Inhoudsopgave van 2022-05-19 - Star

Technology, presence and global reach define continent’s future trade ecosystem DELIVERING on Standard Bank’s ambition to build Africa’s dominant business trade platform is not as unlikely as many may think. As a bank committed to driving Africa’s growth, Standard Bank has for decades steadily expanded its footprint and deepened its reach and capability across 20 African territories. Today, the bank is the largest by assets in Africa. Through Standard Bank’s equity partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the biggest bank in the world, the Group represents a formidable continent-wide banking ecosystem, driving Africa’s growth by linking Africans to each other – and Africa with the world. Philip Myburgh, the head of Trade and Africa-China at Standard Bank’s Business & Commercial Clients’ (BCC) division, believes recent developments…

THE OFFICE of Public Enterprises (OPE) was established in 1994 to champion and direct the restructuring of state-owned companies (SOCs) and to ensure their optimal economic and developmental impact. The Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, on May 10, regarding the disposal of the 51 percent shareholding in South African Airways (SAA) to Takatso Consortium, confirmed that they were able to fund the transaction. The following press release was issued. “Note to Editors: This is an explanatory release to all media to highlight the salient points of the presentation to Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) by the Minister of Public Enterprises on May 10, regarding the disposal of 51 percent shareholding in SAA. The minister stated: “The intent is for the consortium to acquire a 51…

EFF Ekurhuleni’s top officials are accused of selling land and allegedly assaulting a pregnant woman. The party has over the years highlighted the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV, the latest victim being Hillary Gardee, the daughter of the party’s former secretary-general Godrich Gardee. She was murdered. Yesterday one of its members, EFF caucus whip in Ekurhuleni and EFF treasurer in the Regional Command Team, Jeremiah Maraba, was accused of slapping a woman across the face. According to a source, the victim was assaulted after an argument relating to a sale of stands in Phase 1 and Phase 2 in Makhulung, Tembisa. The Star is in possession of a number of voice notes where they were discussing sale of stands and an alleged assault. One of the clips goes: “The problem…

South Africa’s Johanna Mazibuko is the world’s oldest woman; she may well be the world’s oldest person. According to Mazibuko’s identity document, she was born in 1894 – making her 128 years old. She has lived through two world wars, the Spanish flu, Y2K and Covid-19. Born on a maize farm in Ottosdal, Mazibuko now lives in Jouberton, Klerksdorp. She moved to Jouberton when she got married and she had seven children. Two out of her seven offspring are still alive today. Her surviving children are 81 and 83 years old, respectively. Mazibuko attributes her long life to never having consumed alcohol and her traditional Tswana diet, which includes samp, pap, pumpkin and watermelon. She added that she hardly ever got sick. When asked about her favourite food, she said…

Since releasing her debut album Zandisile almost 20 years ago, Simphiwe Dana has crafted an impressive career. Armed with one of the most distinct voices around, Dana’s music has consistently been rich in meaning, diverse in sound and singular in its impact on the South African music landscape. On May 27 and 28, she will be exploring this repertoire, which consists of many songs she has not performed in a long time, in her upcoming concert Isipaji sika Simphiwe Dana. The two-date concert is presented by The South African State Theatre on the Opera stage. The multi award-winning singer and songwriter points to her vocal evolution as tangible proof of her growth over the past two decades. “Being consistent with anything for 18 years is a celebration and success is…

The launch of the Kit Kat Take a Break Comedy Show was all about taking people out of their circumstances and in- to a world of joviality. Hosted by Kope Makgae, who is best known for his role as Mrekza on SABC’s soapie Generations, the event boasted a line-up of renowned comedians such as Nina Hastie, Dillan Oliphant and Suhayl Essa. The Star spoke to Hastie, who shared how delighted she was to part of a campaign that celebrated her craft. “It is definitive of my work so is a flagship activity. The flagship brand. That is why comedy is the most important.” Asked about how she dealt with the challenges she faced in the entertainment space, she said: “You have got to remember that your responsibility is not your…

