Innholdsfortegnelse for 2021-12-13 i Star

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za THE Competition Commission has announced an agreement with two of the three major pathology laboratory companies, Ampath and Lancet, to reduce with, immediate effect, the price of Covid-19 PCR tests to R500 from R850 following a three-month probe that revealed excessive profiteering. Competition Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele said at a briefing the investigation started in October – following a complaint from the Council for Medical Schemes that the price of PCR tests – widely used by doctors and other institutions, and which are also becoming a requirement for international travel, was “unfairly inflated, exorbitant and unjustifiable”. He said the commission had not yet reached agreement with the third of the large pathology laboratory companies Pathcare. Bonakele described their negations with Pathcare as full of “legalese”, but hoped a…

Lutho Pasiya lutho.pasiya@inl.co.za THE holidays tend are a busy time, with shopping, family get-togethers, and a lot of cooking. If your holiday schedule involves hosting large parties, a small family dinner, or anything in between, you need some smart cooking tips to save you time in the kitchen so you can also enjoy the holiday gatherings. Try these hacks. Softening cold butter An ingredient that frequently trips me up is softened butter. I cannot ever seem to remember to take it out of the refrigerator in time to bring it to room temperature. A quick remedy I’ve recently learned is to cut the butter into chunks and place it on a saucer. Heat a saucepan. Invert the saucepan over the butter and saucer. By the time the saucepan cools you…

Sonri Naidoo POLICE officers who were deployed to quell the unrest and violence in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in July claim they have not been paid for overtime services rendered. Officers have expressed their frustration about the backlog in payments, with some of them saying they have also not received their overtime payments which they earned in 2020 at the start of the lockdown. According to the police officers, talks about a massive strike across the provinces continued due to management’s negligence in dealing with the matter. Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela said his office had allowed Gauteng SAPS members to submit their claims in order to finalise all payments with respect to the non-pensionable daily overtime. Mawela said an allowance for meal claims had also been allocated upon…

Nhlanhla Mbatha nhlanhla.mbatha@inl.co.za THE STATE memorial service of former president FW de Klerk got off to a shaky start outside the Groote Kerk in Cape Town yesterday, as a handful of protesters attempted to disrupt the service which they said was a painful reminder of the apartheid past. The demonstrators from the Abdullah Haron Foundation gathered in song, holding up placards despite the area being cordoned off and a heavy police presence. Some of the placards had the message: “We want justice for apartheid victims”. “No sympathy, no justice for apartheid’s victims’ families” and “Fire Batohi”. The call to fire National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi comes after her apparent failure to open the probe, arrest and prosecutions of those responsible for the deaths of the Cradock Four –…

FORMER president Jacob Zuma’s book titled The Words of a President: Jacob Zuma Speaks has been launched virtually and will be available from today. Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi said the launch of the book “was quite timely” as it comes after the “1st of November when people have spoken loud and clear as to how they feel about things happening in the country”. Manyi said a lot of “untruths have been told” about Zuma and the book was about “setting the record straight”. Zuma said: “I feel very good that some South Africans who are patriots have felt it was not fair for those South Africans who think differently to tell the kind of stories that were not true.” The former president’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambundla, said the book…

Peter Bachtis | Benoni THE Muslim community is under attack in this country, as wealthy families are being singled out for kidnapping. It is apparent that the perpetrators are highly organised criminals, who have access to sensitive information about the families – they have their financial records and every conceivable detail about their movements. The Medusa’s head, with its insidious tentacles, is probably based in Pakistan, ruthless to the extreme, with the objective of relieving the families of large sums of money. Their reach is far and wide. They have access to banking details and asset registers, indicating collaborators without a conscience. The high-profile Modi case reflects the level of professional criminality. Sadly, our inadequate security and policing bodies have been unable to pinpoint who the perpetrators are,…

PANDEMIC? Lockdown? Not for the sexually active schoolgirls on the rampage. While we all suffered under the dreaded virus and the lockdown rules, it was business as usual for thousands of schoolgirls who threw caution to the wind and had a rollicking time with their lovers. While we concede that some of these teenage girls are victims of packs of lecherous sexual perverts, many others are willing partners in this crime of underage sex which is forbidden by the law as it is regarded as mandatory rape. They sleep around with any big daddy who entices them with a lollipop. And when they fall pregnant they don’t even know who the biological father is. Last year, while the country was under lockdown, underage girls between 10 and 19 became mothers…

Thenjiwe Mtintso Our world has lost its gravity. We have lost what grounds us, brings us together and used to marshal towards the destiny of a better life and future. The impact of the loss of Sis Lindi has shaken us the world over, in ways no words can adequately capture. We send our deepest condolences to the Msimang and Mabuza families at large. Thembi, the burden must be extra tough on you and the family. We marshal the protection and courage of our ancestors for your continued strength, as you transcend this new unimaginable phase of your life. Clearly when Ayi Kwei Aramah titled his seminal novel The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born, he had not met Sis Lindi. For had he met her he would know that…

