Table of contents for 2021-11-29 in Star

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za BLACK Friday on the local market was a Red Friday as the JSE and rand fell, following the discovery of a highly mutated Covid-19 variant in the country. The Black Friday sales bonanza in South Africa this year was not characterised by long queues of shoppers lining up for discounts, with consumers under financial pressure. The discovery of roughly 50 cases of the new Omicron variant in South Africa last week sent shock waves around the globe, driving the worst risk-off sentiment in the markets since the Sars-CoV-2 virus was first identified in Wuhan, China, in 2019. Studies are being conducted to determine whether the vaccines were effective against the B.1.1.529 variant as it was reported to have an unusual arrangement of mutations, which aid it in…

By Song Lei In a few days, another Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (Focac) will be held in Senegal. Under the theme of “Deepening China-Africa Partnership and Promoting Sustainable Development to Build a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future in the New Era”, the conference will chart the course for China-Africa co-operation for the next three years and more to come. Direction will also be given for China-Africa investment co-operation. China-Africa Development Fund (CADFund), an outcome of Focac, has been focusing on investing in Africa for 14 years, promoting sustainable development in Africa and the upgrading and transformation of China-Africa business cooperation in ways compatible with market operations. Under the new circumstances, the Fund will follow the guidance of the upcoming conference and play a more…

Harvest Thwala THE US is calling all eligible South Africans to teach isiZulu at its universities as part of the Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Programme (FLTA) for the 2022/23 academic year. The US campuses are enhancing their teaching of languages and exposing students to a true understanding of people of different nations. Qualified South African teachers who speak isiZulu as their home language can now apply to teach in the US. The Fulbright FLTA Programme is sponsored by the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). As part of the Fulbright Foreign Student Programme, the Fulbright FLTA Programme is designed to develop Americans' knowledge of foreign cultures and languages by supporting teaching assistantships in over 30 languages in hundreds of US institutions of higher education.…

THE festive season is one of the most treasured periods in South Africa as people get to spend more time with their families and indulge in leisurely activities such as holiday travel and spoiling loved ones. While some are fortunate enough to get bonuses or even stokvel pay-outs during this time, others rely on their regular income, and it has to last them until roughly the end of January. Yashen Singh, CEO of Retail and Private Core Banking at FNB Retail, says: “During the festive season, people often have added responsibilities that require careful planning. “The other reality is that businesses tend to pay salaries earlier than usual to allow people to fulfil their financial obligations ahead of the public holidays. Despite this, it is always important to ensure that…

Debashine Thangevelo SELLING SUNSET The fourth season just dropped on Netflix and fans won’t be disappointed – the claws come out. Of course, it is little surprise that Christine Quinn is at the heart of the drama. Then again, would we even be watching this show if it weren’t for the queen bee of bitchiness. The way she keeps serving us life goals now that she is married to tech tycoon Christian Richard is unreal. I guess that is why we love, sometimes hate, but definitely envy, her. This season she is on a break after having her baby. But what’s not on a hiatus is her longstanding feuds with her former BFF Mary Fitzgerald and Chrishell Stause. And there is a new enemy added to the list with Emma…

Lutho Pasiya I love summer cooking and the fact that as the seasons change, so do our cooking methods and the type of fresh produce we use. Summer cooking represents an opportunity to whip up something quick and easy, while we eat well. Summer cooking should be simple, fresh, and full of flavour. Here are some ways that you can make the most of summer and cook fresh, tasty, seasonal meals for your family, meals bursting with flavour and nutrition. Mexican salad with black beans and pepper Ingredients 2 x 400g cans of Rhodes Quality black beans 1 red pepper, cut into small dice 1 yellow pepper, cut into small dice Red onion, cut into small dice Method Pour the Rhodes Quality black beans into a colander. Rinse well with…

| BULRUSHES PRESIDENT of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) Justice Mandisa Maya will tomorrow be installed as the new chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga (UMP). “Justice Mandisa Maya will officially be installed as the chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga on November 30, 2021,” said the UMP in a statement. Justice Maya takes over from the first chancellor of the university, President Cyril Ramaphosa. She is the first woman in South Africa to hold the position of presidency of the SCA and is on the shortlist of candidates vying for the position of chief justice. Justice Maya’s contribution to democratic institutions and jurisprudence dates back to 1994 when she served as a case investigator for the Electoral Commission of SA during the historic inclusive elections. Subsequently, Maya…

