Índex per 2023-09-22 a Star

Facing the number one team at the Rugby World Cup is “as big as it gets”, says captain Siya Kolisi, as the Boks gearing up for a blockbuster against Ireland in Paris tomorrow. But Bok fans, hoping to see their side don the green and gold as world champions against the Irish, will have to make peace with the fact that South Africa will wear their alternate white strip as Ireland will be in their emerald green for the Stade de France showdown at 9pm. It is to avoid a clash of colours as World Rugby look to accommodate those with a vision deficiency on match day to be able to see which team is which. The jersey colour issue has been a big debate locally, especially because the…

Holly Stephen King Loot (R275) Hodder & Stoughton In Stephen King’s new novel, Holly is on her own, and up against a pair of unimaginably depraved and brilliantly disguised adversaries. Readers have witnessed Holly’s gradual transformation from a shy recluse in Mr Mercedes to Bill Hodges’s partner in Finders Keepers to a fully fledged, smart, and occasionally tough private detective in The Outsider. When Penny Dahl calls the Finders Keepers detective agency hoping for help locating her missing daughter, Holly is reluctant to accept the case. Her partner, Pete, has Covid-19. Her mother has just died, and Holly is meant to be on leave. But something in Penny Dahl’s desperate voice makes it impossible for Holly to turn her down. Mere blocks from where Bonnie Dahl disappeared live Professors Rodney…

Comrades Marathon – 101 Years Of Highlights And Heroes 1921-2022 Tom Cottrell Loot (R249) Guide Book Publications As a novice marathon runner and a sucker for trivia and general knowledge, I’m not sure if this book was not written especially for me; it combines my two loves seamlessly. It is Road Running 101. The titbits of information are the sort you binge on to prepare for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire or some such quiz show. Victor Clapham, was born in London in 1886 – the year gold was discovered in the Witwatersrand. He founded the Comrades Marathon as a homage to the fallen South African heroes of World War I. This was an event he would personally organise for 17 years. Years later, the Clapham brainchild is one…

The recent fuel hike has, once again, placed a heavy burden on not only the poor, but on all facets of the economy. Unfortunately, there is another fuel hike on the horizon to make things even more difficult for all. Our incompetent, inefficient and uncaring government is powerless to call a halt to this ever-increasing burden. I would like to quote an ANC statement from September 16, 1993, in which the ANC demands the suspension of a petrol price increase. “The ill-considered and uncaring decision to increase the petrol price only confirms the NP government does not have the interest of the majority of South Africans who are poor and struggling desperately to make ends meet. Now is the time for them to establish the tradition of a government that…

RESIDENTS of some parts of Soshanguve have expressed frustration after their taps suddenly ran dry owing to Tuesday’s devastating thunderstorm that hit power lines supplying Zuikerbosch water treatment plant. Many affected residents took a swipe at the City of Tshwane for the water shortage, citing intermittent water outages in the township in recent months. One of the residents suspects that it is part of “a well-co-ordinated criminal attack on their human rights”. An angry Hezekial Themba said: “So there is no update with Soshanguve. We don’t have water in Block VV, WW, UU, XX. You don’t take Soshanguve seriously.” Rand Water said its Zuikerbosch water treatment plant’s power lines were affected by the severe thunderstorm at around midnight on Tuesday, which tripped the power at the plant. The water utility’s…

CHILDREN feel the brunt when the Department of Home Affairs blocks the ID documents of their parents, as the parents are unable to register their children’s births or to help them get their own IDs. This leaves children undocumented for years, infringing on their rights to a name or a nationality, the Children’s Institute (CI) at UCT this week argued in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria. The institute, represented by the Centre for Child Law, joined an application against the department as a friend of the court. Lawyers for Human (LHR) rights turned to court to challenge the conduct of Home Affairs in blocking certain people’s IDs , leaving them in the cold. They are representing more than 100 clients whose IDs are blocked. The CI highlighted the harsh…

