Inhoudsopgave van 2022-09-30 - Star

We’re drawing closer to the festive season and the events are rolling in. One such offering is comedian Dalin Oliver’s Stay At Home Comedian show at the Theatre On The Square from September 27 to October 1. This show is also a recipient of the 2022 Standard Bank Ovation Award, which makes Oliver even more thrilled to be touring the hour-long show. Written, performed and produced by the radio and TV personality, this act is fresh from the National Arts Festival in Makhanda. It’s going to be a riot but don’t worry, it’s the legal kind, and the only looting that’ll be happening is Oliver with his jokes to share with your mates at the next braai. IOL Entertainment caught up with the Cape Town-based comedian during his show in…

The work of an independent assessor appointed by Minister of Higher Education Dr Blade Nzimande to look into allegations of maladministration at Unisa has been compromised following allegations that university principal and vice-chancellor Puleng LenkaBula has instructed the ICT department to spy on incriminating email communication going to the department and the assessor. A source close to the situation told The Star that the vice-chancellor has also installed two of her allies in the university’s management committee (Mancom) to keep a close eye on the work of the assessor. According to the source, LenkaBula called a special Mancom meeting where she appointed her key people to liaise with her on all the issues being investigated by the assessor. It is reported that her team of spies includes two staffers. “These…

This is the first novel in a brand new series from Karen Rose, set in New Orleans. Rocky Hebert walks into his death at quarter to midnight one New Orleans night. His son Gabe cannot accept the official verdict of suicide and enlists the help of the Burke Broussard Private Investigation Agency to discover the real cause of death. PI Molly Sutton knows what it’s like to lose a father in tragic circumstances and will go to any lengths to crack the investigation, as she tries to fight off her growing feelings for Gabe. They soon realise Rocky was working on an investigation of his own; one that threatened to expose the deep corruption going all the way to the top of the police department. And that the key to…

A 36-year-old woman was apprehended by a prison warden in Mpumalanga for drug possession when she tried to enter the Bethal Correctional Centre to visit an inmate. Mpumalanga police spokesperson Selvy Mohlala said the correctional centre was working towards creating a “no-go area for drugs”. He said the woman was caught before entering the premises, on Tuesday. “The female visitor was reportedly searched, as per prisons standard procedures, whereby a black plastic bag concealed beneath her underwear was found. “It was then discovered that the plastic bag was stuffed with about 59 different types of tablets, as well as 20 small plastic bags and other substances, including crushed leaves and a plastic bottle containing oil,” he said. Police were summoned and the woman was arrested and charged for drug possession,…

WHEN no single political party won an outright majority in the City of Johannesburg in last year’s local government elections, the message was clear – the voters in the city had had enough of the ANC-led local government and wanted change. They put their faith in all political parties represented in the city and formed a government that would make the Golden City shine again. Political parties had a challenging, yet exciting prospect of re-imagining a different Johannesburg without the domination of the ANC. A multi-party coalition government, led by the DA was formed and, in a historic moment, DA’s Dr Mpho Phalatse was elected the first woman executive mayor. The seeds of a new future seemed to be on horizon. Then the politics of self interest kicked in. The…

THE mother of a special needs child who was stabbed by criminals in the head when he was allowed to leave the school premises without any supervision, may proceed with her claim for damages against the Gauteng Education Department. The department objected to the claim, saying the mother did not follow the law in issuing her summons late. The mother, who cannot be named to protect her son (no age given), said as a lay-person she had no idea that she had to adhere to a time-frame in issuing her summons. She said the teachers and assistants at the special needs school had been negligent in allowing her son to exit the gates without being accompanied or assisted. The incident occurred on August 16, 2016 when the child was violently…

Jislaaik, Faf de Klerk, made droog for the few minutes that he was on the field... He was barely on the field after sitting on the bench for most of the game against the Argentinians, when he was sent off to the sin bin... The Australian ref was not impressed with our Faffie, making his displeasure felt as he pointed to the sideline....Faf’s walk of shame was painful to watch. I think that Faf’s lang hare, which cascades over his eyes like the Victoria Falls, are causing havoc with his vision, and clouding his judgement. Remember when he greeted Prince Harry in his skimpy scants, a few years ago...shoe, that was scary! Gaan sny daai hare … yes please, …Faf long hair on a “Bok”, is a no-no …rather grow…

