Table of contents for 2023-01-17 in Star

Calm was restored in the Joburg CBD late yesterday afternoon after chaotic scenes, including the pelting of stones at SAPS vehicles, were witnessed after a 28-year-old man died amid a search-and-seizure operation. The public was warned to avoid Nugget and Mooi streets, and motorists were advised to avoid the protests by taking alternate routes. Protesters barricaded Commissioner Street with burning tyres and debris at Goud Street. According to eyewitnesses, a man whose identity has been withheld decided to “swallow his stash of drugs” and died. All hell broke loose after tenants staying at a residential building protested over the death, accusing police of being responsible. Police conducted a raid at about 2am and reports suggest that the man ingested drugs with the aim of hiding them, but later died. His…

The EFF has criticised the Department of Basic Education for the delayed release of matric exam results, which it says has ripple effects on the transition of learners to the post-secondary and training sectors. The party said the delay also affects planning by families who are unable to proceed with any logistical arrangements for their children. “Year after year, the department exhibits incompetence relating to matriculants and the handling of the process. If it’s not scandals, such as the leaking of exam papers, which results in cheating or appalling results in schools that perennially under- perform with no intervention, it is a blatant failure to ensure that the results of learners are released before the academic year begins. “The delay has an added impact on financially hamstrung families who have…

Pageants South Africa founder Carolyn Botha expressed her concern that the top pageants in the country do not empower women the way they are supposed to. Botha believes if pageants were used correctly, they would uplift many in the country. Botha said Mrs Africa, Mrs Africa Classic and Miss Junior South Africa are some of the pageants where they focused on bringing back both women’s and children’s dignity – including with reusable sanitary items. “We also uplift ladies in Lesotho, eSwatini and the rest of the African continent with our Dignity Dreams Foundation,” said Botha. South Africa finished in the top 16 of the 2023 Miss Universe pageant on Saturday at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in the USA. The 71st Miss Universe pageant was won by Miss USA…

It may seem odd to refer to the late Frene Ginwala as “My Madam”. That is not how one would generally see the relationship between the opposition chief whip and the speaker. To her face, for 10 years, I always called her “Madam Speaker” and I was always “Mr Gibson”. I only met Frene Ginwala once before the 1994 election. One knew her reputation and she certainly was top flight, with brains and presence, and impressive qualifications. When we arrived at Parliament in 1994, she was immediately elected as the first speaker of the new National Assembly. I was the chief whip of the then Democratic Party (DP) that had emerged as a 1.7% party with only 7 MPs. Tony Leon, the 37-year-old leader, took over the job in the…

South Africa’s agriculture remains an important sector of the economy and holds great potential to reduce poverty. It’s also central to the political economy of the country, as is evident in the governing ANC’s recent policy documents. The ANC acknowledges that agriculture holds the potential to uplift many poor South Africans out of poverty through increased food production, vibrant economic activity, and job creation. This is not a misplaced view. There is compelling evidence that, on average, growth in agriculture is more poverty-reducing than an equivalent amount of growth outside agriculture. This brings home the need to invest in and expand agricultural production, particularly for the benefit of poor rural communities. This is a view that many have held since the publication of South Africa’s National Development Plan in 2012.…

Nepali rescue workers scoured a debris-strewn ravine yesterday for more bodies from the mangled wreckage of a plane with 72 people on board, with hopes of any survivors now “nil”, according to officials. The Yeti Airlines ATR 72 plummeted into the steep gorge, smashed into pieces and burst into flames as it approached the central city of Pokhara on Sunday morning, in Nepal’s worst aviation disaster since 1992. The cause was not yet known but a video on social media – verified by AFP partner ESN – showed the twin- propeller aircraft banking suddenly and sharply to the left as it approached Pokhara airport. A loud explosion followed. Nepal, which has a poor record on air safety, observed a day of mourning yesterday for the victims. Soldiers used ropes and…

