Table of contents for 2023-03-11 in Saturday Star

The story of Will Smith’s Oscar night slap of Chris Rock has often elicited sympathy towards the comedian. Publicly, over the past year, Rock has been widely portrayed as a victim who was humiliated by an out-of-order peer for a harmless bit. But last Saturday, Rock emphatically flipped the script with his first lengthy public response on the incident. Ever the perfectionist, the comedian played the long game, biding his time and ultimately creating a spectacle of the occasion with Netflix’s first-ever live entertainment special less than a year after that infamous Oscars night. Titled Selective Outrage, the theme of the special turns out to be far more nuanced than the clips circulating on social media after the special premiered had suggested. Admittedly, I was one of those who found…

Actress and film-maker Elizabeth Banks isn’t content playing within the confines of Hollywood. No, she would rather push the envelope and stretch the imagination. And this is wonderfully manifested in her latest film, Cocaine Bear. Interestingly, this was one of Ray Liotta’s final projects before he died on May 26 last year. Banks cemented her career in Tinseltown with an extensive string of rom-coms among her other projects. As such, comedy became a playground where she flourished. And this is manifested in projects like Charlie’s Angels and Pitch Perfect 2. For Cocaine Bear she marries horror with comedy. At a recent media junket, she said: “I really felt like this was the opportunity to layer real true comedy, laugh-out-loud moments, with a real sense of suspense and a lot…

After a long application process which saw over 340 entrants, the top 22 youngsters from across South Africa who are part of the Design Indaba Emerging Creatives programme for 2023, have been announced. The Design Indaba Emerging Creatives Class of 2023 are Christi-Lee du Plessis, Edward Thomas Wakefield, Jessie Zinn, Johnny Allison, Kamil Adam Hassim, Khumo Mohloli Morojele, Mignonne Busser (Filthy Plinths), Naledi Modupi, Nokukhanya Justine Zungu, Oteng Hope Kopiso, Otsile Rorisang Moumakoe, Princia Matungulu, Qeren Fourie, Rejoice Simphiwe Kunene, Riley Axon, Rucita and Viveka Vassen, Sandra Leigh Nagel, Shamyra Moodley, Tebogo Selepe and Thembi Mthembu. The creatives will be mentored by Neo “Nene” Mahlangu, a former Design Indaba Emerging Creative who has successfully paved her way as an artist and an entrepreneur. She hand-picked the class of 2023, which…

Roodeplaat Dam played host to the 2023 SA Schools Rowing Championships in partnership with Rand Merchant Bank. Hundreds of athletes from 25 schools and clubs across South Africa gather for the year’s top event for young rowers. The competition took place from March 3 to 5. Roodeplaat Dam has been tidied up in preparation for the World Masters Rowing Regatta in September. At the weekend there were a number of exciting races, with St Benedict’s and St Mary’s successfully defending their titles to remain the top SA boys and girls rowing schools, respectively. The biggest highlight of the weekend was when Holy Rosary won the ladies first quad ahead of St Mary’s, and St Stithians surprised by winning the junior men’s coxed 8 event for the first time since 1994.…

THE FINAL countdown to Ultra South Africa 2023 has officially begun. Later today, the iconic Ultra stages will be set up, the Ultra Angels all warmed up and choreographed, and the biggest names in dance music will hit the stages. Ultra South Africa is part of Ultra Music Festival's worldwide expansion, which is now present in 20 countries. Ultra South Africa is a single-day event taking place in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and organisers say it will definitely be a tale of two cities. Having debuted in 2014, Ultra South Africa is one of the longest-standing world editions of the festival. The eighth edition of the event is taking place at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg and the Hollywood Bets Kenilworth Racecourse. Recently added to the already stellar main…

It’s heartening to know that the BMW 3-Series is still the mainstay of the Munich-based car manufacturer and that one in seven BMWs sold is the 3-Series. So it stands to reason that they will pay careful attention to its updating and tweaking as the models progress. The latest models have arrived in South Africa and though not massive, the tweaks have made them even more attractive. The front end gets larger air intakes, slimmer full-LED headlights, daytime running lights in an inverted L and a redesigned kidney grille. Let’s raise a glass to BMW for not trying to force the much-maligned large grille into the 3-Series’s profile. The rear has a higher proportion of surfaces painted in the body colour, slim units and flared rear-wheel arches and the exhaust…

