63 Articles

There’s no doubt that technology companies are value creators in society. On this basis, some seem to believe that they should be exempted from laws that govern society. In South Africa, there are two key developments that have brought this matter to the fore. One was the claim by some that Elon Musk’s Starlink had been blocked in South Africa for refusing to abide by empowerment policies of the country such as BBB-EE. According to the claimants, Musk and Starlink were refusing to adhere to an expectation for the company to enable 30% local shareholding of a company that would be Starlink (South Africa) to make the service available in South Africa. The claim in the media creates an impression that the only way to adhere to empowerment expectations is…

3 min.

Will we ever have enough smartphone storage?

Every day we capture more pictures, more videos, and more “content”, as social media influencers like to call it. Over the years, smartphone storage has had to increase in capacity to cater for more information captured by a device, more data being transferred, and more temporary memory to cater for high-resource-consuming software which runs on ever-evolving smartphones. The trend in the increase of smartphone storage is also likely attributed to the increased file size of pictures and videos captured on the device thanks to larger megapixel cameras capable of producing files, gigabytes in size, in a few minutes capturing 4K videos. Another demand is through apps that save files for off-line use, like films and movies downloaded on Netflix and music streaming apps. In a South African context, while mobile…

1 min.

Dreaming sky high, Nigerian man builds airplane from trash

Bolaji Fatai has never set foot in an airplane, but that hasn't stopped him from building his own remote-controlled model aircraft from trash and sending it soaring over the sprawl and chaos of Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital. On a recent cloudy day, the single-propeller plane withstood cross-winds high above a sandy football field and swooped low over the heads of onlookers in Oworonshoki, the poor neighbourhood where Fatai lives in the east of the city. He bought the propeller and remote control in a shop, but constructed the body, wings, tail and fin from pieces of recycled styrofoam gathered in dump sites and held together with sticky tape. The wingspan is about one metre. "I started this when I was seven. I started picking things around, making some little projects,"…

2 min.

Four books all entrepreneurs should take the time to read

Not everyone gravitates towards reading, especially in an increasingly digitised world. However, as some of the world’s most-renowned individuals can attest, reading can become one of your biggest assets as a businessperson. If you’re on the journey to discovering how to become a successful entrepreneur, consider this phrase: “Those who read, lead, and those who learn, earn.” With that thought, let’s dive into four of the most highly recommended books for entrepreneurs: 1. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek In 2014, motivational speaker and author, Sinek delivered a TED Talk that earned him the title of, “TED Talk Whisperer”. In the talk, Sinek introduced the concept of the “golden circle” – a model that prompts business leaders to tap into the power…

4 min.

Godongwana confident SA can avoid a recession this year

FINANCE Minister Enoch Godongwana has pinned his hopes on the demand for commodity exports that might arise from China, possible growth in household consumption and a potential for an increase in investment to avoid an economic recession this year. This comes as Godongwana, while attending the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings in Washington DC last week, ruled out the possibility of a recession this year. “I rule out that possibility this year. We’re not going to record successive negative quarters. I don’t think that’s going to be possible,” Godongwana told Reuters. Godongwana’s laundry list of scenarios that can avert the looming catastrophe on South Africa’s economy, however, sounds like wishful thinking, considering that various forecasts see near zero growth this year. To make things worse, South Africa’s economy is…

4 min.

World Data Forum gaining momentum

The road is winding to Hangzhou in China, and those of us who started the movement, can only bask in the sun and watch its growth. Inaugurated in South Africa in January 2017 was the maiden World Data Forum, which drew a road map named after the city in which it was birthed, the Cape Town Global Action Plan (CT-GAP) for sustainable development data. To date, there have been two more rounds after Covid-19 disrupted operations. The World Data Forum was held in Dubai and then in Malaysia. During Covid, a small World Data Forum was held in Switzerland. From tomorrow until Thursday, China will be hosting the Fourth Session of the World Data Forum, which is in-person. Hangzhou will be abuzz with statisticians and data scientists, some of whom,…

4 min.

Foods that will help you survive the cold and flu season

Now that the cold and flu season is here, it is important to find ways that will help you survive it. Incorporating these foods into your daily meal plan will play an integral role in keeping you healthy, all season. Eggs When you are under the weather, your stomach probably will not be up to the task of digesting a burger or meal. Yet you need protein to maintain your strength, whether you are sick or perfectly healthy. Fulfilling your protein portion is made easier with eggs, which are easier to digest and cook. Citrus Everyone knows to reach for oranges (and orange juice) when you feel a cold coming on. However, citrus fruits like grapefruit or lemon and lime squeezed into tea will increase your vitamin C intake and…

3 min.

Budget-friendly hacks to lower your energy consumption

It is safe to predict that load shedding will continue as winter approaches - that’s just an inconvenient truth at this point. A solar energy system or, at the very least, an inverter looks like the best option for those who can afford it to keep the lights on. However, using normal appliances can exhaust the electricity in less time than it takes to make toast, even if your roof is covered with solar panels that are stacked end to end. A toaster, a hair dryer and a tumble dryer are just a few examples of appliances that some solar systems can't even provide enough power to run. So what should you do to play your part? Regardless of whether they have a back-up power system, Trevor Brewer, the director…

2 min.

