Cape Timesの 2021-07-20 の目次

Amsa declares a force majeure over violent protests in KZN and Gauteng Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za ARCELORMITTAL South Africa (Amsa), the country’s primary steel producer, has declared a force majeure with its customers following the violent protests and looting in Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng last week. The mayhem that began when former presi- dent Jacob Zuma began serving his 15-month jail sentence morphed into civil unrest that saw the torching of trucks, the looting of shopping centres and the destruction of property. The company said that last week’s unrest had affected major highways and transport routes with roads being blocked, widespread vandalism and vehicles, especially the trucks of transport companies, being petrol-bombed and stoned. Amsa said the KwaZulu-Natal rail corridor to and from Newcastle was also affected, with flows coming to a…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za South Africa’s tourism industry recorded a strong recovery in May as lockdown restrictions were eased ahead of the third wave of Covid-19 infections, but the recent unrest in the country could put this in jeopardy. Data from the Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) yesterday showed that the total income for the tourist accommodation industry increased by 2 027 percent in May from a year ago. StatsSA said income from accommodation increased by 2 383 percent year-on-year in May, the result of a 2 098 percent increase in the number of stay unit nights sold and a 13 percent increase in the average income per stay unit night sold. Hotels alone recorded an occupancy rate of 24.2 percent in May,…

Zelda Venter zelda.venter@inl.co.za FORMER Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu yesterday placed the blame for the Life Esidimeni tragedy – in which at least 144 mentally ill patients died after being moved to private facilities in 2016 – on Premier David Makhura. In her opening speech on the first day of the inquest, and armed with one of the country’s top advocates, Lawrence Hodes SC, Mahlangu told Judge Mnomoa Teffo that she was not responsible for the transfer of the patients. “She acted on advice from medical experts of the Gauteng Health Department … The ultimate decision to transfer the mentally ill patients was taken by Gauteng Premier David Makhura,” Hodes said. Meanwhile, former mental healthcare director Dr Makgabo Manamela and then Gauteng health head, Dr Barney Selebano, are being represented…

Baldwin Ndaba baldwin.ndaba@inl.co.za Bruce Aldrin Nimmerhoudt, a senior Patriotic Alliance member in Johannesburg charged with inciting mobs to attack malls on Gauteng’s West Rand, was ordered to apply for bail after seven days. Nimmerhoudt, 45, of Toekomsrus in Randfontein, made a brief appearance at the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court yesterday. He was not asked to plead on the charge of incitement to violence following his arrest at his other home in Witpoortjie, west of Joburg, on July 16. Nimmerhoudt was remanded in custody until July 26. He allegedly made a call via a video clip to his supporters and members of the ANC Youth League and ANC Women’s League on Thursday last week to join him and attack malls in Roodepoort, Krugersdorp, Randfontein and businesses in the neighbouring suburbs. Nimmerhoudt…

Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za VETERAN chopper pilot Ndabenhle David Simelane, who has made history as the first black chief pilot for SANParks Air Service, says the appointment is a dream come true. The 40-year-old from Swaziland said his passion for flying was sparked when he had his first helicopter ride. “I was 19 when I got my first helicopter ride with a friend, Werner Alberts. He subsequently designed our heliport called Ultimate Heliport. It was a flight from Grand Central Airport to Pretoria. I just knew that that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Little did I know how expensive it would be to realise such a dream. “We embarked on looking for funding to train me for three and a half years. We were…

MOHAMED SAEED | Pietermaritzburg THE brazen lawlessness, looting and rampages across KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng was the worst civil or social mayhem seen since the end of the apartheid regime’s repressive rule. It was a painful sight to see, on videos shared on social media, raiders making off with electrical appliances, entertainment equipment, liquor, clothes and foodstuffs, while others set fire to some malls and shops. Listening to real-life narratives and having visited some of the places after the looting, I cannot quite believe the devastation and I am stunned at the damage and losses. South Africa is already reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and being one of the uppermost countries of income inequality in the world, this civil unrest will…