Brenda Masilela and Shifaan Ryklief This past week protests continued to make headlines across Europe as thousands of residents took to the streets opposing the new Covid-19 lockdown measures being put in place heading into the Christmas season. Some countries imposed partial lockdown to their worst-hit regions, while others like Austria issued full national lockdown due to a new wave of infections. The week ahead will reveal whether or not these restrictions helped ease the rising infection rates and if more people would now consider taking the vaccine. However, for Austria, officials announced that the entire population is now required to be vaccinated by February. China In Asia, China commemorated the 30th anniversary of the peace, security and strategic partnerships with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). The event…

Siphelele Dludla siphelele.dludla@inl.co.za THE STOCK market slumped on Friday driven by heavy losses in travel, hospitality and leisure groups over fears that the new Covid-19 variant will lead to fresh lockdowns, travel restrictions and lower economic growth. The JSE suffered the worst day in 20 months as the All Share Index slipped by 2.75 percent to close at 68 614 index points, its biggest daily decline since March last year. Hospitality shares led the bloodbath after the UK, the US and several other countries put South Africa back on the red list following the detection of a new highly transmissible Covid-19 variant in the country. The shares of City Lodge Hotels fell 15.09 percent to close at R4.22 per share, Sun International declined by 7.45 percent…

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za ASCENDIS Health’s annual general meeting (AGM) on December 20 might turn out to be a lively affair considering the chairperson will preside over a resolution to oust him, while support for a host of new director nominations might also be tested. Ascendis Health, the health and wellness group, came close to collapse, but its shareholders this year gave the nod to a restructuring plan that saved the company from going into business rescue, and involves recapitalisation transaction to settle debt of about R7.7 billion owed to senior lenders. The current major lenders are Blantyre Capital and Letter1. The “new” post-recapitalisation Ascendis Health will comprise three local businesses, namely Medical Devices, Pharma and Consumer Health. The notice for the AGM contains a clause that says that recent…

Eight months ago, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, appeared on prime-time television to drop bombshell after bombshell during an Oprah Winfrey special. The interview nearly became an international incident after they detailed how they had been mistreated as part of the royal family, to the point where Meghan said she had suicidal thoughts and the palace did not help her. The story gripped the Internet for days, and then as most controversies do, it disappeared – and for the most part, so did Harry and Meghan. They dropped out of the public eye as the stories and rumours swirled around them, and kept a very low profile until June, when they announced that Meghan had given birth to their second child, a baby girl named…

Harvest Thwala TRAIN manufacturer Gibela Rail Transport Consortium is calling for applications for 200 bursaries in 2022. Study fields include engineering, manufacturing, computer science, supply chain and logistics, and various trade fields – for both universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. Gibela’s bursaries include full tuition and a book allowance. The bursaries are granted for one year and are renewable annually based on academic performance. Bursary applicants must be: South African citizens with a South African bar-coded identity document. Enrolled or intending to enrol at a South African TVET institution (current N3/N4 candidates are encouraged to apply). Enrolled or intending to enrol at a South African university or university of technology (current first- and second-year candidates are encouraged to apply). Able to demonstrate potential for academic…

