Table of contents for 2023-05-22 in Star

THE RAND LAST week remained under pressure due to geopolitical issues and concerns that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) would increase interest rates further next month. Due to higher prices for commodities and the effect on double listed shares (like Naspers), that gained from the weaker rand, equity prices on the JSE ended the week once again positive. The rand depreciated 40 cents against the dollar over the past five days to close on Friday at R19.40 to the dollar. On the JSE, the All Share index gained 1.53% over the past seven trading days and is still 6.32% higher for the year-to-date. The Industrial 25 index increased by 2.03% over the past seven trading days and improved by more than 20% since the beginning of the year. International…

In response to recent media reports that suggested that her long-standing dispute with Open Mic Productions had been resolved, Grammy Award-winning singer Nomcebo Zikode has fired back and divulged that Open Mic continues to defy a recent court order. In a statement issued to media recently, Zikode’s team categorically denounced these rumours as “false and injurious” and expressed that she wanted to publicly set the record straight on the current status of the matter. “The truth of the matter is that a court order was obtained in late 2022 which ordered Open Mic and Nomcebo to enter into a joint venture agreement and settle the outstanding issues between the two parties,” it read. “These outstanding issues were first made public when Nomcebo announced that she had not been paid any…

Mmule Setati has released a new cookbook, Feed My Tribe. The Joburg-based mother of two young boys is a dynamic and natural entrepreneur who runs her own business. Cooking has always been her love language. From an early age, Setati was aware of her “tribe” – her parents, grandparents and siblings. And as time passed, her tribe grew to include friends and extended family; for example, those she loved, was intensely proud of, and wanted to nurture. “This love was sparked by my mother and grandmother, who taught me that cooking and food is a wonderful bridge to healing. I believe that our relationship with food is intertwined with mental well-being, a philosophy that lives through my everyday life as well as my sense of adventure, travelling to immerse myself…

THERE appears to be no deadline for appointing a new contractor to restart work to capacitate Rooiwal wastewater treatment plant in the City of Tshwane, almost eight months since the municipality fired the previous contractor for abandoning the project. Executive mayor Cilliers Brink told the Pretoria News that he would not like to set deadlines for the capital project to restart because he didn’t want to make empty promises. “It is very difficult for me to set out the deadline because as a politician I am not in charge of the procurement system. We will certainly put pressure on the city manager and the internal bid committee. But for me to promise that by month end it will restart would be not credible and we risk breaching the trust of…

AN erroneous paymentof slightly more than R11 000 into the bank account of a farmer sparked an array of court applications after the man who made the payment claimed that when he asked for his money back, the farmer told him, “I will kill you, you bloody k*****” Mpumalanga farmer Fritz Louw vehemently denied that he ever uttered these words. As a result, he instituted a defamation claim for R300 000 in damages against Jack Moretsele. Louw said his feelings were hurt, and his dignity was impaired by the fact that Moretsele told police in a state- ment that he had uttered these words. Louw’s damages claim was, however, turned down earlier by the court. Aggrieved, he appealed against the judgment before the Mpumalanga High Court, sitting in Mbombela. But…

A couple from Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, who have been charged with murder, have abandoned their bail application in the Soshanguve Magistrate’s Court. Sibusiso Mahlangu, 33, and Lerato Mahlangu, 32 face charges of premeditated murder, defeating the administration of justice, and fraud. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Gauteng spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the couple were alleged to have murdered a man and burnt his body at their home in Block HH, in Soshanguve, on January 2, 2022. The couple are also alleged to have staged Sibusiso’s death to cash in on life insurance policies. “It is alleged that the wife, Lerato, obtained a fraudulent death certificate from the Department of Home Affairs. “She had claimed that her husband Sibusiso, died in the fire, and later claimed life policies,” Mahanjana said. The…

Former Miss Universe 2019, Zozibini Tunzi, looked every inch a regal beauty at the 9th annual Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA). Tunzi co-hosted the 2023 edition of this prestigious award ceremony with popular Nigerian media personality Ik Osakioduwa at the Eko Hotel Convention Hall, Victoria Island, in Lagos, Nigeria. The red carpet was hosted by Nigerian radio personality Toke Makinwa, TV personality Uti Nwachukwu, Ghanaian actress Sika Osei, and Nigerian video jockey VJ Adams. Tunzi stepped out in head-turning outfits, making sure to make a statement at the star-studded event. An array of African celebrities and nominees made an appearance in their best attire as well, exhibiting their individual fashion senses and inspiring distinctive red carpet looks. Impressed with the stunning looks that the Nigerian glam crew gave her,…