Benin opposition leader Reckya Madougou was sentenced yesterday to 20 years’ imprisonment for terrorism by a special court in the capital, Porto-Novo, after a brief trial that her lawyers condemned as a “political attack”. After more than 20 hours of hearings, Madougou was found guilty of “complicity in terrorist acts” by the Economic Crime and Terrorism Court, or Criet, which on Tuesday sentenced another key opposition figure to 10 years. Critics say the court, set up in 2016, has been used by President Patrice Talon’s regime to crack down on the opposition and pushed Benin into authoritarianism. “This court has deliberately decided to penalise an innocent person,” Madougou said shortly before her prison sentence was announced. “I have never been, and I will never be. a terrorist,” the 47-year-old former…

BK Haecken midfielder Elin Rubensson has called on Swedish football to support players who decide to become pregnant during their elite careers and offer them greater security. Less than a year after the birth of her son Frans, Sweden international Rubensson was back pulling the strings as her side lost 5-1 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on a snowy night in Gothenburg last Thursday. That result ended Haecken’s chances of qualifying for the knockout stages, but Rubensson is keen to use her platform to push for change. “When I became pregnant there was no pregnancy policy. I have a relatively long contract with two years left so I wasn’t that worried, but if I had a contract that was running down I would have been worried, because you…

HERMAN GIBBS While most teams are battling with a heavy workload and mounting injuries, Orlando Pirates are going from strength to strength following their workmanlike 2-0 win over TS Galaxy at Orlando Stadium on Saturday. After the match, Pirates co-coach Fadlu Davids said his team were thriving despite the ever-increasing workload that puts huge demands on players, many of whom have just returned from long injury-enforced lay-offs. “We had six games in 16 days, and before this game it was five games in 13,” said Davids. “This schedule comes with the recovery match-day, plus one and the next day is recovery minus one, and we go again.” Bandile Shandu and Collins Makgaka scored unanswered goals, but the real stars of the show were centre-backs Nigerian Olisa Ndah and Ntsikelelo…

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has hailed forward Raheem Sterling for stepping up to take a penalty and score his 100th Premier League goal in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium. Sterling’s goal was his fifth in the last eight games in all competitions and highlighted the England international’s return to top form after falling out of favour with Guardiola earlier in the season. Guardiola said that Sterling, who had missed his previous three penalties, only took the spot kick for the league leaders as their first choices were not on the pitch. “Our best taker by far is Riyad Mahrez. He has shown under pressure the quality he has but wasn’t on the pitch,” Guardiola said. “Ilkay Gundogan is another, but he’s struggling with his…

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za RMB Holdings (RMH) has rejected offers to buy its last remaining major assets in RMB Properties, the group said Friday. It said it would continued to try to monetise its last major investments in RMH Properties, but weak property fundamentals in South Africa might affect the timing, the company said in its interim results for the six months to September 30. RMH unbundled its investment in FirstRand in June 2020. Its subsidiary Rand Merchant Investment Holdings also recently announced the unbundling of interests in Discovery and Momentum Metropolitan, in line with a strategy to liberate investments at the appropriate stage, and to achieve the best value reflection. In October, RMH was approached to sell various property assets but its board said on Friday that these approaches had…

CURRO Serengeti head girl Maluta Netshipale has got the attention of three international universities. Netshipale has been provisionally accepted to study cognitive neuroscience and psychology at the University of Nottingham, psychological sciences at the University of Liverpool, and biomedical sciences at the University of Manchester. Her final choice comes down to her fascination with the role the brain plays in human chemistry and make-up. | Tamara Mafilika…

Kim Cattrall's absence has been explained in the first episode of And Just Like That. The 65-year-old actress hasn't returned for the Sex and the City revival series – which sees Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis reprise their roles as Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbes and Charlotte York Goldenblatt – and bosses had to write her character, Samantha Jones, out of the HBO show. The first two episodes were released on Thursday, December 9, and an early scene shows the three women in a restaurant talking to long-time friend Bitsy Von Muffling, who asks where Samantha is. The trio awkwardly try to explain her absence, as Miranda explains she isn't dead, while Carrie reveals she's in London. Miranda adds: "She's moved to the UK… for work." Later in…

