Table of contents for CT-2021-04-16 in Cape Times

Sizwe Dlamini sizwe.dlamini@inl.co.za JSE-LISTED AYO Technology Solutions has launched a court application on Constitutional grounds against First National Bank (FNB) after the bank gave the tech firm notice to close its transactional banking facility from May 3, according to a Sens statement yesterday. The black-owned tech firm said despite its best efforts, FNB had not provided AYO with what it regarded as valid reasons for termination. “The company believes that it is entitled to fair treatment and as a result, is in the process of instituting legal proceedings against FNB for its decision to close the company’s transactional banking facility.” AYO does not have any lending facilities with FNB and is in the process of reviewing its options for transactional banking. The tech firm issued a cautionary to shareholders: “As…

EDWARD WEST edward.west@inl.co.za ACTIVITY in the commercial rental property market remains highest in the industrial and warehouse segments, a commercial property broker survey for the first quarter released yesterday by FNB showed. Industrial and warehouse property market respondents drove the activity rating in this segment to 6.51 points compared with 4.5 points in the “lockdown” second quarter of 2020. It was the third consecutive quarter in which this sector’s activity rating has increased. The retail sector also saw a strengthening in its market activity rating, to 5 points in the first quarter from 3.62 points in the second quarter of 2020. However, in line with other data, the office sector’s activity rating declined to 3.49 points from 3.70 points in the hard lockdown, leaving…

Sandile Mchunu sandile.mchunu@inl.co.za enX GROUP has entered into a share purchase agreement with Aprolis Holdings for the disposal of its subsidiary Impact Handling UK for £31 million (R617m), with the proceeds expected to be used to reduce group debt. The Impact Handling UK business provides distribution, rental and value- added services for industrial and materials handling equipment in the UK and it is the exclusive distributor for Cat Lift Trucks and Konecranes heavy duty forklifts and container handling equipment in the UK. The industrial group said yesterday the disposal represented an attractive opportunity for the company to monetise its investment at a valuation that the board believes fairly reflects the future prospects and cash flows of the business. “The disposal also allows enX to realise its investment in…

Zintle Mahlati zintle.mahlati@inl.co.za Three women and two men have made the final list of candidates for vacancies at the Supreme Court of Appeal. The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) selected the final five yesterday following a gruelling interview process. The following high court judges have been selected for appointment: Gauteng Judge Zeenat Carelse, Pretoria-based Judge Wendy Hughes, Eastern Cape Judge Nolwazi Penelope Mabindla-Boqwana, KZN Judge Trevor Richard Gorven and Gauteng Judge Selewe Peter Mothle. Gauteng Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba, who faced tough questions over the sealing of the financial documents of the #CR17 campaign, did not make the shortlist. The JSC will now submit the five names to President Cyril Ramaphosa for selection. On Wednesday, the JSC submitted five candidates to Ramaphosa to choose from for two vacant positions at…

Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za BURGER giant RocoMamas has been accused of “corporate bullying tactics” after it threatened legal action against a Mandalay food truck owner if he didn’t change the name of one of his burgers. Rack n Grill owner Muammer Kasu received a letter, dated April 14, from franchise chief executive Anton Geldenhuys stating that RocoMamas was the registered proprietor of the “Smashburger” in South Africa. The company alleged that Kasu’s “Smash Burger” was an infringement, and gave him 48 hours to change it. “Your company, trading under the name and style ’Rack n Grill’ has been using and continues to use on its trading name, menu, and by way of advertising a product, a mark consisting of the words ’Smash Burger’… We hereby demand that you immediately remove the…

Helen Zondi AS A young black woman, being in the construction industry has been an eye-opening journey for me in many ways. I got myself into the industry to tap into a space that is still male-dominated and in many aspects very white. My biggest goal when I launched Haylie Zone construction, was first to be successful and second to be able to offer a number of unemployed people job opportunities, while ensuring that clients were getting the best services. The beginning has been far from easy. This has to be one of the hardest and bravest decisions I have ever made, even more so now that I am inside, I realise the long and bumpy road one has to go through to make a…