Over the past few decades, there has been a rise in the number of women entrepreneurs who have established successful businesses, are creating employment and wealth for themselves as well as building their legacies. Women-owned businesses have been ever-increasing, and according to the World Bank, accounts for 1 in 3 businesses globally. In South Africa, this number stands at just below 20%. The majority of women, therefore, still rely on gainful employment to be able to sustain themselves, be able to achieve financial independence and create meaningful wealth over time. The challenges that women are faced with largely still stand, namely pay inequality, career interruptions, or having to take part-time work in order to care for children or elderly parents, which can impact their earnings and retirement savings. Women tend…

ANNIE Bothma. That is how the athlete from Stellenbosch is referred to. It is her name, after all. But it should not be that way. Annie Bothma’s name should be preceded by a title. We should be referring to her as former South African marathon champion Annie Bothma. That we do not is because of Western Province Athletics’ (WPA) lack of faith in this special athlete. Four years ago, when she made her marathon debut in the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, Bothma had approached WPA in the hope she’d run in their colours in the race that also doubled as the South African National Marathon Championships. The province rejected the novice. “It was my debut and they did not believe I could finish a marathon,” said the athlete, who suffers…

South Africa’s Tourism Ministry has a new head. President Cyril Ramaphosa this week appointed Patricia De Lille as Minister of Tourism. De Lille takes over from Lindiwe Sisulu who was in office since 5 August 2021. De Lille comes with a strong background as she was previously the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure and Mayor of Cape Town from 2011 to 2018. The two bodies that play a crucial role in promoting the tourism and hospitality sectors of the country, the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA) and the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA), have reacted positively. FEDHASA’s National Chairperson, Rosemary Anderson, welcomed the appointment, saying: “We look forward to working with her and unlocking the enormous potential that tourism holds for South Africa. .”…

Nicki Minaj is launching her own record label. The rap legend has announced her new imprint on Republic Records. The roster will boast the likes of Nana Fofie, Tate Kobang, Rico Danna and London Hill. The name of the new record label isn’t known at this time. On her Queen Radio show for Amazon Music’s AMP, the Super Freaky Girl hitmaker spilt: “When I get behind an artist, y’all know how I do s*** for people that’s not even signed to me. Imagine what Imma (sic) do for the ones that’s signed.” And Minaj, who dropped her first tune of 2023, Red Ruby Da Sleeze, last week, has vowed to help launch the careers of artists from a wide range of genres. “Don’t think my label is just rap, or…

Four years after Victoria’s Secret shuttered its annual runway show in a bid to “evolve”, the lingerie brand is bringing back a version of the star-studded spectacle later this year. The high-profile shows, known for parading elaborately winged and scantily clad supermodels, had also drawn criticism for glorifying unrealistic body standards and their sparse diversity. And industry experts warn the “Angels” of the past will no longer fly. “It’s one of those shining examples, when you look back at how brands were when it came to body inclusivity, of what not to do, that it’s a surprise that they would go back in that direction, unless they’ve got some big sea change planned,” said Kara Richardson Whitely, the chief executive of size inclusivity consulting company the Gorgeous Agency. Word of…

Giving birth is no joke, and it doesn’t hurt – literally – to opt for the epidural. A 32-year-old mom shared her dilemma on Reddit after her husband refused to split the medical bill, which was up to $8 000 (about R148 900). Surely this baby wasn’t made alone, it takes two to tango! The woman asked the internet if she was being “the a**hole” for expecting him to pay for some of the costs. ‘’I planned to go for a natural birth up until I hit the 24-hour mark of labour, I caved and got the epidural,’’ she wrote. “My husband had no problem with it and even encouraged it. When the bill came he brought it to me to pay.’’ That’s not even the cherry on the cake,…

“BLEACH your skin white so patients would be nice to you.” This is what a black South African nurse, working at an immigrant removal centre at Heathrow, UK, was told and now she’s £25 000 (R552 841) richer after suing the National Health Service (NHS), the Daily Mail reported. Adelaide Kweyama reported the racial abuse and won her case for race-related harassment and victimisation. Kweyama said she was shocked by the comment after she reported that a patient had racially abused her in February, 2019. A tribunal heard that Kweyama later overheard the senior nurse telling a colleague she was “tired of people coming to work and saying they are not well, and that Ms Kweyama should go and bleach her skin”. The South African woman, who was…

THE case in which JSE-listed AYO Technology Solutions is defending itself against claims by the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) that a subscription agreement concluded between the parties in 2017 was illegal had a dramatic first week full of twists and turns. The PIC, which is also the guardian of 82% of the Government Employees Pension Fund’s (GEPS’s) portfolio, wants the Western Cape High Court to set aside its subscription agreement and recover the R4.3 billion it invested in 2017 for a 29% stake in AYO when the company listed. In a sidebar to the case, the PIC lost an interlocutory application brought by Sekunjalo Investment Holdings and 3 Laws Capital about an application for a subpoena issued to them by the PIC requesting all communications the two entities had with…