Core to feminist theory is that what happens in the home has public and political implications, and vice versa. Because families remain the primary providers of care in society, caring patterns within the home have profound effects on their members. Families are a primary means of socialising youth into what is “right” and “acceptable” – and are a key site where gender-related norms are learned. Therefore, where families are the main providers of care, they should be the key target of gender-related interventions. In South Africa, families do not always live in the same household. The definition of families offered in the revised White Paper on Families is inclusive of multiple family forms and defines a family as: “a societal group that is related by blood (kinship); adoption; foster care;…

Twelve people were killed and hundreds injured at the weekend in a stampede at an El Salvador soccer stadium, police and emergency services said. Authorities said initial reports pointed to a crush of fans who tried to enter Cuscatlan Stadium in the Central American country’s capital, San Salvador, to watch a local tournament match between teams Alianza and FAS. The match was suspended as emergency personnel evacuated people from the stadium, where hundreds of police officers and soldiers gathered as ambulance sirens wailed. “Salvadoran soccer is in mourning,” National Civil Police (PNC) director Mauricio Arriaza told reporters as he confirmed the death toll of 12. In a statement yesterday, Fifa president Gianni Infantino offered his condolences to the families and friends of the victims, calling the stampede “tragic”. “I extend…

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) yesterday arrested a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) operative for his alleged involvement in the terror conspiracy case in Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA said Mohd Ubaid Malik, of Kupwara district, was in constant touch with a Pakistan-based JeM commander. “The accused was passing on secret information, especially movement of troops and security forces, to the Pakistan-based Commander. “NIA also recovered from the accused’s possession various incriminating documents showing his involvement in the furtherance of terror activities in J&K.” | IANS…

Renowned South African dancer and TV presenter Otlile “Oti” Mabuse says she’s still awe-struck following her exclusive visit to Buckingham Palace in London last week. Taking to her Instagram recently, Mabuse detailed her first encounter with King Charles III at the 2023 Prince’s Trust Award ceremony, on May 16. Mabuse was among the special guests, who included the 2023 Prince’s Trust Award winners and celebrity ambassadors. The Prince’s Trust Awards recognise young people who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community. “And then today I met His Majesty the King,” Mabuse wrote. “I’m still in a bit of shock as to what happened in the last two days. How you can go from presenting an award at the…

Sam Smith and Lloyiso were trending recently after the South African singer took umbrage over being compared to Smith. It all started when the fan tweeted: “@Lloyiso_rsa is like the African Sam Smith.” Lloyiso responded: “I’m gonna block you.” The tweep tried to explain that he meant it as a compliment. Another user posted a screenshot of a tweet from 2019 in which Lloyiso had said “I wanna be like Sam Smith”, which tweeps then started sharing. Lloyiso explained: “Like and a version of are 2 different things, it’s an inferiority complex to say ‘African version’ of any artist. “I’m a big fan of Sam Smith and ‘like’ him I want to be great! This mentality needs to stop.” Some fans said he was overreacting, but others agreed with him.…

Dirty bulking is a term used in bodybuilding and fitness culture to describe a method of gaining weight and muscle mass quickly, often by consuming large amounts of high-calorie, high-fat foods. The goal is to consume more calories than the body needs to build muscle, with the assumption that some of the excess calories will be used for muscle growth. However, this method of bulking has gained a bad reputation in recent years due to its potential negative impact on overall health and wellness. Dirty bulking is popular among individuals seeking to gain muscle mass as quickly as possible. However, the consequences of such a diet on mental and physical health are of concern. While dirty bulking can yield significant short-term results, the long-term effects of consuming an excessive number…

The SA Revenue Service (SARS) Customs Division has intercepted a truck carrying 440 master boxes of Remington Gold cigarettes, with an estimated total value of R9 million, which were falsely declared as cotton oil cake. Sars Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said the customs officer conducting a random inspection on Saturday became suspicious when the value of the goods declared on the document and the load on the truck did not match. Upon questioning the driver, the answers were inconsistent with the document. “He then redirected the truck to the inspection ramp, unpacked the load, and discovered goods hidden under the cotton oil cake. “The truck and the goods were detained and booked in the Sars state warehouse, and the suspect or driver was arrested and handed over to the SAPS.” Kieswetter…

