Table of contents for 2024-03-09 in Saturday Star

Experience the legendary sounds of Kool & the Gang as they embark on their South African tour in November. Hosted by Big Concerts in partnership with 702, KFM 94.5, CapeTalk, and supported by 947, the Grammy Award-winning group will take the stage at the Grand Arena, GrandWest, on November 28 and the SunBet Arena, Time Square, on November 30. Formed in 1969, Kool & the Gang have left their mark in music history with timeless hits. With two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards and 31 gold and platinum albums, they stand as one of the most influential R&B groups of all time. From their humble beginnings in Jersey City to their global stardom, Kool & the Gang have captivated audiences with their soulful melodies. Classics such as…

Travel for me is not always about hectic schedules, time constraints, and doing more. Very often, I prefer to unwind my mind, become more mindful and do less. To drink in the moment and actually accomplish more – more solitude and more gratitude. This week I’m sharing my recent journey to my favourite city in the world, London, which has just been named the best city on the planet. HERE IS THE LINK FOR MORE PICTURES: https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-star/news/photoessay-london-6f8b82a7-bf83-45e8-8b9c-33ed52a91002…

RUGBY World Cup-winning coach and South African director of rugby, Johan “Rassie” Erasmus, will be awarded an honorary doctorate by the North West University (NWU). The honour was accepted by the coach on Thursday. The official awarding of the honorary doctorate will take place later this year on the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus at a date yet to be set. The NWU Council approved the request for the awarding of the degree Philosophiae Doctor (Honoris Causa), in the discipline coaching Science, made by the NWU’s Faculty of Health Sciences in November. The university said it allowed “ample time” for honorees to decide whether to accept the awards. The honorary doctorate is in recognition of Erasmus’s “innovative and exceptional management of the Springboks during their victorious 2019 and 2023 IRB World Cup…

The City of Tshwane has not yet put together the total amount collected from its disconnection drive it embarked on during the week. The metro’s spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo, said the municipality was still in the process of switching off those who were not paying their municipal rates. “We can’t put together a sum as yet because some people are still coming forward, making arrangements to pay their bills, so it is difficult at this point to really say how much we have collected. “Also, as I have said, the disconnection is still continuing as planned. Probably by next week, once we have rounded up everything, we will be in a better position to say, ‘This is how much we have collected’,” Mashigo said. According to the municipality, the non-paying residents’…

Five ministers later, Mamelodi East residents and surrounding areas are yet to see the completion of a multimillion-rand court building that was promised to them by government. Selaluke Mokoena, from Mamelodi East, said the situation was proof enough to display government’s forever unfulfilled promises made to citizens. Mokoena said the court would have helped residents in the area as it would have been the closest, adding that it would also have saved them money for transport. “Currently, if we want to go to court, we attend the one in Mamelodi West, and it’s always full there. “One leaves here in the morning and you come back late in the afternoon. It’s, worse if they keep on postponing your case, because you have to go back there again using public transport,”…

The Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) centre, located within the premises of Steve Biko Academic Hospital (SBAH) in Pretoria, has significantly elevated the hospital’s standing in the field of nuclear medicine and research across Africa. The NuMeRI facility, worth half-a-billion rand, is part of the Department of Science and Technology’s South African Research Infrastructure Roadmap (SARIR) and is a one-stop-shop medical nuclear imaging and therapeutic facility dedicated to drug development and clinical research for the benefit of the South African, African and global health-care sectors. Additionally, local drug researchers, medical practitioners and foreign colleagues will benefit from NuMeRI. The facility’s primary goal is to enable research, innovation and value creation in areas where countries and regions face unique health issues. The NuMeRI centre will provide services such as a clinical…

Over the last two Wednesday evenings, the Treverton athletics team participated in the Aquelle School Series at the PMB Athletics Stadium. The event is the biggest of its kind in KZN, and with more than 18 schools and more than 360 athletes involved, it facilitates great competition and performances. Treverton had some beautiful achievements and some events had more than 30 competitors. Top 5 Positions Age Groups: u16, u18, u20 Week 1 – 100m, 400m, 1 500m, discus, shot-put & high jump Megan Ramsey – 1st in u20 discus & 4th in u20 shot-put Adrienne Kenyon-Slade – 2nd u18 high jump Julia Reynolds – 4th in u16 100m Carli Hughes – 4th in u16 400m & 4th in u16 1500m Yvette Shepherd – 4th in u18 1500m Sienna Marx –…