Michael Bagraim | Highlands Estate YOUR Wednesday edition: “Don’t punish women who lie about abuse" refers. It is all very well to support the exposure of abusers. Those that come forward need to be protected and treated seriously, enabling people to be comfortable that their reports will be taken into the system and properly prosecuted. However, I have seen more examples of individuals coming forward and lying about their abuse. These lies are taken seriously, and investigated like any other report. The lies first of all undermine those who are abused, and it undermines the system. The police are short staffed, and have very little budget. For them to start investigating lies and using their minimal resources is not acceptable. This is abuse of the authorities, and takes…

Zanele Mvana zanele.mvana@inl.co.za DISGRUNTLED Nyanga residents have bemoaned a change in dental services at Crossroads Community Health Centre, saying they were being turned away while in pain. A patient who wants to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation said he went to the clinic on Monday to get his tooth extracted but to his dismay a doctor informed him that he would not be assisted as his case was not an emergency. “I had a toothache and I wanted to extract my tooth. When I got to the clinic I saw that there were many people standing outside the premises. “We were then informed by a doctor on duty that we would not be able to get our teeth extracted due to Covid-19, and we were only provided with painkillers…

Okuhle Hlati okhule.hlati@inl.co.za SAID by industry to be Africa’s tallest hotel in the heart of the city, Hotel Sky has been applauded by the government for employing many people who have never worked before. The 145.5m tall hotel, with 28 storeys, was officially opened yesterday in a grand launch by Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, joined by the head of Infrastructure and Investment in the presidency, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. Hotel Sky general manager Mercia Horn said it was important for them to open their doors and create job opportunities. “During its construction the hotel employed 800 people. In the next six months we are hoping to have a workforce of about 200 people. Myself coming from the Cape Flats, I have passion for space and people,” said Horn. Kubayi-Ngubane said the…

MUSHTAK PARKER When the world’s single largest sovereign wealth fund (SWF) excludes investing in firms deemed to be doing business in countries accused of gross human rights violations, then being on its watch list could be seriously bad for business. The SWF in question, Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG), with current assets under management exceeding $1.275 trillion, is by far the model socially responsible such investor in the world. Its asset allocation reach is phenomenal. At March 2021 it is invested in the equities of a staggering 9 123 companies in 73 countries in three key investment areas – equities, real estate and bonds. When its not leading on the now issues of gender diversity on boards, countering aggressive tax planning especially by tech giants including Alphabet (Google),…

An explosives-packed drone slammed into Iraq’s Arbil airport in the first reported use of such a weapon against a base used by US-led coalition troops in the country, officials said yesterday. There were no casualties in the strike on the capital of northern Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region late on Wednesday, although it damaged a building in the military part of the airport. It comes after around 20 bomb and rocket attacks blamed on pro-Iran Shia armed groups against facilities used by coalition troops or diplomats in Iraq since US President Joe Biden took office in January. The attacks have mostly been claimed by shadowy Shia armed groups aligned with Iran who are demanding the Biden administration set a pull-out date for Iraq as it has for Afghanistan. “A drone packed…

IN ALLEYS criss-crossing the Libyan capital’s Old City, construction crews are hard at work restoring former glory to architectural treasures neglected under dictator Muammar Gaddafi and in the decade since he was killed. The substantial restoration under way sought to “preserve the heritage of the Old City” in Tripoli, said Mahmoud al-Naas, head of the committee overseeing the project. Covering around 50 hectares, the Old City was an “architectural joy” – but this made the “enormous” work required a “heavy responsibility”, he said. The project, funded largely by the state, comes as Libya is undergoing a tentative political renewal. A new prime minister was selected earlier this year through a UN-backed inter-Libyan dialogue to steer the country to December elections, bringing hope that unrelenting chaos since Gaddafi’s death might finally…