THREE Centurion students have reached the finals of an international photography competition in the UK. Janelle Chetty, 15, Seth Cusak, 14 and Dominique Grayling, 14, beat the odds – and a lot of other students, to reach the final of the UK Down Syndrome Association’s “My Perspective” photography competition. The competition which gives budding photographers who have the genetic condition a chance to show off their talents to industry professionals, shortlisted the three youngsters. Janelle was delighted. Talking about her photograph,The Ball, she said: “I was being taught composition and this photo was taken. It is unedited. I like taking photos so I can always look at them over and over again.” Janelle is inspired by pictures and colours, and when not taking photos, enjoys watching movies, listening…

These little cubes of melt-in-your-mouth meat can be basted with your favourite sauce. Ingredients About 600g rump steak braai salt 6 skewers basting sauce Method Cut the steak into bite-sized cubes that will be easy to chew. Rather cut too small than too big. Season the cubes with braai salt Divide the meat unto four equal portions. Using one skewer for each portion, push cubes of meat onto the stick. Make sure the sharp end of the skewer is pointed away from you, pushing down into the meat on your cutting board. Do not push the sharp end of the skewer towards your face or into your hand. Braai the sosaties on a grid over hot coals for about 5 minutes, turning them once so they cook evenly. Remove the…

In the early hours of September 11, residents of Derna in north-east Libya woke to the sound of loud explosions. After more than a decade of conflict – initially between the Muammar Gaddafi regime and local factions, then among militias fighting for rule – they were used to the noise. But this was different. This was the breaking of two dams upstream towards the Jebel Akhdar (the Green Mountain) overwhelmed by the rain surge from Storm Daniel. A 7m wave thundered down Wadi Derna through the city, washing whole suburbs into the sea. Soon, thousands of people would be dead and tens of thousands missing. But even as aid organisations and foreign medical services were trying to organise rescue and recovery operations, Elseddik Haftar, the eldest son of the regional…

Paris: King Charles III yesterday pledged to do everything he could to strengthen the relationship between France and Britain, suggesting the “indispensable” partners should also team up to tackle the climate emergency. In a speech at the French Senate on the second day of a three-day visit to France aimed at tightening post-Brexit relations, Charles won a standing ovation from MPs. “The United Kingdom will always be one of France’s closest allies and best friends,” he said. He also vowed that London and Paris were “steadfast in our determination Ukraine will triumph” in fighting the Russian invasion. | AFP…

DERNA: Libya’s flood disaster, which killed thousands in the city of Derna, also displaced more than 43 000 people, the International Organization for Migration said yesterday. A tsunami-sized flash flood broke through two ageing river dams upstream from the coastal city after the Mediterranean Storm Daniel lashed the area on September 10. It razed entire areas, sweeping untold thousands of people into the sea. The official death toll stands at more than 3 300, but the eventual count is expected to be far higher, with aid groups estimating 10 000 people missing. | AFP…

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro is not a perfectionist, but he knows that certain matches deserve a different approach. Pirates have had a mixed start under Riveiro this season, having won six matches, drawn one and lost two across all competitions. And while that hasn’t warranted their Premiership title hopes, having lost two league games – including to champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday night – Pirates still hold a precious record. Since Riveiro took over the reins, Pirates are yet to lose in a domestic Cup game, winning eight matches and drawing one en route to winning the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup last season. That run has stretched this term, with Pirates keeping their MTN8 Cup defence intact after beating Sekhukhune United in the quarter-finals and Stellenbosch FC 2-1 in…

Katy Perry dodged addressing her ex Russell Brand’s sex scandal in her first social media post since it broke. The I Kissed a Girl singer, 38, was married to Brand from 2010 to 2012 and has not yet publicly addressed allegations from six women that the comic, 48, subjected them to offences, ranging from rape and sexual assault to emotional and physical abuse. Instead, her first update on her Instagram on Tuesday after the allegations against Brand started to unfold on September 16 was a plug for her new line of cowboy boots. She captioned images of the footwear and her posing in it with the message: “Scootin n booting’”. Some fans praised her for maintaining a “dignified silence” over the accusations against her ex – which he strongly denies.…