Bongiwe Shange crowned KZN’s tavern chef champion

Bongiwe Zama Shange from Leon’s Tavern in Inanda has been crowned the KwaZulu-Natal provincial Mzansi Tavern Chef champion. Shange served up a lovingly prepared dish of mutton curry with steamed bread and salsa salad that saw her walking away with a prize to the value of R30 000 towards food serving in her outlet and the right to compete in the national grand final for the chance to win the ultimate prize of a tavern makeover to the value of R100 000. The KZN provincial Mzansi Tavern Chef cook-off took place on Tuesday at Chefs Training and Innovation Academy in Durban, where 15 tavern chefs battled it out to become the ultimate winners. Shange learnt to cook as a schoolgirl, helping her grandmother to feed their family of 17 when…

2 min.

What’s cooking? Content creator Corey B on social media food trends of 2023

Food and beverage brands, restaurants and grocery stores should stay in tune with what’s happening, or risk missing out on valuable opportunities. Or worse, jumping on the latest object and realising afterwards that it didn’t bring the desired results. IOL Lifestyle spoke to Corey Bonalewicz, known as Corey B online, to find out ‘what’s cooking’ in the scene right now when it comes to food. Bonalewicz is an entrepreneur, social media influencer and content creator who has accumulated 1.8 million followers on Instagram, over 10 million on TikTok, and a YouTube Silver Play Button. His passion for entertaining and creating content helped him remain persistent. Bonalewicz worked as a radio jockey before starting content creation full-time. His initial content was mostly comedy skits about relationship issues starring his fiancée, but…

1 min.

True crime documentary to unpack Flabba’s death

Streaming platform Showmax has released the teaser for Imibuzo, a true crime documentary anthology that interrogates the lingering questions around some of South Africa’s biggest news stories from the past decade. The first episode, which airs on May 8, will revisit the 2015 murder of Nkululeko Habedi, better known as Flabba, who was best known as part of the multi-award-winning hip-hop group, Skwatta Kamp. Flabba was stabbed to death in his Alexandra home by his girlfriend, Sindisiwe Manqele. She was released on parole last year after serving eight years in prison. The documentary will see family, friends, Skwatta Kamp members, journalists, investigators and legal experts give their first-hand accounts of what happened. New episodes will drop every Monday until July 10. Following the premiere, subsequent episodes will reinvestigate highly publicised…

3 min.

On ‘Succession’, weddings never go off without a hitch

The IDEAL wedding is a joyous, tender celebration of love. But nothing ever unfolds the ideal way on Succession, does it? On the hit HBO series, a satirical drama exploring the power dynamics of a fictional media empire, weddings have come to serve as a backdrop for familial backstabbing or great tragedy. Sometimes, they host a combination of the two. A recent episode shocked viewers with the death of Logan Roy (Brian Cox), the media mogul and cruel patriarch whose children – Connor (Alan Ruck), Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Roman (Kieran Culkin) and Siobhan, aka Shiv (Sarah Snook) – learn that Logan has collapsed in a plane while they’re on a yacht for Connor’s wedding. The latter three Roys find out first and sputter through their final words to Logan, delivered…

5 min.

How artificial intelligence is set to impact the music industry

This isn’t the first time the music industry has been faced with a potentially existential threat in the Digital Age. Back in 1999, during the height of a period of astronomical growth in the industry, Shawn Fanning and his team of hackers turned the industry upside down when they launched Napster, a file-sharing computer service that allowed users to download and share music without compensating the holders of music rights. Despite the establishment eventually forcing Napster to shut down after two years of legal action, a string of other online-piracy services emerged soon after. And as soon as one service was taken down, other new services sprung up like stubborn weeds. While the industry would eventually bounce back after a decade of rampant piracy that saw music sales plummet, the…

2 min.

Bridezilla demands bridesmaids chop off their hair for her special day

Imagine having to do whatever the bride says, no thank you! One particular bride felt it was okay for her to request her bridesmaid’s hair be shorter than hers. In other words, she asked them to cut their hair as this is the only way they could make it into the cool squad. The bride’s demand would require her (along with the other bridesmaids) to chop off more than “two feet” of their precious locks – all for the sake of achieving the so-called “perfect” wedding day, as per her sibling’s insistence. The sister took to the popular Reddit page and wrote: “She asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding party and I accepted. Then she started listing her requirements, some understandable (like wearing longer sleeves to cover…

4 min.

Will you be my v-AI-lentine? Why human-machine relationships could go mainstream... very soon

There was once a stigma attached to online dating: Less than a decade ago, many couples who had met online would make up stories about how they met rather than admit they had done so via an app. Not so anymore. Online dating is so mainstream you’re an outlier if you haven’t met your partner on Tinder, Grindr or Hinge. With rapid advances in AI technology over the past few years, these norms may well evolve to include sex, love and friendships with AI-equipped machines. In our research, we look at how people use technology to form and maintain relationships. But we also look at how people bond with machines – AI-equipped systems like Replika that essentially operate as advanced chatbots, along with physical robots like RealDollx or Sex Doll…

7 min.

Has ‘Yellowjackets’ bitten off more than it can chew?

(WARNING: Contains spoilers for Yellowjackets.) Well, it finally happened. Someone on Yellowjackets got eaten. That was the prevailing sentiment when Edible Complex, the second episode of the show’s sophomore season, aired recently. This is weird since, strictly speaking, it has happened before. Isn’t cannibalism, after all, the first thing we saw on the show? Technically, yes. The grungy, hilarious, horrifying, nostalgic drama about a girls’ soccer team trying to survive in the wilderness after their plane crashes in 1996 – and dealing with the consequences years later – made a splash by showing us a person get eaten. The 2021 pilot’s opening scene, drenched in cultish signifiers of feminine innocence going to slaughter, follows a barefoot and bleeding girl in a white nightie running through the snow. The trees she…

3 min.