The country is having an energy crisis like never before. Even during the evil days of apartheid we did not experience such darkness. Now, thanks to the great men and women who run this country, load shedding, like crime, corruption, murder and rape, has become a common feature in the country. When the ANC toppled the white minority government, they became drunk with power and embarked on a grandiose policy of change and transformation. One of them was electrification of the townships. They wanted to give lights to the poor who had lived all their lives in darkness. But the plan had a major flaw. The ANC government extended the network grid without increasing the generating capacity of Eskom. The power stations became overloaded and strained. They either blew up…

The Covid-19 lockdowns severed many families, where they found themselves having a limited period to decide who would live where and with whom. In other instances, it cemented the divide which already existed for the non-custodial parent. Post-Covid lockdowns, some parents still find themselves in a tug-of-war over the children despite custody agreements. There are cases where the levels of conflict between the parents cause emotional harm to the children. In extreme cases, a child manifests unjustified hostility towards one parent as the result of psychological manipulation by the other. Not much has been done to officially recognise parental alienation in South African courts. Nevertheless, the law advocates for the best interests of the child in terms of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005. This includes the child being raised…

NAYPYIDAW: A military court in Myanmar’s capital, Naypyidaw, yesterday sentenced deposed ex-leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and her former economic assistant, Australian citizen Sean Turnell, to three years in prison on charges of violating the law on state secrets. Two ex-finance ministers, Kyaw Win and Soe Win, and a former deputy, Set Aung, were also sentenced to three years in prison each. Suu Kyi served as state counselor of Myanmar until February 2021. Since then, Suu Kyi has been sentenced to 23 years in prison, including yesterday’s. | Sputnik…

ZURICH: Lindt & Spruengli’s foil-wrapped chocolate bunnies deserve protection from copycat products, Switzerland’s highest court ruled yesterday, and ordered German discounter Lidl to stop selling a similar product in Switzerland and to destroy its remaining stock. Surveys submitted by Lindt showed Lindt’s Easter bunny was well known to the public, the federal court said, adding the two products were likely to be confused. It overturned a Swiss commercial court’s ruling against Lindt and in favour of Lidl last year. Lindt has fought many court battles over to protect one of its best-selling products. | Reuters…

SIYETHEMBA Sithebe bears no grudges against AmaZulu’s head honchos, but he would savour a Kaizer Chiefs win over Usuthu on any day. Late last year, Sithebe exercised his right to sign a pre-contract with a club of his choice, given that he was in the last six months of his deal at AmaZulu. He signed with Chiefs, and that irked AmaZulu boss Sandile Zungu, who froze him out of the match-day squad for the rest of the season. This meant that he could train and do all things as an AmaZulu player, but he was just not going to be selected for the match-day squad until his contract expired. That didn’t go down well with Sithebe as that “time was tough” on him, but he took it on the chin…

SAPPI, which has seen costs rise sharply at its operations in Europe with the energy crisis, is selling three European graphic paper mills for €272 million (R4.7 billion), 31% lower than the net asset value of the loss-making plants. Global demand for graphic papers has generally been in secular decline and Sappi’s strategy is to reduce exposure to graphic markets and align its business over time with falling market demand. Sappi’s share price spiked 2.33% yesterday on the JSE to close at R46.21. Yesterday, the group said it would sell its Maastricht Mill in the Netherlands, the Stockstadt Mill in Germany and its Kirkniemi Mill in Finland to Aurelius Investment Lux One. Aurelius is a pan-European multi- asset manager group, with investments in business operating in various segments…

EARLY in December, Joburg mayor Mpho Phalatse appointed her mayoral executive committee consisting of a multiparty coalition. Little did she know that nine months down the line the same coalition would implode, revolt and gang up against her. It all started with closed-door negotiations, lasting all day and throughout the night, ending in the DA securing only four seats of the 10-seat mayoral committee. The other six seats were shared among minority political parties, with ActionSA securing three seats. The ACDP, Freedom Front Plus and the IFP secured one seat each. Cracks in the coalition started to be evident a month later when the ANC was left with egg on its face after the Patriotic Alliance (PA), which had worked with them in several municipalities, decided to work with the…

