Table of contents for 2022-10-17 in Star

ESKOM’S signing of agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to lease land at Majuba and Tutuka power stations might snag on financial close as winners of bid window 5 under the Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme are still struggling with obtaining funding months after the bids were awarded. Energy analysts said the signing of lease agreements did not automatically guarantee funding for the projects by bid winners HDF Energy South Africa, Red Rocket SA, Sola Group and Mainstream Renewable Power Developments South Africa, which are all expected to add to the grid 24 months after they obtain the financial close. “It is anticipated the generators will be connected to the grid within 24 to 36 months from financial closure, subject to environmental, land zoning and other regulatory approvals,”…

Whizz-KID Stiaan Scheepers was awarded the bronze medal when he was placed third in the 2022 Junior Mental Calculation World Champion- ships in Bielefeld in Germany recently. Described as “one of the best human calculators in the world”– and not for the first time – Scheepers is a product of the education franchise A+Students with which he enrolled when he was just 3-years-old. Now at 13 Scheepers has chalked up multiple achievements, including runner-up at the 2018 and 2019 World Cups, as well as taking seventh and 10th places in previous World Cups, including the Champion of Champion awards in international abacus mental arithmetic competitions. No stranger to travelling abroad to compete, Scheepers not only whizzed his way to third position in the competition but picked up the “Best Friend…

Management staff distance themselves from VC’s bid to protect controversial director UNISA vice-chancellor and principal Puleng Lenkabula has been accused of protecting acting executive director Dr Phumzile Dlamini. On September 26, Dlamini was suspended for bullying and abusing colleagues and calling one a kwerekwere in one of the MS Team’s meetings. A letter dated September 26 on her impending suspension accuses Dlamini of a series of transgressions. These include sabotaging the work of the registrar’s department, victimising and bullying employees, altering a contract without having the authority to do so and inciting staff to complain against management. A source who spoke to The Star on condition of anonymity said the rest of the university’s management team were distancing themselves from the vice-chancellor’s shenanigans which included overturning Dlamini’s suspension and protecting…

THE arrest of a suspect implicated in the murder of 67-year-old German tourist Jörg Schnarr has been hailed as a breakthrough that will reassure tourists visiting Mpumalanga that they will be safe during the festive season. Schnarr was fatally wounded during a botched hijacking in Numbi Road, outside the Kruger National Park. The four armed men involved in the attack managed to get away, evading police for more than a week. Last Wednesday, police traced and arrested Napoleon Joseph Nyalungu, 35, in Mpumalanga’s capital, Mbombela. Nyalungu appeared in the Kabokweni Magistrate’s Court on Friday on charges of murder, attempted murder, and attempted hijacking. “Napoleon Joseph Nyalungu has been remanded in custody until (this week Wednesday) for legal representation,” said provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala. The arrest followed the questioning…

NATIONAL police commissioner Fannie Masemola and the National Prosecuting Authority are sitting on the recommendations into Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) detective Charl Kinnear’s murder investigation which implicates senior police officers, MPs heard. This emerged as the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) submitted a classified report into Kinnear’s killing to Parliament. Kinnear was shot and killed in 2020 outside his Bishop Lavis home. Ipid compiled a classified report and submitted it to the police committee on Friday. However, MPs discarded the document without perusing it as they had not received it in advance, amid questions around the top secret clearance of some MPs. Freedom Front Plus leader Dr Pieter Groenewald pressed police committee chairperson, ANC MP Tina Joemat-Pettersson, to stick to her promise to discuss the matter soon. He quizzed Ipid on…

TOURISM Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has lauded founders of Vivari Hotel & Spa Dr Anushka Reddy and Dr Mahesh Naidu who unveiled a hospital within the hotel on Friday. The luxurious hotel on the West Rand now boasts a specialised cosmetic surgery clinic and hospital. The minister said this new venture was a win for medical tourism and tourism. “This is what tourism can be about. Human beings by their very nature are travellers who are interested in exploring the world. We are born tourists and tourism gives us the opportunity to go where our heart takes us. “Most Europeans come to South Africa not only for the Big Five, but for medical help. This place offers you the opportunity to relax, rejuvenate and be comfortable with yourself. I…