Chulumanco Mahamba chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za GAUTENG parents, who have not submitted all the necessary documents for their child’s 2022 grade 1 and 8 school placement, have been given an extension by the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE). The department announced on Friday that by noon that day, 273 317 grade 1 and 8 applications had been placed for school placement. The GDE said 335 091 were received for the 2022 academic year and 278 029 had submitted their proof of residence to enable the department to facilitate their placements. The department said it left 4 712 remaining applicants whose placements were being facilitated on Friday. GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona said that interventions have been implemented to place all applicants including identifying schools in areas of high pressure across the province for allocation…

Bongani Nkosi bongani.nkosi@inl.co.za TRANSPORT Minister Fikile Mbalula has shielded the taxi industry from blame for the “slow uptake” of the programme intended to scrap old and unsafe taxis. Data that Mbalula released showed that fewer taxis were scrapped during each of the last four financial years, while the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TRP) remained in place. The government launched the TRP in 2006, aiming to scrap 135 894 unroadworthy minibus taxis. Owners receive R124 000 for each old taxi dismantled. Only 766 old and unsafe taxis were scrapped across the country during 2018/19, while the number increased to 1 943 over 2019/20. The financial year 2020/21 saw 1 804 unsafe taxis scrapped. “There was no scrapping of vehicles during April and May 2020 due to the hard lockdown…

Zelda Venter zelda.venter@inl.co.za A SOLDIER who has been fighting for more than a decade for the SANDF to scrap the requirement that a member completes a 25m freestyle swim before enrolling in its physical training instructor’s course, has vowed not to give up his plight. Strike Dzumba earlier turned to the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, to have this swimming component of the course overturned, as he felt it unfairly discriminates against participants who are able to master all the components apart from this requirement. He approached the SA Military ombud to have the requirement omitted. However, he lost his case before the ombud and then went to court. To qualify for the course, a member is required to undergo a one-week pre-selection course. To complete this course, all attendees…

Anita Nkonki anita.nkonki@inl.co.za CONGRATULATORY messages flooded in for Nomcebo Zikode after she launched her perfume and a clothing line in collaboration with Jet Stores in Sandton City this past weekend. The singer has added businesswoman to her biography after wrapping up this year with a major boss move, proving to be more than just a singer. She says venturing into business is a message for every child from the township that was made to believe that their dreams are invalid. Speaking to Drum magazine, she revealed that her perfume line and a body spray called Duchess by Nomcebo Zikode is a reasonable perfume with an expensive scent and her fashion range, like her music, is inspirational. “My perfumes are affordable yet they have that scent that tells people that you…

THE National Prosecuting Authority’s inability to fight corruption should be blamed on political interference. The NPA is one of the compromised and weakened institutions meant to fight corruption. Many high-profile cases involving politicians have gone quiet. The NPA is one of the important institutions which was designed to apportion justice to everyone, without fear or favour. Ever since it was established in the early 2000s, it has not been able to live up to its mission, because of unending political interests and interference. We know, through the media, that the other faction within the governing ANC used the important law enforcement agency to fight its rival faction, which was led by Jacob Zuma. It would be myopic to think that the NPA has recovered from such horrendous conduct. The institution…

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin was set to blast its third private crew to space on Saturday, this time including the daughter of the first American astronaut. The six-member crew will unbuckle and enjoy a few minutes’ weightlessness before the spaceship returns to Earth for a gentle parachute landing in the desert. Laura Shepard Churchley’s father, Alan Shepard, became the first American to travel to space in 1961. The company’s suborbital rocket is in fact named “New Shepard” in honor of the pioneering astronaut.…

With a pandemic crisis meeting and debut appearances in Paris and Brussels, Germany’s new Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his team have hit the ground running since their first day in office on Thursday. After a ceremony-laden handover from Angela Merkel on Wednesday, Scholz sat down with regional leaders of Germany’s 16 states to discuss the coronavirus pandemic. “We want to act quickly and decisively when it is necessary,” Scholz said after the meeting, stressing that he wanted to “ensure that as many citizens as possible are vaccinated”, including with third booster doses. With intensive care beds filling up and new variant Omicron adding to fears, Scholz’s coalition of his Social Democrats, the ecologist Greens and the liberal FDP was already dragged into fighting the pandemic before being sworn in. Underlining…

HERMAN GIBBS The post-match comments from the two camps in Saturday night’s Tshwane derby highlighted the maddening vulnerability that sometimes characterised Mamelodi Sundowns’ performances over the past few months, stretching to the back end of last season. SuperSport United were defeated 1-0 but fielded a decidedly under-strength team who were without their coach Kaitano Tembo and several regulars, including captain Ronwen Williams. They were all laid low by Covid-19, and several players from the reserve team were called up. Despite that setback, SuperSport, under the watch of stand-in coach Andre Arendse, gave the unbeaten champions a good run for their money. Afterwards, Arendse felt his under-strength team gave such a good account of themselves they deserved a share of the spoils. “It (the loss) is a bitter pill to…