Silly vampire comedy has its moments, most of them bloody

THE end of the studio rom-com era has taken many tolls, not least on the career of Nicholas Hoult, who with the right movies could have been his generation’s Hugh Grant – a baton-passing anticipated in Hoult’s breakout turn alongside the older actor 20-plus years ago in About a Boy. As a grown-up, Hoult has proved his comic chops in the scathingly ahistoric Hulu series The Great. In Renfield, he demonstrates the same gifts – and pours on the charisma – in a goofy, disposable genre exercise that’s heavier on the bloodletting than the heart-throbbing. As the title character, Hoult plays a World War I-era lawyer who has travelled to Transylvania to seek his fortune in real estate; while there, he crosses paths with a wealthy recluse named Count Dracula…

2 min.

Editor’s choice

Spinning Gold (Cinemas nationwide) A biographical drama film written and directed by Timothy Scott Bogart. It is based on the life of his father, Casablanca Records founder Neil Bogart, who was credited with discovering many iconic musical acts such as Donna Summer, KISS, and Village People; and signing and pushing acts including Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Isley Brothers and Parliament to greater heights. Nemesis by Wilbur Smith with Tom Harper (R215 on loot.co.za) Paris, 1794. Revolutionary fervour has erupted into the Reign of Terror. A young man, Paul Courtney, hides in a crowd watching as condemned dignitaries have their sentences carried out. Among them is the Comtesse de Bercheny, Constance Courtney, Paul's mother. As he watches her brutal execution, he knows he must avoid the same fate and…

6 min.

China’s growing role in world politics as it brokers for peace

Finally, there is welcome relief in the eight-year-old war in Yemeni that has claimed about 350 000 people. The war between the government and the Houthi rebels – reportedly backed by Iran – has been the singular source of destabilisation in the region. The Yemeni authorities are supported by the regional powerhouse, Saudi Arabia. Geopolitical experts have opined that the war that broke out in 2014, and claimed a whopping 85 000 innocent lives of children under the age of five, has been a proxy war between perennial enemies, Saudi Arabia and Iran. The deaths of the majority of the Yemeni children were as a result of starvation and malnutrition. It’s a miracle that a country known as Yemen still stands after a decade and a half of a non-stop…

2 min.

Eskom needs to answer for hard hitting increases

SO ESKOM has once more increased its tariffs ... In light of the decision by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa), which would allow Eskom to raise the price of energy by as much as 20%, one has to ask where this world is heading. This is a significant increase over the rate of inflation. When the case is brought before the North Gauteng High Court, all we can do is hope that the level-headed judge there will do the right thing and provide justice. The South African Local Government Association (Salga), which is the representative body of the country’s 257 metropolitan, district, and local municipalities, is of the opinion that the increases in tariffs are unconstitutional, unsustainable, and unaffordable, and that the North Gauteng High Court should…

2 min.

Law firm ENSafrica accused of defeating the ends of justice

LAW firm ENSafrica has been accused of defeating the ends of justice following its disagreement to have the case of contempt of court against it heard. This after the North Gauteng High Court struck the matter from the roll, saying it should be heard in the normal course of proceedings. But ENSafrica does not want the court to set a date for the hearing. The matter was brought to the court by Transasia Minerals after ENSafrica’s Senzo Mbatha – who represents Umsobomvu against Transasia on behalf of ENSafrica – allegedly ordered the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) to attend a court hearing and bring confidential documents of Transasia and its directors at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on April 20. The information included books, papers, records and documents,…

2 min.

Nzimande’s bitter battle

THE power struggle between Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande and his deputy, Buti Manamela, has become a mini-war and divided the staff. Explosive email messages between Nzimande and Manamela seen by the Sunday Independent reveal a serious spat between the two SACP leaders. The Sunday Independent also listened to a recording of an urgent meeting Nzimande had with the communication team from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), held in Pretoria on March 27, where he castigated the team for constantly giving more coverage to Manamela than him, as “the executive authority of this department”. The minister reminded the team that they are “serving one principal”, himself, and nobody else. Nzimande forced the team, in the recording, to apologise to him in person for failing…

1 min.

Municipalities confront Eskom’s ‘unaffordable’ electricity price

Fed-up municipalities across the country are fighting the National Energy Regulator of SA’s (Nersa’s) decision to allow Eskom to increase electricity prices by up to 20%. The SA Local Government Association (Salga), the representative body of the country’s 257 metropolitan, district and local municipalities, believes the tariff increases are unconstitutional, unsustainable and unaffordable and that Nersa’s approval of the tariff hikes should be reviewed and set aside by the North Gauteng High Court. In January, Nersa approved Eskom’s application to increases electricity prices by 18.65% in 2023/24 and 12.74% in 2024/25. The power utility had applied for a tariff increase of 32% in 2023/24 and 9% in 2024/25. Salga then consulted municipalities and made written submissions to Nersa rejecting the proposed increases. Among the reasons cited by the association for…

2 min.

Bester escape highlights Lamola’s failure

THE Justice and Correctional Services Ministry’s failure to act quickly on recommendations such as granting paroles and on sensitive information such as Thabo Bester’s escape has been attributed to Minister Ronald Lamola’s alleged lack of innovation. These were the assessments of legal expert Mpumelelo Zikalala and prison rights activist Golden Miles Bhudu following revelations that Lamola had failed to act speedily after Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (Jics) head Judge Edwin Cameron had informed him about the escape of killer and serial rapist Bester. Lamola’s spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, defended the minister, saying he was taking his work seriously. “Even during the parliamentary meeting, Justice Cameron on several occasions said at the time he informed the minister he was not certain about the occurrence of this incident (Bester’s escape),” said Phiri.…

4 min.