Canberra: The Australian state of Queensland’s central and northern regions are facing days of severe weather emergency, with some primary transport corridors being cut off at tourist spots. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology warned yesterday that intense rainfall may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding in parts of the central Queensland coast and the northeast tourist attraction Whitsundays, where the Great Barrier Reef’s famed Heart Reef is. All inbound flights have been cancelled and major roads cut off. Daily rainfall totals of 200mm and up to 400mm is possible. | IANS…

The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has established itself as an integral part of modern football and has become a support tool for officials to make informed decisions. The Premier League in England, the world’s most popular league, first rolled out VAR in 2019 and since then many of the world’s major leagues and competitions have followed suit. VAR is presently in use in Algeria, where the African Nations Championship (CHAN) is in progress. VAR helps to show if a player is offside at the time a goal is scored. The replay on VAR can also establish whether a penalty should be awarded or not. A replay can also show whether the ball has crossed the goalline or byline. The DStv Premiership is one of the richest leagues in Africa and…

Barcelona’s young players, with teenage sensation Gavi leading the way, were at the heart of the club’s first trophy for nearly two years as they thumped rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup. Gavi, 18, scored and fashioned two more in their 3-1 victory on Sunday, including one for 20-year-old Pedri, while defender Ronald Araujo shackled Vinicius jr and Alejandro Balde excelled on the other flank. “A new era has started,” yelled an ecstatic Araujo as he ran back to the dressing room with his medal, after wild celebrations on the pitch in Saudi Arabia. The ushering in of a new start for Barcelona is the club’s fervent hope, after they lifted their first trophy in the 21st century without Lionel Messi being part of the squad. When the…

Britney Spears gave the finger in her latest Instagram clip after it was reported she had a “manic” episode at a restaurant that saw her husband Sam Asghari storm away. The Toxic singer, 41, took to the platform hours after the story broke on Saturday, posting a clip that showed her dance in a white dress to the soundtrack of I Touch Myself by Divinyls, while pulling heart signs with her hands before she “flipped off” the camera. Spears could also be seen in the video carrying a portable make-up mirror and touching up her face while smiling. Many of her fans have interpreted the footage as her response to the story about her alleged restaurant row. Her husband Asghari, 28, also took to Instagram over the weekend, posting: “Don’t…

The office of mayor Mpho Phalatse has reaffirmed the importance of the City of Joburg’s relationship with the US. This comes after Phalatse received criticism for presiding over an event commemorating the birthday of Martin Luther King jr, the US civil rights icon, at the Johannesburg Theatre. Some accused her of being out of touch with what was happening in the city. Phalatse’s spokesperson, Mabine Seabe, said there was nothing wrong with the mayor celebrating an American icon. “The executive mayor holds the common view that South Africa is a country connected to the rest of the world, and our Struggle for freedom and justice was achieved with the assistance of and solidarity from people, countries and movements around the world. Notably, about 600 American companies operate in South Africa,…

Members of the police and a special task force have launched a search party to hunt for an 8-year-old female tiger that escaped from a private farm enclosure in Walkerville, Joburg south on Friday. The tiger, known as Sheba, is reported to have mauled a 39-year-old man and killed two dogs and one pig after it escaped when the fence of the enclosure it was in was apparently cut by unknown people. Greshem Mandy from the De Deur Community Police Forum said a search team, which includes expert trackers, had been dispatched to the scene to try to locate the tiger. Mandy urged members of the public not to approach the animal. “We have just received information that fresh tracks have been seen on the top of the ridge. We…

Noxolo Mathula, who plays the role of Lilly in the SABC soapie Uzalo, has revealed her other “out-of-TV passion”. Mathula sells hotdogs around the Durban taxi rank to supplement her television earnings if she is not filming her Uzalo shows. She has become a household name for multitude of television show lovers throughout the country. Mathula said she is not ashamed or embarrassed of being a TV personality selling food in the street. “I am never ever ashamed. My mother taught me that you do not ever feel embarrassed by doing honest work. If it gives you money and brings you happiness, then there’s nothing to be ashamed of. “It’s my side hustle, I own it, and no one can tell me anything. It’s a brand I’m very proud of.…