IN THE heart of Pretoria East, on the evocative evening of March 4, the Rotary Club hosted a significant event that resonated deeply with the themes of peace, conflict resolution, and human rights. The gathering at Filos Restaurant near the Greek Church on Roper Street became a platform for a profound conversation led by Antonis Mandritis, the High Commissioner of Cyprus to South Africa. This dialogue was especially poignant as March is recognised as Human Rights Month in South Africa, commemorating the Sharpeville massacre and reflecting the nation’s journey towards identifying and upholding human rights. The high commissioner used the backdrop of Human Rights Month to delve into the lessons from Cyprus, illustrating how the island’s complex history of conflict and division has informed its pursuit of reconciliation and peace.…

The UNIVERSITY of Pretoria’s Faculty of Law Professor Joel Modiri has been appointed by the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General to serve on the Group of Independent Eminent Experts – on the Implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. This makes Modiri Africa’s appointee in the five-member group of experts responsible for acting as the advisory mechanism for the Human Rights Council and the UN’s General Assembly on the implementation of global efforts against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. “The news of this appointment was most welcome and gratifying,” Modiri said. “It is always encouraging to receive such positive recognition for one’s work and to be regarded as someone worthy of the challenge of representing the entire African region in the Group of Experts.” Modiri, an associate…

Dietary experts have warned that the consumption of energy drinks can disrupt the sleep patterns of adolescents and exacerbate the intoxicating effects of alcohol. However, the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness said they have not notice an increase in patients seeking medical help related to the use of energy drinks. In December 2023, a young woman from Cape Town took to social media platform TikTok, showing herself being admitted to Kuilsriver Netcare Hospital and claiming energy drinks were behind her hospitalisation. The woman, who identified herself as Camila Mbula, filmed herself lying in a hospital bed and later holding a well-known energy drink. She wrote that she had been drinking it to help with her sports training but that it had caught up with her. Mbula did not…

OLD MUTUAL Wealth and Gift of the Givers have partnered to form the Gift of the Givers Life Fund to grow private wealth and feed money into humanitarian crises. “This is an opportunity to channel investment into much-needed disaster relief and allow Gift of the Givers to do their amazing work in more than 50 countries,” said Tags Moodley, Old Mutual Wealth’s Business Development Executive at the fund’s launch. The Old Mutual Albaraka Income Fund underpins the Gift of the Givers Life Fund, which has grown to R1.6 billion since its inception in March 2020. Portfolio manager Maahir Jakoet said the fund is a Shari’ah-compliant, multi-asset income fund offering access to local and international asset classes. It offers investors an ethical investment vehicle with a low-to-moderate risk profile.…

LAST WEEK, on March 1, the office of the National Financial Ombud (NFO) opened its doors, replacing the four voluntary industry-based ombud schemes representing short-term insurers, long-term insurers, banks and non-bank credit providers. Two statutory schemes, the Ombud for Financial Services Providers (better known as the Fais Ombud, after the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act) and the Pension Funds Adjudicator, remain separate. The launch date for the NFO was originally January 1, but admin hiccups delayed it for two months. The new website is up and running, and the websites of the Insurance Ombudsman (short- and long-term insurance), Ombudsman for Banking Services SA and Credit Ombud now direct you automatically to the NFO site (https://nfosa.co.za). Ombud reform The amalgamation of the insurance, banking and credit ombuds into the NFO…

THE Springboks’ first alignment camp of the year has concluded and the 43 players who were invited would have been eager to impress ahead of a busy international season that kicks off in June. Coach Rassie Erasmus invited a mixture of young and experienced players and it is important to bear in mind that players based in Europe were not available. This week Independent Newspapers has looked at the outside backs and the centres who had the chance to state their case at the camp and today we look at the halfbacks. South Africa is currently blessed with an epidemic of classy scrumhalves. A few months back, the Boks famously fielded four scrumhalves in their match against Romania, and the well is getting deeper with the addition of Sanele Nohamba…