Ikapa Express Auctioneers will be hosting a Sars Customs online auction on October 4, from 8am to 12.30pm. The auction will consist of miscellaneous items from its Johannesburg and Pretoria warehouses. Lots 1 to 8 can be found at the Ortia warehouse, Gauteng, lots 9 to 14 can be found at the Iscor State warehouse in Pretoria, and lots 15 to 19 can be found at the Kasern warehouse. Lots 20 to 29 are located at Shipping and General, 69, 70 and 71 Barlow Street, Jupiter, Germiston. Viewing is on October 2 and 3, from 9am to 2.30pm. The contact details for viewing: Ortia: 10 Mpumelelo Road, Doorfontein, City Deep. Call Christopher Skosana at 083 447 4496. Pretoria: Iscor State warehouse, Arcelor Mittal, cnr Roger Dyason and Frikkie Meyer streets,…

The City of Joburg says it will not hesitate to open criminal charges against any residents or businesses who illegally connect to the power system after being disconnected. This comes after residents in Naturena threatened to reconnect electricity illegally after a City Power revenue protection team officials swooped on the community this week. They only managed to disconnect 20 houses as angry residents created a hostile environment, leading to the officials abandoning the mission. The greater Naturena community owes the city R309 million, and among the 3 000 prepaid customers, only half were paying for their power. Kgamanyane Maphologela, City of Joburg’s spokesperson on finance, said they were declaring a zero-tolerance policy on illegal connection of services and would not hesitate to lay criminal charges, which could lead to possible…

Fraud – How Prison Set Me Free Nikki Munitz Loot (R230) Melinda Ferguson After matriculating from a top Jewish school, Nikki Munitz finds herself in the clutches of heroin addiction. She’s sent to a remote rehab, run by a pastor who has a tattoo of Satan. She meets the son of a wealthy Afrikaans family. Lured by the illusion of “happy ever after” she marries him. But the façade soon crumbles. Money is in short supply. Nikki takes on a job at a reputable law firm. Encrypted passwords are entrusted to her. She begins to siphon small, undetectable amounts from trust funds of loyal clients. The amounts increase. Caught red-handed, she’s fired. By the time the law catches up with her, Nikki is clean and sober. On the advice of…

Water is life. As water is central to all aspects of life, it is important that we treasure, respect and use it wisely, especially as South Africa is a dry and water-scarce country where every drop counts. As we celebrate Heritage Day and throughout the month of September in South Africa, it is important that we take water as part of our heritage and be prompted to use it wisely and sparingly, and protect our water resources. After all, water is life and our lives revolve and are centred around water, therefore it is our responsibility to use the available wisely and protect the water resources for our own benefits. Water is our natural heritage, and just like all other heritage types, it needs to be taken care of and…

The news that the government has dropped the requirements of its Covid-19 Tourism Relief Fund from 51% to 30% refers. Black ownership is nothing more than a veiled admission that broad-based BEE is not working but in order for the government to save face, it could not scrap the requirement. Although there is no doubt that the change will assist this sector which is reeling from the effects of the uncaring ANC government, lowering the requirement is not enough. If the government is serious about ensuring that our travel and tourism sectors flourish, the requirements must be scrapped in their entirety. During the draconian lockdown in 2020, the Department of Tourism introduced the Tourism Equity Fund, which provided grants to businesses in the tourism and travel sector negatively impacted by…

MUSICIAN star Tshami Boy has bagged two nominations in the Munghana Lonene FM Music Awards. The winners will be announced on November 4. Born Tshamiseka Shirinda at Makhasa village in Malamulele, Tshami Boy started his music career in 2009 and is signed to Dumenter Music. His love of music started from an early age when he used to perform traditional dance. He went on to work with legends, producing hit after hit. He has four albums under his belt, the latest of which was released in July this year. It is this album, titled Xidumbu Xa Vulavula, that has been nominated for Best Xitsonga Album of the Year. From the same album, Byi Vunguriwile is in line for a Best Tsonga Traditional Song award. Tshami Boy is currently on a…