What is it with government departments and their inefficiency? I needed to renew my car licence. I went to three Post Offices and every one was offline even though there was no load shedding at the time. The one in Wilro Park said it had been off-line all week. The same goes for the UIF offices. If you try to register for UIF from home, the system accepts you and sends an SMS to say your registration has been approved, but nothing happens. When, in desperation, you go to the offices they have no record of your registration and 9 times out of 10, they are offline. On occasions I queued all morning only to be told they were offline and to come back tomorrow. Sassa is not much better.…

On quiet nights across large swaths of the African bush, you may hear a series of whooping calls in the distance. This unique sound is the long-distance vocalisation used by spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) to communicate with each other. For hyenas, it’s advantageous to know who is calling before deciding to respond. They don’t treat every member of their group the same – and the caller could even be an intruder in their territory. In animal societies, identity signals are common. They mediate interactions within groups and allow individuals to discriminate group-mates from out-group competitors. However, individual recognition becomes increasingly challenging as group size increases and as signals must be transmitted over greater distances. We hypothesised that for hyenas, long-distance calls could be used to determine the individual identity and…

Big oil firms came under pressure at the start of the World Economic Forum (WEF) from activists who accused them of hijacking the climate debate, while a Greta Thunberg-sponsored “cease and desist” campaign gained support on social media. Major energy firms including BP BP.L, Chevron CVX.N and Saudi Aramco 2222.SE are among the 1 500 business leaders gathering for the annual meeting in the Swiss resort of Davos, where global threats including climate change are on the agenda. “We are demanding concrete and real climate action,” said Nicolas Siegrist, 26, organiser of the protest who also heads the Young Socialists party in Switzerland. The annual meeting of global business and political leaders opened yesterday. “They will be in the same room with state leaders and they will push for their…

Phnom Penh: Cambodia has cleared roughly 2 554 square km of landmine and explosive remnants of war (ERW) contaminated land in the last 30 years, benefiting more than 9 million people. Ly Thuch, first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), said: “From 1992 to 2022, over 1.15 million anti-personnel mines, more than 26 135 anti-tank mines, and 3 million explosive remnants of war were destroyed. The lands have been returned to communities for agriculture and resettlement.” From 1979 to 2022, landmine and ERW explosions killed 19 818 and maimed 45 187 others. | IANS…

This year I’ve made it a mission to expand my playlist by exploring artists who are on the rise, aiming to break into the cut-throat industry. These gems may not be newcomers to the industry, but have been working, releasing music and gaining a handful of supporters along the way. • Record producer AirDee aka AirDee Global/AirDee Mosotho (born Mohlomi Edward Ramolula), is steadily making a name for himself. He has worked with top artists such as DJ Vigilante, Yanga Chief, Cassper Nyovest, Kid X, Kwesta and Touchline. This has shaped AirDee’s view of the whole music industry. “It has taught me to always think out of the box creatively, and made me realise that music is a universal language.” AirDee, from the Free State, has had some notable…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa will not be forced to appear before the Gauteng South Division of the High Court next week after his application to block private prosecution instituted by former president Jacob Zuma was granted by a full bench of judges. Zuma wanted his successor prosecuted, accusing him of being an “accessory after the fact” following advocate Billy Downer, SC, and journalist Karyn Maughan allegedly leaking Zuma’s confidential medical information during his arms deal trial. Last week, Ramaphosa applied to the court to grant him an interdict that would prevent him from appearing in the court on Thursday after receiving a summons from Zuma last year. The court, presided over by a full bench comprising Gauteng Deputy Judge President Roland Sutherland, Judge Edwin Molahlehi and Judge Marcus Senyatsi, yesterday found…

IN a victory judgment for children whose unmarried foreign fathers are either outside the country or illegally here, a court has now declared regulations which barred these fathers from having their names reflect on the child’s unabridged birth certificates, as unconstitutional. A judge sitting in an Eastern Cape high court said it was both the child’s and the father’s right to have his identity reflected on the birth certificate. Regulation 12(2)(c) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act bars an unmarried foreign father, who is either outside the country or illegally in South Africa, having his details added to his child’s birth certificate. As things stand, only unmarried foreign fathers who are legally in South Africa, may have their details appear on the unabridged birth certificate. The application was sparked…