LIVERPOOL host Manchester City in a defining moment in the Premier League title race as Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola conclude their top-flight rivalry tomorrow. Free-scoring Arsenal can go top for at least a day when they host Brentford, while Aston Villa face Tottenham in a vital showdown in the battle for a top-four finish. AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of the weekend’s action: A sleepless night for Pep Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola faces one last sleepless night as he wrestles with the problems posed by his great rival, Jurgen Klopp. Klopp’s bombshell revelation that he will quit as Liverpool manager at the end of this season has given extra gravitas to tomorrow’s crucial clash with City at Anfield. Although Guardiola has won five of the…

Embrose Papier has walked a long road from Lambert’s Bay on the Cape West Coast. Now the first-choice scrumhalf at the Bulls, where he has been an integral part of the Pretoria side’s march to second spot on the United Rugby Championship log and the Champions Cup play-offs, it wasn’t always plain sailing for the 26-year-old Bok. Despite making his Test debut in 2018 already, he had to play second fiddle to a few other halfbacks, such as Ivan van Zyl and Zak Burger, at the Bulls until he was finally backed by director of rugby Jake White last season, and his impact has been clear to see. Papier has been outstanding this season, where his electric pace and pinpoint kicking game have brought an added edge to the Bulls…

EXPERTS have urged the government to take steps to deal with the country’s growing obesity crisis, linked to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounting for three of the top four causes of death nationally. The Healthy Living Alliance (Heala) says urgent action is needed as deaths from NCDs in SA increased by almost 60% between 1997 to 2018. A group of scientists have called it a “calamitous threat” to the lives of South Africans and likened it to the 1990’s HIV epidemic. Heala’s acting CEO Nzama Mbalati said research showed that about 1 in 8 South African children were overweight, double the global average. He urged the government to regulate the food environment to limit the consumption of unhealthy food. “Taxation is one of the practical and effective ways of addressing overconsumption…

A GROUNDBREAKING study conducted by international student exchange organisation, Educatius, unveiled notable gender differences in the resilience of teenagers. The Global Youth Resilience Index, which surveyed more than 4 000 adolescents aged 16 to 20, sheds light on the critical value of resilience – the capacity to recover from adversity and adapt positively to challenging circumstances. Boys report higher levels of resilience than girls in most areas. Notably, the study reveals significant gender differences in resilience factors, with boys generally scoring higher in resilience-related factors across all surveyed countries. The largest discrepancies between genders were observed in “negative cognition” and “social skills”, particularly pronounced in Sweden, Italy, Germany, Brazil, and the US, where boys tended to be less prone to negative cognition and indicated better social skills than girls.…

“The part that I enjoyed the most about the talk was of course the humour of the speaker, he had interesting and funny jokes, and his vibrant personality as well as his enthusiasm and passion radiated throughout his talk,” said Hasnayn Hamid. Hasnayn, 15 and in Grade 10, attends St Henry’s Marist College, Durban, and was one of the pupils amazed by the South African Institute of Civil Engineers (Saice) during their visit recently. As part of the school’s science, technology, engineering, and maths (Stem) programme, Saice visited the school in celebration of World Engineering Day. This is celebrated on March 4 annually, and is seen as a chance to celebrate the contribution of the world’s engineers for a better, sustainable world. Hasnayn continued, “I learnt about the issues that…

Chinese Ambassador Chen Xiaodong and his wife Zhang Bin have officially bid farewell to Pretoria, as the top Chinese diplomat returns to Beijing at the end of his almost four-year assignment as Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- potentiary of the People’s Republic of China to South Africa. Xiadong has been ambassador since 2020. The Chinese Embassy hosted a farewell at the Grand Hotel in Arcadia on Tuesday. It was attended by a host of dignitaries, including former president Kgalema Motlanthe and his wife Gugu; Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma; Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga; Minister of Police, Bheki Cele; Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Blade Nzimande; Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu; Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille; Minister of…

CALLING all foodies, new cooks, homemakers and aspiring kitchen goddesses. Simply Delectable Cooking School in Randpark Ridge, Johannesburg, offers a variety of interesting, informative hands-on classes and demonstrations that will have you itching to get into your kitchen to create delicious treats and meals. Owner Christine Rankine is a wife and mom as well as an expert cook and has a passion for taking recipes and simplifying them to produce delectable, brag worthy results with ease. Rankine is an experienced teacher having taught Home Economics in local schools and trained teachers at the Wits School of Education, so no matter what your level of cooking experience you are guaranteed to benefit from her tuition. She believes that in each of us there is a dormant chef just waiting for the…