Corruption and accountability revive issue of electoral reform

RAMPANT corruption and a lack of accountability in government have revived the issue of electoral reform, which allows citizens to elect MPs. This follows calls for the government to implement the Van Zyl Slabbert Commission’s majority recommendation that 75% of MPs should be elected by the citizens. This was after ANC and MK veteran Omry Makgoale drafted a discussion paper for mobilising ANC members to adopt the commission’s recommendations. The draft was adopted by the 70s group of the Black Consciousness Movement. The paper stated that there was a need for the Electoral Act to be reformed so that the majority of MPs were directly elected and removed by the citizens. They added that even the president, premiers and mayors should be elected by the citizens. It is believed that…

3 min.

Nzimande and his deputy Manamela in bitter battle

From page 1 In one email, dated March 29, 2023, the minister reminded his deputy that he told him that “all activities in your office will be routed to me via submissions for prior approval, particularly events and other outreach activities”. “All requests to our entities to support any of your work must be communicated on time via my office and for my approval,” the minister wrote. Responding to Nzimande’s email, on April 14, 2023, Manamela told the minister that President Ramaphosa had appointed him, and “there have been several unfortunate developments which I believe hamper my work as deputy minister”. Manamela, in his email, said that he noted that Nzimande felt that “I should not have had meetings with the CEO and chairperson of the NSFAS (National Student Financial…

2 min.

ENSafrica, Transasia lock horns

From Page 1 “On the plain facts before me, I have noted that Mr Mbatha and Mr Hector Kunene (Umsobomvu owner) were mindful that the application for leave to appeal of Judge Millar’s order was instituted in the SCA and the outcome thereof had not been pronounced at the time the subpoena was issued. “As alluded to above, there is no evidence on the papers that gainsayers that the core documents sought in both proceedings pertained to the Section 11 mining rights application that was presented to the DMRE for adjudication and most certainly included documents that illustrated Umsobomvu’s attitude to the approval of the mining rights in favour of the applicants,” said Judge Kooverjie. She said even though the ambit of the documents requested in the subpoena may have…

3 min.

Jooste ducks trial on Steinhoff fraud

Former Steinhoff chief executive Markus Jooste is in hot water with German authorities following his no-show appearance at a fraud trial. Jooste failed to appear in the Olden- burg regional court on Tuesday for his trial after his lawyer told presiding Judge Christian Weigmann that this was due to missing travel documents allegedly held by South African authorities. Jooste’s lawyer claimed that his client was unable to appear because of his fears of being arrested if he tried to leave South Africa. The relevant authorities later denied Jooste’s lawyer’s words, and the prosecutor rejected the explanation. Public prosecutor Frank Lohmann said that the accused had enough time to locate his missing documents for the April 17 trial date, which was announced in January. In response to the ex-CEO’s absence, the…

1 min.

‘I leaked info after inaction’

From Page 1 Judge Cameron said on the morning before he appeared before the portfolio committee, Lamola had joked with him about the escape, saying he thought “that I had smoked something”. As a result, Judge Cameron said he opted to leak information about the escape to the media after Lamola and the department had failed to give this information due attention. Lamola apologised and took responsibility, but said he would not resign. Phiri said the minister apologised “because he fully understands the severity of this incident”. When asked if Lamola was considering doing things differently in terms of being seen as taking his job seriously, Phiri said: “Yes, the report of the department details comprehensive reforms.” Mpumelelo Zikalala, who is the head of Durban-based Zikalala Attorneys, said Lamola’s underperformance…

1 min.

Fighting Eskom’s price increase

From Page 1 Salga continued: “Given the astronomical increase in the price of electricity in recent years, electricity has become expensive and unaffordable for many, with the resultant loss of revenue for municipalities." ”Ultimately, the loss of revenue stifles municipalities’ ability to fulfil their constitutional obligations,” Salga cautioned, adding that price levels should assume an efficient and prudent utility and should be based on the least cost options and exclude inefficiencies in terms of the Electricity Pricing Policy. Salga also indicated that Nersa should have assessed Eskom’s operational and financial efficiency. “We are also of the view that when taking the decision, Nersa failed to take into account or apply its mind to fundamental issues impacting Eskom’s efficiency and prudence as required by the Electricity Regulation Act,” the association stated.…

2 min.

Thriving in a white male-dominated industry

South Africa’s energy sector still has too few women participants, despite several opportunities offered to them. If there’s someone in this sector who’s pushed through to reach her entrepreneurial goals, it’s Nonkululeko Mabena. Efforts to try to open the doors in bringing in a good representation of women have been made. However, as it is in other industries, women hesitate. They want to make sure that they have the necessary experience before they apply or start something of their own. So, even with entry-level positions, there are more men applying than women. With an arm-long experience in the energy and petroleum space, Mabena braved herself to start her business, Prudent Energy Solutions, in one of the most competitive industries, let alone male-dominated, and it can be very tricky to get…

2 min.

Pupils learn about BRICS

As part of the “What is ‘BRICS’ Education Tour”, Mayibuye Mandela, the great grandson of late Nelson Mandela, - a political and activist - alongside Gina Brown, whose has extensive worldly experience and knowledge, in the field of international relations and economic development, returned to Mandela’s former high school for their first class as part of African Innovation Solutions Academy “What is BRICS?” education and integration project. Langa High School principal dispatched the pair to a Grade 10 EMS classroom where they spoke to the class about the importance of BRICS and what it means. The presentation by Brown began with an explanation of economic trading blocs and international financial systems, as well as a historical context for the emergence of the BRICS. One pupil inquired…

3 min.

