suffice to say, I got little sleep (although the bed was as comfortable as a cloud). The break of dawn came rushing in, along with a surge of adrenaline. I slipped on the kit that came with a tight glove-like feel, leaving the flow of blood to pulse under the compression of the protective clothing. It was time, along with it also…

There is a need to transform the underlying economic principles of the economies in southern African countries to address the persistent challenges of severe poverty and unemployment. Two of the region’s strategies are the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) Vision 2050 and its Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan. These highlight technology as a way to lead economic growth equitably and sustainably in a growing industrialised region. But in our view, these plans aren’t enough. Historical drivers – such as poor governance and the legacies of colonialism – have kept the region’s potential locked in negative cycles. It’s true that the desire for industrial transformation exists. But the practicalities are not connected with real buy-in from power brokers. The result is low levels of implementation. The SADC has set itself the…

QUEBEC CITY: Pope Francis travelled yesterday to Quebec for meetings with Canada’s political leadership, a mostly political pause from the main purpose of his trip – apologising for the Church’s role in running indigenous schools. Francis left Edmonton, Alberta, for the Citadelle de Quebec, a historic site, to meet Canada’s governor general, Mary Simon. He was to meet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and speak to about 100 officials, diplomats and indigenous leaders. Francis will today visit the oldest Catholic pilgrimage site in North America, and meet the archbishop of Quebec. | Reuters…

Sydney: Miners in Angola have unearthed a rare pure pink diamond believed to be the largest found in 300 years, the Australian site operator announced yesterday. A 170 carat pink diamond, dubbed the Lulo Rose, was discovered at Lulo mine in the country’s diamond-rich north-east and is among the largest pink diamonds ever found, the Lucapa Diamond Company said in a statement to investors. The “historic” find of the Type IIa diamond, one of the rarest and purest forms of natural stones, was welcomed by the Angolan government, which is also a partner in the mine. | AFP…

SUPERSPORT United’s recruitment drive, with new head coach Gavin Hunt at the helm, has moved into overdrive as a trio of Mamelodi Sundowns players have arrived at Matsatsantsa for loan spells. Their arrival came days after SuperSport snapped up former Orlando Pirates central defender Thulani Hlatshwayo, who was starved of game time under co-coaches Mandla Ncikazi and Fadlu Davids last season. Hlatshwayo also played for Wits while Hunt was at the helm. The trio includes goalkeeper Ricardo Goss, midfielder/striker Grant Margeman and striker Thabang Sibanyoni. The players are on a two-year loan deal except for Sibanyoni, who is out on a season-long loan deal. Goss’s arrival will offset the loss of former stalwart goalkeeper Ronwen Williams who has joined crosstown rivals Sundowns. The 28-year-old Goss, who has two Bafana Bafana…

THE weight which customary marriages carry was illustrated once again during a legal wrangle by two widows. Both claimed that they were legally married to their now-deceased husband. The first wife said she married her husband in 1991 in terms of customary law. The second said she was the “true wife” as she had married her husband in 2007 in terms of civil proceedings. Both wives told the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, that they were entitled to their late husband’s estate, and each asked the court to declare her marriage as being valid. But when Steve Sibanyoni died in December 2020, he had no idea that his marriage to the second wife was not valid because, in terms of the court’s verdict after his death, he was in fact…

THE Road Accident Fund (RAF) pays lip service to the plight of claimants who, as a consequence of its failure to properly discharge its mandate, have to wait years to be compensated. Then they still have their payments delayed by disputes from the RAF in this regard. This is according to North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, Judge Anthony Millar, who made these remarks in the case of a woman injured nine years ago. The court earlier ruled Lauren Plaatjies was due to receive more than R4.5 million from the RAF for loss of earnings after her accident. This was after Plaatjies and the RAF were legally represented in court and a host of medical experts presented reports regarding her injuries. The RAF chose not to instruct its medical experts to…

We get to meet different people almost daily from all walks of life – it can be on public transport, while walking in the street, or in the workplace. Agile talent strategist, leadership and HR expert and executive coach Anja van Beek has outlined how we can best control ourselves if we randomly face a conflict. She said mastering our minds and thinking before we react could save us from a lot of things. “Emotional intelligence has an impact on all interactions”. The importance of the critical skill of emotional thinking, also known as EQ, was spelt out by psychologist and author Daniel Goleman in the 1990s in his book Emotional intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ. EQ, explained in short, is to better recognise and manage emotions.…

We all wondered where the president was when the nation was facing a serious energy crisis. Rumours and speculations made their rounds, keeping many of us worrying in the dark. Were the problems at Eskom insurmountable and beyond the capabilities of all those entrusted with running the power utility? Had the government reached a dead end as to how to resolve the crippling energy crisis? Was President Cyril Ramaphosa too embarrassed to show his face in public after he was caught out hiding his dollars under the sofa at the Phala Phala farm? But now, at last, he has stepped into the public gaze and addressed the nation on the energy crisis that is frustrating the public and destroying the economy and business. In a lengthy address, he outlined a…

After the KZN conference, the ANC has morphed into a Janus-like party, with one face as a party in power, mouthing rhetoric against “shadow enemies”, and the other as a protector of what was once a world-class economy. It is doubtful whether changes can revive the spirit of a once-great political party that can restore the glory it attained over 27 years ago. On its present political trajectory, the ANC will be voted out of power in 2024, whoever is elected leader. Popularism and realism will be defining characters in 2024. Fake news and online echo chambers have enhanced tribalism and division. Most voters are convinced that elitists’ links to corruption are indissoluble. With factional wars and a leadership in disarray, the ANC is looking woefully unprepared for the next…

Former South African president Thabo Mbeki recently launched a sharp critique of the governing ANC for failure to address what it has labelled the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality. Mbeki, who led the party from 1997 to 2007, said the government seemed to have no plan to address these problems, warning rising poverty and hardship, poor governance and mounting lawlessness could see South Africa erupt into its own version of the “Arab Spring”. The “Arab Spring” uprisings which swept across North Africa and parts of the Middle East more than a decade ago led to the overthrow of authoritarian regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. Many of the protesters were young and educated and had become disillusioned by the corruption and patronage that benefited only political and economic…

London: Outgoing UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is being touted as a potential new boss of Nato after quitting 10 Downing Street, amid warnings that he needs to stop encouraging a “Trumpish fantasy” about staying in power. Allies of Johnson suggest he could replace Jens Stoltenberg as secretary-general of the military alliance when the Norwegian steps down next year. Johnson would need to quit as an MP to take the post. About 10 000 Tory members are petitioning for him to be allowed to enter the UK leadership election. But a new poll shows that 70% of voters think he was right to quit. | IANS…

LEADING one of the Soweto glamour clubs Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in any capacity requires one to develop a thick skin. The likes of retired captains Jimmy Tau (Chiefs) and Lucky Lekgwathi (Pirates) will attest to the fact that the fans of the two clubs were quick to call for their heads whenever they made mistakes despite their trophy-laden spells with the Soweto giants. Therefore, Innocent Maela will do well to seek advice from the club legends on how to withstand the heat and be successful as he was announced as the new captain of the Sea Robbers yesterday, ahead of the 2022/23 campaign. The captain’s armband at the Buccaneers had been left vacant following the departure of veteran hardman Happy Jele, who had been at the club for…