BUENOS AIRES – Maxi Bagnasco says he knows Diego Maradona’s features by heart after painting portraits of the soccer star almost daily since the Argentine World Cup winner died last November. The artist, who creates lifelike paintings with spray paint on huge canvases, decided to make Maradona his niche after the outpouring of grief over the footballer’s death. “I think Maradona will accompany me in other projects that I do.” Bagnasco, 39, has been using his phone to copy photographs of Maradona, who has cult-like status in Argentina, where he was nicknamed “D10S”, a play on the Spanish word for “God” that incorporates the number 10 shirt he wore. Bagnasco said he knew he wanted to be an artist at age nine when he won a contest copying a Van…

London: The British royals are all to wear civilian clothing at Prince Philip’s funeral to avoid awkwardness over which princes are entitled to military uniform, British media reported yesterday. The Duke of Edinburgh, who died last Friday, will be buried tomorrow at Windsor Castle, with just 30 mourners, most of them close family. Queen Elizabeth II is understood to have decided that all the royals will wear civilian clothing, The Sun tabloid and other media reported. The funeral would otherwise have emphasised former British Army captain Prince Harry’s loss of honorary military titles after his shock departure from royal life last year.…

THIS week we will be looking at how sports technology has evolved with the use of base layers which is so common in multiple sporting codes from athletics to football. A base layer is the layer closest to your skin and should act as a constant “second skin” throughout your sports event/match/race. Base layers provide a layer of warmth, keeping your body temperature constant while absorbing and evaporating your sweat to keep you feeling warm and comfortable. This industry has been booming over the past few years with brands like Under Armour, Nike, adidas, Second Skin, First Accent and many more using their sports technology to enhance the performance of their athletes. The reason behind this is simple: Runners and other sportsmen and women often suffer from chaffing and bleeding…

Ashfak Mohamed THE opening day of the South African athletics championships was always going to be about Caster Semenya’s return to the track, but Akani Simbine very nearly made it an historic one for himself too. The 800m Olympic champion Semenya had an early start, lining up at 8.20am at Tuks Athletics Stadium for the unfamiliar 5 000m, in an attempt to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. She is still fighting her case at the European Court for Human Rights to overturn World Athletics’ ruling for athletes with differences of sexual development – to be allowed to participate in distances from 400m to the mile without having to take medication or undergo surgery to lower her natural testosterone levels. But a hearing is not likely to happen before the Games,…

THE FINANCIAL Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) said yesterday its investigation into the Huge Group share buyback programme revealed insufficient evidence that the telecommunications company’s actions constituted prohibited trading practices. The regulator launched an investigation into possible share manipulation last month after Huge Group was involved in a share buyback programme between December and February. Huge Group share price leapt by more than 50 percent between the beginning of December and February 26 from R4.45 a share to R6.90 during the period. Huge Group announced its intention to acquire all of Adapt IT’s issued share capital for 552c a share towards the end of January. The FSCA said it had concluded there was insufficient evidence to find the repurchase transactions constituted prohibited trading practices as defined in Section 80 of…

Sechaba ka’Nkosi sechaba.nkosi@inl.co.za AFRICAN Bank yesterday announced the appointment of seasoned banker Kennedy Bhungane to steer the ship after the abrupt departure of former chief executive Basani Maluleke over the direction of the institution. Bungane takes over at a difficult time as the lender posted a net loss after tax of R27 million for the year to end September compared to a profit of R1.20 billion reported a year earlier. Bhungane left Absa, one of the country’s top banks, in an apparent fallout with then-chief executive Maria Ramos in 2014. A former Absa executive who refused to be named said that Bhungane left after it became clear that there was a purging of some in the leadership who did not agree with Ramos. At least four executives left…

Sandile Mchunu sandile.mchunu@inl.co.za PSG KONSULT delivered a double-digit growth in earnings for the year to end February despite a difficult year, boosted by the contribution of PSG Insure and PSG Wealth divisions. The financial services group yesterday reported a 10 percent increase in recurring headline earnings per share to 52.7 cents and a return on equity of 20 percent. PSG Konsult declared a final gross dividend of 16.5c, in line with its divi- dend policy, taking the total dividend to 24.5c, up by 9 percent compared to last year’s 22.5c. Chief executive Francois Gouws said the dividend declaration demonstrated the group’s strong financial position and confidence in its future prospects. “PSG Konsult remains strongly capitalised, with a capital cover ratio of 213 percent and we…