CATHERINE THE GREAT BBC BRIT, DSTV 120, 8PM Multi-award-winning Helen Mirren stars in a four-part drama that delves into the politically tumultuous and sexually charged court of the most powerful female monarch in history. Catherine wielded supreme power throughout Russia for nearly half of the 18th century – strong-minded, independent, brilliantly intelligent and sexually liberated, she was the definition of the modern woman. ’TWAS THE FIGHT BEFORE CHRISMAS APPLE TV+ Follows the story of a North Idaho neighborhood turned upside down by one man’s obsession with bringing Christmas cheer to all, through the biggest community Christmas event America has ever seen. Christmas-loving lawyer Jeremy Morris’s plan hits a snag when the home owners’ association informs him that the event violates the rules of the neighborhood. A contentious fight over the…

Lutho Pasiya lutho.pasiya@inl.co.za I love tracing our family traditions back through the generations to find out where they began, but how much do you know about these traditional Christmas foods you find on your holiday table year after year? Test your food history knowledge and learn more about a few popular classics. Mince pies Mince pies are a sweet treat that are only sold in shops and made at home in December to celebrate Christmas, but they were originally savoury and included minced meat. The early version of mince pies can be traced back to the 13th century when Europeans returning from the Middle East and brought back recipes containing meats, fruit and spices. They were called several different names, including mutton pie, shrid pie and Christmas pie. During the…

loyiso Sidimba loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za | POLITICAL BUREAU FORMER president Thabo Mbeki’s criticism of the ANC after the local government elections is genuine but not divorced from the party’s politics and future. The statesman this week wrote to ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte claiming that the party needed to refocus on its historical mission. ”It has nothing to do with him (Mbeki) liking the incumbent (President Cyril Ramaphosa), their history is well known in political circles and I don’t think much has been resolved,” political analyst Lukhona Mnguni told Independent Media yesterday. According to Mnguni, he did not think Mbeki has any confidence in Ramaphosa. “What is clear in his mind is that the ANC is on the verge of implosion. I don’t think Mbeki has confidence in the current ANC…

Goitsemang Tlhabye goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za EVEN with renewed commitments and plans to address gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide, Human Rights Watch has painted a dismal picture of the government’s efforts to assist shelters across the country. The international human rights watchdog released a new report last Wednesday that detailed the challenges faced by shelters for survivors of GBV and femicide in South Africa during the Covid-19 pandemic. The organisation said while the government had acknowledged the high rates of GBV during and before the pandemic, to the extent of making promises to address it through its national strategic plan, it had still failed to provide the necessary funding for shelters and other services. The report was compiled after interviews with staff at seven shelters across the country and six other front-line organisations…

Anita Nkonki IT HAS been weeks with South Africans waiting in anticipation for Miss SA Lalela Mswane, 24, to weigh in on her controversial participation in the Miss Universe pageant, set to take place on December 12 in Eilat, Israel. After it was announced the Miss Universe pageant would be hosted by Israel there have been strong calls to boycott the prestigious event, as a result of the atrocities committed by Israelis on Palestinians. With that seen as nearly impossible, the newly crowned Miss SA recently issued a statement on how excited she was to be representing South Africa in Israel despite the public outcry. “It is with gratitude that I prepare to represent my beautiful South Africa at the 70th Miss Universe competition. Being Miss South Africa is not…

Bongani Nkosi bongani.nkosi@inl.co.za ARTS and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has maintained that the R60 million pumped into the historical Downtown Studios from the public purse has gone to good use. Located on Goud Street, near the Joburg CBD, Downtown was a preferred studio for yesteryear superstar hitmakers such as Lucky Dube, Stimela, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Soul Brothers, Mahlathini and Mahotella Queens after its inception in 1978. The government bought it from Gallo Records in 2008 and renamed it the Downtown Music Hub. Replying to a written question in Parliament, Mthethwa said the restoration project was proceeding well. DA MP Veronica Van Dyk asked Mthethwa about its current status and the success of its restoration project. Mthethwa maintained that the restoration had made good progress. “Certain parts of the building were…

| AFP THREE quarters of children have faced abuse in sport and boys are more likely to be victims than girls, a study of more than 10 000 individuals in six European countries released on Saturday shows. The most common form of abuse suffered by children taking part in sport outside of school was psychological, ranging from a lack of praise to humiliating treatment, the European Union-funded study shows. Nearly two-thirds of those polled for the Child Abuse in Sport: European Statistics (CASES) study said they had suffered psychological abuse while 44% had experienced physical violence. The report's lead author, Professor Mike Hartill of Edge Hill University in England, said the findings show those who govern sport in Europe have done “too little” to safeguard children in sport and…

