Table of contents for 2024-01-05 in Star

The five resets Dr Aditi Nerurkar Loot (R260) HarperCollins STRESS has a bad reputation but is a healthy biological phenomenon that helps us tackle life’s many demands. It simply becomes problematic when it’s out of tune with the frequency of our lives, resulting in burnout, fatigue, sleep disturbances and other physical symptoms. To bring stress back to healthy levels, Dr Nerurkar offers five science-backed mindset shifts for when life gets hard. The first reset: Get clear on what matters most. The second: Find quiet in a noisy world. The third: Sync your brain and body. The fourth: Come up for air. The fifth: Bring your best self forward. The five mindset shifts, along with 15 techniques, offer a map to change your relationship with stress, bring your biology back in…

The Woodpecker Mystery – The Inevitability Of The Improbable Nick Norman Loot (R215) Protea Book House “HOME is everywhere.” An unusually philosophical quote from a scientist, but, then again, there is nothing ordinary about Nick Norman. An exploration geologist by profession, Norman, an avid birder, spent many years working in Africa and South America and what he witnessed in nature astounded him. It led to years of questioning and research and in his latest book, The Woodpecker Mystery: The Inevitability Of The Improbable, he reveals the epiphanies he had along the way. While working in Brazil in the ’70s, he saw a woodpecker that looked “extraordinarily similar” to the ones back home. “There’s something very characteristic about a woodpecker flight and when I saw that bird flying and it was…

THE City of Tshwane has hit back at the “reckless and irresponsible utterances made by the so-called Lotus Gardens, Atteridgeville and Saulsville Civic Association (Lasca) leader Tshepo Mahlangu in which he called for his ‘disciples’ to boycott the payment of municipal services”. It said Mahlangu had been on a crusade for a prolonged period, calling for members of his organisation to consume municipal services such as water and electricity and not pay for them. “In his spare time, Mahlangu records voice notes which he shares on social media and hops from one radio station to another to spew tirades at the City administration and advocate for lawlessness,” the City said in a statement. “The City has taken a principled position to not dignify his attention-seeking exercise with a response, but…

REFILOE Phoolo, better known as Cassper Nyovest, has shared his New Year’s wishes with thousands of his followers after staying away from the limelight for a while now. The star explained his recent absence from social media, promising to tell it all soon after citing that his soul was “washed by the blood of Jesus”. “Let’s start with Jesus, guys. A lot of people have been asking me why I am quiet. What's going on? Just to give you a summary, I went through a reset. I realised what life is. And my purpose in this life. And I am not ashamed to say that my soul was washed by the blood of Jesus,” said Nyovest. “I am not ashamed of the gospel. And I will be unpacking more and…

It was with profound sadness that I heard of the death of brilliant and iconic journalist John Pilger. His journalism was as nuanced, insightful and well-informed as it could possibly have been. He leaves a rich legacy of journalism that impacted people across the world. The brave journalist’s passion and perseverance made a huge global impact. Pilger was a principled journalist who brought pride to journalism. He stood up for up ethical journalistic principles in the face of attempts to subvert them. His legacy will serve as an inspiration and beacon to his colleagues, community and his meaningful memory. He was a journalist’s journalist. His work ethic and passion for journalism were second to none. Pilger’s death is a devastating loss to the world of words,…

The implosion of the SABC over the past few decades has had a catastrophic knock-on effect on the creative spirit of the country. Producers, directors, musicians, cameramen, gaffers, actors, scriptwriters, etc, are no longer able to apply their skills in the creation of exciting South African stories. Instead, the corporation spews out absolute drivel day in and day out. The shambles that exists at the SABC is in the open – a pitiful mess that needs to be stopped immediately. Let them begin by clamping Hlaudi Motsoeneng and getting him to pay back his ill-gotten gains, then they can go after all the other delinquents who, at one time or another, attempted to steer the rotten-to-the-core national broadcaster. They currently employ a lot of people, but what are they actually…

One theme overshadowed all others in the spaces people move and the messages they hear during the festive season: the call to be kind, a call for peace. During the season appeals for and stories of compassion permeate much of the background music in shopping malls, humorous and more serious movies, gatherings of faith communities, campaigns of NGOs, and even local and international news channels. The response is real and a credit to people. It reveals and confirms a society and citizens that want to and do care for those in need. Media reports tell of restaurant patrons who leave waiters extraordinary tips, neighbours in local communities that deliver care packages to street kids, anonymous contributions to faith missions and peace initiatives to resolve conflict. The reality is however that…