ONE hundred years. Seventeen assassins. One hell of a ride. Behind the events you know are the killers you don’t. When diplomacy fails, we’re the ones who gear up. Officially we don’t exist, but every government in the world uses our services. We’ve been saving the world, and your ass, for 100 years. Sixteen people have done this job before me. I am 17. The most feared assassin in the world. But to be the best, you must beat the best. My next target is 16, just as one day 18 will hunt me down. It’s a dog-eat-dog world and it gets lonely at the top. Nobody gets to stay for long. But while we’re here, all that matters is that we win. Visceral, cinematic and insanely addictive, 17 will…

IN this powerful novel about the cost of greatness, a legendary athlete attempts a comeback when the world considers her past her prime. Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular. But by the time she retires from tennis, she is the best player the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed 20 Grand Slam titles. And if you ask Carrie, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father, Javier, as her coach. A former champion, he trained her since the age of 2. But six years after her retirement, Carrie is sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record taken from her by…

Former Miss SA Lalela Mswane’s mentorship programme aims to empower female high school learners from the ages of 14 to 18 by imparting knowledge and skills to enable them not only to secure their economic futures, but also to produce independent members of society who can uplift others. When asked about the programme, Mswane spoke about the importance of offering her skills and guidance to young girls. “I lost my dad at a very young age. This affected me in various ways. I searched for mentorship opportunities to no avail. Now that I have the resources to create such a platform, I decided that there’s no better time than now to offer my skills and guidance to young girls in a position I was once in,” said Mswane. Over…

Load shedding, like necklacing, should be formally added to the South African lexicon. We have reached a moment in history when what has always been a supremely important grid control measure, has become a societal menace. Load shedding is as merciless as global warning since it destroys both lives and livelihoods. Last week we realised how soulless load shedding is when there was a two-hour interlude during the funeral service of Queen Elizabeth. It deprived us of an opportunity to witness an event that will go down in history as one of the most dignified and civilised in the world. Research has shown that the middle class is the first group of people to leave when the proverbial kitchen is hot. For example, in countries such as Afghanistan, the middle…

Obesity in adults has nearly tripled between 1975 and 2016 across the world. The World Health Organization estimated that by 2016, about 1.9 billion adults worldwide were overweight. More than 650 million of the adults were obese. These represent about 39% and 13% of the world’s adult population, respectively. Women bear a disproportionately higher burden of obesity. In 2016, it was estimated that 15% of the world’s women and 11% of men were obese. Overweight and obesity are burgeoning health issues in sub-Saharan Africa – particularly South Africa, with a significantly high burden of overweight and obesity. In our recent research, we looked at the prevalence of overweight and obesity among women of childbearing age in South Africa. Obesity leads to many maternal and child health problems. These include infertility,…

Moscow: Three Russian cosmonauts touched down yesterday on the steppe of Kazakhstan after a six-month mission on the International Space Station, Russian space agency Roscosmos said. Footage showed Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveyev and Sergey Korsakov being helped from the Soyuz descent module as they become used to the effects of gravity again. During their 195 days aboard the station, the crew completed multiple experiments and five space walks. Russia’s only active female cosmonaut, Anna Kikina, is expected to travel to the orbital station in early October aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon. | AFP…

THE thrill of a risky job and the lure of getting out of his comfort zone were the driving forces behind Pitso Mosimane accepting the offer from Saudi Arabian lower division outfit Al Ahli. Speaking at a media conference in Sandton prior to his departure to Jeddah, Mosimane admitted that he was putting his reputation on the line by taking on the project of helping the club get back up to the Pro League. “We gave them (his management team MT Sports, headed by his wife Moira Tlhagale) a mandate to try and handpick a project that is challenging and will take us our of our comfort zone,” Mosimane explained. “The club has expectations to go back to the top league and for us, we want to make history and…