With climate change bringing warmer temperatures and changing weather patterns across the globe, one of Earth’s greatest allies may be found in the tiny insect known as the termite. This is according to an international study which has revealed that termites were more than just an irritating wood-eating insect, but were reportedly pivotal in contributing positively to the Earth’s carbon cycle. The study, championed by the University of Miami, with contributions from the University of Pretoria (UP), sought to investigate termite and microbial wood discovery and decay. While most people may think termites are a nuisance that does nothing more than consume wood in homes and businesses, researchers have found that termites, which represent less than 4% of all insect species worldwide, are critical in natural ecosystems, especially in the…

It’s obscene. It’s scandalous. It’s disgusting. It’s diabolical. It’s outrageous. Oh, I could go on! How selfish and insensitive could President Cyril Ramaphosa and his merry ministers be? Amid the worst economic crisis, they live in luxury in their ivory towers. While millions of South Africans are unemployed and live in poverty, ministers and their deputies are having a free ride – two free homes, water and electricity, no rates, chauffeur-driven luxury vehicles, and free fuel, travel and accommodation. Such abuse of power will not go unnoticed and will not be without dire consequences. We could overlook all their perks if they were an effective, honest, hard-working Cabinet. But they are a useless bunch of crooked politicians who have no clue how to run a country. If they…

It is quite evident that the coalition arrangement at various municipalities especially in Gauteng, Eastern Cape and other parts of the country have not worked in favour of the voters, instead these “marriages of inconvenience” prioritise the needs and aspirations of political parties which are involved in such dishonest arrangements. It is so unfortunate that SA is in many decades of coalitions, following the massive but expected decline of the ANC’s popularity from 2009 until the last elections where they obtained below the 60% mark, losing all the metros in Gauteng as they did not get an outright majority. Like their opponents, the ANC is either sitting on the opposition benches or plotting to seize power through coalitions. Given political instabilities, inconsistencies and inconveniences, it is safe to argue that…

Tobacco is a leading cause of disease. It is estimated that it kills half of its consumers. Over a million additional deaths result from exposure to second-hand smoke. Countries around the world are moving towards stricter regulation of tobacco products in compliance with their obligation to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. In 2018 South Africa published a tobacco control bill that sought to better regulate the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products. It’s been revised as the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill 2021 and has been approved for submission to Parliament. Ina Skosana (IS) speaks to Catherine Egbe (CE), a lead researcher on South Africa’s Global Adult Smoking Survey, about the latest developments. IS: Why has it taken so long to…

No civilians were killed in the attack at a military base in Russia’s Belgorod region, but many soldiers were killed or wounded, the governor of the region Vyacheslav Gladkov said yesterday. “A terrible event happened on our territory, on the territory of one of the military units,” Gladkov said in a video post on the Telegram messaging app. “Many soldiers were killed and wounded ... There are no residents of the Belgorod region among the wounded and killed.” Gladkov did not say how many soldiers were killed. The state RIA news agency cited the defence ministry as saying 11 people were killed and 15 others were wounded when two men shot at a group who had volunteered to take part in the war against Ukraine. It said the two assailants…

JOHANNESBURG: Zimbabwe is in talks with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) on how to clear its debts with international financial institutions, finance minister Mthuli Ncube has said at an IMF press conference. He said Zimbabwe had begun issuing bonds with maturities of between two and 20 years in order to honour its debt to creditors, and was looking at how these can be traded, while it was also looking to issue bonds to compensate white former farmers over time. Zimbabwe has more than $10 billion (about R184bn) in external debt, mostly in arrears. Ncube said IMF staff would visit Zimbabwe in December. |…

Kaizer Chiefs suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Chippa United at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, putting an end to their seven-game unbeaten run. A new-look Amakhosi team appeared to be heading in the right direction following an impressive run of performances. However a poor display against Chippa saw them suffer their first defeat at home this season. A huge chunk of coach Arthur Zwane's problems this season have been his side's inability to convert the simplest of chances in front of goal. It was a similar case on Saturday as some of the club's most clinical finishers were guilty of spurning numerous chances against Chippa. Zwane was a disappointed figure at the post-match press conference. The 49-year-old however vowed to not lose hope in his players as fixtures come…