ONE of the must-see films of the year is the independent film Cabrini, which is based on the true story of a woman’s struggle for the equality, wellbeing, and happiness of immigrant orphans. On International Women’s Day, March 8, the film premiered in South African cinemas across the country, along with the rest of the world. The film is directed by award-winning Alejandro Monteverde and stars Cristiana Dell’Anna in the lead role. It tells the poignant tale of Francesca Cabrini, an Italian immigrant who met poverty, crime, and disease when she first arrived in New York City in 1889. Cabrini embarked on a risky quest to persuade the antagonistic mayor to provide housing and medical attention for the most disadvantaged members of society. Despite her poor health and limited English,…

With access to a comprehensive range of affordable vehicles from its Maruti division in India, Suzuki has been setting the sales charts alight in South Africa. January saw the Japanese brand break through the 5 000 unit barrier for the first time with a record volume of 5 235 units, while also beating the Volkswagen brand for the second time in history. Last month, the brand posted an equally impressive 5 221 sales while widening the gap even further from its third-placed rival, which managed a volume of 4 915, down from 5 115 in January. Volkswagen, as a group, managed second place overall with a volume of 5 333 units, including Audi sales, but it remained far behind Toyota’s total volume of 11 524 units in February. Volkswagen’s Polo…

“I HAVE A dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character – we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews, Gentiles, Protestants, and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last! Free at last!” Dr Martin Luther King jr. 1.Promises South Africa’s president also has a dream. President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised 2.5 million job opportunities to the Tintswalos in the next five years. Tintswalo is Ramaphosa’s fictitious born-free child who was born on April 27, 1994, who grew up in an…

FORMER All Blacks winger Julian Savea scored his 61st Super Rugby try during Moana Pasifika’s 23-29 defeat by the Melbourne Rebels in Hamilton yesterday to become the leading try-scorer in the competition’s history. The 33-year-old had shared the record on 60 with former New South Wales Waratahs fullback Israel Folau since scoring two tries for the Wellington Hurricanes against the Fijian Drua last May. Although now playing as centre for Moana, World Cup winner Savea slid across the try line on the right wing in the 49th minute of the round-three clash to take the record outright. But it was not enough to inspire Moana to victory and Savea said their slow start cost them. “We didn’t turn up,” Savea told Sky. “Against a good team like the Rebels you…

SOMETIME tomorrow morning, masses will descend upon the town hall in KwaThema, in Ekurhuleni, for the funeral service of former Kaizer Chiefs defender Siphiwe Mkhonza. As they did yesterday at the memorial service hosted at the SABC’s Radio Park, the mourners at tomorrow’s funeral will speak fondly of the man known popularly as Dr Mnandi, although he told me he’d been elevated to being Professor Mnandi. What most of those speakers would not be aware of is that he could and should have died a while ago – on three separate occasions at least. Such are the untold pressures of playing for a club as big as Chiefs that Mkhonza attempted suicide three times. It was a shocking revelation made during a candid interview we had a while ago. “When…

Never underestimate the power of proper planning as it is instrumental in determining the quality of your trip. According to Flight Centre South Africa team leader and travel expert Chad Winter, travel insurance and securing 24/7 support to help you tackle any setbacks before and during your trip are the two most overlooked aspects of planning a streamlined trip. If you’re interested in the secrets behind planning and booking a stress-free trip, here are five things you should know, according to the expert. Which travel products allow deposits and part-payments, and which require full payment upfront? Winter said all flights require full payment upon booking. However, you can settle flights and about 20% of your accommodation upfront, with the balance due around two months before departure for holiday packages.…

Campers looking for destinations to explore don’t have to stress about where to look after GallivantingSA launched its innovative campsite searching app. The camping app debuted at the Caravan SA Show 2024 and promises to revolutionise the camping experience for campers on the hunt for places to explore. At its core, the free-to-use mobile app is a campsite and services directory catering to campers, caravaners, motorhome enthusiasts, camper-van owners and 4x4 adventurers seeking campgrounds across Southern Africa, including Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique. The app features include map functionality for easy navigation and location of campsites, robust filter functionality to tailor search results to individual preferences, comprehensive campground listings with 900 sites, and advice on camping-related matters such as packing lists. According to GallivantingSA founders, Alan and Sandy Morton, who are…