Thabo Makwakwa thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za POWER utility Eskom and the black female-owned Econ Oil & Energy locked horns in the South Gauteng High Court following a war between the two entities involving a multibillion-rand fuel supply contract. In the matter heard before High Court Judge Bashier Vally, it was decided that the case involving Eskom's application to interdict the recent arbitration award which ruled in favour of Econ Oil would be suspended. Judge Vally then expedited the hearing of the review of the application to between June 9 and 11. Eskom had initiated an urgent court application seeking to have its own decision to award the tender reviewed and set aside. Additionally, Eskom sought to stall the arbitration report by Kevin Trisk, SC, which found that there exists a contract between Eskom…

Arn Franzsen | Goodwood “LET’S safeguard our democracy, as China does” (Cape Times, April 7)Really? China safeguards democracy? That is not a headline worthy of being printed in your newspaper. China is not a democracy – and if there was any doubt, recent events in Hong Kong have proven that beyond all doubt. The CCP rules in China, and dissent is not tolerated. It is disingenuous to suggest otherwise. I am shocked that a reputable newspaper would give pride of place to an opinion piece which suggests otherwise. China’s human rights record is shocking, and access to positions of authority is restricted to party members. It is important that South Africans are not led to believe otherwise – especially since the Chinese are engaged in an expansionist drive…

Mfezeko Bunu | Khayelitsha THE state capture commission has once again proven to be a waste of time and money. The questions that were asked about the ANC's deployment policy to comrade Gwede Mantashe do not add any value at all to the main focus or the generally accepted aim of the commission. Justice Zondo, as has become his style, allowed the evidence leader to ask irrelevant questions to comrade Mantashe, and Justice Zondo did not even attempt to steer the line of questioning so as to stop this waste of time. This is the same Justice Zondo who takes a firm stand against those who are not or are not perceived to be in President (Cyril) Ramaphosa camp. Just like he did when Pravin Gordhan was fumbling…

Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za LOCAL inspiration Natasha Dietrich, who went from scrubbing floors as a cleaner to marking papers as a primary school teacher, says she is glad she never gave up. From Belhar, Dietrich, 47, was a cleaner at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and now teaches maths and social sciences at Dr Van der Ross Primary School. Dietrich celebrated the achievement yesterday with her former colleagues at Bidvest Prestige. “I worked as a cleaner for three years as a casual worker, and for six years as a permanent worker. I attended classes during the day. “My shift as cleaner started from 3pm till midnight. I was doing both at the same time. I worked weekends as well,” she said. The mother of two said although her journey…

Okuhle Hlati okhule.hlati@inl.co.za THREE Makhaza residents in Khayelitsha have been arrested for allegedly participating in vigilante justice when five men accused by residents of being involved in criminal activities were beaten and stoned. At about 2.30pm on Tuesday, irate 41 Block residents allegedly went in search of five men who were believed to be behind a spate of housebreakings and muggings. Two of the men were killed and three, who are still in hospital, were seriously injured after they were attacked. Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said an investigation by Harare police members led to the arrest of three people on Wednesday, aged between 27 and 32. He said they remained in custody and are expected to appear today at the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court for murder and attempted murder in…

LAST CHANCE TEXACO: CHRONICLES OF AN AMERICAN TROUBADOUR Rickie Lee Jones Loot.co.za (R513) GROVE THIS is an amazing and impossible story of magic and destiny, Rickie Lee Jones declares in her new autobiography, Last Chance Texaco: Chronicles of an American Troubadour. Not for the first time, she is calling on the supernatural to describe an event in her life, which in this case involved a music festival in Ireland, an encounter with a tetchy Van Morrison and a frightening car ride with a man she believes was a leprechaun. To Jones, among the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of the past 40 years, the hand of fate does not have a light touch. But all her talk of magic, kismet and other unseen forces is itself a kind of hocus-pocus. The Rickie…