A RESIDENT and homeowner at an upmarket Johannesburg golf estate will no longer be able to call on the Community Scheme Ombud Service to resolve the disputes between her and the homeowners association. The resident landed in hot water with the association for numerous reasons, including feeding feral cats on the estate. The Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, ruled that the law relating to the powers of this ombud did not include the resolution of disputes which are personal in nature. The woman, Dr Natasa Groene- wald, among others, wanted the ombud to order the homeowners association of Eagle Canyon Golf Estate to apologise to her for the way they had treated her. Groenwald and her husband, Keith Groenewald, are property owners within the estate. According to the homeowners…

A man was arrested in Limpopo for possession of a pangolin, valued at R150 000, while he was on his way to sell the endangered animal. Spokesperson for the Hawks in Limpopo, Captain Matimba Maluleke, said the 59-year-old “pangolin dealer” was arrested at Gravelotte, near Tzaneen. The operation to nab suspects on Wednesday involved several police units and the Hoedspruit Farmwatch. “The team received a tip-off about a suspect who was allegedly on the way to sell a pangolin in Hoedspruit. Without any waste of time, the team followed up on the information, and a suspicious vehicle was spotted in Gravelotte,” Maluleke narrated. “Upon stopping and searching the suspicious vehicle, the team found a pangolin valued at R150 000 hidden in the boot, inside a bag. “The suspect…

US Ambassador Reuben Brigety pulled out his gun and fired wildly at South Africa, accusing it of supplying arms and ammunition to Russia. As calls for the expulsion of the US ambassador from South Africa grew, Brigety offered an apology for his rash comments. But the rand tumbled, plunging the country deeper into the economic crisis. President Cyril Ramaphosa denied South Africa was a supplier of arms to Russia and reiterated a neutral position. Many were not entirely convinced. It is no secret that the ANC was friends with the Russians. While the diplomatic row raged on, an ANC delegation was in Moscow. Then there is BRICS, of which South Africa is a member. South Africa joined Russia and China in naval exercises off the KZN coast. Ramaphosa seems to…

THE ANC’s foreign policy direction is characterised by loyalty to its Cold War-era alliances. Russia was sympathetic towards the liberation movement in South Africa, providing military equipment and training, as well as funding parties like the ANC and PAC. The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), likewise, supported the liberation movements. It is therefore natural that the ANC would lean towards Palestine and Russia; they are loyal to “old friends” and feel indebted to them. This, however, does not serve today’s developmental agenda. South Africa is trapped in a Cold War mindset. It is unable to adjust to the modern-day economy and democracy. The ANC compromised in the early 1990s, when it thought it could serve two masters; its wish was to have a friend in the US and Russia. To appease…

The biennale, a cultural institution established as early as 1895, is a manifestation of a world order established by European imperialism. It is an international platform for a network of powerful academic and professional groups, material producers, construction firms, developers and public authorities. They come together in Venice to show and discuss their work. The biennale relies heavily on private sponsors and numerous countries host their own pavilions in Venice. While an African curator has no influence over these pavilions, she has ample latitude to determine the shape of the main pavilion and its exhibitions, the Force Majeure and the Dangerous Liaisons sections. As a professor of architecture with a scholarly focus on African cities and non-western architectural forms, I have been attending the preview week in Venice. I believe…

Kathmandu: An Australian climber has died on Everest, in the 10th fatality on the world’s highest peak this climbing season. Jason Kennison, 40, died after becoming unwell on Friday. After becoming “unresponsive” at the summit, he was brought down to the Balcony area below the peak, Asian Trekking chief Dawa Sherpa told AFP. “Since their oxygen cylinders were running out, they decided to descend to Camp 4 and return with fresh cylinders,” Sherpa said. “It was high wind and bad weather that prevented them from going back to bring him down. He died at the Balcony area.” | AFP…

Tehran: Iran yesterday executed three men convicted on drug trafficking charges, the judiciary said, the latest of hundreds of people hanged in the country this year. The three members of a “drug cartel”, were hanged after being convicted of “corruption on earth” for producing nearly 40kg of heroin, the Mizan Online news website said. The executions come one day after a man was hanged following a conviction over leading a prostitution ring. Iran executes more people a year than any other nation except China, according to Amnesty International. | AFP…