Tokyo: The Japanese government is stepping up aid for affected areas after the devastating New Year’s Day quakes left at least 82 dead and 80 unaccounted for. Yesterday, Yoshifumi Matsumura, the minister in charge of disaster management, appealed to the public to restrain the use of private vehicles, as traffic congestion has hindered rescue efforts. Many people were still believed to be trapped in the hard-hit coastal city of Wajima, where 48 deaths have been confirmed so far. The quake registered a maximum intensity of 7 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, which would make it impossible for people to stand.…

Yangon: Myanmar’s junta announced an amnesty for more than 9 000 prisoners yesterday, part of an annual release to mark the country’s Independence Day. The traditional event comes as the army, which took power in a military coup in 2021, faces growing resistance from allied groups. A coalition of ethnic armed groups has said it has captured military positions and border hubs vital for trade with China, posing a serious threat to the junta. Independence Day in Myanmar has previously been marked by a parade in the capital Naypyidaw. | AFP…

It is a matter of proportion. Had it been offered a fortnight ago that the Proteas would square the series with world No 1 side India, hands would have been bitten off. But such gorging would not have taken into account the home team managing just 55 in the first innings before succumbing in just one-and-a-half days yesterday – playing a large role in the 2024 Newlands New Year’s Test now being the shortest ever in terms of balls (642) in the history of the game – which allowed India to win their first Test under the watch of Table Mountain. “You ain’t going to win too many Tests scoring 55. We have to own it and we do,” Proteas coach Shukri Conrad said. “This has come as a shock…

The Curry Guy One Pot Dan Toombs Loot (R515) Quadrille DAN has drawn over 150 recipes from a lifetime of global travels, spending over five months on the road researching this book. Collaborating with local chefs and restaurants all over the world, he has developed an extraordinary collection of spicy delights, from Malaysian Devil Curry to Sri Lankan Black Pork Curry, Cape Malay Bobotie to Hungarian Goulash. His popular curry house dishes, including Chicken Tikka Masala, Beef Madras and Chicken Dhansak, no longer need a base sauce to taste just as delicious. Packed with beautiful colour photography and featuring tips and tricks to make the perfect dish every time, Curry Guy One Pot will transport you thousands of kilometres without having to leave your own kitchen!…

Ingredients 1½ cups all-purpose flour ½ cocoa powder 2 cups sugar 1 cup vegetable oil 2 large eggs( room temp) 1 cup buttermilk (room temp) 1 tsp salt 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp white vinegar ½ cup hot coffee Method In a mixing bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda and baking powder, and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar and oil. Add in the buttermilk, eggs and vanilla. Whisk in the vinegar and hot coffee. Once combined, slowly add the dry ingredients and fold in with a spatula, just until combined. The batter will not be smooth (don’t overmix). Bake for 22 to 24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out with…

Hot water Nadine Dirks Loot (R189) Jacana HOT Water is an intimate and daring look into the life of a young African woman from the Cape Flats with a chronic illness. The book investigates how endometriosis affects the way young women function and navigate the world, and how this becomes especially complicated for those who are underprivileged and reliant on the public sector’s health-care system. In Hot Water, Nadine Dirks reveals the issues of racism, sexism, classism, fatphobia and slut-shaming that African women experience within the context of health-care facilities, and how especially jarring it is when the stigma comes from medical staff who one expects to have the patient’s care as their primary concern. All of this has enraged Dirks and catapulted her into becoming a sexual reproductive health…

The Department of Home Affairs has verified that its services are currently not available due to a technical fault on the State Information Technology Agency mainframe. It said this affected access to the National Population Register. “The Department of Home Affairs wishes to regrettably alert citizens that its services are not available at the moment due to a technical problem on the State Information Technology Agency (Sita) mainframe, which affects access to the National Population Register,” it said in a statement. It is believed that the system crashed due to the high volume of data being recorded. South Africans have long been frustrated by the long queues when trying to fix their documents with the department, and foreign nationals are also affected when trying to get their documents legally captured.…

ACTIONSA is outraged that, at a time when public finances are under severe strain, the president, minister of electricity and Eskom (and other organs of state) have elected to apply for leave to appeal against the landmark judgment handed down by the full Bench of the North Gauteng High Court. The December 1 judgment declared load shedding unconstitutional and ordered that electricity supply be ensured for public schools, hospitals and the SAPS. Eskom, the president and the minister want to challenge sections of the ruling which ruled in favour of ActionSA’s request that hospitals, schools and police stations be exempted from experiencing rolling blackouts, and allege that the judgment is too “vague”. Instead of addressing the concerns raised by the court ruling – including that load…