ISUZU’s new seven-seater Mu-X is a significant improvement on the outgoing model in every respect and because it’s an Isuzu you know exactly what you’re getting in terms of reliability and longevity. We had an opportunity to take a closer look at it in the metal and first impressions are that it was worth the wait if you’re an Isuzu fan, of which there are many in South Africa. Built in Thailand, it’s based on the recently launched D-MAX bakkie (which is produced locally) with a ladder frame and while the D-Max is fitted with leaf springs, the Mu-X is coil sprung, which adds to its ride comfort. There are three variants in the form of the MUX LS in 4x2 and 4x4, the mid-range LSE with only 4x2 and…

Our workplaces are changing rapidly, and many of us find ourselves shifting between remote working and office environments, between in-person meetings and video calls. It can all become overwhelming, causing your productivity to plummet and taking you far off track for that performance bonus you have worked so hard on. But streamlining your work strategy can get you back on track to being the employee of the month and will require only a few minor habit changes to see your productivity and work efficiency rocket. Try these tricks to conquer your week: Meeting matters Have you ever been trapped in a meeting that went on for hours, never managing to resolve any agenda items? These types of meetings are productivity killers – not only do they eat into your time,…

A recently rediscovered sketch by Michelangelo, the artist’s first known nude, sold at auction at Christie’s in Paris yesterday for €23 million (about R385m), a record for one of the Italian master’s drawings. Representing a naked man with two other background figures, the late 15th-century sketch in pen and brown ink resurfaced in a private French collection after more than a century. Including the buyer’s premium, the sale price far outstripped the Renaissance artist’s previous record for a drawing. | AFP…

A NIGERIAN citizen accused of being a member of the Neo Movement of Africa, also known as the “Black Axe”, has been granted bail with strict conditions. He was detained in jail after claims that the movement scammed romance victims in the US via the internet and cellphones. The applicant, who is not named as there are no formal charges against him, was provisionally arrested with several other people. This was after the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Western Cape earlier received a request from the US in this regard, pending his possible extradition. There has been no formal request for his extradition, and because a magistrate had refused him bail, he had to remain behind bars. He successfully turned to the Western Cape High Court to appeal against…

FAN favourite Ukhozi FM host Sipho “DJ Sgqemeza” Mbatha and two producers of the Vuka Africa Breakfast Show have been suspended by the station’s management. No reasons were given for the suspension, with the station saying it was an internal matter for the parties concerned. Yesterday, the station’s listeners were surprised to wake up to a different set of voices, not having suspected that the host would be “unscheduled” by the popular station’s management. Siya Mhlongo and co-host Nonhlanhla “Mroza” Buthelezi were at the helm of the breakfast shows usually hosted by Mbatha. Mbatha was joined on suspension by technical producer Mandla Magwaza and the show’s content producer, Babheke Mthethwa. It is not known how long the suspension will last. A statement from the station’s communication department said the station…

OUR Labour Courts have had numerous cases condemning employers for their discrimination. Despite this, it is incredibly difficult for people with disabilities to even get an interview. Often, I get requests from individuals asking whether they have to outline their disability in their application forms. The problem arises when employers specifically ask, in the application forms or in their initial interview, whether the applicant has a disability and whether the disability might affect the individual’s productivity. Every individual is advised to answer the questions truthfully and to challenge the employer if there is a hint of negativity towards a disability. Over many years, I have been involved with Epilepsy SA (Western Cape) and I often get individuals who have reported discriminatory practices, and others who have remained silent about their…

FIFTY-FIVE gender-based violence survivors have completed training in various skills through an initiative to empower them to end the silence around domestic violence. The survivors completed their training through the #EndDomesticSilence initiative, run by tea brand Joko in partnership with People Opposing Women Abuse (Powa). The initiative, which started in 2019, aims to end the silence around domestic violence by providing survivors with skills to empower them to generate an income, making them more likely to speak out and report abuse and become less financially dependent on their abusers. Powa communications manager Thandiwe McCloy said: “Having skills assists them to break the cycle of abuse, grow their confidence, unleash their potential and develop hope in the future.” Through the initiative, GBV survivors are gaining knowledge on doing make-up, wig-making, nail…