Wynona Louw wynona.louw@inl.co.za Given the Springbok Sevens side’s success at the Dubai event, it’s pretty hard not to think of the desert city as a kind of home ground for the South Africans. At the weekend, the defending World Series champions bagged their third consecutive gold medal after also claiming the top podium spots in Vancouver and Edmonton. The Blitzboks went through the shortened series, which consisted of only two tournaments as opposed to the usual 10, unbeaten. And they continued that untouchable form in the opening leg of the 2021/22 series in the United Arab Emirates. Saturday marked coach Neil Powell’s team’s fourth final appearance in the past five years in Dubai. In those games, they outplayed fellow Sevens giants Fiji (2016) and New Zealand (2017 and 2019) to…

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za LUXEMBOURG-based Ardagh Group has agreed to acquire Consol Holdings, its rival and South Africa’s biggest glass-packaging manufacturer, for an equity value of R10 billion, it said on Friday. Founded 75 years ago, Consol produces packaging for the food and beverage industries, inclusive of the beer, alcoholic fruit beverage, wine, fruit juice, soft drinks, mineral water and spirits markets. It operates production facilities in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia. The deal is expected to expand Ardagh’s footprint on the African continent. Commenting on the transaction, Ardagh’s chairperson, Paul Coulson, said Consol was a market leader in the region, with great relationships across a diversified domestic and multinational customer base. “Virtually all of Consol’s multinational customers are also customers of Ardagh. We look forward to welcoming Consol…

Jennifer Hassan Adele carefully curated the order of songs on her latest album, 30, calling the 12 tracks her “ride or die throughout the most turbulent period of my life”. But a Spotify setting that shuffles album tracks in a random order apparently threatened to disrupt the flow of her musical narrative. “This was the only request I had in our ever-changing industry!” Adele tweeted on Saturday, asking that the album be streamed with the tracks in order. “We don’t create albums with so much care and thought into our track listing for no reason. Our art tells a story and our stories should be listened to as we intended,” she continued, before thanking the platform. “Anything for you,” Spotify tweeted in response. The streaming giant removed the shuffle…

MaryAnne Isaac maryanne.isaac@inl.co.za HAVE you ever felt a sense of relief and joy having completed an important task in the nick of time, or just completing a task ahead of its deadline? Well that’s what early registration for university feels like, especially with how the last two years turned out. Choosing to register ahead of the deadline dates will effectively eliminate one task from your list when preparing for the new academic year, and if you are registering for the very first time – it’s an even better feeling. Here are reasons why you should register early for your tertiary studies. Reduce the registration blues “Procrastination is the thief of time” Imagine leaving your registration till the very last day and Eskom regretfully announces load shedding stage 5 while you…

Debashine Thangevelo debashine.thangevelo@inl.co.za TALENT and recognition don’t often go hand-in-hand in the industry. Yes, more actresses are helming critically-acclaimed TV shows these days. But that doesn’t immediately translate into success. In many instances, fame only finds them several years later. Such has been the fate of Archie Panjabi, who is one of the most underrated actresses in mainstream offerings. And she is joined by the likes of Anika Noni Rose, Katerina Graham, Jurnee Smollett, CCH Pounder and Lorraine Toussaint, to mention a few. If you’ve seen any of these actresses in a show, you will concur that they are worth their weight in salt. Honestly, this is what grates me most – the delay in getting their dues. Panjabi has been in the industry since the mid-1990s. The British actress…