Philippa Larkin philippa.larkin@inl.co.za AVI, the South African food producer and fashion retailer, took a beating on the JSE on Friday, which saw its shares tumble nearly 6 percent to R73.85 as the market booed the announcement that discussions with US snacks and confectionery giant Mondelez International had been terminated and it had withdrawn its trading cautionary. Last month AVI said discussions with US snacks and confectionery giant Mondelez International had progressed regarding the potential acquisition of its Snackworks division. AVI’s Snackworks division consists of popular brands such as Bakers, Baumann’s, Pyotts and Provita, which are an iconic part of South Africa’s biscuit history. The Mondelez portfolio of brands includes Cadbury Dairy Milk and Oreo cookies, among others. However, to add to the injury earlier in the day, AVI announced…

Nicole Kidman doesn't think she's got the voice to star in a Broadway musical. The Oscar-winning actress is one of the most sought-after talents in Hollywood, but Nicole would feel "insecure" singing on Broadway. Asked about the possibility, she replied: “I don’t think my voice is strong enough. It’s not strong enough. I mean, Broadway is like … and also I just would feel so insecure.” Nicole, 54, is a huge fan of Broadway musicals – but she doesn't feel ready to perform in one. The actress, who is married to country music star Keith Urban, told Sirius XM’s Andy Cohen Live: “I want to go and watch Broadway. I love going to see Broadway. I can’t wait to see Hugh Jackman. The Music Man, here we come! But yeah,…

Chulumanco Mahamba chulumanco.mahamba@inl.co.za AS THE country deals with a fourth wave of Covid-19 infections, citizens who want to get tested have received some relief as Covid-19 PCR test prices have fallen from R850 to R500. The Competition Commission yesterday announced a ground-breaking agreement with two major laboratories, AmPath and Lancet Laboratories, on the substantial reduction of Covid-19 PCR test prices. Competition Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele said that Covid-19 PCR tests have become essential in the fight against Covid-19 as PCR tests are required by doctors and various institutions, including for travel purposes. “The agreement settled a dispute on pricing of Covid-19 PCR tests. In terms of the agreement, AmPath and Lancet have agreed to reduce the price of Covid-19 PCR tests from about R850 to no more than R500, including VAT,…

Staff Reporter JUST over half of adults in the country support compulsory workplace Covid-19 vaccination and the “vaccine passport”, although support differed significantly by vaccination status. This is according to a survey conducted by University of Johannesburg (UJ) Centre for Social Change in collaboration with the Developmental, Ethical and Capable State research division of the Human Sciences Research Council on the public’s support for compulsory workplace Covid-19 vaccination and having to provide proof of vaccination to enter public places – so-called “vaccine passports”. The survey was completed by 6 633 participants. Key findings include that 54% of South African adults support employers making Covid-19 vaccinations compulsory and 51% support vaccine passports. “However, levels of support for these policies differ considerably by vaccination status and willingness to vaccinate. Among the fully…

Anita Nkonki anita.nkonki@inl.co.za REIGNING Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane graced the Miss Universe stage as A Dove Of Peace in the National Costume in the Preliminary Competition which traditionally takes place hours before the coronation night. Mswane dazzled in her three garments as she confidently took to the stage against other contestants. Despite her reign being marred in controversy, the 24-year-old expressed how thrilling she was to be on stage. Mswane took to her social media platforms to unpack the special message behind her costume which also featured her ballet dance moves. “I represented my beautiful South Africa, culture, and its spirit of Ubuntu. I was honoured to bring this message of hope to the global stage. I was dressed in a white bodysuit, with subtle feathers printed…

Don Krausz | Killarney A WORLDWIDE beauty pageant is being held in Israel and a South African girl wants to participate. Anti-Semites and Muslims are protesting. Why do they want to deprive this young African girl of the chance to become the next Miss World? Because Israel is a Jewish State. Even Farouk Araie, who ought to know better. So what is their problem? In the last paragraph of his letter, he provides an answer: “A people who were victims of Nazi genocide should do better.” Well, at the age of 12, my father and grandmother were murdered together with 24 members of my family. I spent two-and-a-half years in four concentration camps, surviving a death march with a slice of bread or boiled potato and…

The recent commissions of inquiry as well as reports by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) and the Special Investigating Unit, and media coverage of allegations of wrongdoing in the public sector, have been under the public spotlight for some time. In addition, there have been growing calls for accountability, good governance and improvement in service delivery. These developments have increased demands for public institutions to do better. As the institution with the mandate to audit how public funds are being used, we have realised for some time that our reports and presentations to Parliament were beginning to look very similar, albeit with pronouncements of greater deterioration in the way public funds are spent. However, in the recent 2020-21 Public Finance Management Act audit outcomes report, we are seeing signs…