A festive season is meant to be an interlude dedicated to one’s family, so the country was disturbed and taken aback by a video clip of former SANDF senior naval officer Sylvester Mangolele ordering President Cyril Ramaphosa to relinquish power. It is cheering to note that the SANDF has distanced itself from Mangolele’s pathological utterances. Most people believe our constitutional democracy is firmly entrenched and that there is no room for a coup d’état. We have learnt that a coup d’état can be either functional or dysfunctional. For example, former Ghanaian president Kwame Nkrumah was deposed while he was on a state visit to China. I call Nkrumah’s coup a “cowardice coup” because he had to leave the country before the coup took place. In his book Dark Days in…

The security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has deteriorated in recent months, and criticism has been raised against the UN force, Monusco, which was due to start its drawdown shortly after the national elections on December 20. There was also increased frustration with the East African Community Regional Force because of its lack of positive impact on the security situation in the eastern DRC. In addition, there was competition between the East African Community and Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states for future influence in the DRC. The DRC became a member of the East Africa Community in 2022 and has historical trade relations with east Africa. The SADC mission in the DRC, which carries the acronym Samidrc, is expected to replace the East African Community…

Jerusalem: Israel’s Supreme Court has delayed the activation of a controversial law that aims to prevent declaring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unfit for office. In a 6-5 vote, the Supreme Court judges this week ruled that the activation of the “Incapacitation Law” will be delayed until after the next elections. The ruling prevents Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, from benefiting from the law. The next elections are expected in about two more years but could be held earlier. Netanyahu has been working to overhaul the legal system while facing a criminal trial over three separate cases of corruption. | IANS…

MADRID: Spanish police said yesterday they had opened an investigation into the suspected poisoning of nearly 50 street cats that could see the perpetrators serving up to three years’ jail time under a new animal welfare law. The incident occurred in La Carlota village, just outside the southern city of Cordoba, with residents discovering the bodies of at least 10 cats on December 31 at the local dump where the colony was based. They alerted the animal rights party Pacma, which this week filed a complaint with the Guardia Civil police over “the mass poisoning of a 47-strong feline colony”. | AFP…

Ongama Gcwabe highlights plays from the record-breaking New Year’s Test at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town. Guard of honour: As Dean Elgar crossed the boundary ropes for the last time in his career, the Proteas Test squad formed a guard of honour to bid farewell to one of the best Test openers to ever put on a Proteas jersey. Aiden Markram on Elgar: “He’s been fantastic. He took me under his wing from the first day at the Titans, I think that was nine years ago. He’s looked after me ever since. “He’s a tough character, he never shies away from an honest conversation and a guy that you always want in your dressing room. It’s going to be sad to see him go but he’s been a fantastic servant…

The Dakar Rally roars into life today in Saudi Arabia, with Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah seeking a sixth title and third in a row in the mythic motorsport marathon. A 425-strong colourful caravan of cars, bikes, quads and trucks will set out from Al-Ula on a treacherous 7900km odyssey around the Gulf kingdom, with a January 19 finish in Yanbu on the Red Sea. This year’s route includes a first 48-hour stage in the Empty Quarter, a vast sea of sand with dunes as far as the eye can see. Al-Attiyah, 53, is adept at multi-tasking – juggling the sand dunes of Saudi with his other passion, skeet shooting. He took bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, and in September added two medals at the Asian Games to add to the…

ALTHOUGH he acknowledges age is no longer on his side, Itumeleng Khune is not about to entertain the “R” word just yet. Instead, the popular Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper, who has been placed on ice by his club for disciplinary reasons, still dreams of more success. His drive to add more achievements to an illustrious career that would see many readily go into retirement contented, has been fuelled by the continued love and support he enjoys from the football public. For the 11th year running, Khune has received the highest number of votes for the popular Carling Cup competition and will be in goal for the All-Star team that will take on Carling Knockout winners Stellenbosch FC in Polokwane tomorrow. Speaking to the media yesterday on the pitch of the host…