The prestigious ninth annual Simon ‘Mabhunu’ Sabela Film and Television Awards in July came under fire as complaints racked up against the Best Newcomer Actress in a Film award. According to a statement from the KwaZulu Natal Film Commission, complaints followed after the award was given to newcomer actress Thulisile Dlamini from the movie Help. It was found that Dlamini’s name was not listed on the actual nominee board. After months of reviewing the complaints, the commission has provided feedback saying Dlamini remains the winner of the category and the omission of her name was due to a “human error”. “After reviewing the judging reports provided by the overall judges and confirmed by the external independent auditor, it was noted that the nominee, Thulisile Dlamini, was indeed the correct winner…

IN A groundbreaking venture that is set to shift South Africa’s energy agenda, DNG Energy has accelerated its projects after receiving shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) last year and the largest shipment yet last week. Initially, to test the feasibility of using LNG as an alternative to diesel, offering a proof of concept for a cleaner and more affordable option for transport, industrial power generation and mining, the project has made DNG chief executive Aldworth Mbalati a sought-after name on the continent. Mbalati spoke to The Star from Mozambique yesterday. “I’m so happy that as a continent we’re rethinking petrol. For South Africa it’s imperative that we think about easier and cheaper energy solutions. Fuel is too expensive and coal has become scarce, our reliance on Eskom alone can…

A FREE State man has lost his car and more than R200 000 to former Generations actress Letoya Makhene’s bogus Bitcoin investment scheme. In what looks like a script straight from Hollywood, with a growing list of desperate investors looking to make a quick buck, Makhene who is known for her love of money, seems to have reprised her television role that made locals love and hate her character. After saving for a rainy day and finally getting a chance to renovate his family home, Tanki Mathubanyane was forced to dig into his savings after he was approached by the actress under the alias of Zanele Mpande. Mathubanyane from Springfontein in the Free State told The Star he thought he would soon make his dreams come true after learning about…

MISS South Africa 2022 Ndavi Nokeri has launched her advocacy campaign Ed-Unite which aims to give young people the opportunity to cultivate their talents, intelligence and skills, regardless of their background. The launch included a panel discussion with former public protector and Law Trust chair in social justice at Stellenbosch University, Professor Madonsela, Wits SRC president Cebolenkosi Samuel Khumalo and several school pupils. The 23-year-old has always been passionate about equal education and at her crowning in August pledged to help ensure an equal playing field for all learners. “South Africa currently has the highest inequality rates globally. “Having been exposed to extreme poverty as a child and thereafter being granted the opportunity to attend advantaged schools, I witnessed the negative effects of the great and unfair divide in this…

AS THE country grappled with high numbers of sexual assault cases, officers in blue, whose duty was to protect the public, were also found to have been alleged perpetrators of gender violence, as rape allegations made by civilians against the police were among the crimes reported to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid). A total of 5 295 criminal cases were opened against police officers during the 2021/22 financial year. The majority of the cases were from Gauteng, with 984 complaints against police officers; followed by the Western Cape with 963; and KwaZulu-Natal with 628. Of the various offences committed, assault was in the lead with 3 407 incidents, followed by complaints about the discharge of official firearms numbering 744, and deaths as a result of police action at 410.…

In about two months, the ANC will hold its 55th national conference. The conference is important as it will determine the future of the party, which is looking bleak. This downfall is its own fault. The ANC’s leadership is aloof to the people it claims to represent. Many people don’t even know who the leaders are until elections are around the corner. This is a bad trait for any leader to have. Another big problem facing the ANC is factionalism and corruption. Factions have destroyed not only the party but also many capable leaders who have the capacity to take the country forward. Some within the ANC are embedded in factions, to the point where they are even willing to kill for them. Many of the party’s meetings…

THE past three elections in Zimbabwe were marked by political violence that left some people dead. As Zimbabwe approaches the 2023 elections, any form of violence must be stopped, so that the Zimbabweans citizens can vote freely and peacefully, without intimidation or fear. The Zanu-PF government has destroyed the Zimbabwean legacy of being a peaceful, loving and welcoming nation, through its relentless violence on its citizens. Zimbabweans have found it difficult to live in a hostile environment and many have emigrated to mainly South Africa, Botswana, UK, Australia and New Zealand, among others. South Africa should pressure the Zimbabwean government to hold free and fair elections. The host countries cannot keep carrying the burden when they have their own problems. I call on these and other countries to pile…