This column started with the greatest intention of showcasing the plight of professional sports people and mental health and how many examples there have been of individuals not being able to get over that one implosion, mistake or blow-out. My statistical research led me to the prevalence and increase of mental health symptoms and disorders in current elite athletes. According to several reports, from different countries and taking into account a variety of sporting codes, alcohol misuse was up by 20%, and you could nearly double that for those affected by anxiety and depression. I didn’t know this, but there is a South African and global health calendar that lists a day dedicated to awareness around every and any sort of medical condition. Mental health is slotted in for the…

Hundreds of children became separated from their families in the panic after jihadist attacks in northern Mozambique, and thousands more are suffering from malnutrition, Unicef warned yesterday. The UN children’s agency has managed to shelter 250 children separated from their families in the assault last month on Palma, a town in northern Cabo Delgado province, long prey to jihadist attacks that have mounted in ferocity over the past year. Alone after being separated from her family in a jihadist attack, one six-year-old girl wandered through the bushy terrain of northern Mozambique for four days before being taken in by Unicef. With almost 700 000 displaced by the attacks, malnutrition is a growing danger for people in the poor northern region bordering Tanzania. Almost 13% of children under five already suffer…

Myanmar security forces yesterday arrested one of the main leaders of the campaign against military rule after driving into him with a car as he led a motorbike protest rally, friends and colleagues said. Opponents of a February 1 coup that ousted an elected government led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, have kept up their campaign against the military this traditional New Year week. “Our brother Wai Moe Naing was arrested. His motorbike was hit by a private car of the police,” Win Zaw Khiang, a member of a protest organising group said on social media. Wai Moe Naing, a 25-year-old Muslim, has emerged as one of the most high-profile leaders of opposition to the coup. Reuters was not able to contact Wai Moe Naing by telephone.…

Jakarta: Indonesian police yesterday shot dead a man allegedly linked to last month’s suicide bombing outside a church in South Sulawesi province, a spokesperson said. Members of the police anti-terrorism unit used lethal force after the suspect attacked them with a sickle during a raid on his home in the provincial capital Makassar. Police have arrested 31 people in connection with the March 28 attack on the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Makassar, which left the two attackers dead and injured 20. Investigators said a newly married couple linked to Jamaah Ansharud Daulah, a militant network that supports the Islamic State terror group, carried out the attack.…

MANILA: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has lifted the nine-year moratorium on new mining agreements to maximise the country’s benefit from the industry, the presidential office said yesterday. “The Department of Environment and Natural Resources may continue to grant and issue exploration permits under existing laws, rules, and guidelines,” according to an executive order (EO) signed by Duterte. The EO added that those who will get permits “shall be given the right of (the) first option to develop and utilise the minerals in their exploration area upon the approval of the declaration of mining project feasibility.”…

Baroka FC continued to Kaizer Chiefs hoodo team yesterday as they produced a late equalizer to deny Amakhosi the chance to move into the top eight at the Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday afternoon. If Chiefs had won last night’s game, they would have bumped off TS Galaxy which is sitting on the eight spot in the log. Amakhosi, who are fresh off progressing through to the next round of the CAF Champions League, showed that confidence when they took the lead through Lebogang Manyama shortly after half-time. The former Cape Town City star combined brilliantly with Khama Billiat as the pair enjoyed a delightful interchange of passes inside the Baroka box before Manyama calmly finished off the move to put Chiefs ahead. The goal was actually against…

BUILDINGS completed, as measured in real terms, fell a further 40.2 percent year-on-year in February following January’s -46 percent plunge, Statistics SA data showed. Completions in the non-residential sector of the market, which has been adversely affected by the pandemic, declined by -59.5 percent y/y, while residential building completions slid by -21.8 percent y/y. Investec economist Lara Hodes said yesterday in a statement that the first quarter 2021 performance thus far was in line with the results of the BER’s first quarter building survey, which saw confidence among players in the building sector move further into depressed territory. Ninety percent of respondents to the BER survey from the non-residential segment were dissatisfied with prevailing conditions. Lack of demand as well as shortages of raw materials were cited…