As World Obesity Day was commemorated worldwide this week, health experts have stressed the importance of maintaining a positive approach to weight management. This comes as a new study in The Lancet last week revealed that more than a billion people in the world are now living with obesity. The research by the weekly peer-reviewed medical journal is for the period up to 2022. Their latest findings were that obesity among adults worldwide has more than doubled since 1990. In addition, obesity rates among those aged 5-19 have quadrupled during these 32 years, while the data also shows 43% of adults were overweight in 2022. “The study shows that even though the rates of under-nutrition have dropped, it is still a public health challenge in many places, particularly in…

ECONOMIC Liberators Forum (ELF) leader Hulisani Mani has urged South African spaza shop owners and other businesses to organise themselves and fend off attacks, threats and killings allegedly instigated by foreign spaza shop owners in areas such as Heidelberg and Tembisa, where alleged threats against locals have become common. Mani made this call while giving a media briefing held at the Reef Hotel on Wednesday. “I call on the spaza shop owners to organise themselves and protect themselves against such threats. It is important to protect our own communities and create opportunities for ourselves in our own communities. “The only thing that is stopping us from taking control is that we are mobilised and not organised, which has made it easy for foreigners to come to our communities and take…

Community rights group, Abahlali baseMjondolo Movement has welcomed the recent developments in the attempts to find justice for its members who have been killed and targeted in political violence. This week, the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) announced that a police task team has been established to investigate the string of assassinations and murders of the civic organisation. The commission wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa in June last year, seeking the intervention of the justice, crime prevention and security agencies in what many believe to be persistent human rights violations reportedly experienced by the organisation and its members. In 2022, Abahlali experienced multiple killings of activists, especially in KwaZulu-Natal. However, there have been complaints by the movement that the police are not doing enough to investigate and…

LAST year, in an attempt to help learners improve their grades, Sun City Resort began a three-year learner development programme sponsorship focused on key subjects. Now, seven learners from the matric class have been praised for academic excellence at the inaugural Sun City Recognition Awards. Two hundred and fifty Grade 10 and 12 learners from Tswaidi and Itumeleng secondary schools in Ledig attended extra lessons facilitated by the GoMaths Foundation during holiday breaks, learning maths, physical science, economics, with life science and business studies an optional extra. Sun City provided balanced meals during the programme to allow learners to focus on their school books. Due to the commitment of learners who gave up school holidays and weekends to dedicate to learning, Tswaidi maintained their high standard with a 91% matric…

The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town is set for a R20 billion upgrade which is expected to be rolled out in phases over the next 15 to 20 years and plans to break ground next year, which will bring an influx of tourism, economic, residential, cultural and job opportunities. It has been cited according to the V&A Waterfront’s planning team as being one of the biggest infrastructure investment since the Soccer World Cup. This week Eddie Andrews, the City’s deputy mayor and Spatial Planning and Environment Mayco member, confirmed that the plans would go ahead with the input of the City and the public this year. “The application is pending as the applicant is currently undertaking some specialist studies that are required before public participation can commence,” he…

South Africans are waiting with bated breath for the premiere of the true-crime documentary Tracking Thabo Bester, which tells the gripping story of prison escapee Bester, one of the most talked-about subjects in the country. Showmax recently released the trailer for the doccie, following the revelation that the convicted murderer and rapist did not burn to death in cell 35 after all, but was shopping at Woolworths in Sandton City instead. When GroundUp broke the news about Bester and Dr Nandipha Magudumana, it sparked interest not only in South Africa but also internationally, with the public eager to learn more about the improbable story. Bester was the most searched-for person in South Africa on Google in 2023, with his co-accused, Magudumana, following closely in fourth place, for their turbulent tale…

To ensure you stay on the sassy side of autumn, be sure to tick off these simple maintenance reminders that will keep your garden looking lush. First on the list is preparing your soil for winter and spring bulbs and annuals. As soon as temperatures cool down, dig in compost and superphosphate or bone meal at the recommended application amount (see product packaging). Top tip: It might still be too hot to plant spring-flowering bulbs now. Instead, store them in the veggie drawer of the fridge and plant out when the weather cools down in a few weeks. If your green fingers are itching to dig into some dirt this week, you can sow California poppies, cornflowers, godetias, bokbaai vygies (known also as Livingstone daisy), as well as Namaqualand daisies.…