THE Whisky Emporium, a boutique store with limited edition whiskies and spirits with a focus on premium and super-premium brands for the aspirational individual who enjoys the finer things in life. Serving pride and sophistication in every bottle, for any occasion. Having been SA’s leading independent liquor retailer for the last 28 years with 390 stores, Liquor City is embarking on the next adventure in their award-winning history and proudly presents its first Whisky Emporium. This is the first stand-alone store and is located across H & M in Menlyn Park Shopping Centre. The Whisky Emporium – a one-stop shop for all premium spirits, offering the widest variety of whiskies from around the world, as well as knowledgeable staff to help you choose the perfect bottle. The store’s grand opening…

As the world spotlights Deaf Awareness Month, Nomcebo “Tiyo” Qwabe encourages the youth to soldier on and rise above any disability. Qwabe, who was born deaf, is committed to not letting her disability stand in the way of forging a brand-new career in the world of coffee. The 25-year-old, who comes from KwaZulu-Natal, is also passionate about art, fashion design, netball and the thrill of watching rugby. “I would like to advise the youth that everything has its own time, and we achieve good things at different times. “So, if you are unemployed, don’t give up; big opportunities are coming your way. “Those who are on the YES (Youth Employment Service) programme should always aim for the best in whatever task they are given. They should never give up if…

THE tragedy involving the South African Navy submarine SAS Manthatisi, in which seven sailors were swept off the deck, leaving three dead and a senior officer in critical condition, is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those in the navy. Vertical transfer (VERTREP) exercises, such as the one conducted by the SAS Manthatisi, are inherently risky, and it is essential all precautions are taken. However, in this case, it appears a combination of factors, including high waves and strong winds, contributed to the incident. It is important to note that the SAS Manthatisi is a relatively new submarine, having been commissioned in 2014. This suggests the accident was not caused by inherent defects in the vessel. Nevertheless, it is essential the inquiry leaves no stone unturned. It should…

MOSCOW: The ethnic Armenian leadership of breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh said yesterday that it had agreed a ceasefire with Azerbaijan but that key details, including the surrender of weapons, still needed to be worked out. David Babayan, an adviser to Samvel Shahramanyan, the president of the self-styled “Republic of Artsakh”, said that Karabakh Armenians felt abandoned by Russia, the West and Armenia, and would need security guarantees first. He said many issues had not yet been agreed with Azerbaijan, which sent troops into Armenian-controlled Karabakh. | AFP…

Kigali: A Rwandan man pleaded guilty yesterday to killing 14 people after the discovery of a pile of bodies buried in a hole in his kitchen. Denis Kazungu, 34, was indicted with multiple charges including murder, rape, forgery, impersonation and desecration of human corpses. Kazungu said “yes” when asked by the judge if the prosecution allegations against him were correct. “Those who I killed had infected me with HIV,” said Kazungu. Police had discovered 12 bodies in a hole in the kitchen of his home in a Kigali suburb. He admitted that he had killed 14 people and had dissolved two of his victims. | AFP…

THE NATIONAL Health Insurance (NHI) scheme planned by the government is not workable without the collaboration of the private sector, the country’s biggest medical aid scheme and wellness and financial services group, Discovery, said yesterday as it presented its annual results. The current status quo of the health system was unsustainable. Universal healthcare was crucial, and the NHI could be a remedy, the group said at the release of its annual financial results yesterday. The group’s Discovery Health subsidiary has about 3.8 million members under administration. Two weeks ago, the government tried to allay mounting criticism of the NHI, saying the passing of the NHI Bill would not result in an immediate overhaul of the healthcare system and it would be implemented in phases. The Bill seeks to create…