Does your home have curb appeal … to criminals? When it comes to the safety of your family and property, the best course of action is prevention rather than dealing with the aftermath of a break-in or robbery. The last thing you want is for your home to have curb appeal to criminals. Homes become easy targets when someone can see exactly what’s on offer and that the family is lax about security or not home often. If there is no dog, security systems or lights on, it makes it even easier for burglars. Make it a goal to keep your home from being targeted. 10 tips to make your home less appealing to burglars: 1. Walk the perimeter and check for weaknesses in your palisade, fence, wall or gate.…

LESS than a few hours after the top 30 for Miss South Africa was announced, Thulani Ndzotyana, who is running for the coveted title, was already topping trends on social media. The beauty queen was dubbed as an alleged rape apologist after many claimed that she supported her then-boyfriend Khwezi Mafu, who was accused of raping an 18-year-old woman. There were also reports that she supported Mafu regardless of the allegations that were lodged against her former lover. When these allegations surfaced there were calls for her to pull out of the competition. The Star reached out to Ndzotyana through the Miss SA organisation, where she revealed that she was not in any way involved with Mafu. “Khwezi Mafu and I were dating when the rape allegations were made and…

BRUTAL Legacy, a novel about survival and healing from domestic violence, was adapted into a theatre production now showing at the Playhouse Theatre in Durban from today until Sunday. The novel was written by former award-winning South African radio and TV news and business news anchor Tracy Going. Her perseverance to speak out against domestic violence and to be the voice of the abused led her to become a founding member of Beyond Our Voices, a non-profit company aimed at raising awareness of gender-based violence (GBV). Going said she was committed to speaking out about violence in order to minimise shame and empower victims to bring about positive change in their lives. She said she wanted others, especially women, to know that violence was unacceptable and that no one deserves…

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Jacob Mamabolo has admitted that his department has failed to fill 85 key positions despite the fact that all those positions were fully funded posts for the past financial year. Mamabolo made the confirmation during his written replies to questions in the Gauteng provincial legislature by DA spokesperson on roads and transport Evert du Plessis. Du Plessis asked Mamabolo how many funded vacancies there were in the department, and entities that were not filled for 2020/2021. She also wanted to know the reasons for not filling the posts, including whether such failure had an impact on the provision of service delivery to affected communities. Du Plessis also wanted to find out if any consequence management was executed against the accounting officer. In his reply,…

Whilst the outcry at the fiasco at the funeral of Christian, Arab, Palestinian US citizen and journalist Shireen Abu Akleh reverberates around the world, once again a few chilling comparisons with apartheid SA emerge. Whilst all of this was happening, apartheid Israel was stealing indigenous Palestinians’ land in Masafer Yatta. The people who lived there for generations won’t be citizens of Israel, yet an immigrant from Eastern Europe or USA claiming to be of Jewish ancestry (and not necessarily practising Jewish faith) will be given the land and citizenship. Identical to the forced removals in apartheid SA. Antony Abu Akleh, her brother, had to give assurances to the apartheid Israeli security forces that the funeral would be in the hearse, no flags and no slogans. This reminds me of SA’s…

The recent killing spree in Buffalo in New York by an 18-year-old exemplifies the end result of a racist upbringing. It defies logic this teen was able to harness such incredible hatred towards innocent people in a grocery store without being spoon fed racist propaganda by his parents. It starts in the home, goes to the schools and manifests in that grocery store. I see it every day in Cape Town. Racism in endemic and ingrained in our society. It always starts in the home with parents ranting about the injustices of a black government destroying the country, how whites have been sidelined, how corruption has destroyed the country. The argument is never about the corruption in government or the ANC.…

Fourteen years ago a video of five elderly black employees at the University of the Free State who were made to eat food which had been urinated on shocked South Africa. At the behest of four white male students at the university’s Reitz Residence, the video sought to de-humanise the workers. This incident publicly exposed the racism to which many blacks are subjected to at South Africa’s formerly white tertiary institutions, and years later it would be one of the catalysts for the Fallist movement. Despite this and the supposed victories achieved by the Fallist movement, racism persists on South Africa’s university campuses and those who try to excuse it are coming up with more ways to gaslight us into silence. A day after the story made headlines, the DA’s…