16 on Lerotholi promotes African art in Langa

Contemporary African art took off in the 1970s. During this time, many colonised African nations began to reclaim their independence, rekindling a sense of patriotism and freedom of expression in the visual arts. African art has been greatly influenced by its unique expression style, which includes traditional forms like sculpture, dance and modern trends such as painting and photography. Mpilo Ngcukana, Shaun Williams, Thulani Fesi, and Khanyo Ngcukana founded 16 on Lerotholi, an art gallery, with the goal of redefining the African dream and showcasing the creativity of the African continent to a global audience. They wanted to empower African artists by giving them a platform for artistic development and commercialization. The gallery was founded in 2019 in the township of Langa in Cape Town, with a vision to foster…

3 min.

Kasi Skateboard School keeps youth safe

Lack of recreational facilities is considered a contributing factor to substance abuse, teenage pregnancy and crime amongst youth. The 2020 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) showed that sports and other recreational programmes are vital for development and crime prevention. Last year, a community in the Eastern Cape blamed the shortage of sports and fitness centres, community halls, parks, libraries, cultural centres and other facilities for the Enyobeni tavern tragedy, where 21 teenagers died under mysterious circumstances. Twenty-five-year-old Goitsemodimo Melato from Sebokeng township in Emfuleni Local Municipality, one of Gauteng's poorest municipalities, started a skateboarding school to keep young people off the streets. Melato started skateboarding when he was 11-years-old. With his three friends, Kabelo Tladi, Sello Motaung, and Tumelo Motlou, Melato established the Kasi…

3 min.

Kelly Khumalo’s latest album is set to cause a stir

After months of anticipation, multi-award winning singer Kelly Khumalo’s latest album, From a God to a King, is out following her buoyant The Voice of Africa offering, which featured the hit single Empini. This new album is dubbed her best work to date and features Mondli Ngcobo on production again and on the hit song Mina Nawe – a love song, something Kelly has become known for. The seven-song album also features the likes of Mbuso Khoza on Isivikelo and Sbu Soule on Ngisize, as well as Zakwe and Mthunzi on the lead single, Bazokhuluma. The album houses a summation of her journey. Khumalo wrote Uyathandwa and it happens to be one of the most beautiful songs on the album. Speaking about the album, the songwriter and performer said she…

1 min.

Wazi Kunene’s comedy accolade

A week after being crowned the 2023 Savanna Comics’ Choice Comedy Award Newcomer, Wazi M Kunene is still in awe of her new title. The awards were held at The Galleria in Sandton on April 15, with comedians, celebrities, influencers and comedy-loving fans going all out to dress for the “Birthday Black Tie” theme. Kunene said she was confident from day one that she would walk away with the award this year because she had worked extra hard to achieve this goal. Kunene explained that it was a case of either “go big or go home”, and she chose the former. No wonder then she deems winning the award one of her proudest career moments. The Pietermaritzburg-born comedienne said winning the award validated that she was on the right track…

4 min.

Government interference messed up Eskom – Koko

Due to load shedding stages not corresponding with the hours of having no electricity, there are suspicions that the government is hiding behind Stage 6 when in truth the country is currently in Stage 8. According to Eskom, Stage 6 means not having electricity for six hours, However, South Africans claim to be experiencing load shedding for more than six hours a day. If the government is lying about being in Stage 8, what else is it lying about? Black First Land First (BLF) president Andile Mngxitama said the government is misleading the nation to defend its patently incompetent minister. He claimed that the first lie presented by the administration was that Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa would address the electricity crisis. “(President Cyril) Ramaphosa has no clue what must be…

3 min.

KZN family shooting shocks residents

THE mass killing of 10 family members in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, at midnight on Thursday has been linked to a cleansing ritual involving a foreign national traditional healer. It’s also believed that gunmen took advantage of darkness caused by Eskom’s rolling load shedding. Among family members who were killed were heavily pregnant Nana Memela and her disabled sister, Fikile. According to Police Minister Bheki Cele, police had established that the killers had been assigned by a traditional healer from eSwatini to do the killing as part of a cleansing ritual. Cele told the media that the suspected gunman that police later killed in a gunfire exchange “was a highly wanted person”. “As police approached that particular area (where suspects were located) they encountered the exchange of fire, and indeed those people…

1 min.

CRL Rights Commission to host a National Customar

As winter approaches, many young men are looking forward to going to the mountains for their initiation into manhood. However, several before them have lost their lives pursiuing this rite of passage. Most of these deaths occur in the Eastern Cape. According to reports, 700 initiates have died in the past decade. This includes the 34 fatalities that were reported in the province last year. In addition, more than 119 were admitted to the hospital due to complications. While the custom has been practised for decades, thousands of young boys have lost their lives in their pursuit to become “men”. Many went willingly, and others were pressurised by their peers in fear of being called “boys”. Five years ago, the National Assembly approved The Customary Initiation Bill, which regulates initiation…

3 min.

Mofokeng follows the trail of his revered forebear

SEASONED journalist and author Lesley Mofokeng’s new book, The Man Who Shook Mountains: In the Footsteps of My Ancestors, is another timely reminder of the almost forgotten self-sustenance and reliance many communities achieved in the decades before the end of apartheid. And more importantly in this case, one of the larger-than-life characters and community builders who helped cushion some of those seeking salvation and refuge from the effects of apartheid and rabid white South African racism following forced removals after the declaration of their land as “black spots” by the hated regime and their dumping in the reserves. Mofokeng’s memoir is a detailed account of his paternal grandfather’s life of service to the community of Gelukspan in the Ditsobotla Local Municipality (Lichtenburg) in the North West. Mongangane Wilfred Mofokeng, was…

2 min.

