Pretoria News 2022-07-19

THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD), after remaining mum on the unilateral regulatory European Commission (EC) phytosanitary measures that will knock South African citrus exports, yesterday finally broke its silence. The DALRRD said yesterday that South Africa viewed the current implementation of the regulation as not only trade restrictive, but technically unjustified. Both the Citrus Growers Association of South Africa and Agri Business Chamber earlier this month decried the measures, warning that the clearance of hundreds of containers of southern African oranges that are already being shipped was uncertain due to “unjustified, scientifically flawed, unnecessary and disproportionate” EU regulatory measures. They said the EU had recently imposed protectionist measures on agriculture by changing its regulations on plant safety for citrus without notifying its trading partners within…

Lord Peter Hain, a staunch advocate for action against State capture-tainted Bain & Company, is set to address the UK Parliament this week. Hain wants the British government to freeze all contracts with the US management consulting firm and for it to be held accountable for its role in State capture in South Africa. Whistle-blower Athol Williams confirmed yesterday that the UK’s Cabinet Office was continuing with the investigations into the disgraced group. This as the UK government is caught in the cross-hairs of a crisis of confidence in Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which led to his resignation this month under heavy pressure from lawmakers in his own Conservative Party. Johnson in February said the UK Cabinet Office would “look into” consultancy Bain & Company “with urgency”, following an appeal…

There’s nothing more fierce than a confident woman, feeling that she can do just about anything. Industrial psychologist Kim-Lee Ricketts has created a fashion range to help boost any women’s confidence. Her label Body-Konfident allows women to feel empowered. Ricketts talked to us about her exclusive collection, women in business and how she wants to change how women think about their bodies. What inspired you to create Body-Konfident? I have always been passionate about creating spaces where other women feel safe and comfortable to be their true, authentic selves. As an industrial psychologist and mentor to young girls and women, I wanted to create a movement within fashion with an inclusive range that encourages us all to claim our space and show up as our best selves. To not seek…

Brain fog is a set of symptoms that many individuals experience. Although it is not a true medical condition, its symptoms make it a frustrating and exhausting occurrence. Brain fog may also be referred to as fuzzy-headedness and mental fatigue. It includes a long list of similar brain symptoms such as forgetfulness, haziness, and poor concentration and it may be caused by a host of underlying conditions. A new study shows that brain fog, fatigue and neuropsychological effects are most prevalent among people with persistent symptoms after Covid-19, a condition commonly known as “long Covid”. The study published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences collected data from 87 Covid-19 patients from February 2020 to May 2021 with symptoms beyond six months after infection and found brain fog, fatigue,…

In preparation for Women’s Month in August, Veuve Clicquot is launching the Bold Woman Award for the first time in South Africa. The inaugural award is part of a programme aimed at honouring businesswomen redefining success, pushing boundaries and inspiring others to follow suit. Of the 250 women who entered to be part of the Bold programme, only six made it to the finals, divided into two categories, the Bold Woman Award and the Bold Future Award. “It is the tenacious spirit and determination of these finalists we are overwhelmingly impressed with. These women redefine success on their terms and go beyond the status quo, just as Madame Clicquot did two centuries ago,” said Veuve Clicquot CEO Jean-Marc Gallot. The 2022 Bold Woman Award finalists are: Gugu Sithole – director…

THE spike in terror attacks in Mozambique is likely to cause political instability in South Africa and other SADC countries, if not stopped. Efforts should also not be spared to promote a “peaceful and inclusive dialogue” in eSwatini in the interest of regional security and the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement. This is contained in the ANC policy document dubbed, “In Pursuit of Progressive Internationalism”, in which the party is asking its branches to discuss solutions to terrorism and cross-border terror networks on the African continent. Addressing the media at Luthuli House, the ANC headquarters in Joburg, the governing party’s head of international relations, Lindiwe Zulu, said her party had developed these policy documents to allow branches to beef them up before the national policy conference in Joburg next…