The next fortnight will be quite important for Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, who will want to meet in the MTN8 final a week after the league’s Soweto Derby. The MTN8 is the most lucrative domestic tournament, and the two Soweto giants – who have both been trophyless for couple of years – are a match away from the final and winning R8 million. Only Mamelodi Sundowns, AmaZulu and their greatest rivals – themselves – stand in their way. Pirates will face Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final second leg in Polokwane on Saturday with a slight advantage after the first leg ended 0-0 in Orlando Stadium. Nevertheless, the Buccaneers have to shed a five-game winless run, which has been inspired by their severe shyness in front of goal. They…

President Xi Jinping hailed China’s rise as a global power and demanded unity around his leadership yesterday, launching a Communist Party Congress that is set to rubber stamp his bid to rule for a historic third term. In an opening address to 2 300 delegates gathered at the Great Hall of the People, Xi promoted and defended a range of signature policies – including zero-Covid and his anti-corruption drive that has taken down rivals in the party. “Unity is strength, and victory requires unity,” Xi said after walking onstage to a thunderous reception from the hand-picked attendees who will vote during the week-long congress on the party leadership for the next five years. The president – whose 10-year rule has seen the country become a global superpower – said:…

London: Britain’s Prime Minister Liz Truss insisted on her devotion to “sound” economics heading into crisis talks yesterday with her all-powerful new finance minister, and a tense week of plotting by Conservative critics. With even US President Joe Biden joining in attacks on her economic agenda, Truss admitted it had been a “wrench” to fire her friend Kwasi Kwarteng as chancellor of the exchequer. She appointed Jeremy Hunt as the new finance minister. Writing in the Sun on Sunday newspaper, she said: “We cannot pave the way to a low-tax, high-growth economy without maintaining the confidence of the markets in our commitment to sound money.” |…

THE Lions and Ulster served up arguably one of the games of the season on Saturday as they rocked and rolled in a rollicking, rip-roaring, snorter of an encounter that oscillated between the engaging and the sublime. In all, 10 tries were scored as the powerful Irish outfit pipped their hosts 39-37 at Ellis Park. It immediately halted the momentum of the Lions, who have now lost both their games at home; while further cementing Ulster as one of the favourites to win the United Rugby Championship. Ulster showed all of their class and composure befitting their station, specifically before and after halftime as they took advantage of a numerical advantage after Henco van Wyk was sanctioned for cynical play, wrapping up the match during that period. The Lions,…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has been accused of using his powers to persecute those seen as his enemies or detractors to advance his cause in the run-up to the ANC’s national elective conference in December. He is also being accused of protecting those in his camp. Ramaphosa will be seeking re-election as ANC leader, while Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and former health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize are expected to challenge him for the position. It will be the second time Ramaphosa and Dlamini Zuma face-off after her minimal loss at the 2017 Nasrec conference. According to ANC insiders, Ramaphosa, who is embroiled in a multimillion-rand scandal in which he is alleged to have covered up a crime at his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo, is…

On Thursday, the TV presenter, actor and choreographer said he battled with depression and when he was down,he prayed and tried to prevent the monster from taking his shine. Somizi opened up on his mental health battle in his bathroom talks on Instagram on Thursday. Being Mental Health Awareness Month in South Africa, his bathroom talk has come at the right time for many of his fans who wrestle with anxiety, depression and sadness. According to the Department of Health, more than 400 million people worldwide suffer from mental or neurological disorders which also includes psycho-social challenges such as alcohol and drug abuse. The SA College of Applied Psychology report indicates that one in six South Africans suffer from anxiety, depression or substance abuse. This is also according…

A Hungarian Vizla puppy has become the subject of a legal wrangle in the Johannesburg High Court involving a breeder and the owner of another male dog. The male was mated with the breeder’s dog with the aim of producing a litter of sought-after puppies. According to the contract, the owner of the male, which was named Cody, was allowed to choose the best pup as payment. But what became a bone of contention was that Charlie, the female, produced only one pup. Cody’s owner wanted to claim it, but Charlie’s owner refused, under the circumstances. Aggrieved by this, Cody’s owner, Willie Wolmarans, turned to court to force breeder Tania Davey-Smith to give him what he regarded as his pup. Wolmarans asked for an order to declare an oral agreement…