KAIZER Chiefs may still be in denial but Stellenbosch FC defender Zitha Kwinika is on his way back to Naturena next season. Kwinika, who was named Stellenbosch FC Players’ Player of the Year and Player of the Year on Tuesday evening, bid farewell to the Winelands club at the gala function. “I could say that I came here as grapes, and I will be ready to leave as wine," he said upon receiving his prize. The 28-year-old has long been linked with the Amakhosi after his superb performances in the heart of the Stellenbosch defence this season. His displays have been critical in Stellies conceding just 23 goals - joint third least in the DStv Premiership behind champions Mamelodi Sundowns and Sekhukhune United. The move back to Gauteng completes a…

THE Sopranos star Edie Falco is set to play Pete Davidson’s mum in Bupkis. SNL comic Davidson attended the 2022 NBC Upfronts on Monday, where he announced that Falco, 58, will portray Amy Davidson in the upcoming Peacock series based on The King of Staten Island star’s life. He began: “I’ve done a lot of projects that reference my life because that’s kind of all I can do.” The stand-up then quipped: “One of the things that sucks about that, though, is my family members, they often get to play themselves because of, you know, the low-budget situation. So, my mom is starting to think of herself as a real actress.” Right before Falco came out on stage, he continued: “And that’s why it makes me extremely happy to get…

FRUSTRATED patients have been queueing at the Lillian Ngoyi Community Health Care Centre, which has been without reliable electricity supply for two months, in the hope that they will eventually be attended to. During this time the facility, next to the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, has been relying on a faulty generator for energy supply. The generator is subject to daily maintenance because of a persistent leakage. This week the generator has tripped daily, and maintenance has restored power intermittently for an hour or two. When The Star arrived, the situation was the same as it has been since the start of the electricity problem. Frustrated patients have been queuing regardless of the situation. Jane Mabaso, 69, who recently relocated to Turffontein after being a resident…

THE City of Tshwane says there are no problems with the source of water supply to Rethabiseng and Riamar Park. A slight discolouration in the water prompted residents to raise some serious concerns about the quality of water provided by the municipality. In the wake of the concerns, the city undertook to conduct water tests in areas that included Bronkhorstspruit. MMC for Utilities and Regional Operations, Daryl Johnston, said the water tests in Bronkhorstspruit came come up clean, while the two tests in Rethabiseng and Riamar Park did not. “There is slight discolouration in the water as well as microbiological contaminants in the water that reaches residents,” Johnston said. He said they conducted water tests at the reservoir and water being provided from the plant, the results showed that the…

THE Africa Rising Music Conference (ARMC) makes a return this month and promises a nice treat for those who’ll be attending this much-anticipated event. This year’s edition of the conference will be held at the Steyn Entertainment-owned Hallmark House Hotel in Johannesburg on May 24 and 25. Fans can expect a mix of local and international delegates, centering around the hip-hop and electronic music industries and the Afro-Euro connection that these chart-topping genres provide. Speakers will include Siya Metane, founder of SlikourOnLife and well-known in the music industry as Slikour; DJ Sabby, host of the biggest show on Metro FM, the Top 30; DJ, producer and radio personality Kutloano Da Kruk; Jade Kelly Wilson of Breakroom Africa; Shannon Valstar, general manager at Steyn Entertainment; and Ninel Musson of VTH Session,…

In a precedent-setting ruling, the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has found the retrenchment of an employee and non-payment of severance for refusing to comply with vaccination policy, fair. In the arbitration award between Cecelia Bessick and Baroque Medical Pty (Ltd), the CCMA found that the employer’s decision to retrench the applicant due to her refusal to comply with the mandatory vaccination policy, was substantively and procedurally fair. The CCMA found that the employee’s decision to refuse to adhere to the workplaces’ mandatory vaccination policy was unreasonable and therefore she was not entitled to severance pay. “The commissioner found that the risk assessment conducted by the company, as well as the mandatory vaccination policy, although not challenged by the applicant, met the requirements set out in the Consolidated…