HAVANA: Cuba, which kept coronavirus infections low last year, now has the highest rate of contagion per capita in Latin America. That has strained its healthcare sector and helped stoke rare protests that have roiled the Communist-run island. The Caribbean nation of 11 million people reported nearly 4 000 confirmed cases per million residents over the past week – nine times more than the world average and more than any other country in the Americas for its size. The outbreak, fuelled by the arrival of the more contagious Delta variant first identified in India, has pushed hospitals at the virus epicentre in the province of Matanzas to the brink. State media has shown rare images of patients in beds in corridors and doctors complaining of a lack of oxygen, ventilators…

LOS ANGELES: The American rap artist and designer Kanye West is said to be dropping a new album this week, the Independent writes. Rumours have been fuelled by internet personality Justin Laboy who alleged he and basketball player Kevin Durant were lucky to listen to the new record over the weekend. ​Laboy also suggested Kanye will drop the album this week. ​In addition, there have been photos on social media of people allegedly waiting in line outside the venue where the Las Vegas “listening party” for West’s new album was taking place on Sunday.…

PRESIDENT Joe Biden’s administration said yesterday that it had transferred its first detainee from the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, a Moroccan man who had been imprisoned since 2002, bringing the number of inmates at the facility down to 39. Set up to house foreign suspects following the Septembert 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, the prison came to symbolise the excesses of the US “war on terror” because of harsh interrogation methods that critics say amounted to torture. While former president Donald Trump kept the prison open during his four years in the White House, Biden has vowed to close it. Abdul Latif Nasir, who is 56 years old, was repatriated to Morocco. He had been cleared for release in 2016. “The (Biden) administration is dedicated…

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan, Mansoor Ahmad Khan, has returned to Islamabad after Kabul’s decision to recall its diplomats from Pakistan over the abduction of the daughter of the Afghan ambassador there, Geo TV reported yesterday. On July 16, the daughter of the Afghan ambassador to Pakistan was kidnapped on her way home in Islamabad. She was reportedly released after several hours of torture. On Sunday, Kabul recalled its ambassador and senior diplomats from Islamabad, demanding punishment for those responsible. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry called the decision “unfortunate and regrettable”.…

IN yet another blow for the struggling Currie Cup, tomorrow’s match between the Sharks and the Bulls in Durban has been called off because of ongoing security concerns in KwaZulu-Natal. It is the second match in a row in Durban to be cancelled because of unrest — the Sharks’ scheduled game against the Lions last week met a similar fate, as did the Lions’ home match against the Cheetahs, with the latter team declining to travel to Johannesburg. The cancellation of games is not helping an ailing domestic competition which is already playing a very distant second fiddle to the ongoing British & Irish Lions tour. SA Rugby has said that a decision on the result of the Sharks v Bulls game and log points will be made at…

SANDILE mCHUNU sandile.mchunu@inl.co.za THE LEWIS Group said 58 of its stores were looted and damaged last week through the widespread violence and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng. The events had a significant impact on its store operations, the group said in a statement yesterday. “A total of 58 stores were looted and damaged and are currently not able to trade, including 54 stores in the ‘traditional’ segment across the Lewis, Beares and Best Home & Electric brands and four UFO stores.” At the height of the unrest last week more than 260 stores across the group were closed as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of staff and customers, and to minimise losses. “Management is assessing the extent of the vandalism and it is too early to…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za The INVESTMENT community has shot down as unfeasible the proposed multibillion-rand basic income grant scheme as the government mulls introducing it to curb poverty. President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday gave the biggest hint that the government was investigating the feasibility of introducing a basic income grant in South Africa. Investors have said they would await more clarity on the full cost to the fiscus that this new grant would entail as more than a third of the South African population was unemployed. Anchor Capital investment analyst Casey Delport said yesterday that as it currently stands, they had a mixed view on the implementation of a basic wage. Delport said from a socio-political perspective, there was indeed a strong argument to be made for its implementation. “However, from…