Tarryn-Leigh Solomons tarryn-leigh.solomons@inl.co.za President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to appoint new defence chiefs has been supported by Parliament, with defence analysts saying this was a positive move. The joint standing committee on defence in Parliament said yesterday that it was fully behind the new chiefs of the defence force. Defence analyst Helmoed Heitman said he felt confident about the new Military Command Council. Lieutenant-General Rudzani Maphwanya was appointed as chief of the SANDF with effect from June 1. He replaces General Solly Shoke, whose retirement comes into effect on May 31. Major-General Wiseman Simo Mbambo was appointed as chief of the SA Air Force while Major-General Siphiwe Sangweni was appointed as chief of joint operations as of June 1. Major-General Ntshavheni Maphaha was appointed as surgeon general with effect from November…

Athandile Siyo anthandile.siyo@inl.co.za Siphokazi Vuso siphokazi.vuso@inl.co.za SUSPENDED Transport and Public Works MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela’s woes could worsen after an opposition party in the legislature said they would lodge a criminal complaint with the police for his “lying” about having a degree on his CV. Madikizela has remained tight-lipped since Western Cape Premier Alan Winde confirmed that he had suspended him pending the outcome of an investigation. The DA announced that its provincial deputy leader Albert Fritz would act in Madikizela’s place as the party’s head for two weeks. When the Cape Times approached him for comment, Madikizela would only say that he would share his side of the story in due course. DA national spokesperson Siviwe Gwarube referred requests for party comment to Winde’s office. In announcing Madikizela’s suspension, Winde…

Barbie Sandler | Constantia I AM delighted errant teachers are to be punished. I cannot believe it has taken the Minister of Education so long. I am pleased to see those who have sexually assaulted a learner in any way will be axed and banned from the profession. Another article I read with interest said 35 Swedish celebrities feel women who lie about being sexually abused and accuse innocent men of rape and harassment should not be convicted of libel? What! An innocent man can go to jail or lose everything when accused wrongly? Of course, women who have been raped or abused should not be stopped from going to court. But to let off women who have lied goes against the justice system trying to sort out these…

Brian Pittman | Fish Hoek I AM a great lover of cricket and it was majestic watching Babar Azam and his opening batting partner Rizwan annihilate the inept bowling performance of the undisciplined South African side. The fielding and bowling of the South African side was pathetic. At no stage did I see anybody go to a bowler and give him some sort of confidence to go forward. That we are even thinking of competing in the upcoming T20 World cup in November, is inconceivable. What are our coaches, Boucher, Langeveldt and all the others coaching our players to do? They are more than likely being paid pretty good salaries and my thought is that they, as well as the players, be paid in accordance with their performance.…

Staff writer ARMED in his protective uniform, Landile Sokweba looks after Claremont residents every day. And he just so also happens to be an award-winning singing sensation. Sokweba, 25, said his love of music stretches back to when he was a child. The traditional singer has been with Fidelity ADT for four years. “I grew up in Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape. I remember singing for the boys when they go to the mountains. I was always the one that would start the singing or would lead it, and I also remember my time in the school choir where I was leading it at the age of 12.” When he arrived in Cape Town, he said he was introduced to a much more organised version of music. At the recent…

Odwa Mkentane odwa.mkentane@inl.co.za A WITNESS of the murder of a taxi passenger has described it as “the most horrible incident I have ever witnessed in my life”. Three suspects pretended to be taxi passengers when they shot and killed another passenger and robbed him of a gun in Khayelitsha on Wednesday. The witness, whose name is being withheld for her safety, said she was on her way to a nearby shop. The taxi is believed to have been transporting passengers from Site C to Cape Town. “Just after I crossed a main road, a taxi stopped and I heard a gunshot coming from the taxi. I fell down because I was shocked and terrified. People were screaming and I was confused as to what was happening exactly. “Three men came…

