Innholdsfortegnelse for 2021-12-22 i Star

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za COMMUNITY, environmental and human rights groups have filed leave to appeal the High Court’s ruling that had found there was no reasonable apprehension that Shell’s seismic blasting off the Wild Coast would cause irreparable harm. The Border Deep Sea Angling Association, the Kei Mouth Ski Boat Club, Natural Justice and Greenpeace Africa, who lost their application for an urgent interdict to stop Shell’s seismic blasting earlier in December, are appealing because this is an issue of substantial public importance. “They believe there are reasonable prospects of an appeal court finding: that Shell did not undertake the consultations which its own environmental management programme obliged it to take, that the risks of harm to marine life are real and not speculative, and that there was a reasonable apprehension…

Banele Ginindza banele.ginindza@inl.co.za SOUTH Africa has lost its seat on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) after failing to campaign for enough seats to keep it in the prestigious council which makes decisions on marine practices the world over. According to close sources, while it is South Africa the country that has lost the seat, the issues that led to this lie squarely on the shoulders of the South African Maritime Safety Association (Samsa), currently embroiled in board and corporate disputes that made it impossible for the country to campaign and network in time to acquire enough votes to retain its seat. The implications are accreditation for South Africans working on international waters in any capacity, as Samsa is tasked with ensuring the credentials of individuals, vessels and projects undertaken off…

Given Majola given.majola@inl.co.za THE INDUSTRIAL Development Corporation (IDC) said its Post Unrest Business Recovery Fund had sustained 30 000 jobs as businesses impacted by July’s civil and social unrest began operating again. The unrest which led to extensive looting and destruction of businesses and property in Gauteng and KZN impacted the retail, manufacturing and agricultural sectors, among others. Almost five months after the unrest, many employees who were facing a bleak festive period were said to have reclaimed their jobs. IDC chief executive Tshokolo Petrus Nchocho said the impact of this unrest to the national economy was significant, given the strategic importance of Gauteng and KZN as SA’s key manufacturing hubs. “And this was telling of the disruption to the supply chain,” Nchocho said, adding that the funding…

Shingai Darangwa shingai.darangwa@inl.co.za With the new season of Big Brother Mzansi around the corner, the popular TV show has announced that Lawrence Maleka will be the new presenter. The charismatic and versatile SA Film and Television Award winner is best known for his portrayal of Zolani in the hit 1Magic telenovela The River. Maleka previously hosted Africa Magic Entertainment’s StarGist and Mzansi Magic’s Clash of the Choirs. Earlier this year, he was lauded by viewers on social media for his brilliant work as the co-host of the South African Music Awards alongside Bontle Modiselle Moloi. Maleka expressed his joy at adding another prestigious gig to his profile. “I’m excited to be part of this instalment of Big Brother Mzansi. “The franchise has become a massive phenomenon in African as well…

Sonri Naidoo sonri.naidoo@inl.co.za SIX-year-old Sheronique Alysha Mengie and 10-year-old Cayson Jude Cerfonteyn, who were operated on to repair the holes in their tiny hearts, were released from Busamed Private Hospital in Paardevlei, Western Cape, last Saturday. Their operations were made possible by Pelo Foundation, an NPO that raises funds for children in serious need of heart treatment and surgeries. Cayson’s mother, Janice, said she was excited her son had finally received the surgery that would change his life. “Cayson was operated on a few days ago and he is doing well. Before going to hospital, we explained the surgery to him as best we could, but he was quite scared and our family were nervous about the operation as well. “After coming out from the intensive care unit, he…

THIS year saw a growing awareness of the extent of our policing crisis, highlighted by the SAPS’ inability to deal with the violence and looting following the Zuma arrest. Lacking any meaningful transformation post-1994, the political capture of the police was cemented during the Zuma years. An apparent improvement in accountability following the appointment of a police officer as national commissioner was short-lived. The top-heavy SAPS is riven with corruption, nepotism, brutality, and political divisions, and training and discipline have suffered badly from poor, politically-driven management. The appointment of Police Minister Bheki Cele, who was dishonourably discharged as national commissioner in 2012, dealt another blow to any attempts to improve the service, because of his irregular interference in operational matters. Policing oversight bodies – Ipid and Civilian Secretariats – are…

Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, has been ordered by the High Court in London to provide a British record of more than 554 million pounds to settle a custody battle with his ex-wife over their two children. The bulk of the award to Princess Haya bint al-Hussein, half-sister of Jordan’s King Abdullah, and the couple’s two children, is to ensure their lifetime security, not least to address the “grave risk” posed to them by the sheikh himself, the judge, Philip Moor, said. | AFP…

Eshlin Vedan eshlin.vedan@inl.co.za KAIZER Chiefs will conclude 2021 with a home clash against Maritzburg United at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg today (7.30pm kick-off). Chiefs enter the game in sixth position in the Premiership standings, but a win can potentially lift them to second place in the log. Chiefs defender Austin Dube believes that his side can defeat the Team of Choice if they play according to their strengths. “We are doing all we can to prepare for the match. In away games, you have to adapt to certain conditions you’re not familiar with,” Dube said. “But we have been doing well at home, and playing at home, we have that advantage. “I believe if we stick to our own plan and not focus too much on what they (Maritzburg) do,…

Banele Ginindza banele.ginindza@inl.co.za THE JURY IS out on the price of chicken, South Africa’s most accessible source of protein, after the International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) implemented additional provisional tariffs up to June 2022 on poultry imports from Brazil, Spain, Ireland, Poland and Denmark. Itac has implemented provisional anti-dumping duties against Brazil (up to 265.1 percent), Ireland (up to 158.4 percent), Poland (up to 96.9 percent), Denmark (up to 158.42 percent), and Spain (up to 85 percent) with immediate effect. The duties will remain in place until June 2022 as Itac investigates the extent of dumping and may implement these duties permanently. While the South African Poultry Association (Sapa) and advocacy group FairPlay have lauded the move to protect local producers, the Association of Meat…

Given.Majola given.majola@inl.co.za GLOBAL internet group Naspers, through its early-stage tech investment vehicle Naspers Foundry, yesterday announced a R54 million investment in Planet42, a car subscription company that tackles transport inequality. The investment was part of a R91m equity round led by Naspers Foundry, alongside existing investors Change Ventures and Startup Wise Guys. Existing debt investors, such as the impact debt fund Lendable, added a further R380m of debt. The investment in Planet42 was part of Naspers’s R1.4 billion commitment to grow South Africa’s early-stage tech ecosystem and the eighth investment since the launch of Naspers Foundry in 2019, the group said yesterday. Naspers SA chief executive Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa said: “This investment builds on Naspers’ growing mobility portfolio, which includes WhereIsMyTransport, Autotrader and OLX Autos, among others. “Planet42 is an…

Britney Spears’ father borrowed $40 000 from the company he later hired to manage her estate when she was put under a conservatorship. Jamie Spears allegedly secured funds from his Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group – which is owned by his daughter’s former manager, Lou Taylor – while the Toxic singer was hospitalised on an involuntary psychiatric hold in 2008, and days later he filed a petition in a California court to take control of his daughter’s affairs. The judge approved the request for the conservatorship and the following year Jamie hired Tri-Star to manage Britney’s estate, sparking concerns about the motive for him wanting control of Britney’s life. National Guardianship Association incoming president Anthony Palmieri told the New York Times the decision “reeks of conflict of interest”. He…

Sonri Naidoo THE SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) yesterday highlighted pit latrines and the lack of sanitation in many provinces across the country. Its briefing focused on the SAHRC’s approach to the high court to obtain a structural interdict towards the elimination of pit latrines at schools in five provinces – Mpumalanga, the North West, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. SAHRC deputy chairperson Fatima Chohan said the state had made exercising the right to basic education compulsory while failing to ensure all children were able to do so in safety. “Every day, thousands of children are denied their right to dignity. By law, children aged 7-15 are required to attend school.” On January 20, 2014, Michael Komape, 5, a Grade R learner at Mahlo- dumela Primary School in…

from page 1 Relying on precedent-setting cases, the judge ruled that the former love birds were married. “I am satisfied that on the available evidence the parties concluded a lawful marriage as envisaged by the law,” Judge Thupaatlase said. The judge blasted Mboneleli for not revealing in his founding affidavit that he paid lobola for Londa. “He created an impression that the reason he accommodated the respondent at his home was because of the development in their romantic relationship,” said Judge Thupaatlase. “It is only when he was confronted with the replying affidavit that he conceded the fact that lobola was paid. “He … in fact lied to the court about his relationship with the respondent. If this court were to accept his version this will lead to untenable and…