Kailene Pillay kailene.pillay@inl.co.za Former president Jacob Zuma wants his corruption trial to be postponed until he can physically appear in court and give oral evidence and until the Constitutional Court hands down its judgment regarding his application to have his 15-month sentence for contempt rescinded. His legal team, led by Advocate Dali Mpofu, has asked for a two to three-week adjournment. Presiding Judge Piet Koen heard submissions from Zuma’s lawyers and the state regarding the former president’s argument that his rights would be violated if his corruption trial was heard virtually. Judge Koen is expected to hand down his judgment on the trial postponement application this morning. Zuma’s legal team was meant to deal with its application to have state Advocate Billy Downer recused yesterday. Mpofu made a special plea…

Francesca Villette francesca.villette@inl.co.za TRAVEL restrictions due to Covid-19 saw an unprecedented decline in migrations globally, with South Africa experiencing 88.8% fewer arrivals of foreigners in February compared to last year. Releasing the 2021 mid-year population estimates yesterday, Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) said that between March 11, 2020, when the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic, and February 22, 2021, nearly 105 000 movement restrictions were implemented around the world. StatsSA noted that migration to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries, which includes South Africa, is estimated to have fallen by an unprecedented 46% in the first half of 2020. It noted that the latest Department of Home Affairs data, which is used to develop migration estimates, showed that foreign travellers arriving in SA decreased by 88.8%…

OWN Correspondent STELLENBOSCH University (SU) music maestro Christopher Njapha, aged 23, is working towards achieving big dreams this year. Njapha, who graduated with a BMus degree from SU last year under the tutelage of Babette Roosenschoon in SU’s Music Department, has been accepted to study at the Manhattan School of Music (MSM) in New York and is now raising funds to get there. The fact that South African jazz stalwart Hugh Masekela studied classical trumpet at MSM was a further inspiration for Njapha to attend the prestigious school. “It makes me feel so good to know that Hugh Masekela – someone who looks like me – practised music at these kinds of institutions. He was a trailblazer for so many South African musicians because he showed us that it is…

Chevon Booysen chevon.booysen@inl.co.za A CASE of animal cruelty has been opened against a police officer who allegedly shot and killed a dog while carrying out a search at a property in Broadlands, Strand. The Cape of Good Hope SPCA expressed its shock at the incident which claimed the life of canine Tyson. He was shot with a rubber bullet, causing a gaping neck wound which eventually led to his death. Confirming the incident, the SAPS said police had been searching for illegal drugs and firearms at the premises in Bromelia Street on March 22 when the dog became aggressive. Spokesperson FC van Wyk said an animal cruelty case was opened for investigation after a joint operation was conducted by several SAPS units. “The focus of the operation was to address…

Chevon Booysen chevon.booysen@inl.co.za DESPITE having his security detail reinstated after his dismissal from the police service, ex top cop Jeremy Vearey said he and his family would remain in hiding while he intends to file a contempt of court report as it was a “downgrade” from previous security measures. Last week, an order by the high court stated that Vearey would have his security detail reinstated due to security threats while he is expected to testify in cases involving alleged underworld figures currently before court. Vearey was dismissed on the grounds of misconduct for posts he made on social media and his security was immediately removed. In a statement, Vearey said “only two” officers reported after the order was handed down on Thursday last week. “This is a downgrade of…

SISEKO MAPOSA SOUTH Africa has had a long history with the understanding that its people, land, culture, politics and economy are distinct, unique, and exemplary to that of the rest of the continent, that is, South African exceptionalism. For decades, consecutive leaders of this region have remained determined to a steadfast and passionate exceptionalism – the birth of it long outdating the country’s modern democracy. After the passing of the South African Act by British Parliament in 1909, effectively merging the self-governing British colonies of the Cape, Natal, Orange River and the Transvaal into the Union of South Africa, British colonists, under the leadership of Alfred Milner, extended the argument that South Africa was exceptional because of its geography and through how it exercised white colonial governance over its African…