SOUTH Africa’s vaccine roll-out programme seems to have hit a bit of turbulence. In this past week, the government temporarily suspended the administration of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine. This was after the US Food and Drug Administration revealed the potential link between the vaccine and a rare type of blood clot. The suspension of the US J&J vaccine comes in the wake of the government’s request for the Serum Institute of India to take back the 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine which the company sent to our country in early February. Besides issues of expiry dates and the inability of that vaccine to fight South Africa’s Covid-19 variant, the government is said to have eventually sold these doses to countries on the continent. What comes…

EVEN in South African football’s darkest hour on the international landscape, it seems we can always rely on Banyana Banyana to carry the torch for the nation. Bafana Bafana have once again disappointed their fans by dismally failing to qualify for the extended Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon early next year. Bafana fell at the final hurdle away to Sudan, losing a game in which they only needed to draw to reach the promised land. They subsequently went on to finish third on the log in Group C – two and four points behind the qualifying second and first positions. This was Bafana’s fourth failure to reach the continental showpiece in the past 11 years. What makes it especially troubling is that the men’s team continue to receive…

THE US has imposed a broad array of sanctions on Russia to punish it for alleged interference in US elections, cyber-hacking, bullying Ukraine and other “malign” acts. The measures, put in place yesterday, blacklisted Russian companies, expelled Russian diplomats and placed limits on the Russian sovereign debt market in steps sure to anger Moscow. President Joe Biden issued an executive order authorising the US government to sanction any sector of the Russian economy and used it to restrict Russia’s ability to issue sovereign debt, to punish Moscow for interfering in the US election last year. The Kremlin said it would respond in kind and said new US measures would reduce the chances of a summit between US Biden and President Vladimir Putin taking place. Russia denies meddling in US elections…

LOS ANGELES: Bobby Brown believes Nick Gordon was responsible for Whitney Houston’s death. The 48-year-old singer was found dead in her bath in February 2012 after taking cocaine, and three years later, the singer’s daughter with her ex-husband, Bobbi Kristina Brown, was found unconscious in similar circumstances and died after several months in a coma aged 22. And now Bobby has admitted he believes his daughter’s former boyfriend – who was found liable for Bobbi Kristina’s death in a civil case – had a role to play in Whitney’s death.…

Phnom Penh: Spiraling Covid-19 cases have put Cambodia “on the brink of death”, Premier Hun Sen has warned, as the country imposed lockdowns in the capital Phnom Penh and a nearby city. Authorities said last week that hospitals in Phnom Penh were running out of beds while Hun Sen threatened quarantine-breakers with jail time. Phnom Penh and adjacent city Ta Khmau were placed under lockdown for two weeks on Wednesday, effectively halting the movement of more than two million people. “Please, my people,join your efforts to end this dangerous event,” said Hun Sen. “We are on the brink of death. If we don’t join hands together, we will head to real death.”…

TALLINN: A busy road in the Estonian capital Tallinn has been closed at night to keep thousands of frogs and toads travelling to their breeding grounds safe from cars. Volunteers usually help carry frogs and toads over roads in the spring and say they have saved 97 000 of them in previous years, including 2 000 last year on the Tallinn road. Road closures are the only lifeline for the amphibians. “The ponds where they breed are on one side of the road and their wintering place is on the other. “So they are forced to cross.”…

MIHLALI BALEKA MAMELODI SUNDOWNS(1)(4) Shalulile 13’, Zwane 49’, Kapinga 79’, Kekana 86’ ORLANDO PIRATES(1)(0) Mabasa 33’ Another domestic Cup competition, another passage to the semi-finals for Mamelodi Sundowns. That may sound like a cliche, but it is simply the truth as the Brazilians channelled their classy championship mentality to easily cruise past Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals. Sundowns’ co-coach Rhulani Mokwena hit the nail on the head when he described this match a “final before the final” midweek, given that the two teams left everything on the pitch at Loftus yesterday – in a match that only needed the buzz of the supporters. Both teams went into the interval level at 1-1 after a tightly contested first half where Pirates arguably had the better scoring chances…