Gauteng police are investigating cases of kidnapping and other serious crimes following successfully rescuing a student who fell victim after being lured on the dating app Grindr. Grindr is in the spotlight again: this time a University of Witwatersrand student aged 18 was kidnapped on what he thought was a date. The student went missing on Tuesday in Johannesburg. His room-mate reported the matter, and it was discovered that he was kidnapped. It is reported that he was lured by the suspects, who demanded R30 000 from his family for his safe return. Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said on Wednesday, the team, comprising members of Gauteng Crime Intelligence, Organised Crime Investigations, Hillbrow Detectives, Johannesburg Trio Detectives, Johannesburg Metro Police K9, security companies that included Vision Tactical, JT…

The stage is set for yet another “moonshot pact” led by opposition political parties such as the Cope, Black First Land First (BLF), the African People’s Convention (APC), the National Freedom Party (NFP), and many other minority parties in a bid to ensure a good showing at next year’s elections. This was revealed by City of Joburg speaker Colleen Makhubela, a member of Cope, alongside APC leader Themba Godi during a media briefing held at the Sandton Hotel. The announcement will be made at the same venue today, with all the leaders of the like-minded minority parties set to be in attendance. Makhubela led the team of smaller parties in a toast to the 16th anniversary of the APC and they joined hands ahead of the anniversary celebration set for…

Delays in the processing of vendor numbers used to pay Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA) interns and students have left some vendors and students frustrated by the processes employed to approve payments. From delays to paying students to failing to approve training service providers, frustrated students and service providers said they have had enough of uncaring GCRA officials who send them from pillar to post when it is time to do their jobs. This has led to various letters to the agency as well as the Department of Education in the province, including a recent march to the provincial offices. One of the students from Ekurhuleni East TVET College, in a letter to the GCRA CEO and the MEC of Gauteng Department of Education, details his frustration at spending months…

Cupcakes and Couscous – From my kitchen to yours Teresa Ulyate Loot (R329) Human and Rousseau For those not in the know: Teresa Ulyate is not only a popular blogger with a site that has the same name as the title of this book, but is a highly accomplished cook, recipe developer and content creator. This beautifully produced volume is testimony to the incredibly accessible and often innovative dishes that grace the pages. Colourful food photos look so tempting that you’ll want to rush off and rustle up her creations and eat them right off the page. What I loved is that she mingles the traditional and tried and trusted recipes, with simply lip-smacking new ideas – from fried eggs for breakfast served with a hollandaise sauce and accompanied by…

Jan Braai Junior Jan Braai Loot (R180) Penguin Books Jan Braai Junior is a book for the next generation of braai masters in South Africa. Filled with a collection of Jan Braai’s very best recipes, simplified with easy-to-follow, step-by-step guidance, Jan Braai Junior can be enjoyed by kids and the whole family. Jan Braai is the most interviewed person in the world on the topic of braai, and therefore a good judge of what people want to know about braaing. As a television presenter and head of the National Braai Day initiative, he has travelled extensively in southern Africa and the world, braaied often and with diverse people, in various beautiful places, using different techniques. This user-friendly book covers all the fundamental braai knowledge every South African should have, using…

WHEN then-US secretary of state Henry Kissinger visited South Africa more than four decades ago, he made headlines when he said blacks in South Africa were slaves. Being a slave is tantamount to being entangled in a web; you are not able to decide your destiny because you’re hobbled by chains. Kwame Nkrumah wrote: “We prefer to govern or misgovern ourselves to servitude in tranquillity.” Ratepayers in eThekwini Municipality challenged the authorities because they felt the heavy yoke of servitude. Kissinger turned 100 last week. If he were to come to South Africa now and do an assessment, he would say ratepayers are slaves. Recently, there was a heated argument between Naturena residents and Johannesburg City Power officials pertaining to the installation of new electricity meters. The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police…