With oppressively hot, dry weather looming over much of the Western US and Canada, the enormous Bootleg Fire in Oregon grew again, and authorities ordered new evacuations. Bootleg, the largest of 80 major fires now active in the US, spread overnight to become three times the size of the metropolis of Detroit, officials said. Some 2 000 people have had to evacuate. Satellite imagery showed a huge plume of smoke soaring from Bootleg, in southern Oregon, to the Canadian border, hundreds of miles to the north-east. But, with firefighters making progress on Bootleg’s western flank, overall containment of the blaze more than tripled, to 22%. Firefighters blamed lightning strikes for a fast-growing blaze in California’s Lake Tahoe tourist area. The so-called Tamarack Fire, fanned by fierce winds, has grown…

TOKYO: Akio Toyoda, chief executive of Toyota, one of the biggest sponsors of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, will not attend the opening ceremony on Friday, the Kyodo news agency reported yesterday. Earlier in the day, Toyota confirmed that it would cancel Olympics-related TV adverts. Kyodo suggests the carmaker was motivated by a potential blow to its reputation, as the latest polls show Japanese are concerned the Olympics could provoke a sharp rise in new Covid-19 infections, given that there has been increase in new cases in Tokyo and nearby prefectures in recent weeks. Since mid-July, Tokyo has been subject to its fourth state of emergency over Covid-19, which will last until August 22. The Summer Olympics in Tokyo, due to take place from Friday to August 8, will be…

Port-au-Prince: The new Haitian government will be formed today, and Claude Joseph, the interim prime minister who plans to step down, will become the new foreign minister, AFP reported yesterday, citing sources. Joseph reportedly agreed to step down and hand over power to Ariel Henry, his challenger who is supported by the international community. Joseph nominally led Haiti following the assassination of president Jovenel Moise earlier in July. Henry was appointed prime minister by Moise just a few days before he was killed.…

MUMBAI: India’s capital New Delhi and the main financial centre of Mumbai were drenched with heavy rain yesterday, a day after at least 35 people were killed across the country in landslides and house collapses triggered by downpours. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy to very heavy rain in north India, including New Delhi, over the next two days. In Mumbai, the IMD has issued a heavy rain and thunderstorm alert. At least 30 people were killed on Sunday in three Mumbai suburbs when several houses collapsed in landslides after rain. Twitter has been flooded with images of people wading through waist-deep water.…

Lewis Hamilton was subjected to racist abuse online after winning the British Grand Prix, with social media firm Facebook saying yesterday that it had removed a number of comments on Instagram. The seven-time world champion celebrated a record eighth British Grand Prix victory on Sunday at Silverstone after fighting back from a 10-second penalty for a first-lap collision that ended up with title rival Max Verstappen in hospital. Hamilton, 36, was targeted online hours after the victory, with racist messages including monkey emojis sent as replies to a post by his Mercedes team on Instagram. “The racist abuse directed at Hamilton during and after the British Grand Prix is unacceptable and we’ve removed a number of comments from Instagram,” a spokesperson for Facebook, which owns Instagram, said in a statement.…

Sparring partners Rassie Erasmus and Warren Gatland couldn’t be in more contrasting positions as they finalise their teams for the first Test. The British & Irish Lions coach is scratching his head over whom to leave out of his multi-talented squad, while for the Springboks it is a simple task of confirming which of the World Cup winning matchday 23 are cleared of Covid-19 and fit to play. The million-dollar question is which camp is in the better position after a build-up fraught with Covid-19 incurred obstacles. The Boks are a settled team but they have barely played, while the Lions are a new collective full of Test veterans. Also, the Lions will be frustrated that SA’s franchises could only muster meek opposition. For the Boks, will it really be…

Woolworths reports 9.7 percent sales growth in 2021 financial year Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za FOOD, fashion and beauty giant Woolworths (Woolies), said the third wave had been a setback for the group’s recovery in South Africa as it announced a 9.7 percent growth in sales for the year ended June 2021 compared to a year earlier. Woolies, whose stores are spread across South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, said its food business continued to be the star performer with a 6.9 percent growth in sales and a 5.7 percent in comparable stores and online sales surged. The price movement was 5.2 percent and underlying product inflation was 4.9 percent. The food business grew in both market share and volumes, despite the high base a year earlier…