Farouk Araie is a frequent contributor to The Star letters page, with his analysis of political and moral issues affecting South Africa and the world at large, and his professorial advice to readers on these matters. I was waiting for his commentary on the death in custody of a young Muslim woman in Iran, her imprisonment allegedly for wearing inappropriate clothing. He cries shame on the entire Muslim world. Well done, Mr Araie. As an expert in Muslim affairs, perhaps he would lecture readers on the benefits of sharia law, and explain why Muslims cling to this aspect of their religion when, at the heart of it, is the relegation of women to lesser human beings.…

Mental health is the state of mental well-being that contributes to individual and population health. This state of mental well-being sustains national output and labour force productivity. But governments around the world haven’t been investing resources into addressing mental ill-health. This is despite acknowledging that economics and mental health are intertwined. It’s documented that cannabis consumption erodes mental well-being. It has adverse effects on school, work, and social life. The consumption of cannabis has also been linked to increases in domestic violence. The 2019 Africa Regional Hemp and Cannabis report indicates that Africa contributed US$37 billion to the cannabis global market. This figure demonstrates the potential in targeting the cannabis sector for special excise taxes to fund African mental health prevention programmes. Some developing countries have opted to legalise the…

A FIRE and clashes erupted at Tehran’s notorious Evin prison on Saturday night as the protest movement sparked by Mahsa Amini’s death in custody entered the fifth week. The fire that broke out in the gaol overnight killed four inmates and left 61 others injured, the judicial authority said on its website yesterday. The facility in northern Tehran is known for the ill-treatment of political prisoners. Foreign detainees are also held there. Hundreds of those detained during the protests over Amini’s death have reportedly been sent to Evin prison. “Troubles” erupted between inmates and guards and a fire broke out but the situation was “under control”, Iranian state media reported on Saturday. At least eight people were injured, the state news agency Irna reported, citing a firefighter at the scene.…

BERLIN: German chancellor Olaf Scholz called for an expanded EU bloc, telling a gathering of European social democrats that it would then be able to better pull its weight in global affairs. Since assuming office, Scholz has made EU expansion to include the Balkans and others nations a major plank of his foreign policy. It has taken on more urgency since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which became a candidate for EU membership early this summer. “An EU with 27, 30, 36 states, with then more than 500 million free and equal citizens, can bring its weight to bear even more strongly in the world,” Scholz said at the congress. The EU currently has 27 members. |…

LONDON: Two environmental protesters appeared in a UK court on Saturday after throwing tomato soup over Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting at London’s National Gallery. Just Stop Oil climate activists Anna Holland, 20, and Phoebe Plummer, 21, pleaded not guilty in the London court to criminal damage. They were released on bail, pending a trial in London on December 13. On Saturday, nearly 30 Just Stop Oil activists glued themselves to the tarmac as they blocked a major road in east London, triggering angry exchanges with motorists. |…

MARUMO Gallants booked their place in the group stage of the Caf Confederation Cup with a 1-0 victory over Elgeco Plus from Madagascar on Saturday. Bahlabane Ba Ntwa, in their maiden campaign in Africa made light work of their opponents over two legs, securing a 4-1 aggregate victory. Marumo Gallants stand-in coach in Caf competitions, Raymond Mdaka reflected negatively following his side's progression to the group stage of the Confederation Cup, blasting his players for taking their foot off the pedal in the second leg at home. "We should have won 1-0 away and 3-1 at home, the performance today was not that good," Mdaka said "Yes I admit we realised they couldn't give us any problems offensively, but for us to have a good game we needed to score…

THE Cricket South Africa T20 Challenge Division 1 kicks off on Monday in Potchefstroom. Here Zaahier Adams looks at five youngsters, besides Dewald Brevis, to keep a close eye on this week. 1. Matthew Boast (Titans) The all-rounder has improved in leaps and bounds under coach Shukri Conrad’s mentorship since last year’s Under-19 World Cup in the Caribbean. He dominated the past weekend’s CSA Division 2 T20 Challenge where he played a leading role in the SA U19s lifting the trophy. The former St Charles pupil was the tournament's second highest wicket-taker (nine wickets at 14.60 with an economy of 6.40) and was also runner-up on the run-scorers list (141 runs at an average of 28.20 and strike-rate of 180). 2. Liam Alder (Lions) The King Edward VII High School…