Manchester City celebrated their third consecutive Premier League title yesterday as a much-changed side was still good enough to beat Chelsea 1-0 at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola’s men clinched a fifth title in six seasons on Saturday when second-placed Arsenal were beaten 1-0 at Nottingham Forest. That gave Guardiola the luxury of resting most of his stars with one eye on the FA Cup and Uefa Champions League finals next month as City go for the treble. The strength of City’s squad was exemplified by Julian Alvarez, who has spent most of the season as Erling Haaland’s understudy, scoring his 17th goal of the campaign to extend the English champions’ unbeaten run in all competitions to 24 games. A festive afternoon for City, however, was marred at full-time as thousands…

Musa Nyatama cut a sombre figure in the auditorium of Dobsonville Stadium after guiding Swallows FC to a top-eight Premiership finish on Saturday, revealing one of the sacrifices he made to show his commitment to the club. After beating the now-relegated Marumo Gallants 2-0 on the last day of the season, the Birds soared into eighth spot on the league standings. This was a complete turnaround for a club that was flirting with relegation before they were resurrected by player-coach Nyatama in the last eight games. Nyatama took over the reins as Swallows’ interim coach in two separate spells this season, but the last one was daunting as the club found itself languishing in the relegation zone. Thanks to Nyatama and newly appointed technical advisor Morgan Mammila, the Birds bagged…

A SIMPLE Google search of the definition of management shows that management is the art of getting things done. It is the administration of organisations, whether they are a business, a non-profit organisation or a government body. It is the co-ordination and effective use of limited resources for production or to achieve a goal. Leadership on the other hand, is the act of guiding other individuals, teams or an entire organisation. The ability to inspire others to act in a particular way or to follow a specific direction. Looking at the state of our nation, the frustration stemming from challenges with the delivery of basic services such as maintenance of infrastructure, health care, safety and security and job creation; one always hears the lamentation and statements such as “we have…

Many foods are commonly paired together for taste: fruit jam and peanut butter, ham and cheese, cookies and milk, spaghetti and meatballs, wine and cheese, the list goes on. But while there is no single universal pairing that will suit everyone’s palate, it’s good to go into a foodie experience armed with knowledge. Below, the executive chef at the Radisson Blu Hotel Sandton, Slobodan Stefancic, shares some of the common food pairing myths that you should be aware of. Only one correct pairing One common misconception is that there is only one correct pairing for a specific dish or ingredient. There are multiple pairing options that can work well. Taste preferences can vary greatly among individuals, and what may be a perfect pairing for one person might not be the…

Matric learner Mokwena Thakgalang, 19, from Lehaiwa Senior Secondary School, said she was tired of being bullied because of her skin colour at school by her classmates. Mokwena could not take the bullying any more until she decided to reach out for help when she went on Facebook and wrote to radio presenter Makwena “Kwenisto” Makgakga and asked him to post her story for the world to see the things that she faces every day when she goes to school. “This started while I was in Grade 10 when other learners made fun of my skin colour; they would look at me as if I was disgusting and say things like ‘o motala thwi’ and you have pimples on your face ‘diya re xiximixa’, meaning that you are too dark…

It was meant to be a day of celebration but Afiqah Hasanah, a Malaysian woman, had never felt more powerless in her life. So when she attended a family event and had her hands full, she turned to her friend for help. But what she did not expect was for her friend to breastfeed her son. The Daily Mail published a story about Hasanah, who was mortified to find her friend breastfeeding her son, Haider. “I was busy carrying things, and when I arrived, she asked me for Haider, so I just gave him (to her)because she was someone close to me,” the mom said in a TikTok video. In a video that she posted online, Hasanah was on the verge of tears as she talked about what had happened.…

TSHEPO Matsena, 19, wakes up from the streets of Pretoria and puts on his yellow reflector for another day as a car guard in the streets of the capital city. Matsena makes around R350 in a day’s work parking and guarding cars in town, where he also sleeps. With R350 Matsena can make a living and maybe even pay rent and live in a decent place in Atteridgeville or Mamelodi. The problem is that Matsena is a nyaope addict. The drug has taken over the lives of teenagers across the country. Those who smoke it are known around taxi ranks where they make some money to satisfy their habit. Around 7am Matsena had already made R30 so he could get his first fix of the day. By the end of…

My Walk, a social development, environmental sustainability and enterprise development initiative that reclaims polyvinyl chloride from health-care waste and turns it into shiny new school shoes for children, has been recognised with the Nedbank Green Economy Award for non-profit organisations. The organisation received this top award in their category at the recent Trialogue Business in Society 2023 Conference. Delanie Bezuidenhout, general manager of My Walk, which was established in partnership with Netcare and Adcock Ingram Critical Care, is no stranger in ensuring that children can walk the walk in brand-new shoes. Since February 2020, My Walk has put quality school shoes on the feet of more than 100 000 children and prevented more than 75 252kg of health-care waste going to landfill. These including drip bags and polyvinyl…