Nuclear medicine specialist Dr Ntanganedzeni Muambadzi has committed to creating job opportunities for young people as many of the youth in marginalised areas bear the brunt of high unemployment. In conversation with The Star, Dr Muambadzi talks about her journey, how it all came to be, and how she continues to be a force to be reckoned with in her field of work while also changing people’s lives. She says being the only black female specialist in Limpopo is pleasing, but requires one to put one’s head down to acquire gratifying results. “Initially, I did not want to do medicine. I actually had a bursary, and I was supposed to go and do chemical engineering at Wits University, and on the day of registration, everything was paid, so I thought…

O ne o le kae? (Where were you?). When institutions of learning and teaching collapsed before our eyes. The announcement of matric results has been deferred to January 19 with accompanying inconveniences. Last year we were assured of leakage-free exam papers because stringent measures were in place. Lo and behold, the opposite happened. According to the Constitution, every child has a right to learn. Most South African learners have no places at schools but many illegal and undocumented foreign nationals do. It’s commonplace for schools to be vandalised and equipment stolen. Ghost teachers as well as stabbings and shootings marred the environment. Covert and overt racism continues with impunity. Learning under trees and deadly pit toilets have been normalised post-1994. Traffic congestion is caused and accidents experienced because learners are…

I regret that the majority of South Africans who voted for the ANC are now having to live with their choice of leaders and their vote is about to come back and bite them (yet again)! Let’s not talk about the reasons for Eskom’s (and many other SOEs’) failure, suffice to say this situation simply confirms my view South Africa was certainly not ready to be handed over to the ANC or any other black-African dominated party. This is not a racist remark. It’s a fact. It would be so much better if the average South African faced the truth instead of pretending they don’t think this country was better for everybody when it was under white rule. (That’s not to say that the National Party was not as racist…

A journalist with any regard for ethics and integrity will find the recent Netflix series, Harry & Meghan, uncomfortable to watch. The documentary, as well as Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, which was released last week, makes disturbing revelations about the media’s treatment of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The British tabloids, in particular, are criticised for their harassment and intrusion into the lives of the couple. And their reporting has been described as racist and sexist against Meghan, and, often, false. As Harry reveals; it was the paparazzi’s treatment of his mother, Diana, which many believed played a part in her death in a car crash in Paris in 1997, that shaped his disdain for the press, and would ultimately influence his decision to take his family and move…

Kinshasa: The Islamic State (Isis) terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the deadly explosion at a church in the north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rita Katz, director of Site Intelligence Group, said. On Sunday , media reported several people were injured in an explosion at a Protestant church in the town of Kasindi, near the Uganda border. “Isis Central Africa Province claims deadly blast at church in Kasindi, a town in DRC. Isis claims fighters planted and detonated an IED, resulting in ‘dozens of Christians killed and wounded’,” Katz said on Twitter. | Sputnik…

OSLO: A Norwegian naval officer yesterday denied negligence leading up to the 2018 collision between a warship he commanded and an oil tanker in which the military vessel sank. The early morning crash between the Helge Ingstad and the fully loaded Sola TS crude carrier near a major North Sea oil export terminal also triggered shutdowns of parts of Norway’s petroleum production. There was no leak from the oil tanker. The defendant was the officer in charge on the bridge of the Ingstad at the time. Members of the 137-strong crew suffered minor injuries. | Reuters…

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Cole Alexander says they are yearning for consistency given the lofty resources that have been put in place to support the team. Chiefs have world-class facilities and the best personnel money can buy. But Amakhosi have failed to put management’s investment to good use and are on an unprecedented seven-year trophy-less streak. This season they were expected to do better, though, considering the host of new signings they made and the promotion of Arthur Zwane as their new coach. “Every coach has his own qualities, and there’s always something to learn. I can see that with Zwane. He brings something very different,” Alexander said. “The guys carry it. We know what he wants and if it works, we’ll look great. We just need to be consistent. With…