INTERNATIONAL Human Solidarity Day on Monday was a reminder of the crucial need for unity and co-operation in society and for promoting the welfare and well-being of every member of the human family. According to the Bahá'í Writings: “The supreme need of humanity is co-operation and reciprocity. The stronger the ties of fellowship and solidarity amongst men, the greater will be the power of constructiveness and accomplishment in all the planes of human activity.” We can each contribute to world solidarity by treating each member of the human family equally and with dignity, and by observing justice towards all. We can contribute to world solidarity if our behaviour is guided by a sense of responsibility towards all other human beings. A requirement of solidarity is to acknowledge the effort and…

Dr Thabisi Hoeane | Pretoria IT is disturbing and a pitiful shame that the notion that judges are being used by politicians – especially presidents – to pursue political interests has increasingly taken root in society and appears well on its way to be an accepted truth/reality. One can understand when those aggrieved by judicial decisions and their sympathisers become emotional and resort to this kind of reaction. It is human and natural that when things go against anybody in life, they may feel hurt and feel unfairly treated. But when the narrative is purveyed by media analysts and political commentators – people who are supposed to be logical and professional when they inform and engage society – the approach cannot go unchallenged. Some of these “experts” –…

Mwangi Githahu mwangi.githahu@inl.co.za NEARLY half of all South Africans have been unable to pay debts and have lost income during the past six months, according to the 2021 SA Reconciliation Barometer (Sarb). The 2021 Sarb is a nationally representative public-opinion survey conducted regularly by the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) to provide a measure of several aspects of public opinion, including South Africans’ experience of the Covid-19 pandemic. IJR project leader Mikhail Moosa said: “To better understand the scale of the disruption caused by the national lockdowns, the 2021 Sarb asked respondents questions specifically about Covid-19 and reflecting on their personal well-being and distress.” The survey found close to 50% of all respondents said that they have been unable to pay debts or have lost most of their income…

Goitsemang Tlhabye goitsemang.tlhabye@inl.co.za COME January 28 the family of Soshanguve-born actor Sibusiso Khwinana will finally know the fate of the man accused of stabbing and killing the star outside Sterland Mall in 2019. Khwinana and a friend had just been to the cinema inside Sterland, watching the locally-produced Matwetwe movie. While they were waiting for transport outside the centre, Khwinana was accosted by someone who tried to steal his cellphone. Yesterday, the defence for Tanzanian national Julius Lucas, accused of stabbing Khwinana to death, indicated it would be calling its own witness to corroborate his whereabouts. However, he had a change of heart and indicated he would not be calling any more witnesses or leading evidence for his defence. The State alleged that on March 1, 2019, Lucas accosted…

Anita Nkonki anita.nkonki@inl.co.za SHE is hailed by many as the “Queen Of Amapiano” after making several hits that kept music fanatics entertained. Woza hitmaker Shasha, whose real name is Charmaine Mapimbiro, has made a strong comeback after teaming up with Kamo Mphela and Felo Le Tee to make a song together called iPiano. The Zimbabwe-born music star was introduced to music lovers with her amapiano banger Tender Love featuring Kabza de Small and DJ Maphorisa. The music sensation had taken a break after her 2020 single Woza but is back on stage to deliver more great music. Shasha instantly took to her social media accounts after the release of the song with Kamo Mphela and Felo Le Tee. “It’s that time, super excited about this one with the amazing…

BETTY MOLEYA betty.moleya@inl.co.za Organisations that cater for persons living with disabilities say these are among the communities hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, affected financially and with their services disrupted, leaving many people in confusion. Linda Badenhorst of NPO Shockwave The Move said people with disabilities, especially those with mental illnesses, are heavily affected because they do not understand why they have to isolate and adhere to certain lockdown rules and regulations. “We work with different organisations, and the mentally ill could not understand why they could not see their family members. They felt like they did something wrong and did not understand what was going on. “Some of them are autistic, and when something like this happens, and it has never happened before, it’s very hard for them to…