Wandi Ndlovu has left viewers utterly shocked after revealing jaw-dropping details about her job as a popular adult content creator. Ndlovu spoke to Sol Phenduka and Macgyver “MacG” Mukwevho on the controversial Youtube podcast, Podcast and Chill with MacG, revealing that nothing hinders them from continuing with their business even when it’s that time of the month. She said that they dried the wipes and inserted them on their front bottoms to block the blood flow to satisfy their customers. This shocking revelation was shared after being asked several questions about her line of work and what happens when she is on her menstrual cycle. Ndlovu responded: “They know it. Do you know wipes? You dry them up. You put them in your vagina so that they block your period.…

The year 1994 marked the transition from the National Party education system to our democratic government. Sibusiso Bhengu was appointed basic education minister from 1994 until 1999. From 1999 to 2004, it was Kader Asmal, who was followed from 2004 to 2008 by Naledi Pandor. From 2009 to date, it has been Angie Motshekga, who is reputed to have caused the most damage with all the changes she has introduced during her unusually long tenure at the helm of basic education. These ministers spent their years in exile in different countries, and it is therefore easy to assume that they were exposed to different education systems, which would imply a certain degree of lack of continuity in basic education that could account for the chaotic education results. Much as we…

Two weeks ago, the rand experienced its first reprimand from the dollar, following US ambassador Reuben Brigety saying that he would bet his life on the fact that the Lady R (a Russian ship that docked in Simon’s Town last year) was loaded with South African weapons, and headed to Russia. Brigety’s statement sent the rand tumbling against the dollar. Whether the Lady R was loaded with weapons or Wonder Bars is not half as relevant as the dynamics at play within our global arena. South Africa’s foreign policy towards Russia has involved several love letters this year. From Operation Mosi to the BRICS summit scheduled for August, the US has had good reason to keep its eye on Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Naledi Pandor, especially when…

The DStv Premiership, now in its 22nd season, reached its climax on Saturday when the spotlight fell on the second-place scramble and the relegation dogfight. The champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, had already finished their campaign with a sixth consecutive title a few days earlier. They signed off the season with a bitter-sweet draw against Maritzburg United, and that spoilt the party for the Brazilians, who are now 13-time winners of SA’s elite competition. Saturday's matches, all played at the same time, made for a dramatic climax. Orlando Pirates stole the limelight with an overwhelming 4-0 win against AmaZulu. With this win, the Sea Robbers nailed down the runners-up slot, and they will join Sundowns in next season's CAF Champions League. SuperSport United's final-day challenge fell as flat as a pancake after…

OTTAWA: Alberta authorities hope cooler temperatures and showers forecast for the coming week will help firefighters battling blazes in the oil-rich Canadian province. However, storms could complicate their efforts. Amid hot, dry conditions, forecasters were tracking a front likely to move into the province on Sunday that should bring much-needed relief, including humidity and even rain, Christie Tucker, information unit manager at Alberta Wildfire, said at a weekend briefing. “What we’d like to see is a long-steady rain that will soak into the forest,” Tucker said..” | Reuters…

The 2023 Currie Cup began in the shadow of the United Rugby Championship but after the tournament’s final this Saturday between the Stormers and Munster, expect the good old Currie Cup to explode into life and command the attention of rugby lovers. It has started happening already. At the weekend, the Sharks dismantled the Free State Cheetahs in an absorbing top-of-the-table contest, while the derby between the Lions and Blue Bulls was a fantastic game. Cheetahs coach, Hawies Fourie, two months ago predicting that the last month of the Currie Cup would be hotly contested as it became kthe main focus and he was right. The Bulls and Lions are fielding the strongest teams they can — bearing in mind the Springboks are not available — and the Sharks have…

Arthur Zwane has been in football long enough to know that he had to develop a thick skin to weather the abuse thrown at him. Zwane also knows that he’s skating on thin ice after a tough first Premiership season with Kaizer Chiefs as they ended the campaign trophyless for the eighth year in a row and without a top-three finish as they laboured to fifth position. It was a campaign that scrutinised the appointment of Zwane as head coach as things didn’t go according to plan, with Zwane making more mistakes than victories, including guiding the team to a record 12th loss in a single league season. As the dark clouds gathered, a handful of fans didn’t take kindly to the impending calamity. They threw missiles at the team…