EDWARD WEST edward.west@inl.co.za Courier companies are not yet operating in affected areas in KwaZulu- Natal and Gauteng following last week’s violence, and nationally customers were warned that some deliveries might be late. PostNet, for instance, warned on its website that shipments destined to and from Durban, Ladysmith, Richards Bay and Pietermaritzburg were severely delayed as a result of last week’s unrest. Dawn Wing said on its website that it had closed operations from July 15 across KwaZulu-Natal, and in the central business district of Johannesburg and Alexandra, where clean-ups were under way, and in Vosloorus, Katlehong, Jeppe, Denver, Mayfair and Braamfontein. High risk areas were Wynberg, Lombardy East, Marlborough Gardens and Soweto, where some malls were still closed. The Courier Guy said disruptions had caused delays of up to 24…

Richard Hoffman Plant-based diets have surged in popularity during the past few years. As a result, there’s been a boom in demand for plant-based alternatives to favourite foods – including meats, such as sausages and burgers. The plant-based meat alternatives industry is projected to see massive growth over the next few years. But there is still a lot we don’t know about these food products – including whether they’re as healthy as some may think. Although many of these products claim to be made primarily from plants, they aren’t all that different to other ultra-processed food products. They often contain many similar ingredients – including protein isolates, emulsifiers, binders and other additives – and are made using industrial processing methods, so can be considered an ultra-processed food product. Plenty of…

Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za EMBATTLED Kannaland local municipality councillor Phillip Antonie tendered his resignation to the council yesterday following an outcry because he was in the post “despite having been expelled from the ANC”. His resignation came as the municipality’s acting municipal manager, Roland Butler, has been accused of “failing” to declare a vacancy to the council despite various letters informing him to do so. However, Butler refuted the claims as false, saying a municipal manager was obliged to adhere to statutory requirements and should not be driven by opportunists. Antonie’s resignation follows allegations that he was found guilty at a disciplinary hearing conducted by the regional disciplinary committee and expelled from the ANC for five years. It is understood that Antonie was accused of working in coalition with the DA…

Okuhle Hlati okhule.hlati@inl.co.za THE suspects behind the shooting of a Golden Arrow Bus driver apparently pretended to be commuters before opening fire through the window and striking him in the face. The incident has been linked to the ongoing taxi violence in the Western Cape which has claimed the lives of more than 80 people since January. The driver is fighting for his life in hospital after being shot in the mouth while driving in the direction of Cape Town just after Borchards Quarry Drive. Another driver who was metres away from the attack described how more than eight shots were heard, leading to many drivers fearing for their lives. Golden Arrow Bus Services (Gabs) spokesperson John Dammert said the company would run a limited service in the wake of…

Staff writer BORN with his organs compressing his lungs, Baby Ignus has survived against enormous odds in what is thought to be a first for South Africa. Doctors believe his survival is an absolute miracle. “The overall chance of survival for Ignus, all things considered, was extremely low, if not non-existent. Not only has he survived, but all indications are that he is physically well and neurologically sound,” said Dr Ashley Jeevarathnum, a paediatric pulmonologist practising at Netcare Clinton Hospital in Alberton. Baby Ignus is recovering at home after two months of tireless efforts and prayers from a highly skilled team of paediatric and neonatal specialists, nurses and the baby’s family. Recalling the birth of Ignus, her second son, on April 15, before it was discovered that he had…

Nicola Daniels nicola.daniels@inl.co.za THE three sailors representing South Africa at the Olympic Games are fired up and eager to battle it out on the water at Enoshima Yacht Harbour in Tokyo at the weekend. Alex Burger and Benji Daniel, who four years ago claimed top honours at the 29er World Championships, will be competing in the 49er class while Leo Davis is contesting the one-person Finn class. Davis previously represented the country in rowing but switched sports in 2018 with the aim of qualifying for his first Olympic Games. “I’m feeling strong,” said Davis, whose father, Greg, will also be in Tokyo as his coach. “My preparation has been going well and I am approaching the event with an open mind. I’ve had some good coaching and have been training…