INJURIES across Europe’s top five leagues rose by 20% in the 2021/22 season, according to a study published on Wednesday, as arguments intensify over football’s congested calendar ahead of the World Cup. The study by insurance brokers Howden found clubs paid a record-high price for injuries of £513-million last season. Injury cost was calculated by multiplying the cost per day of a player by the number of days they were unavailable because of an injury. World players’ union Fifpro says structures must be put in place to limit player workloads. For the first time this year a European campaign will be interrupted by a mid-season World Cup, causing further fixture congestion either side of the tournament in Qatar, which starts on November 20. European governing body Uefa has increased the…

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has invited his national team counterpart Hugo Broos to the club following his recent criticism of local football. Last Saturday, Bafana Bafana returned to winning ways as they thumped Sierra Leone 4-0 at home to end a four-game winless run in all competitions. But Broos’ men were not at their best in the second friendly on Tuesday night at FNB Stadium as they laboured to a 1-0 win over their neighbours Botswana. And that dull performance infuriated the Belgian coach, who moaned that there are some PSL players who are not good enough for Bafana’s level. Mngqithi, who’s been around for some time, didn’t take that lying down after being asked about Broos’ bold remarks yesterday afternoon. “It’s a free country, you can say whatever…

ALTX-LISTED Kibo Energy’s shares leapt 20% yesterday in intraday trade, but closed unchanged at 5 cents a share on the JSE, after it said it was planning to spin-off its renewable and clean energy generation projects into a new firm called, Ultimate Sustainable Energy (USE), in an initial public offering (IPO). This as the firm, with a market cap of R156 million, aims to advance its corporate strategy toward significant renewable, clean energy developer status. The company said yesterday it would seek admission to the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange for the IPO. “The IPO will seek to raise sufficient funds to develop the company’s portfolio of renewable or clean energy generation projects, thereby supporting the company’s strategic intent to significantly advance and accelerate…

Asset Auctions presents an opportunity for all property investors as they auction a residential village on October 13 at 11am. The property, which is being sold in a liquidation matter, is at 6 and 8 Marlu Road, Selcourt, Springs and consists of 56 two-bedroom units. It generates a monthly income of about R230 000 a month. The 56 units are to be sold as one lot and each comprises: • Two bedrooms. • One bathroom. • An open-plan living area. • An allocated parking space. • An open parking space. In addition, there are eight in- complete units that could generate further income. The live webcast auction will take place simultaneously at the property and online at www.assetauctions.co.za. Viewing is by appointment only. For more information, contact Dean at 083…

The Gauteng Education Department is working to co-ordinate with various stakeholders to ensure education is treated as a societal issue. Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi launched the Quality Learning and Teaching Campaign (QLTC) at the Tsakane Community Hall in Brakpan with the main goal of ensuring the delivery of quality learning and teaching in all Gauteng schools. The department said the QLTC was developed 14 years ago to co-ordinate the work of the various stakeholders to ensure education is treated as a societal issue. Although many of the challenges which affected the delivery of quality teaching and learning remain, new ones have also emerged. During the gathering, Lesufi declared the QLTC Summit as a forum that incorporates various learner, teacher, community and labour formations who have the best interest of…

The term “Mafia” evokes specific images: men wearing nice suits and hats, wielding guns. These associations arise mostly from popular culture, including The Godfather, The Sopranos and, for true fans, the Italian series Gomorrah. Women, though, are never front and centre in these depictions. In Latza Nadeau’s latest book, The Godmother, she says they are rarely discussed by those who study the Mafia. And yet, as Nadeau demonstrates, these women exist and act within the various crime syndicates that the Italian government considers to be mafias, including the “only one true Mafia … the Cosa Nostra in Sicily”. The character meant to tie Nadeau’s book together is Assunta “Pupetta” Maresca, who was 18 years old and six months pregnant in the summer of 1955 when she shot and killed the…

A stranded tourist and her tour guide were airlifted to safety with the help of a drone which located them in a collaborative search-and-rescue team effort. The pair got lost in steep and dangerous terrain while hiking along the India Venster trail on Table Mountain. Western Cape Wilderness Search And Rescue (WSAR) spokesperson David Nel said a drone from the Western Cape Department of Health Emergency Medical Services Drone Unit was used to locate the pair after they called and realised it was longer safe to proceed. The information received from the guide suggested a location on Cairn Buttress, high above Camps Bay. On-scene rescue co-ordinator Tim Lundy said: “The drone found the patients within 10 minutes. We called the patients on their cellphone and had them tell us where…