Eight educators at Edenvale High were placed first in their subject and four subjects received Top Academic awards. Gina van Rooyen and Anje van Wyk received the award for Business Studies. Claire Lunt and Carma Ferreira were top educators for Consumer Studies. Inge van der Ryst and Monique Aling (absent for photo) received the award for Mathematical Literacy. The top educators for History were Caitlin McLellan and Peter Swanepoel. SWIMMING Kaden Rennie, swam at a Central Gauteng Aquatics gala on Saturday, February 25. Kaden achieved his South African National Junior time for 100m breaststroke. He will be swimming at the SA National Junior Age Group Championships at Kings Park Swimming Pool in Durban from March 21–25. KARATE GAUTENG TRIALS Well done to Mary Hambardzumyun, Grade 11, who participated in the…

The Johannesburg International Comedy Festival (JICF) returns with a feast of comedy delivered over three jam-packed days. “With its long-standing tradition of offering world-class comedy experiences, JICF showcases the hottest local and international acts,” said the organisers. “Proudly brought to you in partnership with Comedy Central (DStv 122), BET Africa (DStv 129), IOL and in association with the Department of Arts and Culture, JICF is set to deliver some much-needed laughs.” This year marks the eighth edition of JICF, the largest independent international comedy festival in Africa. The three-day-long comedy showcase will see over 20 local, pan-African and international comedians taking over Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, east of Johannesburg, from Friday, March 31 to Sunday, April 2. The festival promises to hold true to the long-standing tradition of featuring…

WE were recently invited by Mercedes-Benz South Africa to its AMG Driving Academy at Zwartkops Raceway for the announcement of their newest additions to their Friends of the Brand programme. Also in store would be a track experience in the all-new Mercedes-AMG C43, for which the brand announced a price tag of R1 608 810. As a reminder, the regular C-Class models are priced from R966 156 (C200) and R1 030 549 (C220d). Mark Raine, the co-CEO of Mercedes-Benz South Africa, announced that Springbok rugby players Makazole Mapimpi and Lukhanyo Am are the latest Friends of the Brand. As part of their partnership, they were each handed their own Mercedes-AMG C43 to drive for the next year. The Mercedes-AMG C43 employs a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine with technology derived from Formula…

In his recent Budget speech, Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana said that improved revenue collection was one of the reasons he was able to provide tax relief in excess of R20 billion to both individuals and companies to support the response to energy challenges and to account for inflation tax adjustment. This week and a fortnight later, National Treasury and the South African Revenue Service (Sars) published the 15th annual edition of the Tax Statistics, showing just how much that was. The review provides a breakdown of tax collections and other information for the 2018 - 2022 tax years, as well as the 2017/18 - 2021/22 fiscal years. Due to the strong economic recovery from the pandemic, tax revenue increased by R314.1 billion to R1 563.8 billion for the…

“DON’T be afraid to dream,” says Vimbai Masiyiwa, the first black African woman to own a luxury lodge, at the age of 28. Masiyiwa, a cancer survivor, dreamed of empowering local black African women, so she set herself the task of using tourism and hospitality to build sustainable livelihoods and improve the lives of Zimbabweans. According to the owner of Batoka Zambezi Sands River Lodge, opening the lodges was prompted by a desire to use hospitality and tourism as a catalyst for social change and local economic growth. “The process of opening the business was evolutionary in that I came in at a board level initially in the original lodge business about five years ago, and later I proposed and executed the move to creating a new, sustainably driven iteration…

The Duchess of York is reportedly set to hand out a gong at this year’s Oscars due to her friendship with Elvis Presley’s family. Sarah Ferguson, 63, gave a tribute speech at Graceland about Elvis’s late daughter Lisa Marie Presley at a memorial service for the singer, 54, in January. Lisa Marie was killed by two heart attacks on January 12. Ferguson is said to be headed to the Academy Awards where Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic is up for eight awards. A source said: “There have been discussions about it. Now looks as though that will happen – the plan is for her to present an award. “She has been a very close friend of the Presley family, especially Elvis’s daughter. That sparked conversations about her attending – after…

No one needs to be told how important friendships are at every stage of our life. So important, in fact, that a social relationship study conducted in 2016 on endogenous opioids (chemicals that makes us happy) found that friendships ignite the part of the brain that makes us feel good. While a great deal of research has found that having a strong social support network is important for maintaining our psychological well-being, some also suggest that when these friendships are in conflict or generate stress or anxiety, they are more damaging than having no friendships at all. What causes us to outgrow our friendships? Different life directions mean you stop hanging out as much, then they’re no longer the first person you go to with news, and before you know…