There is a stage in pregnancy where many women have to start thinking about switching out their clothes for maternity wear. Let’s be honest, the choices out there aren’t all too inspiring, and women are often expected to give up on their sense of style in favour of comfort. Not singer Rihanna, though, whose refreshing approach to maternity fashion has rocked the world. Since she announced in January that she was expecting her first child, she has shunned the stretchy pants and tent dresses of traditional maternity wear. Instead, she’s used fashion to embrace, display and celebrate her changing body. She has not covered up her bump but showed it off in belly exposing garments and tight, form-fitting fashions. From crop tops and low-rise jeans to removing the lining from…

I FEEL ashamed that Zimbabwe cannot celebrate the International Day of Living Together in Peace, which took place on May 16. Human rights are abused every week by the Zanu-PF government. The present regime is pretending that everything is under control worldwide when the majority of its citizens are struggling to earn a living. Corrupt, clueless and careless Zanu-PF has demolished the country since it gained independence on April 18, 1980. Zimbabwean citizens have lost trust in the government because it is full of fake promises, saying in public that it is going to change the country while some are busy looting millions of US dollars. Since President Mnangagwa gained power in November 2017, things have got worse. The world should be involved in Zimbabwean matters and force President…

The news about Elton Jantjies that broke on Sunday remains shocking, no matter how it gets depicted, argued and framed in the daysto come. The Springbok allegedly had an “outburst” – several witness accounts state it was more violent than that – on board an Emirates flight from Dubai. Jantjies subsequently appeared in the Kempton Magistrate’s Court on Monday, on charges of malicious damage to property and contravening the Civil Aviation Act. They are reportedly relatively minor charges, and it is possibly that an out of court settlement will be made between the aggrieved parties, which would save Jantjies’ career. I want to make clear I am a massive Jantjies fan. When the vitriol around the Springbok flyhalf reached fever pitch, I stood steadfast in my belief he is one…

Astronomers have revealed the first image of the black hole at the centre of our galaxy, the Milky Way. The image was produced by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration – an international team made up of over 300 scientists on five continents, including Africa. Black holes were predicted by Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity over a century ago. They are regions of space so dense that nothing, including light, can escape. Their boundary is known as the event horizon, which marks the point of no return. That’s just one of the reasons these objects are hidden from our eyes. The other is that they are exceedingly small when placed in their cosmic context. If our Milky Way galaxy were the size of a soccer field, its black hole…

India is looking to domestic firms and eastern European nations for military gear and ammunition, as the world’s biggest buyer of Russian arms seeks alternative suppliers at a time when Moscow is fighting a war with Ukraine and facing sanctions. New Delhi has long talked of diversifying the suppliers to its huge armed forces, and even making more equipment at home, objectives that have taken on new urgency since Russia’s invasion, two government officials and a defence source said. India has identified 25.15 billion rupees (about R5bn)worth of defence equipment it wants domestic firms to make this year, and avoid buying abroad, according to an online platform where the defence ministry lists its needs. “The present world order and geopolitical scenario, which is very, very turbulent, has also taught us…

ARTHUR Zwane’s inside knowledge on what’s expected of the new Kaizer Chiefs coach sees him as the right man to fill the vacant post, except the Amakhosi legend has spoken fondly of “an incoming coach”. For a second season running, Chiefs endured a trophyless season, extending their barren run to seven seasons, most recently under Stuart Baxter, who replaced Gavin Hunt for the same reason. Just like the club did when they sacked Hunt, Chiefs called on assistant coach Zwane to help out on an interim basis after firing Baxter. But the Chiefs’ faithful are caught between Zwane’s readiness to assume the top seat on a full-time basis and the continuation of his role as understudy to a “more experienced coach”. The 48-year-old is mum on the matter. “As of…

SPENDING R22.5-million on a 10mx15m flag and a 120m high flagpole is simply a stupid idea. It’s an idea that lacks imagination and tact. The timing of the announcement, which was made last week in minister for sports, arts and culture Nathi Mthethwa’s ‘Budget Vote Speech’, was poor too. In fact, there was never a good time to announce what his department is calling the “Monumental Flag Project”. It is a monumental waste of time and money. The arts industry was brought to its knees by the Covid-19 pandemic. The sports industry suffered too. There simply had to be a better way for Mthethwa’s department to spend this money. In seeking to justify this ridiculous project, Mthethwa was on JJ Tabane’s show on eNCA this week talking about “deepening social…