World Book Day highlights gap in children's reading skills

April 23 is internationally observed as a day to celebrate the gift of literacy and the world of reading. Children who read grow up to be inventors, innovators, trailblazers, leaders, and mentors. Books are inextricably linked to mankind. People rely on them for spiritual, academic, or recreational reasons. The majority of South African primary schools are chronically under-resourced in terms of books, which exacerbates our youth’s reading crisis. Cultural factors have also contributed to our reading disaster. Most parents do not read to their children frequently because they are illiterate. Libraries and book retailers have few inexpensive African language children’s books, and the majority of books sold are in English, one of the country’s minority languages. The 2030 Reading Panel’s 2023 reading behaviour study, produced by education economist Nic Spaull…

2 min.

A day on which to celebrate the joy of reading, writing books

TODAY is World Book and Copyright Day. South Africa joins more than 100 countries in observing the day on which prominent authors William Shakespeare, Miguel Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. On this day, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation’s General Conference in Paris in 1995 chose to pay a worldwide tribute to books and authors. They promoted universal access to books as a wonderful innovation for sharing ideas beyond the boundaries of humanity, space, and time, as well as one of the most potent engines for poverty eradication and peacebuilding. This is the time to celebrate the work of our own authors, as well as acknowledging the need to cultivate a love for books and reading. The marking of this day is important considering…

5 min.

South Africans face long winter

SOUTH AFRICA needs to prepare for a very cold winter ahead. Last week, Koeberg’s Unit 2, the last functional unit at the only nuclear power facility in the country, tripped. By all accounts, this sent the nation into the unrelenting stage 8 of load shedding. In fact, many sources have certified that we are indeed in the midst of stage 8 load shedding, and that Eskom and Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa have intentionally kept it under wraps. In the recent years, South Africa has been riddled with more pervasive power outages than ever before. These rolling blackouts have not only been aggravated by our exceptionally aged power stations, but by our government’s constant negation of renewable power sources. Eskom, our national power supplier and our largest state-owned enterprise, controls numerous…

3 min.

2024 elections Too early to celebrate amendments to the electoral law

On MONDAY, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law the Electoral Laws Amendment Bill (B1-2022) to become Act 1 of 2023. The law will allow independent candidates to participate in the national and provincial elections for the first time. The signing marked the culmination of a long process that began in 2020. On June 11, 2020, having listened to both sides of the argument, the Constitutional Court declared the Electoral Act (No. 73 of 1998) unconstitutional to the extent that “it requires that adult citizens may be elected to the National Assembly and provincial legislatures only through their membership of political parties”. This meant victory for the litigants. Following the historic ruling, Parliament was given 24 months to address the issue. The aim was to have the Electoral Act amended before…

4 min.

PUBLIC SECTOR CORRUPTION Bester saga a microcosm of criminality in justice system

LAST month the public was astonished to learn that Facebook rapist Thabo Bester, serving a life sentence for murder and rapes, was still alive and living it up in luxury with his lover Dr Nandipha Magudumana. In May last year, it was announced that Bester had died in a cell fire in the Mangaung Correctional Services facility. After an autopsy revealed that the body was not that of Bester and that the victim had died of a head injury, a report by the Inspecting Judge of Correctional Services was handed to the Minister of Justice in October. This information was known to police management and through them to the minister after the autopsy. It is only because of the notoriety and celebrity statuses of the couple that the details of…

2 min.

Zimbabwe marks 43rd indepedence anniversary

Zimbabwe marked its 43rd independence anniversary this week with President Emmerson Mnangagwa saluting liberation and post-independence efforts as the country forges ahead to become a middle-income economy by 2030. In his speech at the main celebrations in Mount Darwin, about 156km north of the capital city, Harare, Mnangagwa said this year’s independence celebrations were more special as they came against the background of food security and food sovereignty. “This 2022/2023 season, our country is projecting over 3.2 million metric tonnes of cereals against an annual requirement of 2.2 million metric tonnes. This momentum will be sustained and the successes consolidated,” he said. “Together, as one united and hard-working people, we have attained food security and food sovereignty.” Mnangagwa said in spite of the many hurdles that Zimbabwe has faced, including…

6 min.

Third World nations need emancipatory alternatives to the IMF

As the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank began on April 10, questions emerged as to whether progress would finally be made to address the severe debt crisis that has engulfed large parts of the global south. Ultimately, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the meetings ended without offering any real solutions to alleviate this distress, despite the IMF and World Bank’s own stark warnings of the fallout. The scale of the crisis is staggering. Research from Debt Justice shows that external debt payments for lower- income countries are set to reach the highest levels in 25 years in 2023. A new dossier published by the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research interrogates the historical role of international financial institutions (IFIs), including the IMF, in perpetuating a “permanent…

4 min.

Military power struggle scuttles quest for democracy

Sudan’s capital city of Khartoum has been engulfed in a deadly military battle between the government forces led by the military ruler General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo since the early hours of April 15. Hundreds of people had been killed while thousands were injured, plunging the country into a humanitarian crisis worsened by the destruction of critical infrastructure including the health and water systems. Burhan is the leader of the ruling council which was established in 2021 after conducting a military coup. The leader of the RSF, Dagalo, was his deputy in the Council. Dagalo and Burhan led the 2019 coup that ousted Sudan’s long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir after prolonged civilian protests over a deteriorating economic situation.…

6 min.