Since the US administration has turned its attention to assisting Ukraine against Russia and countering China in the Pacific region, Iran is trying to fill the power vacuum in the region. The Islamic Republic of Iran is the ultimate winner of the United States’ Gulf Wars as Shia Tehran has increased its influence in Baghdad since the fall of the Sunni Saddam Hussein in 2003. The Iranian regime has also built strong relations with Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, who succeeded his father, Hafez al-Assad. The Assads hail from the Alawites, a minority ethno-religious group that originated from Shia Islam. Iran's economy has suffered significantly from international sanctions and oil export bans for many years. Tehran is trying to build close relations with the Western world as well as Middle Eastern countries…

FRAUD unravels everything – that is the law. These were the words of a judge when a woman was caught out after she claimed that she was the only surviving spouse of her deceased husband, although they had been divorced for decades. The executor of the estate of Jeremiah Radebe, who died almost two decades ago in April 2004, turned to the South Gauteng High Court in Joburg to have the transfer of a property into the name of his former wife overturned. The deceased was married to her until their divorce in 1997, and five years later he acquired a property. The wife, through what the court said were fraudulent means, by misrepresenting to the Master of the High Court that she was the only surviving spouse of the…

THE National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has blamed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration for the Road Accident Fund (RAF) management’s plan to retrench workers. Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said the RAF had been on a mission to retrench workers since 2020, but was now using the union to rubber-stamp its decision. “The (RAF) management attempted to get the union to rubber-stamp their strategy to guillotine workers and cut over 400 jobs through a dodgy restructuring process, which was outside the CCMA (Commission for Conciliation, Mediaion and Arbitation) process. “RAF management began contemplating restructuring as early as 2020 when they contracted (accounting firm) PwC and since then, discussions have been taking place behind the scenes to restructure the company. “They began to implement this strategy around June…

Political murders have been an issue of contention in various provinces across the country, particularly in KZN where the murder of political rivals, public figures and elected officials are the order of the day. In KZN, it is not uncommon to see councillors with security detail that rivals that of ministers and celebrity superstars. A councillor’s salary level is lower to middle management level range, yet the one thing that they are said to have access to is budgets, resources and the power to unlock infrastructure projects. These often lead to the culture of murder and extortion which rivals that of Mexican drug and kidnapping cartels. The latest developments of how an IFP mayor was named as a suspect by a victim during a funeral service should not be taken…

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin will sign documents today proclaiming Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian regions, as Moscow rushes to lock in territorial claims that the Ukrainian army is threatening to reverse on the battlefield. The move, one of the legal steps Russia says will lead to formal annexation of 15% of Ukraine’s territory, confirms that Putin is doubling down on his war against Ukraine despite suffering a major military reversal this month. The annexation, after what Kyiv and Western countries say were phoney referendums staged at gunpoint on Russian-held Ukrainian territory, has been rejected in the West as an illegal seizure of land captured in war. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy summoned his security and defence chiefs for an emergency meeting to be held today, and promised a robust response…

PARIS: A nationwide strike in France yesterday called by several hard-left trade unions demanding higher pay caused disruption in the energy sector as nuclear power industry workers joined the walkout. The 24-hour strike by electricity union FNME lowered capacity from the power grid at a time when France already faces a record number of nuclear reactor outages. The strike, expected to also cause disruption to schools and transport, is seen as a test of the unions’ ability to mobilise support and a barometer of potential unrest as President Emmanuel Macron pushes ahead with reforms to the pension system.…

ORLANDO Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has been overly impressed by the resurgent Kermit ‘Romeo’ Erasmus, who, despite months of inactivity, has shown that he is battle-ready. After he saw him in action at training, Riveiro feels Erasmus will be a wonderful acquisition. “I found an experienced player, smart and professional because he’s in a good fitness level,” said Riveiro. “So that shows me he was taking care of himself so that he is ready to perform. He was ready to train. “It takes time, of course, he just arrived a few days ago. He’s had a few experiences so far with the team, the group, and the methods, so we need to be patient. “We can’t think about the past, like when we spoke about results. “We can’t think about…