South African social media influencer K Naomi Phakathi is back on YouTube. This is after the content creator took a break to focus on herself, her marriage and family. In a video posted on New Year’s Day, Phakathi revealed to her viewers how her gender reveal shoot went down, and announced that she’s having another girl. In the video, the media personality couldn’t contain her excitement as she told viewers she already had a name for her unborn child. “One more blessing to wrap up the year. Our hearts are filled with joy, we are having a baby girl! My husband knows how to keep secrets; well, this one, he kept very well for long. I insisted on not knowing the gender of our baby until this day and this…

THE festive season has left some consumers with a dent in their pockets, and experts have urged consumers to tighten their belts to avoid January blues. Neil Roets, CEO of Debt Rescue, said consumers should prioritise and review their spending in January. “This will help to prevent a situation of ‘Januworry’ with all its financial challenges. First, set up a budget and look for opportunities for living expenses to be revised. This can include forgotten debit orders for services no longer used or needed.” He said consumers need to review habits that might have gone unnoticed, such as eating out. “Next, tackle debts to avoid extra interest charges and costs. Planning your finances is of utmost importance, now more than ever, with the financial difficulties consumers are facing due…

THE KWAZULU-NATAL parents association has warned that some of the changes proposed in the Basic Education Law Amendment (Bela) Bill would be impossible to implement and could be detrimental to pupils’ welfare. The bill is currently out for public comment, a process expected to be completed in the coming weeks. It has proposed a raft of measures dedicated to ensure children’s right to education is protected. Changes include that Grade R will be made compulsory and it also amends the penalty provision in the case where the parent of a pupil, or any other person, without just cause, prevents a pupil who is subject to compulsory attendance from attending school. It also provides that the governing body of a public school must submit the admission and language policies of the…

All You Need Is Rhythm and Grit Cory Wharton-Malcolm (R600) Jonathan Ball THINK running isn’t for you? Cory Wharton- Malcolm challenges this idea head-on with this joyful love letter to running and a motivational guide for every- one. Advocating running as an inclusive and community-focused activity, Cory shows us how to celebrate the incredible mind-body connection by getting your trainers on and starting your running journey from the couch to the end of the road and beyond. Sharing stories of his own mental and physical health challenges and the way running, both alone and with track buddies, lifted him up, All You Need is Rhythm and Grit includes advice on gear, running routes, pacing, good beats and the will to start ... and keep going.…

Anna O Matthew Blake Loot (R581) Harper A young woman has either sleepwalked into a nightmare or coldbloodedly awake – stands in a cabin clasping a bloody knife over the corpses of her two roommates. Seconds later, her parents receive an incriminating text from her phone that reads: “I’m sorry. I think I’ve killed them.” The London-based writer named Anna Ogilvy, then lapses into a deep post-traumatic sleep – a sleep that, when Anna O opens, has gone on for more than four years! According to Dr Benedict Prince, a forensic psychologist who specialises in cases where people commit crimes while asleep, Anna’s epic snooze is a classic example of “resignation syndrome”, a withdrawal from an unbearable reality. Dr Prince has been called in by the Ministry of Justice to…

A WOMAN who claimed to be the wife of a man who died four years ago turned to the court to obtain an order that she is his lawful widow, together with his second wife, and that she is thus entitled to inherit half of his estate. The applicant, only identified as MZ, turned to the Durban High Court for an order declaring that she and the deceased had entered into valid customary marriage. She said the marriage subsisted until the man’s death. The second wife opposed the application and said that she and the man were married under civil law and that she was thus the only lawful widow. She is, however, embroiled in separate legal proceedings in a bid to claim maintenance from his estate. The…

With many learners around the country concerned about their upcoming matric results, Siyavuya Makubalo, marketing manager at Oxbridge Academy, wants them to know that regardless of the outcome, they still have options. Makubalo says not everyone who writes the exams will pass or achieve the results they hoped for, and shares recommendations that one can take. “If you are one of those learners who did not pass matric or did not get the exemption you needed, you may feel disappointed, discouraged, and hopeless about your future. You may think that you have no options left and that your dreams are shattered. But this is not true,” says Makubalo. “There is life after matric, and there are many ways to continue your education and improve your prospects, even if you didn’t…

DENIAL and shock were part of the mixed emotions that single mother Sethembile Manatha, from Sydenham, felt when her son, Thobelani Siphesihle Manatha, 12, was diagnosed with optic nerve hypoplasia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at the age of four months. She said it was hard for her to accept that her son would never see clearly, but the more she attended hospital appointments, the better she understood his condition and accepted the situation. “Since the day of his diagnosis, my family stepped in and were eager to learn more about his condition and assist me in all ways possible. Another thing that keeps me going is God. I come from a family of Christians and we put God first, before everything.” Manatha joined Tape Aids for the Blind…