James Dawes Autonomous weapon systems – commonly known as killer robots – may have killed human beings for the first time last year, according to a recent UN Security Council report on the Libyan civil war. History could well identify this as the starting point of the next major arms race, one that has the potential to be humanity’s final one. The UN Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons debated the question of banning autonomous weapons at its once-every-five-year review meeting in Geneva December 13 to 17 this year, but didn’t reach consensus on a ban. Established in 1983, the convention has been updated regularly to restrict some of the world’s cruellest conventional weapons, including land mines, booby traps and incendiary weapons. Autonomous weapon systems are robots with lethal weapons…

Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam touted plans to revive a controversial security law that ignited a political firestorm two decades ago, after completing an election to install a new legislature filled with Beijing loyalists. The pro-establishment council elected in a muted vote on Sunday should present “new proposals” by June on how to enact security legislation, Lam said this week, after results were announced. While the former British colony recorded its lowest-ever voter turnout, 30.2%, as swathes of the public boycotted the electoral system recently revamped by Beijing, the result empowers Lam to pass once- difficult legislation unopposed. A provision of Hong Kong’s charter drafted before its return to Chinese rule in 1997 requires a law banning “foreign political organisations or bodies from conducting political activities”, as well as “treason,…

Dineo Faku dineo.faku@inl.co.za STRUGGLING retailer Massmart yesterday flagged a decline in sales for the 48 weeks ended November 2021 and said parent Walmart had agreed to optimise its balance sheet following the looting in July. Owing to the civil unrest, Massmart incurred a full charge to the income statement for losses in the 2021 financial year, while a material portion of insurance proceeds was only likely to be settled in 2022, it said. The group said the optimisation of the balance sheet involved replacing R2 billion of a R4bn loan by subscribing for a perpetual fixed rate unsecured note. Walmart loaned Massmart R4bn last year to weather the Covid-19 pandemic. Massmart said the note would bear interest at 7.25 percent initially, and included an interest step-up of 225…

Edward West edward.west@inl.co.za AFTER Ascendis’s drama-filled annual meeting on Monday that required a court order to be held, Harry Smit, newly-appointed director and leader of dissenting shareholders who overturned the old board, said he hoped to see the company grow again. On Saturday there was an urgent court application by a shareholder of the company, Cambridge Investments, which resulted in the Gauteng High Court declaring the company’s plan – announced just days before – to postpone the meeting, invalid. It was never going to be a regular annual meeting. According to Smit, spokesperson for the so-called Retail Activist Investors (RAI), the shareholders were in two opposing “camps”, after Smit had been vocal about the company’s governance and business, and had managed to gather enough shareholder support to vote him in…

Liam Karabo Joyce liam.joyce@inl.co.za Ever since it was announced that he was divorcing Somizi Mhlongo, speculation about Mohale Motaung’s love life has been rife. Now the media personality has put to bed rumours about the status of his relationship with someone he has been linked to the most. Mohale has denied dating actor Wiseman Zitha, saying that the pair are just friends. In an interview with City Press, Mohale addressed the rumours. “We are friends. Every time I post a picture of him, (people) say we are dating. Every time they see us together, they ask us questions about our relationship, but he is my friend,” he said. Mohale added that he’s not dating, and is tired of being in a relationship. “I will get back to dating at some…

Loyiso Sidimba loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za THE North Gauteng High Court yesterday granted former president Jacob Zuma permission to appeal its decision that declared his medical parole unlawful and ordered him to go back to jail. Judge Keoagile Matojane ruled in favour of the ex-head of state and the Department of Correctional Services, who both wanted to challenge his December 15 ruling overturning the decision to place him on medical parole in September. “Because of his illness and advanced age he needs compassion, empathy and humaneness which is the essence of ubuntu. In my view another court may take this into consideration and come to a different finding accordingly,” the judge found. Judge Matojane said Zuma was serving his sentence albeit outside prison following his medical parole granted by former Correctional Services national…