A substantial 43% of institutional investors and wealth managers expect the correlation between bonds and equities to turn increasingly negative over the next 12 months, according to Managing Partners Group (MPG). This is according to new research conducted by the international asset management company. According to the research, respondents believed that the recent positive correlation between the two asset classes with both falling and rising together will reverse. "Around one in three (31%) questioned in the research by MPG, which runs the Melius Fixed Income Fund, said they expect the correlation to become increasingly positive while 24% believed it will not change and 2% were undecided," the survey found. The research showed that fears of recession in major economies were however, driving increased interest in adding longer-duration core fixed income…

During the presentation of his budget speech on 21 February 2024, our Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, indicated that the government is expected to earn R5 billion in personal income tax by 28 February 2025 due to withdrawals that retirement fund members will make from their Savings Pots that will only come into existence on September 1 2024 as part of the Two Pot System. If we assume an average tax rate of 20% and an average withdrawal of R15 000 (only R12 000 after tax) per member, it will mean that at least 1 666 666 fund members are expected to withdraw at least R25 billion from their retirement funds. The actual numbers might be significantly higher if we take into consideration that there are, in my estimation, more…

THE clash between TS Galaxy and Mamelodi Sundowns this afternoon will serve as the main attraction of match-day two in the Hollywoodbets Super League. Sundowns began their quest for a fifth successive title with a bang as they made light work of Royal AM, winning 4-0 at home. But their hosts at the UJ campus in Soweto today, TS Galaxy, were big winners in their opening round, beating Janine van Wyk Ladies 2-0. Eyes will be fixed on rookies Lindelani Ladies and University of Fort Hare (UFH) Ladies to continue their bright starts away from home. Lindelani opened their campaign with a 2-0 away win over University of Pretoria (UP), while UFH beat Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) 2-1 at home. That was an impressive start from the two teams…

THE MUCH anticipated Indian Wells Masters, so highly rated by players – it’s often referred to as the fifth Slam of the year – is upon us. However, instead of starting with the proverbial bang and a top heavy lineup, it has started with a whimper; the very man dominating headlines in the build-up, over and above defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, his compatriot GOAT Rafael Nadal announced yet another eleventh hour withdrawal apropos the Australian Open, Doha, etc. If it isn’t enough, that we have had to watch former No 1 Andy Murray endure the fringe benefits of a long overdue retirement, we now have to be subjected to the farce of Nadal’s so-called second comeback: “It’s not an easy decision” (to withdraw from a big tournament – after the…

SIX-TIME MotoGP champion Marc Marquez says this season will show him if he still has what it takes to challenge for titles after switching from Honda to Ducati satellite team Gresini Racing. The Spaniard joined Gresini Racing in October, ending an 11-year association with Honda, who have struggled to keep up with Ducati’s bikes in recent seasons. The Italian manufacturer dominated MotoGP last year, and while Marquez said expectations were “super high” he was mindful of his struggles over the past four years. “I don’t pretend I can win from the beginning because it would be a huge mistake,” he told reporters on Thursday ahead of the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix. “I arrive in a manufacturer where there are two-three guys that are riding this bike super fast, super good.…

This year is all about exploring hidden gems. Wildlife safari destinations like the Kruger National Park here in South Africa, the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, the Okavango Delta in Botswana and the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, often come to mind when planning a safari. And these destinations are much-loved, bringing travellers from around the world to the continent. While these destinations are famous for their abundance of wildlife and game-viewing opportunities, there are off-the-beaten-track safari destinations just as marvellous and waiting to be explored. So if you’re ready to go create memories in lesser-known spots, these places are worth checking out: Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique Gorongosa National Park in northern Mozambique tells the story of the amazing efforts made to restore the wildlife in this region. This…

South African TikTok police are always on standby and ready to defend the country. Digital creator Morgan India, @morgan.venn on TikTok, learned this the hard way after she posted a video on TikTok implying that Mzansi was an unsafe country. In the video posted by Venn, she created a video montage of a variety of security systems in a South African home titled “guess what country I’m visiting (hard edition)”. Venn’s video includes her showing a Trellidor, high fencing, burglar guards and a purge door inside the house. Her caption on the video read: “the travel vlog will be coming soon tho and I actually do love it here”. Commenting on Venn’s video, @ben_webster_ said: “I’ve lived in South Africa and I’ve never seen that automatic door thing.” Another…