“THOSE who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” said George Santayana, a writer and philosopher. The quote may pretty much resonate with South Africa’s political milieu. As the country has been trying to embark on a “new dawn” – that is, if you are in agreement with the mission and vision of President Cyril Ramaphosa, hopefully we are all prepared to give this mission an opportunity to thrive for the betterment of the country. The demons of the past seem to be catching up with the present and could dampen the future if the demons are not cleansed. The divisions within the governing ANC, which the party of liberation, at times, has relegated to mere contestations that occur in all organisations, may no longer be as simple…

NOW that the dust has settled after a week of ugly protests where mobs looted and torched trucks and businesses in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Gauteng, serious questions have to be asked about the failure of the security cluster ministers to respond to the crisis. Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, Police Minister Bheki Cele and Minister of State Security Ayanda Dlodlo should be held accountable for their inability to respond timeously to the biggest security threat this country has faced since democracy in 1994. Frankly, President Cyril Ramaphosa should reshuffle his Cabinet and get rid of the trio if he is serious about keeping South Africans safe. If anything, the events of the past week have demonstrated to us that these ministers are not on top of…

Fears mounted yesterday over the health of hundreds of undocumented migrant workers in Belgium after they stepped up a hunger strike aimed at getting the authorities to let them stay. Some 450 men – mainly from Morocco and Algeria – have been staging the protest at three sites in Brussels since the end of May demanding the government grant them the right to remain after years of working in the country without papers. Medics said that around 300 of the strikers had now started refusing to take liquids. “A tragedy is imminent,” warned the heads of the Socialist and Green parties, members of Belgium’s governing coalition. The authorities have so far insisted that they will not grant the entire group of protesters the collective right to stay in the country…

Former Malawian president Peter Mutharika will this week appear before the country’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in connection with the 1.5 billion Malawian kwacha (about R26 million) cement scandal. ACB spokesperson Egrita Ndala said Mutharika’s appearance before the anti-graft body was part of the ongoing investigation into the allegations of abuse of his taxpayer identification number. “The ACB will interview the former president, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, from July 20, 2021. The bureau would like to let Malawians know that this is a normal and legal process which started in 2020. The ACB hopes that this will put the record straight on the various stories circulating in the social media surrounding this matter,” Ndala said in a statement. Mutharika’s taxpayer identification number was allegedly used to import 800 000 bags…

Singapore: A 13-year-old boy was found dead yesterday at a Singaporean high school, while a fellow pupil was arrested and an axe seized, police said. It was a rare incident in the city-state, known for its zero-tolerance approach to wrongdoing and has one of the world’s lowest crime rates. Police were called to the prestigious state high school in the west of Singapore, where they found the 13-year-old dead with many wounds. A 16-year-old was arrested for suspected involvement. The teenagers did not know one another. The suspect will be charged in court with murder today, and police would ask him to undergo a psychiatric assessment.…

Caracas: President Nicolas Maduro’s government repatriated more than 700 Venezuelans who fled to nearby Trinidad and Tobago amid their homeland’s crippling economic crisis. “More than 700 Venezuelans have arrived in Venezuela from Trinidad and Tobago in the first ‘Vuelta a la Patria’ (Return to the Homeland) plan carried out by sea,” the Foreign Ministry said. Maduro launched the plan in August 2018 to facilitate the voluntary return, initially by land and plane, of Venezuelans who fled the crisis that the government blames on US sanctions. More than 100 Venezuelans have died in shipwrecks trying to reach Trinidad and Tobago. It is a dangerous crossing.…

Zaahier Adams zaahier.adams@inl.co.za Many footballers roll out the cliche upon arriving at their new club that it is the realisation of a “dream come true”. But for Cape Town’s City sixth new acquisition of the close season Khanyisa Mayo, it really is a fairy tale. The highly-rated 22-year-old playmaker was asked during an interview back in March to select a “Dream Team” from players competing in the Premiership. Mayo chose four City stalwarts in his 12-man squad including club captain Thamsanqa Mkhize, midfielder Thato Mokeke and forwards Surprise Ralani and Fagrie Lakay. Mayo claimed Mkhize’s "got an engine to go up and down, he can help in attack too" and that Mokeke is “so exceptional, (he) can use both feet." He equally waxed lyrical about Ralani who is “very comfortable…