Court hears she was not just an ex-girlfriend but his wife after lobola was almost fully paid Bongani Nkosi bongani.nkosi@inl.co.za AN EVICTION bid by a man who appears to have believed that his customary wife was a cohabiting girlfriend – because lobola customs to complete their union were still outstanding – has failed. Vanto Nimrod Mboneleli, a businessman in the restaurant sector, launched an eviction application against Bulelwa Londa on the basis that she became an unlawful occupier of his house after their romantic relationship soured. But Londa turned the tables on Mboneleli in the application heard at the South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg. She revealed in her replying affidavit that she was not just an ex-girlfriend, but his wife, and therefore a lawful occupant in their house. Lobola negotiations…

Themba Khoza | Department of Water and Sanitation SOUTH Africa, being a water-scarce country, always welcomes rain. South Africans celebrate rainfall as it increases our water resources and recharges our groundwater sources. But what is distressing is that every time we receive the much-needed rainfall, we lose precious lives and property. This unnecessary loss can be avoided and prevented simply by being responsible citizens. Many of these deadly incidents are results of irresponsible behaviour and ignorance. We receive advice and warnings on all the media platforms, but many people ignore it. As the rains nowadays are associated with thunderstorms and flooding, it is important that we are always extra cautious to save lives and property. We must never underestimate the power, strength and speed of water and raging…

Cometh Dube-Makholwa | Midrand THE myriad and complex problems faced by this country make me wonder how far the scope of local government really extends as far as service delivery goes. Should we expect that hunger issues arising from unemployment and crime, exacerbated by unemployment and the unprecedented influx of illegal immigrants from African countries running from their own countries because of the same problems facing our country, will now be addressed? Will the destruction of our infrastructure, perpetrated by hungry foreigners desperate to feed themselves and those they left back home, be allowed to continue, as we have seen the free reign of the “zama zamas”, ripping off of copper cables and electrical wires continue unabated with no attempt to stop the destruction, or the human…

Anita Nkonki anita.nkonki@inl.co.za AFTER making waves in South Africa by breaking records and dominating radio charts for weeks on end, Zakes Bantwini is now gaining international recognition as well. Being vocal about taking his music everywhere, the singer and record producer has secured a spot for himself on the British national radio station. BBC Radio presenter Pete Tong expressed his delight at playing Bantwini’s hot mix, Ghetto King, on the radio station. “I am delighted to hand over control of a hot mix to a man who continues to grow as one of South Africa’s brightest stars. Here we go then making his debut in the hot mix.” The producer shared a screen recording with excitement on Instagram where the song was selected and announced by radio presenter Tong. “This…

Sonri Naidoo sonri.naidoo@inl.co.za WITH just a few days to Christmas, a time for giving and spending time with family, cheerful community members in Eldorado Park teamed up to reach out to the vulnerable in society. Stephanie Duiker’s wish has always been to feed hundreds in her community and this festive season she has made it her task. With donations from another community member, Kim Cloete, Duiker and her team managed to feed 300 people on Monday at her home in Extension 2. “It’s heartbreaking to see how many people are starving during these hard times, especially the young, but it’s also heart-warming to see the Eldorado Park community uniting to feed the less fortunate. It’s heartening to see the joy on all the faces of those who receive a warm…

The US will give $580 million in additional aid to international organisations to fight Covid-19 in the face of surging Omicron cases, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday. The additional funds to seven multilateral agencies bring overall US assistance to $19.6 billion. In addition to the 330 million vaccines Washington has given to the rest of the world, $280 million of the additional funds will go to the World Health Organization. Unicef will receive $170m to help with its efforts to vaccinate vulnerable populations. | AFP…

Egypt sentenced Alaa Abdel Fattah, a leading figure in Egypt’s 2011 revolution, to five years in jail this week. Two others receiving four years, his sister and a judicial source said. A computer programmer, blogger and high-profile activist who mobilised youths in the uprising that unseated autocrat Hosni Mubarak, Abdel Fattah had been in pre-trial detention since September 2019. Abdel Fattah, his lawyer Mohamed al-Baqer and blogger Mohamed “Oxygen” Ibrahim were convicted of “broadcasting false news”. “Alaa was sentenced to five years, Baqer four years and Mohamed Oxygen four years,” his sister Mona Seif said on Twitter. “The judge was too cowardly to even inform us,” she said after the sentencing at the State Security Misdemeanours Court in the capital. A judicial source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the…