Gone are the days when women wanted to be frail and petite. There have been various stereotypes associated with women’s fitness – women shouldn’t lift heavy weights, women shouldn’t do very high-intensity workouts, women shouldn’t focus on building muscle – and so on. However, all of these stereotypes are being broken and women are embracing workouts more than ever. Women’s health and fitness are essential for several reasons. First, maintaining good health helps women to live longer and happier lives. Women who are healthy and fit can enjoy a higher quality of life, have more energy, and are less likely to suffer from chronic diseases. Regular exercise helps improve heart health, strengthen bones and muscles and maintain a healthy lifestyle by reducing the risk of chronic health diseases like heart…

It is estimated that by 2025, 3.91 million schoolchildren will be obese and overweight. But there is hope, according to paediatrician at Red Cross Children’s Hospital, Dr Zakira Mukuddem-Sablay. Doctors argue genetics are not commonly the cause, but what is put into a child’s body. They advise that going back to traditional home-cooked meals as opposed to fast foods, and being more active are key. Mukuddem-Sablay said obesity in South Africa was common in teenagers and toddlers and on par with first-world countries. “Current statistics in South Africa suggest that up to 14% of children aged 6-14 are overweight and obese; 30% of teenage girls are obese ...although more and more obese toddlers are being treated too.” Weight gain can be detected early with regular visits to clinics and health…

Staff Reporter On March 4, we celebrated World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development. A day that reminds us that engineering – the design, building and use of engines, machines and structures through science and technology – forms an essential part of future-proofing our nation. Matshoene Tladi, current subject head of the Stem (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) programme at Nokuphila School in Johannesburg, said the school’s Stem programme is a learning bridge that connects its various standalone subjects. “We equip students with essential skills in the form of hands-on experiments and challenges that integrate principles and knowledge from natural science, technology, maths and robotics, which includes engineering and coding,” he says. “Our world is undergoing a major shift with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and we want our learners to keep…

In 2023, we announced our ambitious plan towards net-zero operations by 2050 and the advances that we have made on this journey. At MSC Cruises, this, we imagine is great news, not just for those who love to cruise with us but also for those who are passionate about the impact of cruising on the seas and all the wonderful creatures that call it home. Aptly coined, “Discover the future of cruising” the campaign showcases our long-standing commitment to sustainability. Filmed on board MSC World Europa, a vessel that is the perfect manifestation of sustainability and our most environmentally advanced ship yet and the ultimate in luxury cruising, the long-term campaign will see us deliver MSC Euribia in June of this year and MSC World America in 2025, to…

While another big cat is on the loose in the Centurion region, lion whisperer Charmaine Joubert has called on authorities to display caution in tracking it down and not to randomly kill the animal. An extensive search is under way to track and capture the lion which has been spotted by different people around the R511 road, near the popular Hennops Hiking Trail and areas bordering Gauteng and North West. Joubert, an old-hand at working with predators at Mystic Monkeys, said people searching for the lion should follow the correct means when confronted by the king of the jungle. “The lion on the loose should be monitored in a good way. I urgently appeal to the authorities or anyone else not to simply shoot it. The correct people – preferably…

After releasing the first pictures of the futuristic-looking second-generation Hyundai Kona late last year, the Korean carmaker has now spilled the beans on some of the technical details of the electric model. While the previous Hyundai Venue was offered with an electric variant, the big point of departure for the new model is that it was designed first as an EV and then adapted to internal combustion (ICE) variants. The new Hyundai Kona is expected to reach South Africa towards the end of 2023, according to our friends at Citizen Motoring, although it’s practically a given that we’ll only get the petrol versions, for now at least. While it has yet to be confirmed which ICE powertrains will be offered in global markets, Korea will get two petrol options, in…

NEW BLUE Bulls coach Edgar Marutlulle has opted for a mixture of grizzled veterans such as Morné Steyn and fresh faces like Phumzile Maqondwana for tomorrow’s Currie Cup clash against the Pumas at Loftus Versfeld (1pm kick-off). The 35-year-old Marutlulle was unveiled as the Bulls coach for the provincial competition by director of rugby Jake White at Loftus yesterday, and the former hooker is thrilled with the opportunity to progress to the next stage of his rugby career. “We are extremely proud of the work Edgar has put into his coaching, upskilling himself and investing a lot of time into becoming one of the leading young minds in rugby. To grow the sport in our environment, we need to retain the services of top-class coaches, and he is one of…