UKRAINE CONFLICT Pentagon leaks punch holes in war propaganda

The US corporate media’s first response to the leaking of secret documents about the war in Ukraine was to declare “nothing to see here,” and cover it as a depoliticised crime story about a 21-year-old Air National Guardsman who published secret documents to impress his friends. President Joe Biden dismissed the leaks as revealing nothing of “great consequence”. What the documents reveal, however, is that the war is worsening for Ukraine, while going badly for Russia too, so this will lead to “a protracted war beyond 2023”. The publication of the assessments should lead to renewed calls for our government to level with the public about what it hopes to achieve by prolonging the bloodshed, and why it rejects the resumption of peace negotiations it blocked in April last year.…

5 min.

BRICS Lula unapologetic in quest to reshape global politics

In hindsight, it might have been a high-water mark in the relationship between the administrations in Washington and Brasília. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called on President Joe Biden in the White House in February. The visit came weeks after far-right protesters in the Brazilian capital had stormed the major institutions of the country’s federal democracy in an angry challenge to Lula’s election as president. Their failed insurrection in some ways mirrored the experience of the US with the Capitol riot two years before and loomed over the meetings between the two leaders. A joint statement from Biden and Lula affirmed their pledge “to work together to strengthen democratic institutions” and “continue to reject extremism and violence in politics”. On many other fronts, including concerns over human rights…

3 min.

All eyes on Cardoso as Chiefs square up to Sekhukhune

It WON’T be an ideal season, but finishing second in the Premiership and winning the Nedbank Cup would crown what would be considered a decent campaign. Tipped to reclaim their glory days – winning silverware, and playing scintillating football – Kaizer Chiefs didn’t quite live up expectations this season. An unpleasant return by the team. The Arthur Zwane-coached squad, which was heavily backed by resources, has missed out on two trophies, the MTN8 and league title, to arch-rivals Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns respectively. So they are eager to save their season by finishing second in the league – to qualify for the Caf Champions League – and ending their seven-trophy drought by winning the Ke Yona Cup. And while there’ve been flashes of improvement in their style of play,…

2 min.

Lions end URC season with high-intensity win

Emirates Lions (31) 50 Tries: Nohamba (2), Van der Merwe (2), Kriel, Q Horn, Coetzee, Rijinsburger; Conversions: Nohamba (5) Zebre Parma (22) 35 Tries: Gesi (3), Trulla, Pittinari; Conversions: Eden (2); Penalty: Eden (2) Yellow Card: Volpi, Eden Released from the shackles of expectation, the Emirates Lions played with total abandon in their final United Rugby Championship of the 2022/23 season, claiming victory for themselves and the departing Jaco Kriel against Zebre at Loftus Versfeld. It was clear within the first 10 minutes that the Joburgers would run the ball at every opportunity, playing at a frantic pace that was scrappy at times, breathless throughout and inspired when it did click. The latter statement was in full flow for their second try, which swept past the Zebre defence off first…

2 min.

Bucs sail closer to CAF spot

ORLANDO PIRATES (1)(2) Dzvukamanja 27’, Saleng 77’ CAPE TOWN CITY (1)(1) Mayo 18’ Orlando Pirates created some breathing space between themselves and their competitors for a second-place finish in the DStv Premiership after beating Cape Town City yesterday. Pirates beat City 2-1 in Orlando to leapfrog SuperSport United into second spot – they have 46 points, two points ahead of Matsatsantsa a Pitori who dropped points earlier in the week. Pirates will remain in second spot until the next round of matches even if Kaizer Chiefs beat Sekhukhune United today as they’ll only reach 44 points. The Citizens, who led here, will be disappointed by this defeat as they were hoping for a late push for the CAF qualifying spots after an underwhelming start to the season. After a relatively…

3 min.

Raging Bulls smash log-leaders Leinster

IT WAS easy on the eye and pretty effective rugby as the Bulls’ forwards and backs mixed up their play perfectly to thoroughly humiliate United Rugby Championship log-leaders Leinster at Loftus Versfeld yesterday. The home side ran in four tries before half-time, and five more after the break to complete a comprehensive 62-7 victory that propelled them – they will hope not briefly – up the competition log. Depending on what happened in last night’s later matches between the Sharks and Munster and Connacht and Glasgow Warriors, the Bulls could find themselves in the top six and so avoid a clash with Irish giants Leinster and Ulster in the quarter-finals. The Loftus team practically wrapped up the game against Leinster at half-time (31-0), when hooker Johan Grobbelaar scored their fourth…

2 min.

Jota double keeps Reds in race for Champions League spot

LIVERPOOL kept alive their outside shot at Champions League football next season as Diogo Jota scored twice in a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest, while Aston Villa’s European charge stalled in a 1-1 draw at Brentford yesterday. At the other end of the Premier League table, Leicester secured a first win in 11 games by beating Wolves 2-1 to move out of the relegation zone. Liverpool thrashed Leeds 6-1 on Monday to rekindle their hopes of a late challenge for a top-four finish, but made heavy work of overcoming a Forest side that had scored just five away goals all season prior to their visit to Anfield. Jota had not scored for a year prior to netting twice at Elland Road earlier in the week, but now has four goals…

3 min.