Lutho Pasiya Eating food that has no pesticides and preservatives is the goal of many health-conscious shoppers. The problem lies in being able to afford organic groceries. Most families are on a strict budget, and purchasing all organic may not always be cost-effective. What are organic foods? Organic foods are produced by farming methods that avoid the use of man-made fertilisers, pesticides, growth regulators and chemicals that could be harmful to the environment, and are known to alter the natural compounds of the foods manufactured. With the organic food trend, consumers are concerned not only about fuelling their bodies with the healthiest foods, but about preserving the natural resources and biodiversity of the environment in which these fruits and vegetables are being harvested. According to Consumer Reports, since organic foods…

Itumeleng Mafisa LOCAL artists are demanding an explanation from the Department of Arts and Culture on the decision to sponsor Desmond Tutu’s granddaughter’s studies in the US. Natasha Thahane, Tutu’s granddaughter and a popular actress, did an interview with media personality and DJ Mac G (Macgyver Mukwevho), where she spilt the beans on how she simply asked then ANC chairperson and speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete to help her fund her studies at the New York Film Academy. The video showing Thahane’s confession of having access to privilege and politicians has been doing the rounds on social media. This is what Thahane said on the podcast: “I asked Mam’ Baleka (Mbete) and was like, ‘Mama, I need to go back to school. I’ve been accepted ... I don’t know…

Karen Singh karen.singh@inl.co.za A mother and daughter graduated together at one of four University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) virtual graduation ceremonies on Thursday. Dr Dumile Gumede graduated with a PhD in health promotion and her daughter, Lindelwa Msweli, graduated with an MSc in ecological sciences. Gumede’s doctoral research investigated intergenerational family relationships between grandparents and their adolescent grandchildren in a rural community in KwaZulu-Natal where HIV prevention interventions were implemented. In a statement, UKZN said the special relationship between Gumede and Msweli came full circle when they shared in each other’s joy as newly conferred graduates. Msweli said graduating alongside her mother was a blessing from God. “Everything I am is because of my family; they are a gift from God and no one knows me as well as they do.…

ON November 28, 1987, SAA Flight 295, en route from Taipei to Johannesburg crashed into the Indian Ocean killing all 159 passengers on the Helderberg. Those in the corridors of power during that time knew exactly the cause of this fiery air crash. They include then president PW Botha, General Magnus Malan, Pik Botha and FW de Klerk and all those who were at the top of SAA. They have all passed on, taking their secrets to their graves. From all the available evidence, it is an absolute fact the Helderberg was transporting war related materials for the conflicts in southern Africa. The cover-up was extensive and many with deep knowledge of sanction busting exercises were warned of serious consequences if top secret information was divulged. It has been clearly…

Matshelane Mamabolo THE Confederation of African Football held their general assembly late last week and while a number of interesting subjects came out of it, there is one that piqued my interest. It was not something the continent’s football governing body released officially. But murmurings from Cairo, Egypt are that CAF are considering making changes to eligibility for continental club competitions. Currently clubs have to win their domestic leagues or finish as runners-up to participate in the Champions League, while entry into the Confederation Cup is earned by winning their country’s premier knockout competition. Fair enough. But now talk is that CAF are mulling over adding a proviso to these. For clubs to play, they will have to have female teams as well. The reasoning behind this is simple. CAF…

Eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za Swallows FC (0) 1 Mokoena 63 Kaizer Chiefs (2) 3 Dolly 43; Billiat 45+1, 53 A display of attacking brilliance and a brace of goals from Khama Billiat was ultimately the difference as Chiefs overcame Soweto rivals Swallows at Dobsonville Stadium yesterday. Both of the first-half goals by Chiefs came on the stroke of half-time. The in-form Keagan Dolly was the first to hit the back of the net in the 43rd minute after Billiat did well to produce a through-pass to him, before the former made no mistake in tucking the ball into the back of the net. The high pressing from the experienced Billiat ultimately led to Swallows defender Junaid Sait committing an error which allowed Dolly to be played in for the finish.…