UITGESMYT – cast out – is a documentary by Dr Siona O’Connell which tells the story of the first land restitution case in South Africa. The story centres on the coloured community in Elandskloof, in the picturesque Cederberg region of the Western Cape. The community was forcibly and violently removed from this area in 1962 when, as a result of the Group Areas Act of 1950, the land was sold by the Nederduitse Gereformeerder Kerk or Dutch Reformed Church, and people’s homes and belongings burned and bulldozed. In 1996, this community was the first to have their land returned to them by the post-apartheid South African government. However, returning to their land was not the end of their struggle. Elandskloof was home to a community of farmers whose initial dispossession…

Experts say in the 15–24 age group, suicide is the second leading and fastest-growing cause of death in South Africa, suggesting more needs to be done to help children cope. Kerry Rudman, of Brain Harmonics, a neurofeedback organisation specialising in retraining brains, said teenagers were the most at-risk group for suicide, and since the beginning of this year, more than 40 young children in Gauteng had died by suicide. Rudman said additional statistics showed that 17.8% of South African teenagers had attempted suicide this year alone, and with matric finals on the way, now is one of the most stressful times for them. She shared some warning signs to look out for in teens who might be contemplating suicide: changes in eating and sleeping habits, loss of interest in usual…

JOBURG MMC for Public Safety Mgcini Tshwaku has called for building owners and government departments to invest in fire safety risk assessment plans. This comes after yet another government building caught fire in the inner city of Johannesburg. Members of the Joburg Emergency Services were forced to rush to Sars building on Frederick and Rissik streets in Marshalltown, Johannesburg, after its archiving department caught fire on Wednesday afternoon. He said the fire department had been placed on high alert to ensure the spate of fire incidents in the city centre were contained and put to an end, adding that the department has issued out patrollers to go around the city. “One thing that we going to call for is that each and every building must do a fire safety risk…

As we approach Heritage Day, it is customary to reflect on the rich tapestry of cultures and histories that make up our nation and our world. This year, instead of dwelling on the challenges that often divide us, let us take a different path – one that celebrates the beauty of our shared humanity. I would like to encourage everyone to take just three minutes on this Heritage Day to ponder what we all have in common with every other person on this planet. Whether they are friends, family, neighbours, business colleagues, or even just distant acquaintances on social media, we share a fundamental connection that transcends our differences. Society tends to emphasise our distinctions – be it in terms of race, ethnicity, religion, culture, gender, or wealth. These divisions…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned yesterday as he faced Republican sceptics in the US Congress that Kyiv will lose its war against the Russian invasion if the flow of billions of dollars in aid gets cut. Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer, a major supporter of President Joe Biden’s pro-Ukraine policies, said Zelenskiy had told him “if we don’t get the aid, we will lose the war.” The US has spearheaded Western support for Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion in February last year, with Congress approving more than $100 billion (R1.88 trillion) in aid, including $43bn in weaponry. But the hard-right faction dominating the Republican Party is increasingly adamant that the aid spigot should be turned off, with polls showing Republican voters are getting cold feet, in part due…

Washington: The US government has said that it will allow 472 000 Venezuelans to remain in the US and work legally for 18 months due to growing instability and unsafe conditions there. President Joe Biden’s administration extended and redesignated a temporary protected status for Venezuelans who were in the US before July 31. This was established for foreign nationals who cannot safely return to their country due to extraordinary conditions. The UN says more than 7 million people have left Venezuela as the oil giant’s economy has collapsed. | AFP…

Good discipline will be the key for the Springboks when they face Ireland at Stade de France tomorrow (9pm kick-off) for a chance to go top of Pool B at the World Cup. So far in the tournament, the South Africans have only conceded 14 penalties in their matches against Scotland and Romania. They’ve also not conceded any tries, with only three points scored against them by the Scots. If the Boks stay in line against the Irish with their discipline, especially on defence, it will go a long way in keeping the accurate kicking boot of opposition flyhalf Johnny Sexton at bay. It will limit the opportunities Ireland will have to kick for touch and set their destructive rolling maul in motion in looking for tries. According to Springbok…