Ellis’s star keeps rising

A SOON-TO-BE recipient of the coveted Order of Ikhamanga in gold. Not in her wildest dreams did Desiree Ellis think it would get this big! Born in Salt River, Cape Town, 60 years ago, from a tender age Ellis didn’t believe in short cuts, as she cut her football teeth by playing with boys and her cousins after school. Such was her burning desire to be a fully-fledged footballer that she lost her 9-5 in the process, after she didn’t report back in time for her job due to a car breakdown while on a trip with her club. That football career continued to grow in leaps and bounds and Ellis made a breakthrough (in her 30s) for the national team, Banyana Banyana, as she captained the side in major…

3 min.

SA national and provincial cricket coaches all on the same wicket

Proteas coaches Rob Walter and Shukri Conrad took the opportunity to strengthen the bond between themselves as national coaches and all domestic coaches in the recently-concluded coaches’ conference held in Johannesburg this week. Cricket South Africa wrapped up what is considered one of the most important steps in the process of improving South African cricket across the board – domestically and internationally. The coaches’ conference ran from April 16-18, and division one and two coaches, alongside the two national coaches (Walter and Conrad), sat down and discussed the way forward. Cricket SA hosts the conference annually, but the recently concluded conference was more important. It was the first time the coaches had gathered following the first two-year cycle of the new domestic structure. It was also Walter and Conrad’s first…

1 min.

PSL’s absence from Safa congress ‘not a blow’

Safa chief executive Tebogo Motlanthe says the association’s indaba and ordinary congresses will go ahead as scheduled despite the Premier Soccer League’s withdrawal. In a statement issued on Thursday, the PSL said it had received the agenda of the congresses and the executive committee, and decided it would boycott the three-day congresses at Emperors Palace this weekend. While Safa says it is shocked by the special member’s decision, it will continue with its plans and agenda items since Fifa and CAF officials are attending the congresses. “It’s not a blow. The (Safa) members are here, Fifa and CAF are here. If there are decisions that need to be taken, they’ll be taken,” Motlanthe said after a national executive committee meeting on Friday. It was reported this week that Safa wanted…

3 min.

‘Big relief’, says Two Oceans winner Givemore

IT IS only logical to assume that Givemore Mudzinganyama felt like a ‘king of the road’ upon winning the TotalSports Two Oceans Marathon at the first attempt last weekend. After all, how else can a novice feel after destroying a field of pedigreed elites in one of the country’s top races? Speaking three days after his 3:09:42 victory at the 56km ultra marathon in Cape Town – back at his humble abode, a rented back room in Tembisa – the Entsika Athletic Club runner said he did not feel like the country’s ultra marathon hero. The 32-year-old Zimbabwean just felt like some “burden” had been removed from his shoulders. “It gives me relief,” he said, squeezing a miniature Batman – his son’s toy – in his hand, as if to…

4 min.

Discover the world in style aboard this luxury cruise ship

Fortunately, the Covid-19 embargo was lifted just in time for Silversea’s Silver Cloud to dock at Cape Town, South Africa. This ultra-luxurious expedition ship can accommodate 254 passengers. To celebrate this occasion, local general sales agents for Silversea Cruises, Cruise Vacations, hosted guests, including media, for an exclusive tour of the ship, which boasts state-of-the-art amenities and top-of-the-line services.. Whether you want to sail into the heart of Seville or to the frosted wilder- ness of Antarctica, Silversea offer expedition cruises to some of the world’s most remote and remarkable landscapes – perfect for those who like to live on the edge (literally). As we stepped onto the ship, guests were warmly greeted by the staff. And the interior is stunning – it feels like something straight out of a…

3 min.

10 places South Africans can travel to that don’t require a visa

Each country has its own set of unique rules and regulations when it comes to visitors. Depending on where you are going, the visa application process may seem like a hassle – especially if you’re itching to get out there and explore. According to VisaGuide Passport Index, the South African passport ranks 98th in the world as of March this year, meaning South African citizens can travel visa-free to 74 countries in the world. Here are 10 places to consider adding to your bucket list if you want to skip the visa application process for a quick holiday escape. Qatar Qatar, a peninsular Arab country whose terrain comprises an arid desert and a long Persian Gulf shoreline of beaches and dunes, is known for its futuristic skyscrapers and other ultramodern…

2 min.

Man goes ballistic over crying baby on plane

Can you believe in this day and age, we’re still grappling with travel that’s unpredictable? And what about flying? We get to sit in a giant metal tube for hours, packed like sardines with a tiny human whose main gig is crying. It's like an involuntary karaoke session, except instead of belting out tunes, the only sound is a never-ending chorus of tears. We’ve seen our fair share of horror stories on flights, and by “horror” we mean snakes, poop and, well, crying babies. There’s a TikTok video making the rounds of a man who kind of lost his cool after hearing a baby scream for what seemed like forever. Now, while most of us can relate to being annoyed by a baby, this guy took it to the extreme.…

2 min.

8 tips to avoid common mistakes and oversights while travelling

The general manager of Corporate Traveller, Bonnie Smith, advises that being well-prepared and having enough information before embarking on any trip is crucial to ensure a stress-free and enjoyable travel experience. Some travellers may overlook essential steps or items necessary for a successful trip. “They may forget to pack essential items, such as their medication, they may not be aware that their passport has expired, or they may not be familiar with the current travel regulations and requirements,” says Smith. She suggests that those planning to travel: Check travel restrictions: Review the travel restrictions and prerequisites in your destination country, which may still include Covid-19 vaccination obligations. Some countries may require proof of vaccination for entry. Carry necessary documents: It’s important to have a valid passport, visa if needed, travel…

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Sunday Independent 2023-04-23 (Digital)

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