ISRAEL was attacked by Hamas on October 7. Israel, a sovereign state and the only democracy in the Middle East, retaliated by bombing Gaza, and the war continues. What hypocrisy that the ANC points fingers at Israel! South Africa, once a wealthy and very prosperous country, has been brought to its knees in 30 years under the ANC government. It is a failed state. It is almost bankrupt as a result of government corruption. Homelessness and starvation have reached record highs. Half the population is unemployed, hopeless and hungry. Schools struggle with incompetent teachers and a lack of equipment. State hospitals are a disgrace – with shortages of doctors, nurses, equipment, and not even bed linen for the patients. Call this a civilised society? It is a banana republic. Nelson…

ONE of South Africa’s most hated criminals, Oscar Pistorius, walks out of Atteridgeville Correctional Centre a free man today. The disgraced paralympic champion served about 10 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013. The world watched as Pistorius, now 37, was first convicted of culpable homicide in a high-profile televised trial in 2014, before his conviction was appealed and changed to murder in 2016. In the court of public opinion, however, Pistorius did not gain any sympathisers. To this day, South Africans remain unconvinced by his version of events, still questioning why he would open fire at his bathroom door with deadly hollow-point bullets – without asking who was on the other side first – even if he did suspect there was…

Iran said blasts that killed almost 100 people in a central province were aimed at punishing its stance against Israel’s invasion of Gaza but stopped short of directly assigning blame for an attack that stoked concerns of a broader conflict. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the twin explosions in the Iranian province of Kerman on Wednesday, which targeted a crowd marking the anniversary of the death of Qassem Soleimani. He was one of Iran’s most powerful generals killed by the US in a 2020 drone strike. Tehran said at least 84 people were dead and 220 others wounded. Only hours after the blasts – the Islamic Republic’s deadliest since its founding in 1979 – more than a dozen countries led by the US increased their pressure on Tehran. They…

San Francisco: The US National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) has filed a complaint against SpaceX, saying it illegally fired eight employees for criticising its CEO Elon Musk. The labour agency also alleged that SpaceX “interrogated, surveilled and threatened” workers. The NLRB will now seek to reach a settlement with SpaceX and if it fails, the aerospace company will face a court hearing in March. The labour agency claimed SpaceX “created an impression of surveillance” by reading and showing screenshots of messages between employees. | IANS…

Moroka Swallows have been charged by the PSL for their failure to honour two DStv Premiership matches in December. The Dube Birds, who are said to be in dire financial straights, were set to take part in matches against Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows before the turn of the year. However, the Dobsonville-based club were unable to pitch up for those fixtures as players refused to train or avail themselves without receiving remuneration. The club issued a statement on December 27 – the day they were supposed to play Sundowns – revealing their inability to fulfil their duties on the day. “Due to an unresolved dispute between players and management, that has resulted in management having to request cancellation of the two remaining games of this year from the PSL,…

Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Mandla Masango has great hopes in the huge Mamelodi Sundowns contingent instilling a winning mentality in the side ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. The continental spectacle will kick off on January 13 in the Ivory Coast and run until February 11. Bafana will play their first match on the January 16 against Mali. National team head coach Hugo Broos has selected 10 Sundowns players in his 23-man squad. Bafana captain Ronwen Williams is expected to be the first name on the team sheet. Sundowns club mates Grant Kekana, Thapelo Maseko, Aubrey Modiba, Mothobi Mvala, Khuliso Mudau, Themba Zwane, Teboho Mokoena, Terrence Mashego and Thapelo Morena are also expected to play a huge role. The Brazilians captured the inaugural African Football League (AFL) title in…

TOTTENHAM Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou said Son Heung-min’s departure for the Asian Cup is a “big loss” as he urged his side to make up for the South Korean’s untimely absence. Postecoglou’s team host Burnley in the FA Cup third round today in the first of up to six matches without Son. The Tottenham skipper has scored 12 times in all competitions this season, helping his club to climb to fifth place in the Premier League. Postecoglou believes they will miss the forward’s influence off the pitch as well as his goals, with vice-captains Cristian Romero and James Maddison both injured. “Sonny, if you name a team of the year at the moment, he’s in it,” Postecoglou said. “He’s been a hell of a player for us. It’s a big…